The Galapagos Islands are part of the Ecuador National Park system and a US$100 per adult, or US$50 per child (12 and under), user fee is charged (subject to change). Please keep in mind that the fee must be paid in cash upon entry at the airport; there is no ATM in the airport, so you must carry this cash on your person. Some cruise providers will arrange for the fee payment ahead of time so you don’t need to carry cash with you; please contact Detour about this matter to see if your tour operator can do this for you.
The funds collected by the Park are used for the protection and preservation of the Galapagos Islands. We do recommend that you ask for a receipt and be sure you don’t lose the copy, as officials might request it upon your departure. You will find that this is money well spent, as the Galapagos are incredibly well cared for and preserved despite their popularity with tourists.
For more information on how much cash to bring on your trip to the Galapagos, see Extra Costs for a Galapagos Trip.
