Published 14 years ago, updated 6 years ago

In an effort to try and control the movement of private yachts in the Galapagos National Park Area, new regulations have been introduced.

Yachts buying a permit to cruise the National Park Area will need to have tracking equipment on board (provided by the Ecuador Navy at a cost of $1700) and call at mainland Ecuador for Quarantine Inspection prior to arriving in the Galapagos.

The cheaper 5 port permit will be discontinued.

There is no change to the Transit Regulations which allow a stay of up to 20 days in one of the Ports of Entry.

Although these new rules appear to offer fewer options to visiting yachts for exploring the Galapagos on their own yacht, it is worth noting that the majority of cruising yachts that visit the Galapagos do so under the 20-day Transit Rule. The permit (Autographo) to cruise aboard your own yacht is both expensive, and lengthy/difficult to obtain.

The rules change frequently in the Galapagos and tend to be applied inconsistently. Therefore local agents are advising to “wait and see”.

This past season the following inconsistencies were observed:

-some yachts were allowed less than 20 days in one port of entry.

-some yachts were allowed to proceed from Wreck Bay to Academy Bay.

-some yachts were granted an Autographo to sail to a total of 5 ports/areas outside the Park Area, others were not.

-some yachts called at Villamil as their first port (which is not an official port of Entry) and were allowed to stay 20 days, others were asked to leave and clear in at Academy Bay or Wreck Bay.

Our thanks to Karsten Staffeldt for helping to confirm these new regulations.