We arrived in Puerto Moreno, San Cristobal, Galapagos in March 2006 with a permit for thirty days which we obtained in advance from Naugala, an agency located in San Cristobal. As has been the case for the past several years, boats that arrived without permits were allowed to stay up to three weeks but were told that they cannot go to any other populated anchorages than where they cleared it, or they risk boat impoundment. Some do so anyway, but that word “impoundment” is mighty scary!

To receive a permit, fax a request together with copies of the boat documentation and passports to Senor Bolivar Pasantas, Naugala Cyber, naugala@hotmail.com, Phone 593-5-2520846, Fax #59352520846. Senor Pasantes seldom replies to emails. Follow up with a phone call. The fee for obtaining the permit is $50, payable upon arrival in San Cristobal. The Naugala office is located right next to the Port Captain.

The agent in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz charges $150 for the same service. The anchorage in Puerto Moreno is much more protected, and the small town is full of amenities.

Note: Fax your papers and permit request no earlier than four to six weeks prior to planned arrival. If your permit is issued for the month earlier than you wish (which happens regardless of what date you request), it may not be acceptable to the Port Captain. This happened to one boat while we were there, and they had to pay an extra “fee” of two bottles of whiskey!

Burger & Nancy Zapf, s/v Halekai