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Entry requeriments to Galapagos islands 2020

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Galapagos Travel Guide: Cruise, Tours, Last minute deals

Requirements for Traveling to Galapagos and Online TCT in 2026

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If you are Ecuadorian or a foreigner, you need to know the requirements for traveling to Galápagos; here is the updated list so you can avoid any trouble at the airports and have all your documentation on hand.
 

 
Once you read the requirements for traveling to Galapagos, I recommend reading the 5 tips before traveling to the Galapagos Islands, to get a better idea of what to do at the Guayaquil or Quito airport and avoid any setbacks.

Requirements for traveling to Galapagos

Requirements for traveling to Galapagos

Requirements for traveling to the Galapagos

Requirements for traveling to the Galapagos

 
 

Questions that Ecuadorians ask


Also, many Ecuadorians ask me this question: does an Ecuadorian need a passport to go to the Galápagos? and the answer is NO, you can enter the Galápagos with your national ID card.

The other questions I get asked is, If I have an exit ban from the country, can I travel to Galápagos? and the answer is YES, you can travel, because traveling to Galápagos is like flying to Quito or Cuenca, since you are still within Ecuadorian territory.

You can reach San Cristobal Island or Santa Cruz by flight from Guayaquil or Quito

You can reach San Cristobal Island or Santa Cruz by flight from Guayaquil or Quito

You can reach San Cristobal Island or Santa Cruz by flight

You can reach San Cristobal Island or Santa Cruz by flight

 
 

Requirements for Traveling to the Galápagos


  1. Return flight tickets to and from the islands
  2. Traveler’s documentation, passport or identity card (Your documents cannot be expiring within 6 months)
  3. A “transit control card” (TCT), now you can do it online (You will have to watch a video first and then the form will appear). You can also get it at the Galápagos Immigration offices located at the airports in Quito and Guayaquil. It costs USD 20.
  4. Fill out the sworn declaration of goods online, then show the QR code that will be given to you at the end of the form.
  5. See my recommendations on what to bring to the Islands and what you CANNOT enter the Galapagos Islands
Before checking in at the airline you must pay the TCT

Before checking in at the airline you must pay the TCT

The first thing you have to do is pay the TCT when you arrive at the airport.

The first thing you have to do is pay the TCT when you arrive at the airport.

 
 

Tips for not missing your flight to Galápagos


  • Don’t forget to go to the airport about three hours before your flight, or complete the paperwork online to save time in the lines, because flights don’t wait. And if there’s any cruise agency involved, ugh, pray that your flight gets delayed.
  • No matter how much you want to optimize your time, try to take flights very early in the morning or very late at night. Do not try to take flights that arrive at Baltra especially between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., because that is the time when cruise ships receive their passengers, and it makes the lines more complicated both at Galápagos immigration, at the airline check-in, or upon arriving at the airport.
  • If you can, bring a backpacker’s suitcase because you don’t have to check it, so that if the flight has already closed, they can see if they’ll let you board.
  • Don’t go check in at the airline, if there are two people, first, one should queue for registration at Galápagos immigration and the other should check the bags in the other queue at Galápagos immigration. Many times people queue at the airline and then they are asked for the Transit Control Card (TCT), and they wasted their time at the airline.
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    Galapagos Hotels and Hostals





     

    LIFE IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS


    The marine iguanas of the Galapagos Islands

    The marine iguanas of the Galapagos Islands


    Blue-footed boobies on North Seymour

    Blue-footed boobies on North Seymour


    Spectacular Sunsets in Galapagos

    Spectacular Sunsets in Galapagos


     



    Chokotrip unlike Viator, Civitavis, GetYourGuide and other

    When you book tours through ChokoTrip or ChokoTours, you`ll receive the names of the boats and operators, so you have security in your reservations. Many people believe that the policy on websites like Expedia, Viator, etc that allow you to cancel your tour 24 hours in advance are favorable however, it also means tour operators can cancel your tour 24 hours in advance, which happens frequently in Galapagos. This is not a risk when booking with us because we work directly with the local operators, which also allows us to keep our prices down. We dont take big commissions from the locals that the travel companies do so our prices are not inflated.









    USAGE POLICIES

    • By booking accommodation on each island, you will receive $10 per island. That is, if you book accommodations on all 3 islands, you will get a $30 discount per person when booking daily tours on all 3 islands.
    • When using the discount on tours booked with ChokoTours, accommodation reservations cannot be canceled, and no cancellation or date change policies from the hotels will apply.
    • To access the discount, the tours must be purchased by the same person who made the reservation through the following form on the ChokoTours website.
    • Only for 2025 reservations




    Wetsuit Snorkel Galapagos en



    TRAVEL SAFE THROUGH THE GALAPAGOS

    Many people believe they don’t need travel insurance for the Galápagos, so let me explain in this link why you should purchase comprehensive health and cancellation insurance when traveling to the Galápagos.

  • GO FOR YOUR INSURANCE 🎯


  • @ChokoEc

    @ChokoEc

    My name is Christian but you came call me Choko. Together with my wife we have created this blog to help all travelers going to Galapagos. I am from Ecuador, born in Guayaquil. Passionate about traveling and everything related to social media. In my free time I travel the americas. I have given conferences and workshops revolving around my work and tourism 2.0 // WRITE ME USING WHATSAPP: +593978990910 - BLOG EN ESPAÑOL ChokoTrip

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