Rules and Regulations of the Galapagos National Park

All naturalist guides on board any vessel that operates in the Galapagos National Park must be licensed by the Park service and are official National Park representatives.

They are directly responsible and accountable for their assigned group and conservation issues in general. We kindly request you to comply with all suggestions of directives they may make.

In the Galapagos:

1- We do not transfer live organisms between the Islands. Each Island sustains unique species and cross-invasions may alter that uniqueness, irreversibly and forever.

2- We do not remove nor disturb animals, plants, rocks or shells from the Islands. It strongly deteriorates the visitor-sites by eliminating those items that so richly illustrate the natural history and diminishes greatly the sense of "discovery" each site has in store.

3- In the Galapagos, we never touch or handle animals. Female sea lions recognize their pups by smell. Our body chemistry passed on to a cub's fur, may confuse the mother's sense of perception and cause the rejection of her own offspring.

4- We never feed animals. Their natural behavior and natural selection must be both preserved in order to maintain the overall ecological balance as has been the case for millions of years.

5- In the Galapagos, we take care not to frighten animals from their resting or nesting spots. Abandoned eggs will overheat in matter of minutes under a fierce tropical sun or chill under windy conditions.

6- All groups or individuals must be escorted by a supervising guide at all times. On some beaches, the guide may promote quiet & introspective moments. On inland trails however, compact group behavior becomes a must if we are to preserve the integrity of the nesting colonies or rookeries.

7- All our trails are carefully marked with discreet, low-profile markers. It is our responsibility to follow the trails and remain precisely between these landmarks. On young, volcanic Islands, where lava-formations are extremely fragile and grinding erosion can generate ugly "scars" on the landscape, this rule proves essential. On other sites we have often iguana nests just below ground level …

8- All naturalists will be sensitive to the individual needs of the group members. If the group’s pacing needs adjustments, please coordinate with your guide and fellow travelers but remember we must all stay in a compact group and close proximity to the guide.

9- All litter is carried off the Islands. Most inorganic trash is recycled or shipped out of the Islands for recycling on the Ecuador mainland. Please do not litter on shore or at sea. Even incoming trash that "drifts in" with ocean currents is cleaned up and exported in order to safeguard the wildlife.

10- Wall painting and graffiti are illegal. Some historical remains are still eye-sores on the cliff-sides of traditional anchorages like Tagus Cove. Let us not add to it …

11- If possible, we do not purchase souvenirs made of wood, rocks, shells or skins of unique species. We do promote the purchase of items made of introduced species the likes of Guayaba, the Quinine tree and Cuban cedar. That way, the local communities benefit while helping us with eradication.

"Let us never hesitate to manifest our conservationist attitude while keeping in mind that viable alternatives and counseling are part of the solution and alienating our fellowmen, part of the problem"