Galapagos entry formalities

[davehen]

We are currently in Panama about to sail to Galapagos. We only want to stop there for a night's rest and possibly refuel and get fresh food. Has anyone any recommendations as to the best port for this.
We have also been getting conflicting reports on the cost of such a short stop.
Anyone have experience of the cheapest way to stop in one port in Galapagos for less than 72 hours?
Thanks

[JPA Cate]

I don't know if this still applies, but one used to have to get permission from Ecuador to stop in the Galapagos at all. So, that would be your starting point. Good luck.

Ann

[Nicholson58]

My first check would be Noonsite.

Galapagos — Noonsite

[capitangiorg]

Till last year some friend had call after have declared some technical problem. Usually they got few days permission and they were not allowed to visit other islands of the archipelago. If you want to stay longer you need the permit, last year it was very expensive, not sure now.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[MarkJ]

San Cristobal is the island, Wreck Bay, is really Baquerzio Moreno.
For stays up to one week was cheap and easy.
No you dont need to pretend the engine has fallen apart, its not the wild west.

Dont use your own dingy as the Sea Lions use them as toys. Ust the cheap water taxi.

Fuel is by gerry can to the fuel station by taxi.

Fresh food from the farmers market at the back of town. Its small and not very good.

Your last provisioning stop is Panama City. There isnt much in way of provisioning. Water is by 20 litre water jugs, deposit on the jugs, taxi and water taxi, its a pain.

Eating out is excellent, cheap and good local food.

To only stay one day in the worlds most exciting natural environmnet is a travesty. Stay longer and do lots of day tours, they are cheap and have a scientist on them.

[atoll]

mark is right it is a travesty to miss,but when i checked last year, things had changed since mark, and myself were last there(2003) in terms of fees.

for a 72 hour stop you were looking at a minimum charge of $360,and for anything over that $1000-1200,with the use of an agent compulsary ($500)

[Palarran]

You may want to read this blog: Sailing on Vivo

Sounds like a nightmare stop. I also had a friend who traveled by plane there and really didn't like it (worst trip ever) was his comment. To each their own, I had still wanted to visit there sometime until this last World Arc.

[mikefp60]

Yes, Galapagos can be a bit tricky. Hello David and thanks for posting the link to my blog. We got hammered because we came in en mass with the World ARC. They used the opportunity to apply rules that have been on the books for years but never enforced. Bottom paint and "foreign organisms". Refueling was chaos. On the last day before we left a mono came in from my home port. They had no issues at all. Cleared in, with an agent, in about 30 minutes. Took us days.

Anyway, make sure you have a very clean bottom. Some cash. And a lot of patience. But stay a while. We loved it. Nice people. Great inexpensive food and drink. But steer clear of the drinking water if you can. All in all it was worth the aggravation. My whole crew would agree.

Mike
S/V Vivo