Yet Another Fee Hike in Oz

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by socaldmax

Sorry, you're mistaken. Hawaii has NO rabies or mad cow on the islands.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is present, but appears to be spread among kids aged 2-4 mostly. Apparently, it's a non-fatal virus, similar to the common cold. I never heard about it when I lived there from 89-94, so it may be fairly new.


Now let's talk about saltwater crocs...

LOL

Fair enough. The mainland US states certainly have rabies, and AFAIK foot and mouth has happened over there too.

Obviously Hawaii's quarantine system has worked so far. As has ours.

I think most of us here would like to keep it that way.

It may seem strange to want to keep "foreign" termites out of a country which has so many home grown ones, but the point is who knows what impact an outbreak of those termites could cause?

I think it would be great if AQUIS didn't charge boats entering from overseas anything. But they do, it's life. If the $380 entry fee is going to break your bank, you're probably never going to be able to afford to get here anyway.

It's a pity Bundaberg got so badly affected by the 2013 floods. You used to be able to enter there from the Pacific in the Port to Port rally, and they paid the (standard) AQUIS charges. Sadly, not any more.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Fair enough. The mainland US states certainly have rabies, and AFAIK foot and mouth has happened over there too.

Seems foot and mouth has been in Oz at some time as well...
From wiki... 'In May 2014, the FAO informed that Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru were "just one step away" from eradication;[5] North America and Australia have been free of FMD for many years. New Zealand has never had a case of foot-and-mouth disease.[6] Most European countries have been recognized as disease-free, and countries belonging to the European Union have stopped FMD vaccination.'

Probably why NZ has no probs with dairy product from N America/Chile/EU etc.

[44'cruisingcat]

142 years since the last possible minor outbreak.

[BandB]

There is probably an Australian somewhere reading this and thinking to themselves, "Wonder if we could raise it a bit more and scare more of those dang foreigners away. Our waters and marinas and anchorages are already too crowded just with us."

We sometimes overvalue our presence in various countries and cities. There are few countries and cities in the world whose economies actually depend on tourists and even fewer whose economies depend on cruisers.

When we visit somewhere we think of ourselves as guests, thankful they allowed us to visit and enjoy. We don't think of ourselves as an economic boom to them or as those who should be telling them how to do things.

Still the nearest to us is the Bahamas. I just checked our records. During the last 18 months, we have paid a total of $2100 in entrance and exit fees there. But we're so thankful they're so welcoming to boaters, have such great facilities, keep channels open for traveling, keep the waters safe, regulate fishing so generation after generation can enjoy and share the beauty of their country with us. Now one trip with four people on board would end up costing $325. A small price to pay to share the beauty there.

[socaldmax]

That's another interesting topic, entrance and exit fees -any fees at all - for many of the popular cruising destinations. I wonder if Noonsite is pretty up to date on current fees and stuff?

Well, I just learned a lot. Quit reading Wikipedia and go to Noonsite instead! LOL

Great comments from people about their actual experiences checking into Australia!

[monte]

Aussies have already figured out how to keep the foreigners away by putting the fear of god into them about spiders, snakes, jellyfish, sharks etc

[downunder]

Just browsing the fees at Noonsite for a look over the Galapacos makes Australia look like a real bargain.

Looks like a reasonable stopover can cost 1000's. makes $380 a real bargin for the time and non restricted visit to Australias marine national parks.

You are here: Home / Countries / Galapagos
Galapagos - Formalities
Clearance
It is not permitted to anchor anywhere but in an official port.

A 20-day stopover/one port - without an Autographo

The Galapagos does not recognise or allow the normal 72 hour breathing space to rest etc. before checking in. They allow 12 hours only before charges apply. In the first 12 hours you can take on provisions and water.

After this time the port captain will grant permission for a stop, the length of which is at his discretion, however is normally a maximum of 20 days if you have arrived without an Autographo (cruising permit). It appears that the length of stay may depend on the number of yachts already anchored in the bay. As the Galapagos becomes an important stopover for yachts on passage, the length of stay applied to individual yachts may have to be reduced to allow for the limited anchoring space and facilities, and the ever-increasing number of yachts.

Note however that with this type of stay you will be restricted to the port of entry and are not allowed to travel to other ports with your own boat. (So do your research carefully as to the best port of entry based on your requirements).

It is recommended that yachts obtain a zarpe from Panama/Mainland Ecuador with a destination of the Marquesas (or wherever is next after the Galapagos), as this allows the Port Captain to grant up to 20 days on a "detour" stopover (as stipulated by Article 50 - see below). Yachts with a Galapagos port of entry at their zarpe destination will likely have problems if they don't have an Autographo.

Note however that Port Captains do change, and some are more "difficult" than others.

A 30+ day stop/multiple ports - with an Autographo

Yachts arriving with an Autographo in hand, are given up to 30 days with the possibility of a 30 day extension, and may be able to visit the following inhabited ports:

- Pto. B. Moreno, Isla San Cristobal (Wreck Bay)
- Pto. Ayora, Isla Santa Cruz (Academy Bay)
- Pto. Villamil, Isla Isabela
- Pto. Seymour, Isla Baltra
- Pto. Ibarra, Isla Floreana

Cruisers who have obtained an Autographo will automatically be issued a National Zarpe for the Galapagos.

For more information on Autographos see Documents.

These are the provisions of Article 50 of the Galapagos Law (see Documents).

Forced Arrival

Local agents recommend that yachts do not declare they are stopping for repair, i.e. "a forced arrival". If so, they are granted only the time necessary to make the repair, and may not do any touring. The Port Captain requires proof that the repair is necessary, and knows how such things can be faked. If the yacht stays longer than the allowed time for repair, they must pay all the usual fees.

Arrival - Ports of Entry

Boats must proceed directly to one of the official Ports of Entry: Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz, Puerto Baquerizo in San Cristobal and Puerto Villamill in Isabella (see note below). These are the only ports where boats may clear in.

Note: Isabela is "not officially" a Port of Entry and there are hardly any services here and no Immigration official. However, in the past cruisers have reported that clearing-in here has not presented any problems and the local agent ('JC') handles the paperwork.

Yachts arriving should not stop anywhere but a Port of Entry nor must anyone go ashore in the national park without an official guide (except for a handful of sites where access without a guide is permitted - see Restrictions). Yachts may be boarded at any time to check if one has a guide. The penalty is a fine for stopping at outer islands without permission. All the local boats have guides on board who are in radio contact with the port authority and will immediately report any yacht breaking the regulations.

Clearance Procedure - Agents

Under current law in all ports of Ecuador it is mandatory to use an agent to check in with the port captain for any stay of more than 1 day. That includes the Galapagos islands.

The agent acts as a go-between for your dealings with the port captain and he will collect the fees for your entry into the harbour.

Note: If wanting to organise an Autographo, then be sure to secure an agent at least 2 months prior to arrival, as it normally takes 6 weeks to process all paperwork. If not, it may still be beneficial to contact an agent in advance of your visit so that your details are in the system and you are aware of all costs. This is not mandatory but it is advisable to have previously arranged an agent. The Agent's fees vary. This fee is sometimes negotiable and it's up to you to decide which agent you take.

It is important to get a clear statement from the agent which charges his fee covers. See fees section for the various charges applicable in the Galapagos.

On completion of the clearing in procedure the agent must give you the original "factura", which is a receipt from the port captain detailing the fees charged. It should not be a photocopy.

Noonsite does not recommend any particular agent but there is a list of Clearance agents here. It can be useful to look at reports from cruisers for their various experiences.

Other Clearance Procedures

You will be boarded by a number of officials either all at once or at different times, and usually on the same day as each other but sometimes not. Your agent will guide you through this. These will include Galapagos National Park officials, an official from the Ministry of Environment and an official from the Harbour Master. Expect anything from 6-10 officials in total. This report from a Galapagos visit in March 2014 explains in detail what each official is looking for/requires.

It is possible the Navy will come on board to do an inspection, and check for foreign food, animals, guns and contraband.

As of January 2014, all yacht arrivals may be subject to an Environmental Risk Assessment. These new rules give approval to conduct an interview with the captain on arrival and include the possibility to inspect the hull of each boat with a diver from the GNP. The cost of this is borne by the visitor and the fee is $50 per person onboard. The ministerial approval also gives the GNP the authority to demand that if a yacht fails to meet their requirements (reasonable level of risk), they must leave the Galapagos Marine Reserve. If assessed (and it can take up to 3 days to know if you have passed or not), you may be required to exit the marine reserve (40 miles offshore), carry out remedial cleaning work on your hull and re-enter.

The Immigration office must be visited next. It is advisable to use your agent for immigration although the procedures are simple and previously it was possible to do it yourself. Some agents will include immigration in their fee. It is best to check.

Office hours are quite flexible but permits are difficult to obtain at weekends or on public holidays, so boats arriving at such time may wait to complete formalities on the first working day.

Extending your Stay

If arriving without an Autographo, after 20 days, special permission is required to extend your stay from the port captain, which the agent can assist with. There is normally no extra charge from the port captain to stay longer than 20 days, if the need is genuine, and he may come and inspect the problem to see for himself.

Departure

The port captain will issue a domestic zarpe for the next port. The agent will handle the clearing out so let him know a couple of days before to be sure it all goes smoothly.

Always take time to look through the reports from cruisers - adjacent - to see the latest information we have received from those visiting the Galapagos.

Last updated March 2014.

Immigration
Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond your stay. You will need colour copies of the passports and ships papers. Take your crew with you.

It is the "vessel" that gets 20 days leave to remain, crew visas are country dependent.

Nationals of the following countries require a visa and should approach the Consulate of Ecuador of their residence (list may change without notice): Algeria, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Lybia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine Authority, Panama, People's Republic of China, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia and Vietnam.

Nationals of other countries do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days or will be granted a T-3 card on arrival also valid for 90 days.

See Fees for current immigration charges.

Crew leaving the ship in Galapagos do not have their passports stamped when the boat departs. The passport gets stamped when the crew leaves by plane. There is no other paperwork.

Last updated January 2014.

Customs
Firearms must be declared and will be sealed on board.

If ordering spare parts to be delivered to the Galapagos, expect long delays with Ecuador customs. Cruisers have reported waiting 3 weeks for an express delivery, claiming “yacht in transit” will save some duty costs, but will also slow the process further. Duty charges might run to 33% or more depending on the item.

See also the Restrictions section on this page.

Last updated January 2014.

Documents
Your agent will list the documents required from you. These will include:-

Passport details, boat registration details, fumigation certificate, black water certification for the boat (can be a statement from the skipper regarding presence of holding tank).

Autographo or Cruising Permit

Those who wish to stop longer in the archipelago (longer than 20 days), and/or visit more than their Port of Entry on their own boat, must obtain an autographo (cruising permit). These can be obtained for between 1 and 5 ports and must be applied for through an agent.

The procedure for obtaining an autographo is lengthy (between 6 and 8 weeks) but can be done by email and fax and many cruisers say it was well worth the effort. Note that the authorities have a quota for yachts, of between four and six per month, although these quotas change from year to year. Therefore applications for autographos may not always be successful. Apparently large crews of more than four or five are not desired, as they are suspected of being on an unofficial charter. Any type of chartering by foreign yachts in the national park is not permitted.

Each Autographo is always an individual permit and itineraries are customised. Some agents for example, will "allow" Floreana as one of the 5 ports if applying for a 5 port autographo, others not. Also note that each port on the itinerary can only be visited once, it is not a permit to just cruise wherever you want.

On each island there are limited "free" sites where cruisers can visit without an official guide. However, if intending to explore the National Park in depth, an Official Naturalist Guide has to be hired at a fee of $200 per person per day, and has to be paid to the national park + all the administration fees. The process is long and expensive. There are about 40 places around the islands where tourists with guides may go ashore.

The regulations for pleasure craft are very precise:

According to Article 50 of the Special Law for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Galapagos province of 18 of March 1998, every foreign, non-commercial vessel in transit, with a maximum of 10 persons, can visit any one of the inhabited ports for up to a maximum of 20 days. To visit the National Park areas, they can leave their ship in any selected port and utilise the services of a local tourist operator. In such a case, each person is required to pay to the Galapagos National Park Service a park entrance fee of $US100 for every person older than 12 years and US$50 for children under 12. The Park entrance fee does not include the tariffs related to anchorage fees, which must be paid to the port captain, nor any payments required by the immigration authorities.
Those who do not intend to visit any of the National Park areas will be considered to be a vessel in transit. This comes under the international rules that permit the entry of vessels to international ports for a minimum time of 72 hours and therefore would not require additional procedures to enter Galapagos territorial waters.

Should an interested person wish to visit the National Park areas with their own vessel, they are subject to other regulations as follows:
a) They must have the entry permit from the relevant naval organization to enter territorial waters. According to the stipulations of the article 138 of the Galapagos National Park Administrative Statute, vessels with a capacity of up to 30 persons must have the authorisation of the National Park Administration Office.

b) On arrival at the islands, they must inform the port captain and pay the correspondent tariffs for lights, buoys and anchorage fee. Additionally they must complete immigration formalities.

c) The visitor entry fee must be paid at the National Park office. They will receive an itinerary to the visitors sites within the park based on the availability due to site capacity standards.

d) Additionally, every vessel that wishes to visit National Park areas under this system must contract the services of a licensed guide authorised by the National Park Service. This guide will sleep on board and accompany the shore party BUT as no dinghy may be left on the shore, one crew member will be required to remain with the yacht.

e) According to article 142 of the mentioned statute, every vessel that comes to the Galapagos Islands must submit to quarantine inspections and present the fumigation certificate of the last port of call.

f) Changes in the original crew entering Galapagos is not permitted except in the case of emergencies.

Fumigation & Sanitation Certificates

The Ministry of Environment official is interested in fumigation and sanitation. He will want to see a fumigation certificate and a sanitation certificate.

You must have a fumigation certificate from the last port; if not you will have to have your vessel fumigated in the islands (see Fees). If coming from Panama speak to your Panama Canal agent.

A sanitation certificate (black water holding tank confirmation) can be self-certified. This can be as simple as a statement from the skipper that the boat has a holding tank for sewage and black water. Make your own including details of your holding tanks then sign, date it and ideally boat stamp it.

Last updated March 2014.

Fees
Various fees need to be paid and do vary from port to port. The most expensive port is Santa Cruz.

As a summary:-

For a 1 Island visit - Expect to pay around $600 to $700 for a yacht with 2 persons on board. Each additional person on board will incur an additional $100 National Parks permit fee.

For a 2-5 island visit - this requires an Autographo which only your agent can obtain. Total cost, including agent fees, should be approx. $1200 for a 2 person boat (excluding zarpe fees). Each additional person will cost $100 for the National Parks permit. Normally an Autographo is obtained via email well in advance of your arrival.

In addition, there is a fee of $30 per boat ('migration fee'). This does not apply if a boat remains in its Port of Entry during its visit to the Islands.

Port Fees
Service and reception on arrival $224 (this is a Harbour Master fee and based on your gross tonnage so around $12 per tonne).
Quarantine inspection $100.
Governing Council fee $10 per person.
Copies and transport for authorities $30.
Garbage disposal $30.

This total does not include the anchorage fees which are based on gross tonage.

The port captain will require a further US$18 for your zarpe when you leave.

Immigration Fees
A personal immigration card per person costs $15 and there are no costs for personal clearing out.
The immigration fee per boat for in and out clearance is $31.

Agent Fees
The choice of which agent you use is entirely yours to make. The fees for the agent are not fixed.

For a one-port stop (including port captain and Immigration, taxis and copies of passports), US$150 is the normal asking price for an average size yacht.

Agent fees for an autographo are between $450 - $650.

It is not uncommon to get fees reduced if you negotiate. If the fees asked for are unacceptable you may ask for another agent. Ask for a clear breakdown of which fees your agent is including in his total cost.

National Park Fees
There is an admission fee to the Galapagos National Park area of $100 per person ($50 per child under 12) and must be paid by anyone visiting the Park area. Ensure that your agent obtains your park pass and gives it to you to keep on board.

National Park Cruising Fees
This is $200 per person, per day. You will hear this high dollar figure quoted occasionally. This daily fee DOES NOT apply to the average cruiser who is moving from island to island, anchoring in the major ports. It only applies to (typically) larger luxury yachts who want to actually cruise the park areas outside the major ports.

These boats are also required to take on a licensed guide who will cost $350 or more per day for this service.

Fumigation
A fumigation fee of $70 may be charged on boats that stay longer than 72 hours. If yachts arrive without a fumigation certificate, the fee to obtain one in the Galapagos is $4 per metre of the yacht's length.

As of January 2014: Hull & Environmental Inspections
There is an ABG inspection fee of $100 ('Introduced species inspection') and also a GNP Environmental inspection charge of $25.

Other Fees

Zarpes cost $15 each.

Overtime must be paid outside office hours, 08:00-17:00 Monday to Friday. The overtime fees are almost double the normal fee. Request that your agent complete clearing DURING office hours.

There are also municipal fees occasionally collected in the main ports and always collected from incoming passengers at one of the two airports.

All fees quoted here are in US$ and are subject to change by the Ecuadorian government without notice.

Last updated March 2014.

[El Pinguino]

I was going to Peru last year but changed my plans and stayed in Chile instead...fees for entering and staying for a few months were right off the scale.... I see someone visited recently ... from noonsite... I was quoted a lot more for agency fees...about $500 plus a daily launch charge, etc etc..


'Legacy (40') was at the Yacht club Peruano (YCP) in May 2014 .......
Cost of clearing in Peru is outrageous: $1 = 2.7 Soles
Sanitaria Maritima: 1724 Soles
Port authority $0
Migration 150 Soles ( for two)
APN $0
Total 1874 Soles or $694 but since we did not have a health booklet with all vaccinations including the yellow fever ( they insist on it) they charge a fine of 1350 Soles and also 160 Soles for vaccination ( that we did not have to take ...) all is stupid paperwork bureaucracy
Total In and Out 3645 Soles or $1350 including $100 for agent. You do not have a cruising permit for the coast. ...'

I think Galapagos is something of a special case.... they are a bit 'overtouristed' ....

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by BandB

There is probably an Australian somewhere reading this and thinking to themselves, "Wonder if we could raise it a bit more and scare more of those dang foreigners away. Our waters and marinas and anchorages are already too crowded just with us."

We sometimes overvalue our presence in various countries and cities. There are few countries and cities in the world whose economies actually depend on tourists and even fewer whose economies depend on cruisers.

When we visit somewhere we think of ourselves as guests, thankful they allowed us to visit and enjoy. We don't think of ourselves as an economic boom to them or as those who should be telling them how to do things.

Still the nearest to us is the Bahamas. I just checked our records. During the last 18 months, we have paid a total of $2100 in entrance and exit fees there. But we're so thankful they're so welcoming to boaters, have such great facilities, keep channels open for traveling, keep the waters safe, regulate fishing so generation after generation can enjoy and share the beauty of their country with us. Now one trip with four people on board would end up costing $325. A small price to pay to share the beauty there.

Great post!

[socaldmax]

Originally Posted by downunder

Just browsing the fees at Noonsite for a look over the Galapacos makes Australia look like a real bargain.


Last updated March 2014.

Man, you're not kidding! They're sticking their hands into your wallet from every direction. Their Nature Preserve is probably their only source of income, so everybody wants a slice of that tourist pie!

Hopefully for them, they don't price themselves out of most cruiser's budgets.

I'll fire up the HDTV and see if the place is really worth visiting.

[Jimbo485]

Galapagos cost us a grand for a week in 2012. There were 4 of us.

Arriving in oz - our own country! - cost us $330 for AQIS plus about 15% of the value of the boat for a compulsory importation.

Such is the cruising life!

At least they were all friendly throughout the various robberies!

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

I was going to Peru last year but changed my plans and stayed in Chile instead...fees for entering and staying for a few months were right off the scale.... I see someone visited recently ... from noonsite... I was quoted a lot more for agency fees...about $500 plus a daily launch charge, etc etc..


'Legacy (40') was at the Yacht club Peruano (YCP) in May 2014 .......
Cost of clearing in Peru is outrageous: $1 = 2.7 Soles
Sanitaria Maritima: 1724 Soles
Port authority $0
Migration 150 Soles ( for two)
APN $0
Total 1874 Soles or $694 but since we did not have a health booklet with all vaccinations including the yellow fever ( they insist on it) they charge a fine of 1350 Soles and also 160 Soles for vaccination ( that we did not have to take ...) all is stupid paperwork bureaucracy
Total In and Out 3645 Soles or $1350 including $100 for agent. You do not have a cruising permit for the coast. ...'

I think Galapagos is something of a special case.... they are a bit 'overtouristed' ....

Jeez you guys are complaining about our $380.00

[BandB]

Wifey B: Omg I hate to tell you dudes but I just spoke to a high government official in Australia (and aren't they all high) and he'd just read this thread and is going to immediately propose they raise their fees as they're much bigger than the Galapagos and in their opinion better. He's thinking $2000 minimum...

Ok, not really...just have to clarify in case anyone actually was believing me.

[socaldmax]

Originally Posted by BandB

Wifey B: Omg I hate to tell you dudes but I just spoke to a high government official in Australia (and aren't they all high) and he'd just read this thread and is going to immediately propose they raise their fees as they're much bigger than the Galapagos and in their opinion better. He's thinking $2000 minimum...

Ok, not really...just have to clarify in case anyone actually was believing me.

I'm glad you cleared that up! Nothing surprises me any more when it comes to politicians or bureaucrats.

I'm getting so gullible, in the "check my math" thread, someone posted that a cruiser was out there cruising around on $1,500/yr. So I went in search of their blog wondering how the heck they pulled that off! Then someone pointed out it was actually $1,500/mo.

I was thinking, "How could someone eat Ramen for an entire year?" "Did they ever stop anywhere?" LOL

[IdoraKeeper]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

I left the Great State of Kalifornia in 1984 and have never been back. My ex-wife went back in 2012 (we separated in 2009) for a more "favorable" settlement. Because it is a joint property state this exposed my worldwide income to Kalifornia tax (on her "half"). I now apparently owe those bastards $20k... My (Ill)logic is that she should pay that - but she didn't. On top of 35% federal and 9% (or something) Connecticut.

Yeah, tell me how much I love 'merica...

I feel sick - Can we talk about boats instead...

I had a similar experience. Married a pirate. Didn't end up expat but nevertheless it makes me feel sick too. Your right, let's talk about boats.