Holidaymakers will have to fork out £157 per person to visit the Galapagos Islands this summer.
The stunning archipelago in Ecuador is a must-see location for nature lovers, made famous as the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
But in a move to protect its array of fauna and flora, the government will increase its tourist tax as of August, in an effort to crack down on over-tourism and support the local economy.
How much is the tourist tax for visitors from the UK?
The exact amount each tourist is charged once the changes come into effect will differ depending on the nationality of tourists.
For people from Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay and Uruguay, the tourist tax will be $100 (£78), which is double the current fee of $50 (£39).
Visitors from other countries, including those from the UK, will have to pay £157 per person ($200 or €184), while the charge for children under 12 to enter the islands (which is the same regardless of country of origin) will double, going up to $100 (£78).
Entrance fees are going up across the board, including for Ecuadorian mainlanders who will have to part ways with $30 (£24) to experience the Galapagos – a significant increase compared to the $6 (£4) fee they pay right now.
Why is there a tourist tax?
The Galapagos Islands are hugely popular and officials are looking for ways to control the number of tourists who visit.
According to the Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT), around 270,000 people reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site each year on average.
The GCT hopes to use the extra funds they’ll bring in to support the unique wildlife amid concerns about the growing risk of visitors disturbing the delicate ecosystem.
‘The Galapagos Islands are not only a national treasure but a global one,’ Niels Olsen, Ecuador’s Minister of Tourism said in a statement. ‘It is our collective responsibility to protect and preserve this unparalleled ecosystem for future generations.’
How to fly to the Galapagos Islands from the UK
Travel experts at Kayak estimate that an average journey from the UK to Galapagos takes 37 hours and 53 minutes, which covers a distance of 6,235 miles.
The most popular route is to fly from London to San Cristóbal Airport.
Colombian airline Avianca flies a route from London Heathrow Airport to San Cristobal, with the cheapest flights starting from £1,101 return for one adult.
Are other tourist hotspots introducing entrance fees?
The Galapagos Islands aren’t the only tourist destination to use entry fees to reduce visitor numbers either.
Strolling through the bustling streets of Venice will look very different this summer, after Italy announced a fee for tourists.
It’s estimated around 30 million tourists walk through the narrow streets of the sinking city each year, compared to only 3.2 million who stayed overnight in 2022, and 50,000 residents who call the area home.
Over-tourism is a serious problem and to address the issue, the Venice City Council has confirmed plans to limit the number of groups that can travel to the city.
The Venice Access Fee is a pay-to-enter charge specifically aimed at day visitors following years of debates.
From April 25, tourists planning to touch down for the day will have to pay €5 (£4.30). Residents, commuters, students and children under 14 will be exempt, as will tourists staying overnight.
Earlier this year it was confirmed that Mount Fuji in Japan would charge tourists to visit too.
The impressive mountain – which is an active volcano and the country’s highest– attracts thousands of climbers every year. In 2023, 221,322 people made the ascent.
Concerns over rubbish and the safety of hikers prompted Japanese authorities to impose the new tax – the price of which was confirmed in March to be ¥2,000 (£10) per head from July 1.
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