Scheduled Closures at Quito International Airport
Dear friends and colleagues,
Last Tuesday, Quiport S.A., the concessionaire of Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport, announced scheduled runway closures for preventative maintenance between April and September 2025.
Air operations will be suspended from 02:00 to 14:00 on the following dates:
• April: Saturdays 5th and 12th
• May: Saturdays 10th, 17th, and 31st
• June: Saturdays 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th
• September: Saturdays 6th, 13th, and 20th
Saturdays were selected for this maintenance work as they are the days with fewer flight operations.
As always, ensuring a smooth and safe travel experience for our guests is our top priority. Your account manager will promptly inform you of alternatives and assist with rescheduling flights and tours that are affected by these closures.
We appreciate your understanding and regret any inconvenience these disruptions may cause. However, this preventative measure is essential to maintaining the safety and efficiency of air operations at Quito Airport.
NEW ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHINESE CITIZENS
The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry announced that as of July 1st, 2024, a visa will be required prior to entering Ecuador for citizens of the Popular Republic of China — only for ordinary passport holders.
We kindly invite you to share this information with your travelers to ensure a satisfactory experience during their stay in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
The application procedure for the granting of a tourist visa can be obtained from the following link:
https://www.gob.ec/mremh/tramites/concesion-visa-visitante-temporal-turista-90-dias
We are ready to provide unique experiences to our guests during their visit to the Galapagos Islands. Their safety is our commitment.
GENOVESA AND ESPANOLA ISLANDS MAY 11, 2024
As of May 11, 2024, the measures regarding the closure of the El Barranco and Bahía Darwin visitor sites on Genovesa Island, and Punta Suárez, Punta Cevallos, and Manzanillo on Española Island are lifted. Consequently, authorized tourist activities are reestablished according to their modality and in accordance with the authorized itineraries.
Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee increase since August 01st, 2024
We would like to inform all our clients that the Galapagos National Park entry fee has just been revised by the Galapagos Province authorities after more than 20 years since its last modification.As per this new regulation, effective 1st August 2024.

This increase is bound to cope with higher costs of the national park management and secure the continuation and development of all systems required for the control and preservation of this unique ecosystem that includes not only the Galapagos Islands but also its surrounding marine reserve.
We all hope that this new measure will help reinforce the protection of this beautiful and healthy environment for present and future times.
LOBOS ISLAND APRIL 11, 2024
Update Avian influenza in some parts of the Galapagos archipelago: April 11th, 2024
The Galapagos National Park reopened San Cristobal’s sites Pitt Point and “Lobos Island” after monitoring tests resulted negative. Guests can now observe red footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds, and enjoy interesting land excursions on both sites.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

Due to the presence of birds affected by the H5N1 avian influenza in some parts of the Galapagos archipelago, adjustments are coming to our cruise itineraries.
The technical team of the Galapagos National Park (DPNG) and the Galapagos Biosafety and Quarantine Control and Regulation Agency (ABG) have actively become involved in taking samples and conducting laboratory analyses to determine the cause of death among the affected bird populations.
Both the DPNG and the ABG are diligently monitoring the habitat and nesting areas of endemic bird species. They have also deployed multiple teams to different parts of the archipelago to assess the situation.
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Naturalist guides and tour operators have been requested to reinforce their observation and surveillance of wildlife behavior, and to immediately report any unusual findings using an emergency hotline set up for such purposes. The potential causes being investigated include the migration of birds and the contact between seabirds in offshore waters.
For your guests’ safety, to preserve the unique biodiversity of the Galapagos, and to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, the National Environmental Agency has temporarily closed the visiting sites where affected birds have been detected. This includes Genovesa Island and Punta Pitt (San Cristóbal), as well as Punta Suarez and Punta Cevallos (Española) as a preventive measure.
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Our operations will continue normally, and we are taking additional measures to ensure your guests’ safety, such as implementing enhanced biosafety protocols and closely monitoring the situation. Your guests’ experience in the Galapagos remains our top priority, and we are working diligently to provide a safe and memorable journey.As soon as we have more detailed information from the Galapagos Authorities, we will inform our partners about the changes to our itineraries. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we protect this unique ecosystem and the welfare of your guests.