Galápagos

The Galápagos are an Ecuadorian archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 kilometres from continental South America. Volcanic activity formed the islands, whose isolation helped produce distinctive wildlife. Giant tortoises, iguanas and finches inhabit the archipelago. Charles Darwin visited in 1835, and its wildlife helped inform his work on evolution by natural selection. UNESCO inscribed the islands on the World Heritage List in 1978.

Visitor controls form part of protecting these habitats. The park authority directs arriving travellers to pay the protected-area entry charge at Baltra or San Cristóbal. Travellers obtain a separate transit-control card before departing mainland Ecuador. Biosecurity inspections check luggage for material that could introduce invasive species. Checks also apply when travelling between inhabited islands, extending protection beyond the initial arrival.