Galápagos Islands reopen sites on 7 November
Published on 11/07/2026 at 19:09 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSReopening and access for visitors
- The Galápagos National Park Directorate reopened sites on 7 November 2026.
- La Lobería, Punta Carola and El Garrapatero received visitors, while seven other sites remained restricted.
- UNESCO inscribed the Galápagos Islands as a World Heritage site in 1978.
The Galápagos Islands (Islas Galápagos) reopened selected visitor sites on 7 November 2026 after safety checks, giving travellers in Puerto Ayora a changed access picture across the archipelago. The Galápagos National Park Directorate authorised three sites while temporary restrictions remained at seven others.
Galápagos Islands reopening changes access on 7 November
The reopening followed evaluations of visitor-site conditions after heavy rain affected parts of the islands. The Directorate allowed visits where access was considered safe, while inspections continued at locations that remained restricted.
On San Cristóbal, La Lobería and Punta Carola reopened, while Puerto Chino and Playa Baquerizo stayed closed. On Santa Cruz, visitors could return to El Garrapatero, but access remained restricted at Las Grietas, El Chato and El Puntudo. The sector known as Los Humedales on Isabela also remained closed. The reopening notice was published on 7 November by El Universo, which named the park authority and the individual sites.
Visitor-site decisions reflect the islands World Heritage setting
The access decision applies to a protected island landscape rather than a single urban attraction. UNESCO describes the property as 19 islands and a surrounding marine reserve in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 km from the South American continent. The World Heritage Centre inscribed the Galápagos Islands in 1978 and records the site under criteria covering natural scenery, geology, ecological processes and biodiversity.
That status helps explain why site access is assessed separately from the wider tourism operation. A reopening at El Garrapatero changes the options on Santa Cruz, where Puerto Ayora is the main town, but it does not reopen every trail or attraction across the island group. The distinction between safe sites and restricted sites is therefore the practical link between the 7 November decision and the archipelago's conservation framework. UNESCO's World Heritage entry records the property's protected area, island geography and inscription year.
Visiting Galápagos Islands: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The access change took effect on 7 November 2026 at named visitor sites on San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz and Isabela.
- La Lobería, Punta Carola and El Garrapatero were open after evaluation, while Puerto Chino, Playa Baquerizo, Las Grietas, El Chato, El Puntudo and Los Humedales remained restricted or closed.
- Puerto Ayora is on Santa Cruz. Flights to Baltra, the island airport linked with Santa Cruz, were operating normally in the 7 November notice.
- The setting is a volcanic archipelago with 19 islands and a surrounding marine reserve, so access decisions can differ between islands and individual visitor sites.
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Frequently asked questions about Galápagos Islands
What changed at Galápagos Islands on 7 November 2026?
The park authority reopened La Lobería, Punta Carola and El Garrapatero after evaluating visitor access. Other named sites remained restricted or closed.
Where are the Galápagos Islands and how do you get there?
The archipelago lies in the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 km from the South American continent. Baltra is an airport serving the Santa Cruz connection.
What are the Galápagos Islands?
They are a 19-island archipelago and surrounding marine reserve in Ecuador, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978.
