Safety in the Galapagos Islands - Is it safe to visit the Galapagos?

Is it safe to visit the Galapagos Islands? The short answer is yes! At Galapagos Insiders, we do get asked from time to time whether it is safe to visit the Galapagos Islands. We find that overseas visitors, especially from North America, European countries and Australia may have some concerns about the safety aspects of visiting a region like this, given that it is in Latin America. There is no reason to worry. Here are all of the reasons why a visit to the Galapagos Islands is a lot safer than you might think.

Extremely low crime levels – while some news reports highlight that some South American countries do have crime (mostly within large urban areas) the Galapagos Islands is a noticeably big exception to this. There is almost no crime in the Galapagos Islands. There are no robberies or other types of threats to visitors to the archipelago of this nature. The Galapagos Islands are likely to be at least as free from crime as your hometown, if not more so. For residents of the islands, there is no incentive to carry out crime, as everyone knows this will damage tourism. With tourism representing 85% of all income in the Galapagos, no one wants to impact negatively on this. Another factor driving the exceptionally low to non-existent crime in the Galapagos Islands is the fact that this destination is 600 miles (965 kilometers) away from mainland South America. Therefore, crime is exceptionally rare, and residents often leave their doors open with no worries!

There is some minimal risk of crime within the major cities of Quito or Guayaquil, as might be expected in any major city across the globe. These cities are accessible to explore if visitors choose. However, those worried about any risk can prevent this by connecting to a hotel close to the airport (both cities have several good choices near the airport) and not exploring in these larger cities. It is fine to take some time to explore these cities, and we have not experienced visitors that have faced any problems, but there is no need to if you do not want to. Overall, then, the risk of falling victim to crime is extremely low on a Galapagos Islands cruise or a land-based Galapagos option. 

Heavily regulated tourism sector in the Galapagos Islands – similarly to the residents, it is also not in the interests of the Galapagos National Park authority for any harm to come to visitors while in the Galapagos Islands. As a result, the tourism activities on the islands are highly regulated. Only certain sizes of boats can operate, and they need to follow strict rules. Operators are required to ensure that crew are trained to deal with emergency situations. Vessels have to have all the safety gear on board that is needed for the cruise including life rafts and life jackets sufficient for everyone on the boat. 

Following your guide’s advice is important both on the land and in the water. You will receive a safety briefing at the start of any Galapagos Islands cruise. If you ignore this advice and stray away from trails you might have a greater chance of slipping and falling. In the water, if you disregard where the guide says to snorkel, you might put yourself in danger from strong currents or other risks. The clear message here is to listen to what the guide says and follow their advice. If you are not sure, you can ask, and you can also employ basic common sense in any situation to avoid any risk of harm. 

Safety around the wildlife – most of the wildlife on the islands in the Galapagos is comprised of small reptiles, birdlife, and crustaceans. Sea lions do present a risk, but you will always be advised by your guide to stay away from large males, especially in mating season when their spirits can be high! Through following the guidance provided, you can keep safe. Some tourists may worry about snorkeling given that sharks are present in the waters. However, in the past 170 years (since the mid-1800s) the number of issues reported has been very minimal and there have been no incidents resulting in fatalities. Galapagos sharks are curious but usually do not demonstrate any aggressive behavior. When considering all of this, it can be seen that safety around the wildlife in the Galapagos Islands is also extremely high. 

Limited risk of natural disasters – there is no more risk in the Galapagos Islands of natural disasters hitting than many other destinations in the world. While the Galapagos Islands are in an area that sometimes experiences seismic activity, there is no record of any severe impact as a result of any earthquake. Like any other destination on the coast there is a risk of tsunami. This is carefully mitigated in the few towns on the islands with safe routes very clearly marked out and good systems in place for alerts in the unlikely event these may be needed. 

To protect against any concerns about safety in the Galapagos Islands, steps to keep yourself safe on your trip include:

1. In the instance of the possibility of no safety deposit box, bring a lockable bag where you can store valuables when not in your room. This will put your mind at rest when you are walking on the wonderful nature trails and snorkeling in the waters surrounding the islands.
2. Listen to your naturalist guide. If your guide says do not get too close to the sea lions, do not move closer to take a selfie! If they say, “stay within this bay area for snorkeling,” then stay there. The guide provides instructions to keep you from any risk of harm, so follow it. 
3. Engage with the on-board safety briefing at the start of your cruise. This will provide you with all of the information you need to keep yourself safe in the very unlikely instance of an emergency situation arising. 
4. If really concerned, avoid exploring in the main cities during your flight connection to the islands. There is a good chance you will be staying overnight to connect with internal flights to the archipelago. While we have not experienced any issues with any of our visitors, staying in a hotel close to the airport and not leaving that hotel can mitigate this risk. 

Traveling to the Galapagos Islands is really very safe. This is one of the safest destinations that you will find in Latin America. Do not let fears of safety prevent you from booking the trip of a lifetime! Get in touch with us today and we can allay your fears.