Galápagos Islands Tourism Statistics

Nestled about 1,000 kilometers from Ecuador's coastline, the Galápagos Islands stand as a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. Famous for their remarkable biodiversity and pivotal role in Darwin's evolutionary revelations, this archipelago of 13 major islands and scattered islets draws nature enthusiasts from every corner of the globe.

250,000 to 300,000 people visited the Galápagos Islands annually, excluding during the pandemic period.

• Galápagos Islands had 290,404 tourists in 2025, a 4% increase from the previous year.
• The islands recorded 271,238 tourists in 2019, the last full year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Arrivals dropped to approximately 72,519 in 2020 due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.
• Visitation rose by 86.3% to 136,336 in 2021.
• A total of 267,688 tourists visited in 2022, representing a near return to pre-pandemic levels.
• The islands recorded 329,475 arrivals in 2023, the highest number on record.
• However, total visitation dropped to 279,277 visitors in 2024, a 15% decrease from the 2023 peak.

How many tourists visited Galápagos Islands in 2025?

• 290,404 tourists visited Galápagos Islands in 2025.
• This figure represented an increase of 4% from the previous year (2024) and 7.1% from the pre-pandemic year (2019).

How many tourists visited Galápagos Islands in 2024?

• Galápagos Islands welcomed 279,277 tourists in 2024, marking a 15% decrease from the 2023 peak.
• The figure is still 3% higher than the pre-pandemic level of 2019.

• In 2025, 38% of total visitors (approximately 112,000 visitors) were from Ecuador (domestic).
• The United States is the leading source of international visitors to the Galápagos Islands. 29% of total visitors (approximately 83,000 visitors) were from the USA in 2025.
• 4% of visitors (approximately 12,000 visitors) came from the United Kingdom.
• Another 4% of visitors (approximately 10,000 visitors) were from Canada.
• 25% of visitors were from other countries, including Germany, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland.

• February, June and July were the busiest months in Galápagos Islands in 2025. Each of these months accounted for 10% of total visitors in 2025.
• August, September and October each received 7% of total visitors.
• The remaining months recorded 8% of total visitors each.

• In 2025, 207,392 tourists (71% of total visitors) entered Galápagos Islands by Baltra and 82,982 tourists (29% of total visitors) entered by San Cristóbal.
• Nearly 8 out of 10 tourists (79%) stayed on land.
• 53% of total visitors were female and 47% were male.
• International tourists are generally older, with many over 40, while Ecuadorian visitors are more represented in younger age groups below 40. 60% of international visitors were aged over 40, while 58% of domestic visitors were below 40.