The back story
Galápagos entry fee: US$200 for foreign visitors over 12, US$100 under 12; US$100 / US$50 for nationals of Andean Community and Mercosur countries; under-2s exempt (Galápagos National Park, Apr 2026) · Galápagos National Park: Created in 1959; covers 97% of the archipelago; the Marine Reserve covers 138,000 km² (galapagos.gob.ec, Oct 2026) · Chilean season: Valparaíso: 17 Oct 2026 – 15 Apr 2027, 30 scheduled calls (puertovalparaiso.cl, Oct 2026) · Main ports: Baltra, San Cristóbal, Puerto Ayora, Rio de Janeiro, Búzios, Santos, Montevideo, Punta del Este, Buenos Aires, Valparaíso, San Antonio, Puerto Montt, Callao, Iquitos, Manaus · Gateway airports: Quito (for Baltra and San Cristóbal); Rio de Janeiro Galeão and Santos Dumont; São Paulo Guarulhos; Buenos Aires Ezeiza; Lima Jorge Chávez; Iquitos
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The back story
The Galápagos & South America·In depth
Darwin’s islands, the great river and a continent of port cities, from Rio’s Pier Mauá to the hills of Valparaíso.
The ports
Who it suits. On a budget: A South American coastal voyage from Santos, Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires on a big ship, with sights like the Museu do Amanhã, MALBA and Teatro Colón tours within easy reach of the pier. Mid-range: A week in the Galápagos on a small expedition ship such as HX’s Santa Cruz II or Lindblad’s Islander II, with a night or two at the Angermeyer Waterfront Inn in Puerto Ayora before you fly home. Luxury: An all-suite Galápagos voyage on Celebrity Flora or Silver Origin, the Amazon aboard Aqua Nera or Pure Amazon, and nights at the Copacabana Palace, the Alvear Palace or Pikaia Lodge on either side.
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Galápagos gateway
The Galápagos & South America·Embarkation port · Galápagos, Ecuador
The small island beside Santa Cruz where many Galápagos voyages begin and end, with the islands’ main airport.
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Silver Origin departures
The Galápagos & South America·Embarkation port · Galápagos, Ecuador
The harbour town of San Cristóbal, one of the four inhabited Galápagos islands, and the start of many eastern-island voyages.
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Park headquarters
The Galápagos & South America·Port of call · Galápagos, Ecuador
The largest town in the Galápagos, home to the national park’s headquarters and the Charles Darwin Research Station.
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International Cruise Terminal
The Galápagos & South America·Home port · Brazil
Rio’s cruise terminal on Praça Mauá, in the regenerated Porto Maravilha district, with the city’s light-rail tram at the gate.
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Beach peninsula
The Galápagos & South America·Port of call · Brazil
A beach peninsula east of Rio de Janeiro, a summer call on voyages along Brazil’s coast.
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Terminal Giusfredo Santini
The Galápagos & South America·Home port · Brazil
The port for São Paulo, and the Brazilian cruise terminal that embarks and disembarks the most passengers.
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On the Río de la Plata
The Galápagos & South America·Port of call · Uruguay
Uruguay’s capital and main port on the Río de la Plata, run by the Administración Nacional de Puertos.
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Resort call
The Galápagos & South America·Port of call · Uruguay
Uruguay’s smartest beach resort, on a peninsula where the Río de la Plata meets the Atlantic.
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Port of Buenos Aires
The Galápagos & South America·Home port · Argentina
The city’s international cruise terminal, in the port of Buenos Aires near Retiro.
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Chile’s cruise home port
The Galápagos & South America·Home port · Chile
Chile’s cruise home port, with a passenger terminal linked to the ships by shuttle bus.
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DP World San Antonio
The Galápagos & South America·Home port · Chile
Chile’s largest multipurpose port, south of Valparaíso, which also receives cruise ships.
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Angelmó
The Galápagos & South America·Port of call · Chile
The gateway to Chile’s lakes and volcanoes and to Chiloé, with more than 100,000 cruise visitors a season.
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Port for Lima
The Galápagos & South America·Port of call · Peru
Peru’s main seaport, beside Lima and close to Jorge Chávez International Airport.
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Amazon gateway
The Galápagos & South America·River embarkation · Peru
The river city reached only by air or water, and the embarkation point for Peruvian Amazon voyages.
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Floating port
The Galápagos & South America·River port · Brazil
The capital of Amazonas state, on the Rio Negro, and the turning point of long Amazon voyages.
