Galapagos travel planner - Inspection and Quarantine system (SICGAL)
At the airport your bags will be inspected. It is not only safety precautions found on all flights around the world. The inspection will also be to avoid introduction for harmfull species to the Islands.
Many visitors in the past have innocently introduced species that have caused ecological damage to the Galapagos Islands. In general terms you are not allowed to bring the following on your trip to the Islands:
Plantlife in form of: Fruits, seeds, flowers or other live plants that could possibly be planted or carry diseases to the Islands.
Animals: NO PETS ALLOWED!
Alien species continue to be the biggest threat to the fragile Galapagos ecosystems. Increased human movement to the Galapagos augmented the risk of alien species introduction through various pathways such as cargo boats and airplanes. Therefore to prevent further incursions, the Galapagos inspection and quarantine system (SICGAL) was established in 2000.
The Invertebrate Department assists the Ecuadorian Plant Quarantine Service (SESA) in the implementation of an efficient quarantine system specific to the Galápagos Islands. In December of 2002, the Ecuadorian President signed into law the new “Regulation for the Total Control Plan for Invasive Species.” CDRS is working closely with SESA to facilitate the implementation of this important regulation, to train SICGAL inspectors and to help elaborate and set up the necessary quarantine and inspection procedures. In an effort to detect new incursions of invasive species, the CDRS, in collaboration with SESA, is implementing a long-term surveillance and early detection system in the four inhabited islands, as part of the second barrier of the Galápagos Quarantine System.
