How is your Galapagos National Park tax distributed?

Upon arrival at the Galapagos aiports (either Baltra or Puerto Baquerizo) you have to pay an entrance fee to the Galapagos Islands National Park.

Visitors pay this entree fee regardless if they are staying at a hotel, taking a Galapagos Cruise , staying 1 night or 7 nights.

Depending on your nationality and age the fee varies:

Domestic and foreign tourists under 2 years of age are exempt from this tax.
Foreign tourists, non-residents of Ecuador over 12 years US $100
Foreign tourists, non-residents of Ecuador under 12 years US $50
Foreign tourists non-residents of Ecuador over 12 years,
nationals of one of the countries belonging to the Andean Community
of Nations or Mercosur US $50
Foreign tourists non-residents of Ecuador under 12 years,
nationals of one of the countries belonging to the Andean Community of Nations or Mercosur US $25
Tourists and foreign nationals residing in Ecuador, over 12 years  US $6
Tourists and foreign nationals residing in Ecuador, under 12 years US $3
Tourists, students not living in Ecuador who are enrolled
in national educational institutions US $25

The money collected at the airport is distributed to serve several entities and projects that help protect the Islands in many aspects.

40% goes to the Galapagos National Park
25% is distributed amonst the 4 municipalities in Galapagos (Puerto Ayora, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Puerto Villamil and Puerto Velazco Ibarra)
10% goes to the Galapagos National Institute
10% goes to the Galapagos province administration
5% goes to the Ecuadorian Navy in Galapagos
5% goes to the Quarantine studies and protection against invasive species
5% goest to the Galapagos marine reserve

Each of these institutions play its part in the protection and sustainable development of the Galapagos archipelago.

There are proposals to increase the Galapagos park tax for 2012, this is being studied and will be anounced in January 2012.