In 1959, the Ecuadorian government set aside 1,714,000 acres (693,700 ha), 90% of the Galapagos Islands as a National Park. All the lands not already included in the settlement areas were designated and incorporated into the park. In 1967 a park service was set up in the islands and 5 years later the first park superintendent arrived.

The Galapagos National Park Service works hand in hand with the Charles Darwin Research Station implementing their common goals of conservation and preservations of the natural resources with the Galapagos National Park and Galapagos Marine Reserve. The park service approves all itineraries of boats visiting the islands making sure that the tourism is distributed evenly throughout the islands. They also work as the licensing board for guides in the islands.

Park rules and regulations have been developed in an effort to protect the area resources. Rather than patrol boats for enforcement, the park utilizes certified guide who accompanies all visitors enforcing rules through education.

The Galapagos Islands are one of the most magical places on earth. Here animals live without fear and do not run away from visitors. To maintain the uniqueness of the Galapagos Islands the National Park Service has developed rules to aid in the preservation. Your naturalist-guide will explain and enforce these rules making sure that all visitors stay together on marked paths and respect the follow the other park service regulations.

1.  Because of its unique nature, the plants, animals and rocks should stay on site so that there is no alteration.  Nothing may be taken from the islands except photos.
2. Each island in the archipelago is a unique place because of its flora, fauna and scenery.  Introduction of foreign organisms such as animals, seeds, plants and insects causes serious problems.  Your cooperation is very important in avoiding that this occurs.
3. Galápagos animals should not be touched or petted for your safety and because they can quickly loose their tameness and change their behavior.
4. The endemic and native fauna of Galápagos has its natural form for feeding.  Therefore, do not give them any type of good because it could harm them.
5. Each year millions of people visit the Galápagos Islands.  Imagine what would happen if each of them took a shell, plant or disturbed an animal?
6. The Galápagos marine birds leave their nests if you disturb or follow them.  They let their eggs or chicks follow on the ground or leave them exposed to the sun.  Therefore you may watch the birds at a distance of no less than two meters.
7. To keep the islands in their best possible natural state, bringing any live organism from the continent or even relocating one from the islands is prohibited.  Plants, seeds, insects, plagues and illnesses are dangerous for the fragile island ecosystem.
8. Visitors’ sites at the Galápagos National Park are marked and indicated to guarantee your safety.  You cannot leave the paths.
9. Fishing on board tourist ships is not permitted.
10. Garbage of any type interferes with natural processes and takes away the enchantment of the unique island scenery.  Do not throw away garbage at visitors’ sites, in the ocean or near the islands.   Sea lions take cans that they deposit at the bottom of the sea and play with them hurting their noises.  Plastic can be eaten by marine tortoises and they can die from an intestinal blockage.  Do not leave anything on the islands except for your footprints.
11. On the inhabited islands you can buy objects with Galápagos themes made of wood, ceramics, etc.  Purchasing souvenirs made of black coral, marine tortoise shells, sea lion fangs, shells goes against the principles of conservation.
12. Writing the name and phrase of any type on rocks, walls, etc. is a sign of bad manners and rudeness and damages the scenery.  Remember:  “Your immortality is not more important than the nature of the islands.”
13. Fire or smoking within the areas of the Park is not allowed.  Remember than a fire could start with a match or a cigarette that is not put out completely.  Through negligence in 1985 and 1994 Isabel Island suffered great fires.
14. If you want to camp at authorized tourist sites you must request a permit from the Park Director.
15. Professional filming requires special authorizations from the Director of the Galápagos National Park.
16. Before you endanger a visitor’s safety and that of the National Park, please advise a Park Ranger, Police authorities, Ecuadorian Navy or CAPTURGAL.
17. Don’t be embarrassed to show your conservationist attitude.  Explain to others the rules of Galápagos National Park and make them follow them.

Found at the confluence of warm and cold surface currents and deep cold upwelling waters, the waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands are home to a fascinating ecological system. These waters were unprotected until recently and became vulnerable to the pressures of increased human presence, fishing and tourism.

Marine life in the Galapagos waters is closely related to the life on the islands. Island animals depend on the ocean.  Birds and animals existing near the water has a variety of distinctive habitats and endemic species including the world's only sea-going lizard, the Marine Iguana. Other notable wildlife includes the Sea Lion, Fur Seal, Galapagos Penguin, Flightless Cormorant, Waved Albatross, Lava Gull and Swallow-Tailed Gull.

The waters surrounding the Galapagos are home to 3000 species of  marine plants and animals. Diving in the Galapagos is quickly expanding; divers seek the experience of spectacular marine life including Whale Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Hammerheads, Manta Rays and Leopard Rays.

In the past few years fishing in the Galapagos has boomed. Fishermen come with lines and nets hunting for tuna. Divers seek lobsters and sea cucumbers. During the 1990's fishing for sea cucumber to supply the Asian market greatly depleted that resource. Now even though illegal the fishing continues. Another lucrative and controversial practice is fishing for shark fins. These fishermen hunt the sharks merely for their fins, leaving the rest of the animal. This depletes the area of this important predator and the attraction of divers.

In 1992 a management plan was created for the Galapagos Marine Reserve, but due to lack of organization and involvement it went basically ignored. In 1997 renewed effort have brought about dramatic changes to the preserving the marine environment. All of the local sectors (fishing, tourism and conservation) have been brought together to negotiate protecting these resources. Finally in 1998 The Galapagos Marine Reserve was created. Designed to protect the waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands and the resources they contain.

The Galapagos Marine Reserve Law provides for the following:

• The incorporation of the Marine Reserve into the National System of Protected Areas
• The Marine Reserve area is increased from 15 - 40 miles (24-64 km) from the base line
• The Galapagos National Park Service is established as the authority in charge of administration, management and control of the marine reserve, as well as coordinating control with the Fisheries Ministry and the Navy.
• Establishing a multi-sector management board consisting of the Galapagos National Park Service and the users of the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

Whether you charter a boat or bring your own, all visitors to the Galapagos National Park are required to travel with a Certified guide. These naturalist guides are trained in conservation and natural sciences by the Charles Darwin Foundation and licensed by the Galapagos National Park Service. The guides work as the first line of defense protecting the park's natural resources through education. They accompany visitors ashore interpreting the natural wonders of the islands while enforcing the park rules and regulations.

The guides have become the eyes and ears of both National Park Service and Darwin Station. They are out everyday in every area of the archipelago the guides are among the first to observe fires, eruptions, and introduced animals.  Galapagos guides have also been responsible for identifying Iguanas and Tortoises in areas where they were thought to be extinct.

Traditional top-level guides held a Class III license. These international guides held a university degree in the natural sciences, were fluent in English, trained at the Darwin Station and Certified. Most of the Luxury Boats and First Class Boats offer  Class III guides where as moderate and budget boats offer a new generation of bilingual national Class II guide who have received training at the National Park by the Charles Darwin Research Station.

Special interest trips including Photography and Birding often have a tour leader accompanying the guide. Tour Leaders are not necessarily trained at the Darwin Station nor holders of an appropriate license. Instead they are experts in the field and have come to the Galapagos to hold a seminar or seminars on their subject of expertise.

Trips featuring dive itineraries have dive guides. These guides hold both a Galapagos Guide License and a separate Dive License. Many of the boats that take diving seriously will have a dive leader on board as well. This person may not have the Galapagos Guide License, but often has had much more experience running dive trips abroad, often in the Caribbean.

A National Park Entrance Fee is required from all visitors entering the Galapagos National Park and/or Galapagos Marine Reserve. The park fee payable in US Dollars may be paid at the airport upon arrival in the Galapagos Islands or can be pre-paid by arrangement with your tour operator. A remit granting access to the National Park and Marine Reserve is given as a receipt.

Park Fees are distributed as follows:  

The park permit is submitted to National Park Officials at the point of entry (normally at the Baltra or San Cristobal airport), where it is processed and recorded. It is imperative to retain the permit and have it available at the time of entrance. Persons not having a permit for any reason, including misplaced permits, will be required to purchase a new permit to enter the National Park.  Additionally there is a new Immigration Control card required for all those entering the islands.  The price of the control card is $10 per person.  This is an additional cost over and above the park fee and the cost of your cruise or stay.