This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
On July 14, 2020, the Ecuadorian government announced the gradual reopening of tourist sites in the Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, after a three-month coronavirus lockdown.
According to the environment ministry, visitors must adhere to strict biosecurity protocols, including wearing masks and using disinfectant gel. In populated areas, the maximum stay will be limited to three hours.
The Galapagos Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador, were made famous by 19th-century English naturalist Charles Darwin's studies of their breathtaking biodiversity.
Despite the lockdown, the archipelago has recorded only 100 COVID-19 infections, with a total of 30,000 inhabitants. In contrast, mainland Ecuador has reported 68,500 cases and over 5,000 deaths, with an additional 3,277 suspected deaths.
The islands, which received 271,200 visitors in 2019, are now slowly reopening to tourists, with the environment ministry working to balance economic revitalization with public health concerns.
