Can You Move to The Galapogos Islands? A Local Explanation

Moving to an island paradise is on many people’s dreamy bucket lists. Spending your days in the sea and sun, experiencing the slower pace of life that islands are so famous for…it’s all very alluring.

Unfortunately, we’re here to break the bad news.

While you might be hoping for a grand adventure in one of the world’s most extraordinarily diverse locations, you’ll have to fit into a pretty narrow group to be allowed to move to the Galapagos. But don’t let that dash your hopes of seeing this magical place!

We live on the lovely island of Santa Cruz and we’re delighted to welcome visitors from all over the world to Academy Bay Diving. We are passionate about protecting the diverse wildlife in the Galapagos as well as giving you a holiday experience to remember!

While it’s not the same as moving here, we’d love for you to join us on one of our Daily Galapagos Island Tours or our diving expeditions! If you’d like to find out more, please get in touch.

For now, let’s dive deeper (see what we did there?) into why you can’t (easily) move to the Galapagos Islands.

So Why Can’t You Move to the Galapagos?

You can only move to the Galapogos if you meet certain requirements, such as marrying someone from the Galapagos or being granted permission to stay there for a set period of time to carry out research.

There’s no need to despair, though; you can still visit the Galapagos. And, with a tourist visa, you can stay in this beautiful location for up to 60 days!

There are such strict immigration rules in place concerning the Galapagos in order to ensure the protection and conservation of the ecosystem.

Overpopulation could lead to serious issues for the flora and fauna in the islands. The Galapagos archipelago is a priceless living laboratory for scientists, so we can’t risk putting our beautiful islands at risk.

Let’s go through all the ways you can make the most of your visit to the Galapagos, whilst also learning a bit more about why our ecosystem must be protected.

The Diverse Marine Life on the Galapagos Islands

One of the reasons why you can’t move to the Galapagos Islands is because there are strict laws in place to protect our diverse ocean life. Understandably, our underwater friends are also why so many people want to visit!

There are plenty of ways to experience our magical ocean life in a sustainable way. And that is where Academy Bay Diving comes in!

We don’t just take out certified divers to experience the marvels of this place up-close. We also teach local conservation practices and ensure that every visitor takes extra care to not have a negative impact on the environment.

So let’s learn a little more about our friends under the sea!

The Galapagos Islands are located in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and are home to three strong currents which circulate constantly: the Humboldt Current, the Panama Flow, and the Cromwell Current.

The latter currents carry large amounts of nutrients up from the depths, which in turn contribute to the incredible variety of life. In total, there are nearly 3,000 unique marine species here.

Many of the most recognizable marine creatures endemic to the Galapagos are sharks. The White Tipped Reef Shark is commonly spotted; they are easily identified by the white tips on their dorsal and tail fins. If you’d like the chance to see some sharks in the wild, join us on one of our Galapagos Diving Tours

Experiencing the wonders of the Galapagos Islands underwater is a true bucket-list adventure for divers. If you’d like to learn more about what it’s like to dive with some marine life, take a look at our article talking about diving with sharks

Plant life in the Galapagos

The Galapagos is home to 552 species of plants, 372 of which are endemic to these islands. The special climate conditions here encourage a wondrous variety of wildlife and plants to prosper.

Did you know that Charles Darwin based his theory of evolution on the Galapagos? While the finches he studied were key to his theory, the Palo Santo tree is a perfect example of adaptation. These trees shed their leaves during dry periods, allowing them to conserve water and survive.

During our Galapagos Day Tours, we make sure visitors get to experience the unique places and landscapes that make up the mind-boggling variety in this archipelago. It’s the best way to experience the wonders of the Galapagos!

Wildlife in the Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands are akin to a secret garden; they are full of mystery and wonder and are home to some of the world’s most beautiful creatures. The islands are home to nearly 9000 different species — which is a jaw-dropping number!

Some are only native to the Galapagos Islands themselves, such as the Galapagos Tortoises. These gentle giants can live up to 100 years and act like they’re on vacation all year round, eating tasty cactus snacks, sunbathing, and resting for nearly 16 hours a day.

How to Make the Most of a Visit to The Galapagos

While you likely won’t be allowed to move to the Galapagos, you can certainly make the most of your visit!

There are myriad ways you can enjoy everything our home has to offer, but here’s our list of activities you HAVE to check out.

Scuba Diving in the Galapagos

There’s no better way to see our diverse marine life and ocean ecosystems than to see them up close and personal on one of our Galapagos scuba diving trips. Our guides will ensure your safety at all times so you can just have fun and explore everything our shores have to offer.

Hiking in the Galapagos

Hiking in the Galapagos is an absolute must. There are many places to visit but we recommend you explore Sullivan Bay first of all. On this hike, you’ll literally trek over a blackened lava flow —- how cool is that?

Take a Tour of the Galapagos

We may be biased, but we truly think there’s no better way to experience the Galapagos than to take part in a guided tour. Our tour guides are passionate about the Galapagos, and this passion is infectious!

By the end of our tours, you’ll feel like you could join David Attenborough to narrate the next Galapagos documentary.

We highly recommend our Discover Galapagos tour package for the first tour with us. This tour will give you a taste of everything the islands have to offer, and you won’t go home feeling like you missed something!

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little bit more about our fantastic Galapagos Islands. While you probably won’t be moving to the Galapagos anytime soon, hopefully you feel even feel inspired to visit. If you’d like to learn more about the scuba diving experiences or Galapagos tours we offer, please do get in touch.