Repatriation from Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galápagos Islands, 973 kilometres off the Ecuadorian coast in the Pacific Ocean, are among the most visited destinations in Latin America for British tourists. The islands’ unique biodiversity, their role in Charles Darwin’s formulation of evolutionary theory (Darwin visited aboard HMS Beagle in 1835), and the UNESCO World Heritage designation attract naturalists, divers, and wildlife photographers. This British connection gives the islands a specific resonance for UK families.

Deaths on the Galápagos carry compounding logistics challenges: the islands are served by two airports (Seymour Airport on Baltra, GPS; and San Cristóbal Airport, SCY), and human remains must be transported to mainland Ecuador before international repatriation can be completed. The body must first reach Guayaquil (José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, GYE) or Quito (Mariscal Sucre International Airport, UIO) on the mainland.

There are no forensic pathology facilities on the Galápagos. All forensic examinations take place on the mainland.

Consular coverage

The British Embassy Quito (Naciones Unidas Av. y República de El Salvador, Edif. Citiplaza, Quito) and the British Consulate Guayaquil cover British nationals throughout Ecuador, including the Galápagos. The Embassy in Quito is the primary contact.

British Embassy Quito: +593 2 297 0800. FCDO 24-hour: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

What Ecuadorian law requires

Código Orgánico Integral Penal (COIP, Organic Integral Penal Code, 2014): All sudden, violent, and unexplained deaths are reported to the Policía Nacional. The Fiscalía General del Estado (Attorney General) oversees criminal investigations. The Fiscalía can order a forensic autopsy via the Sistema Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses.

Registro Civil: Deaths are registered at the Dirección Nacional de Registro Civil, Identificación y Cedulación. The acta de defunción (death certificate) is issued locally in the Galápagos but may need to be validated at the provincial registry.

Galápagos special jurisdiction: The Galápagos Islands are governed under the Special Law for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Province of Galápagos (Ley de Galápagos No. 000-27, 1998). The Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galápagos and the Parque Nacional Galápagos (PNG) have oversight responsibilities that can affect logistics, especially for deaths occurring in protected national park waters or land areas.

Ministerio de Salud Pública (MSP) export permit: The Ministry of Public Health issues the permiso sanitario de traslado internacional (international health transport permit) before the body leaves Ecuador.

Source: Código Orgánico Integral Penal 2014 (Ecuador); Ley de Régimen Especial para la Conservación y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Provincia de Galápagos No. 000-27/1998; 2025.

Medical coverage

Hospital General República del Ecuador (Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristóbal) and the hospital in Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz) are the main health facilities on the islands. Their capacity for complex trauma is limited. Air medical evacuation to Guayaquil is the standard response to serious emergencies. Travel insurance with evacuation cover is non-negotiable for Galápagos travel.

The documentation chain

1. Acta de defunción from Registro Civil (Galápagos local office, Santa Cruz or San Cristóbal). 2. Policía Nacional investigation report. 3. Fiscalía General release of body. 4. Forensic post-mortem on mainland Ecuador (Guayaquil or Quito — requires body transfer from Galápagos to mainland, approximately 2 to 3 hours by commercial flight on LATAM or Avianca). 5. MSP permiso sanitario de traslado internacional. 6. Embalming at an approved Guayaquil or Quito funeral home. 7. Air cargo from GYE (Guayaquil) or UIO (Quito) to LHR. KLM, Iberia, Air France, and LATAM serve Ecuador with connections to LHR via Amsterdam, Madrid, or Paris.

Timeline from Galápagos

• Natural death at sea or on island, expected: 21 to 35 days (mainland transfer adds minimum 5 to 7 days)
• Accident or investigation case: 35 to 56 days
• Deaths in national park protected areas (requiring PNG clearance): add 7 to 21 additional days

The mainland transfer is unavoidable and should be budgeted for — both in terms of time and logistics cost — in every Galápagos case.

For repatriation guidance, reach our team via the enquiry form or WhatsApp.

See also the Ecuador repatriation guide.

Information based on Código Orgánico Integral Penal 2014 (Ecuador); Ley de Galápagos No. 000-27/1998. Last reviewed May 2026.