Drone laws in Ecuador and the Galapagos: flying there as a US tourist

On mainland Ecuador you can fly a drone as a tourist if you follow the civil aviation authority's rules, including registration. In the Galapagos, the answer is no: the Galapagos National Park Directorate's 2026 drone resolution allows drones only for approved science, park management, rescue and permitted commercial or media filming, and it expressly rules out recreational and personal use. Leave the drone in your bag on the islands.

Mainland Ecuador: register with the DGAC

Ecuador's Dirección General de Aviación Civil (DGAC) regulates drones under its regulation RDAC 101, which took effect on May 5, 2025. According to the DGAC, as reported by Ecuadorian media in January 2026:

Drone registration is mandatory, free and done online.
You start from the DGAC website under "Aeronaves no tripuladas" and the "Registro UAS" button.
Processing takes two to three weeks because of demand, so apply well before your trip.

Ask the DGAC whether your specific drone and visit need registration, and keep the confirmation with you when you fly. The State Department's Ecuador page tells travelers to research Ecuador's drone rules before arriving and notes that some electronics are regulated.

Mainland flying basics

Keep the drone in sight and fly in daylight.
Stay away from airports. Quito's airport sits east of the city and Guayaquil's is close to downtown.
Don't fly over crowds, government buildings or military sites.
Never fly near wildfires or emergency operations.

Galapagos: recreational drones are banned

The Galapagos National Park Directorate issued Resolution MAE-PNG/DIR-2026-0006-RM, published in Ecuador's Official Registry No. 238 on March 6, 2026. It sets the rules for drones in the archipelago's land and marine protected areas, which cover most of the islands and the surrounding sea. Key points:

Drones are allowed only for scientific research, search and rescue, park management and monitoring, and approved commercial, news, educational or cultural filming.
Recreational or personal use is prohibited outright.
Approved operations need a DGAC remote pilot certification, a flight plan, a visual observer, liability insurance and usually a park ranger or guide on site, with a height limit of 122 m.

Breaking the rules can lead to administrative, civil and criminal action.

Which drone to bring

For a mainland trip, light drones handle the Andes best:

DJI Mini 4 Pro: 249 g with omnidirectional sensing near volcano slopes.
DJI Mini 5 Pro: 249 g, 1-inch sensor for cloud forest and highland light.
DJI Neo: 135 g for simple clips; struggles in strong mountain wind.

Quito is around 2,800 m above sea level, so expect shorter flight times. Read flying a drone in cold weather for battery tips.

Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with Ecuador's DGAC and the Galapagos National Park Directorate.

Pack batteries correctly with traveling with a drone, and compare more countries in drone laws by country.