The rapid growth of tourism in heritage destinations such as the Galapagos Is-lands (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) poses significant challenges for conservation and land management. Assessing the tourist carrying capacity of the islands' geological sites (geosites) is essential for preserving their natural and geomorphological heritage. This analysis allows for the regulation of visitor flows, minimizing environmental impacts, and promoting sustainable tourism that benefits local communities. This research aims to evaluate ten geosites on San Cristóbal Island using tourist carrying capacity (TCC) for their conservation and sustainable tourism development, in the context of a geopark. The methodology used was: i) review and collection of information on the ten geosites, ii) evaluation of the TCC, iii) proposal of management and conservation strategies. The number of visits, proposed by the carrying capacity assessment, ranged from 40 to 955 per day, with Playa Mann and Frigate Bird Hill standing out for their large size to accommodate tourists and adequate facilities adapted to tourism. This analysis made it possible to propose sustainable development strategies based on the pillars of geotourism, geoeducation, and geoconservation. A fundamental part of this is the participation of public, private, and government entities through programs that promote awareness and the spread of sustainable tourism, applying geocommunication of the unique values of each geosite. Future research should address issues of environmental, social, and cultural impact assessments at geosites using complementary methodologies to determine their influence on management.
Natural heritage is associated with geological heritage, as both focus on places where geological
processes and landscapes characteristic of the area exist, uniquely promoting scientific, educational, and
cultural interest in sites of geological interest (geosites) [
Volcanic islands demonstrate the importance of tourism in sites of geological interest, such as the
Galapagos Islands (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978), due to their biodiversity and
natural environments [
Geotourism is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative form of tourism that focuses on social,
cultural, environmental, and economic sustainability criteria to benefit society and the environment
[
The CCT refers to the maximum number of visitors that a site of geological interest can support
without afecting its environment (physical, social, economic, and environmental). The CCT is a tool
that helps us plan and maintain sustainable management, allowing us to make decisions regarding
access regulation, tourism development, and ecosystem preservation [
The Galápagos Islands are located approximately 1,000 km of the mainland coast of Ecuador and are
known for their biodiversity and natural environments. They consist of 13 main volcanic islands, six
smaller islands, and 107 small islets [
San Cristóbal Island is located at the eastern end of the Galápagos archipelago and has an area of
558 km2 [
Carrión-Mero et. al. [
The aim of this study is to evaluate the TCC of ten geosites on San Cristóbal Island by calculating the physical, actual, and efective TCC for the development of conservation and sustainable tourism strategies in the context of a geopark, allowing for the proper management of the sites. This study will provide a better overview of the number of visitors that geological sites of interest can support, enabling better control of visitor numbers, protecting the ecosystem, reducing environmental impact, and fostering an eficient social culture of site preservation.
Determining the TCC at geosites is a fundamental step for the efective and eficient management of these sites. In addition, this study contributes to strengthening the definition of sustainable tourism in the preservation of sites of geological interest. In this study, the methodology used was carried out in three phases: i) review and collection of information on the ten geosites, ii) assessment of carrying capacity, iii) proposal of management and conservation strategies (SWOT analysis) (Figure 2).
Phase 1 consisted of reviewing and analyzing bibliographic information that was evaluated in the study
area, considering its geological importance in scientific dissemination. For this study, ten of the sites
assessed by Carrión-Mero et al. [
Frigate Bird Hill • It is a cone-shaped hill eroded by the waves. • Observation of frigatebirds, sea lions, peli
cans, and seagulls. • Access is by land. • Activities include hiking, bird watching, pho
tography, flora sighting, and snorkeling. • It is a cone-shaped hill of tuf eroded by the
waves. • Gas bubbles formed in low-viscosity lava. • Diferent species can be found here, such as
Darwin’s finches, blue-footed boobies, green turtles, and Galápagos marine iguanas. • It is one of the first sites visited by Charles
Darwin. • Access is by sea. • It has the largest tuf cone on the island. • Its proximity to the sea has caused erosion of the vertical walls where pyroclastic material is found. • Blue-footed and red-footed boobies can be
seen, as well as masked boobies. • It is located at the eastern end and can only
be accessed by sea. • Snorkeling, photography, sport fishing, hiking, and flora and fauna observation are popular activities. • t is a white sand beach due to the fragmenta
tion of shells. • Sea lions, frigatebirds, iguanas, seagulls, and
pelicans can be seen. • Access is by land. • It is a horseshoe-shaped white sand bay with
large basalt lava flows. • It has dry forest vegetation. • Access is by land. Frigatebirds, iguanas, seag
ulls, pelicans, and sea lions can be observed. • It is a small bay with access to caves formed
by the solidification of lava flows. • Galapagos green turtles and land finches can
be observed. • Access is by sea. SGI-7 SGI-8 SGI-9 SGI-10
Rosa Blanca Bay • It is a beach with a variety of dunes and natural pools due to the weathering of basaltic lava. • Species such as white and black tip sharks,
moray eels, and green turtles can be observed. • Basaltic rocks cover the coastal lagoons, pro
viding natural shelter for species (birds). • It is a mangrove bay with a coral beach and
volcanic rocks. • Species such as manta rays, turtles, and sea
lions can be observed. • Sport fishing, photography, bird watching, and turtle and sea lion watching are popular activities. • Access is by sea. • It is a basalt lava clif in the surrounding area. • Species such as Galapagos lava lizards, bluefooted boobies, frigatebirds, and pelicans can be observed. • Access is by land. • It is a lagoon located within the caldera (col
lapsed cone) of an inactive volcano. • It is located at an altitude of 500 m. • Junco (plant species), frigatebirds, and white
tailed ducks can be observed. • It has a surface area of 6 ha and a volume
equivalent to 35 million liters of water.
Some authors have proposed methodologies for evaluating TCC. Cifuentes discusses the calculation
of TCC in tourist areas [
The TCC at the islands’ geosites is essential for the conservation of natural and geomorphological heritage. Calculating the TCC will make it easier to obtain information on how many visits the geological sites of interest can withstand, allowing us to identify potential hazards (physical, biological, and human activities) that afect the degradation of the heritage. Table 2 shows the TCC values for the 10 geosites.
Acantilado Las Negritas was the geosite with a high PCC value (8,765 visits per day); however, it
dropped to 90 visitors per day in ECC. El Junco follows with 7,725 visits per day in PCC, and its value in
ECC is reduced to 92 visits per day. These reductions are mainly due to the correction factors stipulated,
such as the social factor (group visits), rainfall, and solar conditions (as it is a trail in an open area, there
are days with higher solar radiation or rainfall, which influences visits to the site), and the maintenance
factor (the site needs cleaning days). Frigate Bird Hill has a lower number of visits per year (31,755)
compared to the 2024 annual visitor report for the Galápagos National Park (66,000) [
Geosites such as Punta Pitt, Witch Hill, and Frigate Bird Hill ofer a large area for visitors, but
they have the disadvantage of having sections with slopes between 10% and 20% and sections with
slopes greater than 20%, which makes access dificult for vulnerable groups (older people). A similar
case occurs in the study by Jaya-Montalvo et al., who propose the TCC on Santa Cruz Island and use
correction factors to establish the ECC of the geosites on the island [
Punta Carola Point, Punta Pucuna, Rosa Blanca Bay, and Sardina Bay are geosites that have a higher ECC value due to their large areas. These geosites can only be reached by boat, making access dificult and hindering tourists from fully exploring them. 3.2. Proposed management and conservation strategies With the information obtained from the previous points, an analysis is carried out using a SWOT matrix (Table 3). This study focuses on proposing strategies aimed at geotourism, geoeducation, and geoconservation. These strategies will contribute to the management and conservation of geosites.
The strategies will help us develop sustainable tourism and preserve geosites. Based on the analysis carried out, proposals for a strategy focused on geotourism, geoeducation, and geoconservation are established.
1. Geotourism: i) Implementation of activities that promote the growth of geotourism, adapting it to the community, ii) Improvement of the infrastructure and safety of geosites. • There is much diversity (flora and fauna). • It has high potential for research interest. • It has great geodiversity. • It has a high demand for tourist interest. • It has many geosites that contribute to history, culture, and landscaping.
Weaknesses • Lack of authorized guides and safety at the
sites. • Most sites are visited by boat, and there is
little awareness of them. • Guides and administrators lack adequate
geological knowledge of the sites. • They focus only on the natural aspects. • The infrastructure of the sites needs improvement.
Opportunities • Good management of tourist sites. • Recognition as a UNESCO geopark. • Strengthening of educational, cultural, and
knowledge values, focusing on geosites. • Training campaigns for residents on the
care and preservation of their environment. • An entity to manage geosites in tourism development.
Threats • Uncontrolled tourism. • An excess of tourists could lead to the spread of disease (as happened with
COVID-19). • Lack of safety for tourists at sites and due
care. • Food shortages due to an excess of tourists. • Degradation of sites of geological interest due to neglect in the maintenance and control of tourists. 2. Geoeducation: i) Develop training campaigns for tour operators (guides and administrators) on geotourism issues applied to sites of geological interest, ii) Strengthen ties between institutions (public, private, and governmental) that contribute to research, educational, and cultural growth. 3. Geoconservation: i) Manage the care and conservation of geosites through multidisciplinary projects to enhance sustainability, ii) Invite entities to invest financially in the promotion and conservation of geodiversity.
The consolidation of geotourism in the aforementioned geosites allows us to continue improving conservation management and sustainable tourism. This can be of great help in the Galapagos Geopark proposal, which boasts incredible diversity and already has two UNESCO designations. By presenting this plan for the geosites, the relevant authorities will take action to improve infrastructure, diversify tourist services, and provide greater security for the sites.
In geoeducation, there should be greater participation from the political, public, and private sectors
in introducing geotourism education programs in educational institutions. This will help strengthen
relations between the community, government, and academia. The academic industry can collaborate
in the development of geotourism management tactics through research and scientific dissemination
that contribute to knowledge of geological heritage and improve the quality of tourism. An example of
scientific contribution is the study by Kelly and Salazar, who mention the geosites in the Galapagos
Islands that are used for geological education programs for university students in the US [
This study determines the TCC of the 10 geosites located on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos. The data obtained provides us with valuable guidance for the sustainable management of geosites, thereby strengthening conservation for the proper use of the sites. Acantilado Las Negritas a trail that obtained the highest PCC value with 8,765 visits per day, followed by El Junco (7,725) and Witch Hill (7,270). In open areas (i.e., beaches), sites such as Punta Carola Point, Punta Pucuna, Rosa Blanca Bay, and Sardina Bay attract visitors, but their ECC value is reduced due to factors such as accessibility (by boat), weather, and maintenance days. Sites such as Punta Pitt, Witch Hill and Frigates Bird Hill are trails with a large area available for visitors, but they have the disadvantage of having sections with slopes between 10% and 20% and sections with slopes greater than 20%, which makes access dificult for vulnerable groups (older people), reducing their ECC value.
This study proposes strategies focused on three main areas: geotourism, geoeducation, and geoconservation, which contribute to sustainable tourism and the care of geosites. The importance of these strategies highlights the need to expand tourism activities, increase awareness of geosites, generate interest, and boost economic activity in local communities. In geoeducation, the importance of education and communication between the local and tourist communities and the government in power is highlighted for the dissemination of sustainable geotourism and research growth. And in the field of geoconservation, the importance of caring for biodiversity and geological heritage is highlighted. This is vitally important for preserving geosites so that future generations can enjoy them.
Future research should address issues of environmental, social, and cultural impact assessments at geosites using complementary methodologies to determine their influence on management. This will give us a better scientific understanding of geosites, contributing to the eficient and efective management of geotourism for the benefit of the population, and in turn promoting the Geopark project.
This work was supported by the research project “Registro de sitios de interés geológicos del Ecuador para estrategias de desarrollo sostenible” (CIPAT-004-2024) of the ESPOL Polytechnic University.
The authors have not employed any Generative AI tools.