To preserve its pristine environment, only 1,708 people are allowed in the Galápagos National Park at any given time. Controlling the amount of visitors to the remarkable islands contributes greatly to the protection of the rich ecosystem so it can be enjoyed in a sustainable way for years to come. Santa Cruz II is a 50-cabin touring boat which offers unrivalled guiding in the Galapagos Islands while ensuring the utmost care is taken to preserve the delicate ecosystem via the latest in sustainable sailing technologies. Journey Latin America offers seven-night holidays from £4,199 per person.
In summer 2015, Barcelona's new mayor Ada Colau said the Spanish city had reached "saturation point" and needed to limit the number of tourists visiting to stop it "becoming Venice". While the cap is yet to be introduced, local authorities are already trying to control the hordes by requiring time-restricted entry tickets for top attractions, including Gaudi's Parc Güell and the Sagrada Familia cathedral.
Nearly 72 people travel to Uganda's Bwindi National Park each day, but only eight are allowed to see a gorilla family. Gane and Marshall offers a three-day Low-Cost Gorilla Safari in Bwindi, including accommodation in simple rest camps and travel mostly by private 4x4, along with internal flights. The experience of wildlife tracking can last from one to eight hours, depending on the location of the gorillas. Keen hikers will love exploring Bwindi, a beautiful jungle environment that houses a huge array of other wildlife too. The tour costs from £755 per person for groups of eight people.
- This archipelago of islands off the coast of north-east Brazil is a little piece of paradise. Fernando de Noronha and the ocean around are both a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning visitor numbers are strictly limited: no more than 460 tourists are allowed on the island at any one time. It’s impossibly beautiful as one of the best places in the world for snorkelling and scuba diving, with dozens of gorgeous and practically deserted beaches, as well as clear warm water year-round. Real World Holidays offers tailor-made holidays to Brazil including a visit to Fernando de Noronha.
- Antarctica has strong restrictions on tourism and traveller numbers in order to help protect and sustain the fragile ecosystem of the spectacular white continent. The Antarctic Treaty states that ships with more than 500 passengers are barred from landing sites, and that landings are restricted to one vessel at a time per site, with a maximum of 100 passengers allowed on shore at a time. Full Circle Travel offers a nine-day luxury camping holiday at Whichaway Camp, from £46,000 per person including experienced polar explorers guiding the trip which runs just three times a year.
Only 100 people at a time can hike the famous Milford Track to Milford Sound in New Zealand due to the temperate rainforest being too fragile. The Milford Track takes five days to hike and there is accommodation for only 100 people each night at the hostels or lodges along the way. To experience what is arguably the best walk in New Zealand, you should book well in advance. Silver Fern Holidays offers a five-day Guided Walking holiday along the Milford Track (55km in total) from £1,275 per person including the services of an expert leader, four nights’ accommodation, all meals and a cruise on Milford Sound.
- A maximum number of 500 Inca Trail permits are issued each day (this includes 200 permits for tourists and 300 for cooks, porters and guides), plus the government closes the trail throughout February every year in order to maintain and clean the route. The 27-mile route, which connects numerous Inca archaeological sites and ends at Machu Picchu, is incredibly popular and one of the world's disappearing wonders. Discover Adventure offers a ten-day trek from £2,149 per person including flights, accommodation, Inca Trail trekking permit, entrance to Machu Picchu and most meals.
- One of the world's most exclusive surfing waves, Occy's Left, can be found off Indonesia's Sumba Island. Surfers travel from all over the world to ride it and only 10 people are allowed to at any one time in order to keep disruption to the surrounding reef at a minimum. Occy's Left crashes onto the private beach at intimate retreat Nihiwatu. The resort is set within 580 acres of land (only 10 per cent of which is developed) and one and a half miles of pristine beach. Along with luxury villas, it comprises a bar and restaurant pavilions, boathouse and jungle spa. Villas cost from $900 per night on a full-board basis.
This Australian island, often described as paradise, sits in the Tasman Sea and allows only 400 visitors at any one time. There are 350 residents on Lord Howe Island and you won't find mobile reception, power lines or high-rise buildings here. You can enjoy hiking through palm forests to the top of Mount Gower, snorkelling the world's southernmost coral reef and walking the white sand beaches. The island's charming village is just one street and with cars restricted, the best way to get around is by bike.
In 2014, it was reported that California's Yosemite National Park is planning a visitor cap in its most popular areas. Most tourists visit the Yosemite Valley, home to the Half Dome and El Capitan granite monoliths. The number of visitors to Yosemite Valley will be limited to 18,710 a day. To ease congestion, the plans include adding shuttle buses and improving traffic flow. Once capacity is reached, cars will be turned away and directed to other areas of the park.
Spain's Balearic and Canary Islands are considering capping the number of tourists visiting over the summer to protect its natural beauty. The president of the Canaries said: "We have to set a limit that is respectful of our environment and that does not deteriorate and end up killing our added value, which is nature, our space and the quality that we offer." The Balearics (Mallorca, Formentera, Menorca and Ibiza) welcome 14 million tourists each year, while the Canaries, which include Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife, receive 13 million visitors.