What to Pack for a Trip to Galapagos

After you have booked your trip to the Galapagos Islands, the next step is to figure out what to pack for the journey. Traveling to the Galapagos for the first time is exciting, but in order to get the most from your trip, you need to equip yourself with the appropriate provisions.

  1. 1 Small backpack (waterproof)
  2. Comfortable walking shoes
  3. Sneakers with rubber soles
  4. Shorts
  5. Long pants
  6. T-shirts
  7. Long and Short-sleeved shirts
  8. Windbreaker
  9. Bathing suit -wetsuit for snorkeling in cold months
  10. Socks
  11. Hat or cap
  12. Toilette kit (biodegradable shampoo please)
  13. Sunblock
  14. Sunglasses
  15. Binoculars
  16. Camera & camcorder
  17. Any medicine you may be taking
  18. Book/ Notebook

Get ready for an unforgettable vacation with Santa Cruz II!

When It Comes to Packing, Travel Light

Taking a vacation to the Galapagos is not like taking a trip to see the sights in Europe or elsewhere. You should try to pack as lightly as you possibly can, bringing only the items and clothing that are essential. In doing so, you will be much freer to enjoy your time exploring the beauty that awaits you. Additionally, a light load can save you the headaches associated with lost luggage and added fees for extra bags. Concentrate on bringing the items as outlined and leave the unnecessary stuff at home.

If you want to be extra sure and the question “what you should I wear on a Galapagos Cruise” is still roaming around in your head, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!

Essential Items, what to pack?

There are some items that are absolutely essential for your trip. Of course, you shouldn’t forget to bring your passport. Make certain that your passport’s expiration date is at least six months after your scheduled departure from Ecuador. You’ll also want to double-check that you have your boarding information for any flights or cruises, as well as any prescription medications, credit cards, and currency in U.S. dollars. Having some medication on hand for seasickness is also smart. Also, bring toiletries, but make sure to review and adhere to TSA guidelines for traveling with liquids, gels, and medications. It’s important to stock plenty of sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, as the sun’s rays are stronger in the Galapagos Islands. Bring your sunglasses, but also bring a strap to keep them on during windy conditions.

Necessary Gear

Galapagos Islands Packing List
There Are Plenty Of Opportunities And Places That You’Ll Want To Save Forever. Be Sure To Pack Your Camera To Capture Incredible Moments In The Islands!

Besides the bare essentials, you’ll also want to bring some gear to make the memories from your trip last. Make sure to bring your camera, video camera and additional memory cards to capture everything you see. Also, bring a camera that you can use underwater to catch the stunning array of sea life while snorkeling. Some plastic totes are sturdy for protecting your phone for underwater photography &filming. A small pair of binoculars will be helpful for seeing birds and wildlife that are further away. It’s also a good idea to bring a small pack to use during the day to carry your water bottle, sunscreen, and binoculars.

The optimal amount of clothing will depend on the length of the trip, but the key is to travel with as few garments as you can get away with for your particular journey. For a short trip, you’ll generally want to bring two or three short-sleeve shirts and one long-sleeve shirt, keeping in mind that the long-sleeve shirt will provide better protection from the sun. Two to three pairs of shorts, a pair of pants, and a sweatshirt are all good to bring. Additionally, a rain poncho and a wide-brimmed hat can help to protect you from the elements. You’ll also want to bring two bathing suits. This will allow you to let a wet bathing suit dry out while you swim using the other one. Be mindful of the weather reports, and bear in mind that the warm season lasts from January to June. If you don´t have a good hat yet, you can purchase broad-brimmed hats locally, with Ecuadorian /Galapagos motives.

Shoes

Santa Cruz's Guests Walking On Fernandina Island.
Walking During A Sunny Day On Fernandina Island.

A lot of your island exploration will be done on foot. This means it’s important for you to bring either light hiking shoes or walking shoes (“trainers” or “sneakers” are ideal). They should preferably be comfortable shoes that you have had for a while, as you don’t want to endure the discomfort of breaking in new shoes while hiking the islands. Pairing your shoes with thick socks can help prevent blistering. If you plan on taking cruises or boat rides, you don´t need to bring rubber-soled boat shoes. Water shoes or sports sandals that have good grips are useful but not necessary for wet landings when you’ll need to step out into the water to get to shore.

Optional Extras

If you bring electronic devices with you, you’ll also want to bring extra batteries, too. Some people enjoy bringing a book to read while lounging about onboard the ship in between destinations. Extra memory cards or film for your camera may also be good to have on hand. Ecuador´s electric outlets are type A & B (similar to the USA). If your country has a different outlet design, make sure you bring adaptors (available in most airport´s stores).  Finally, many people enjoy bringing a journal in which they can write down all of the different types of wildlife and species they see, just as Charles Darwin famously did in 1835.

Galapagos Packing List
The Galapagos Islands Are A Great Place To Get A Close Look At Animals. Remember That Touching Or Petting Animals Is Forbidden And Could Result In Expensive Penalties.

If it’s possible, bring only biodegradable personal care products to prevent damaging the delicate ecology of the Galapagos. Biodegradable hygiene products, including sunscreen, lotion, and the soap should be available at your local pharmacy or health store. Finch Bay Hotel, Santa Cruz II, Isabela II, and yacht La Pinta provide biodegradable toiletries in your room.

Taking the time to pack carefully and lightly can help you make certain that your trip will go smoothly and provide a lifetime of precious memories. When you are heading to the Galapagos Islands, the beauty and nature awaiting you far outweigh the importance of the individual items you bring. Bringing just the basics as outlined can help you to get through baggage handling more quickly and leave you with fewer things to keep track of or to worry about.

Updated:May 30, 2023

Published:June 8, 2016

CALL US TODAY

Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands Tour 2024 Package: 12 days / Quito, Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu / From USD 9,598 per person

SHARE THIS POST

RELATED POSTS

TravelandLeisure.com

Condé Nast Traveler ONLINE

This small, secret rooftop of the restored Casa Gangotena mansion peers over Plaza San Francisco in the center of Quito’s colonial Old Town, the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Order a Cedrón Spritz, a refreshing mix of rum, lemon, sparkling wine, and fresh lemon verbena (cedrón) syrup and leaf, then revel in the mesmerizing, real-time montage of daily life in Ecuador’s capital as it parades past.

National Geographic Traveller

A Font of information, Klaus has spent decades in the field, leading tours in the Amazon, Andes and Galapagos Islands. He hung up his guiding boots a few years back and now creates itineraries for the tour operator, Metropolitan Touring. Adrift in the Pacific Ocean, hundreds of miles from mainland South America, Galapagos is one of the most biodiverse locales on Earth.

Cruise Critic

Santa Cruz II is a replacement for the much-loved Santa Cruz, which plied the waters of the Galapagos for 36 years. It is not a new ship; it was built in 2002 and sailed as Mare Australis under the Australis cruise brand, operating expedition cruises around Cape Horn and to Antarctica. Metropolitan Touring bought the ship in 2015 and completely refurbished it, launching it as Santa Cruz II in October 2015.

Telegraph Ultra Travel: 50 Greatest Hotels in the World

When this modern, minimalist, glass-walled jungle lodge opened in 2012, it changed the accommodation game in South America. Arquitect Alfredo Ribadeneira’s “protective cocoon” would impress in a modern city; in the depths of an Andean cloudforest, it is wild, audacious and beautiful. Though only 70 miles from Quito, Maspi Lodge sits in splendid isolation, perched on a cliff at the end of an unsealed road.

Terms and Conditions

Itinerario de 5 días / 4 noches: Basado en la tarifa regular (4214 USD + impuestos por persona)
Itinerario de 7 días / 6 noches: Basado en la tarifa regular (5672 USD + impuestos por persona)
No reembolsable. Aplica únicamente para residentes ecuatorianos en nuevas reservas directas realizadas, hasta el 30 de junio del 2022, con un ejecutivo de ventas del hotel. Válido para estadías hasta el 31 de agosto de 2022. No puede ser combinada con otros descuentos, promociones u ofertas. El descuento no aplica para otros servicios. El precio no incluye recargo de combustible de $20 por noche de crucero.

We have what you are looking for!