Your cruise or hotel is booked; your plane tickets are purchased; and you’re excited to set out on your Galapagos vacation. Now there’s just one thing left to do: Pack! Don’t let this part of the experience stress you out - just follow this Galapagos Islands Packing List and you’ll have the essentials. Of course, this list is not exhaustive and if you need to bring any personal items that are not included, like medications or other necessities, don’t forget to pack those either!
Clothes
When packing, a good way to make sure you have what you need is to start at the feet and work your way up, making sure you have enough of each article to last for however long your vacation will be. Our recommendations are based on a week-long experience.
- Hiking socks
- Shoes with good ankle support for trekking
- Sandals with ankle strap or closed water shoes
- Flip flops to walk around the boat or hotel
- A couple pairs of lightweight pants or jeans for chilly nights or hiking
- Hiking shorts or convertible trekking pants
- Two swimsuits (wear one while the other is drying)
- Undergarments
- Lightweight or wicking shirts (one per day)
- One or two long-sleeve shirts
- Jacket and rain poncho
- Sleeping clothes
- Ball cap or brimmed hat for sun protection
- Sunglasses (prescription if necessary)
- Glasses & contacts (if necessary)
Accessories
- Passport, tickets, and any reservation confirmations (in your carry-on!)
- Wallet with a couple hundred dollars in cash & debit cards, plus the $200 Galapagos National Park entrance fee and enough money for tips.
- Waterproof watch
- Toiletries
- Personal hygiene items
- Cell phone & charger (you probably won’t be able to use this in the Galapagos, but it will work in the airports)
- Sunscreen
- Bug repellant
- Lip balm & aloe vera
- Binoculars
- Motion sickness medication or treatment
- A pen and journal
- Day-pack
- Water bottles
- A good book
Camera Gear
- At least a point-and-shoot camera
- If you’re a more experienced photographer, don’t forget your:
- GoPro and any waterproof casing or body-mounts
- DSLR camera(s)
- Multiple lenses
- Several filters
- Tripod
- Lens cloth & cleaning supplies
- Several high capacity memory cards
- Batteries, backup battery packs, and charging docks & cables
Where to pack it?
We suggest a duffle bag - these are easy to collapse and store to save space in your cabin or room and can usually accommodate everything. Just make sure that anything fragile in the bag is in a thicker case or protected.
Packing:
Here are a few tips to keep in mind while packing that might make your experience easier.
- Use ziplock bags to create a vacuum seal - you can group together all your clothes, like all t-shirts or all shorts, into just one freezer bag. This saves a ton of space in the suitcase.
- Roll your clothes. This is another space-saver and makes it easier to see everything so you can grab what you need without pulling everything out of your suitcase.
- Pack in advance - if you are packed a week before departure, that gives you time to double or even triple-check that you have all that you need.
- Pack the essentials in your carry-on just in case your checked luggage doesn’t make it - you can never be too safe!
- Pack casual. This is a vacation, not a dinner party - no need to bring elegant clothes unless you know you’re going to be at a very fancy dinner. The atmosphere in the Galapagos is very casual.
- Don’t pack anything that it would crush you to lose. That might mean leaving your wedding ring at home, but there’s always a chance it could get lost, so it’s better safe than sorry.
- If you’re also spending time in Quito, the Amazon, or even Peru, make sure to pack for those climates as well.
