What to pack for a trip to Galapagos

Galapagos is an incredibly special place. On any given day, you will have more unforgettable wildlife experiences than you would in a week in other destinations. Visiting the Islands is a huge privilege, and you are likely to return home feeling inspired to protect the wildlife and the fragile ecosystems that you have witnessed. The vast majority of Galapagos Conservation Trust members are people who have visited the Islands as a tourist.

The Galapagos Archipelago can also be quite a harsh environment, situated on the Equator way out in the Pacific Ocean. It pays to be prepared for the climatic conditions and rugged terrain. It’s also very important to be a respectful and responsible tourist in Galapagos, ensuring that you do not exacerbate problems such as plastic pollution and the Islands’ overburdened waste management systems.

With this in mind, we have put together a guide on how to pack responsibly for your trip to Galapagos…

Lightweight clothing

Even in the cooler months between June and October, daily temperatures in Galapagos range from a minimum of 19⁰C to a maximum of 24⁰C. From December to March, the Islands are hotter and wetter, with average maximum temperatures rising to 30⁰C in March. We recommend packing T-shirts or lightweight long-sleeved shirts (ideally with UV protection), and hiking trousers or shorts. Zip-off trousers with removable bottoms are a good compromise. A lightweight waterproof jacket or poncho will keep you dry on rainier days at sea or up in the misty highlands. Clothing worn around the Islands is generally pretty informal, even on cruise ships and in hotels.

We’re big fans of Craghoppers gear; not just because they make great clothing for tropical conditions, but also because they are real advocates for conservation in Galapagos. In recent years they have generously provided funds for our work in Galapagos, and they have also donated quality clothing for the Galapagos National Park rangers who work tirelessly to protect the Islands and their wildlife.

Many of the Archipelago’s most incredible sights are to be found in, around and beneath the water, so swimwear is essential. And remember that, thanks to the influence of the Humboldt Current, the water in Galapagos can be much colder than expected! If you’re visiting on a cruise then snorkelling gear and wetsuits will normally be provided, but you may prefer to bring your own. If you are staying on the Islands in a hotel, these can be rented from local dive shops. A rash vest can be useful for protection against the sun and getting scraped by rocks, though it won’t keep you warm.

Footwear

Although some walking will be involved when visiting many of the landing sites around the Archipelago, you will be restricted to the marked trails, so you don’t need anything too heavy duty – lightweight walking shoes will suffice, ideally paired with moisture-wicking socks.

Most cruises will involve a mixture of ‘dry landings’, where you step ashore on a pier or jetty, and ‘wet landings’, where you hop out of a Zodiac into shallow water on a beach or rocky shore. A pair of water shoes or good walking sandals, though not essential, is certainly a better option than flip flops for these landings.

Protection from the elements

The equatorial sun is fierce, and sun protection is essential – choose an ocean-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen with a high SPF and UVA rating, and remember to reapply after spending time in the water. You should also pack a sun hat (with a drawstring is best for trips at sea), refillable water bottle and shades – we recommend polarised sunglasses to reduce the glare from the surface of the water, allowing you to better see marine life just below the surface. If you’re travelling with kids, a sun suit is a great way to reduce their exposure to the sun.

Compared to other places in the tropics, Galapagos doesn’t have many biting or stinging insects, but you should still pack an eco-friendly insect repellent to avoid the risk of dengue, which is carried by mosquitoes. Long, loose-fitting clothing for the evenings can also help with preventing bites.

If you are prone to seasickness, it’s a good idea to bring travel bands or medication for this, as the Islands are exposed to strong currents and it can sometimes be a little bumpy sailing between islands on a cruise ship or a day tour, or on one of the inter-island ferry services.

Wildlife spotting

You are going to see so much amazing wildlife, and much of it will be at unbelievably close quarters, so many people find that a smartphone is sufficient for taking photos, though a good camera is also nice to have. Don’t forget to bring a spare memory card and battery, and make sure you enter our Galapagos Photography Competition when you get home! Please do remember that you must not get any closer than two metres away from the animals, and flash photography is not permitted. Binoculars may occasionally come in handy for those times when the wildlife is a little further away.

We also recommend a dry bag to keep your camera from being splashed on those wet landings, and an underwater camera such as a GoPro to capture the action below the waves when snorkelling.

One word of advice on photography: do make sure you put your camera down from time to time, and just take in your surroundings. It’s very easy to spend your whole time snapping away, but it’s the wildlife spectacles that you just pause and watch that will live longest in your memory.

We also recommend taking a journal where you can record wildlife sightings and your impressions each day – this will be helpful when sorting through all those photos back home! If you’re artistically minded, a sketchbook will come in handy.

Other essentials

Unless it’s included in your holiday package, you will need US dollars in cash to pay the Galapagos National Park entry fee, which is mandatory for all visitors. This fee raises funds for conservation and the local community, and was recently increased to US$200 per person for international visitors, US$100 per person for visitors from CAN/MERCOSUR countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and US$30 per person for Ecuadorian nationals. A reduced fee is payable for children aged 12 years and under, and for Ecuadorian visitors aged 65 and over or registered as disabled. There is no fee for infants under 2 years.

It’s also important to note that not everywhere in the Islands accepts card payment, so make sure you have enough cash, particularly if you are going on a land-based tour. If you are on a cruise, tips for the staff are not always included in your fare, so you will want some cash for this too (normally 10% of the cost of the service provided). There are ATMs that accept international credit cards on San Cristobal and Santa Cruz islands.

Ecuador uses US-style 110V plugs, so visitors from other parts of the world will need an adaptor.

There are lots of great books about Galapagos, depending on your specific area of interest. For an accessible and wide-ranging introduction to the Islands, we highly recommend The Galapagos: A Natural History by GCT Ambassador Henry Nicholls, which is available to buy in our shop.

Finally, a good quality day pack is essential, to carry all of the above when you’re out and about!

What not to bring to Galapagos

The Galapagos Archipelago is a fragile environment with stringent biosecurity measures to protect the endemic wildlife, and the Galapagos National Park’s rules for visitors should be adhered to at all times. It is incumbent on every visitor to the Islands to familiarise themself with these rules and follow them at all times – no ifs, no buts.

Here are some of the most important things that you should not bring with you to Galapagos:

Single-use plastics

Our research has shown that 69% of plastic waste found on the coastlines of Galapagos consists of single-use items. The overwhelming majority of this coastal plastic originates outside the Galapagos Marine Reserve, but locally-generated plastic waste is a growing problem too, fuelled in part by the growth of tourism.

All visitors to Galapagos have a responsibility to keep the Islands free from single-use plastics and other waste. We strongly urge you to:

• Remove all packaging before your trip
• Refuse single-use plastic items such as straws, single-use plastic bottles, wipes and takeaway containers while on the Islands
• Bring reusable alternatives with you such as a refillable bottle and reusable shopping bags
• Take as much of your rubbish home (or at least back to the mainland) as possible, easing the burden on overloaded waste disposal facilities
• Don’t bring any toiletries containing plastic microbeads, which can end up in the ocean and cause harm to wildlife

Fruit, vegetables and seeds

You must not bring fresh fruit and vegetables to the Islands, as there is a risk of introducing damaging invasive species which can wreak havoc on native ecosystems. The avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi), which has driven some species of Galapagos landbird to the brink of extinction, was originally introduced to the Islands accidentally in imported fruit.

You should also carefully check your clothing to make sure there are no seeds or other plant material stuck to velcro straps or lodged in the tread of your boots – introduced plants can have a disastrous impact, crowding out native species and making it more difficult for birds to find food. It’s a good idea to give all footwear a thorough wash before you arrive.

Drones

Tourists are not allowed to fly camera drones anywhere in Galapagos, to avoid disturbing or harming the wildlife. Drones may only be used for research or commercial purposes with prior authorisation from the Galapagos National Park Directorate. If you want to find out more about how drones are being used for research and conservation in Galapagos, check out the amazing Iguanas from Above project, which is mapping the entire range of marine iguanas in Galapagos for the first time.

We hope that this packing list will help you to have a memorable and meaningful trip to Galapagos. If you would like any more information on conservation and sustainable tourism, please get in touch with us. And when you get home, please do consider becoming a member of Galapagos Conservation Trust – your support will help preserve these wonderful Islands for many generations to come.