A cruise to the Galapagos Islands is a bucket-list worthy journey that I personally dreamt about for years. And after I lastly went, it was each bit as wonderful as I anticipated! The landscapes are otherworldly, and the wildlife is exclusive and unafraid of people, making for such a memorable journey.
However after I was planning my small-ship Galapagos cruise, an enormous query I had was about what precisely I wanted to pack. What would the mountain climbing be like? Did I want any particular clothes? Have been mosquitos a difficulty? What kind of sneakers ought to I convey?
A few of these questions may very well be answered by varied articles on-line and a few questions directed on the tour firm I booked with. However a few of them had been solely definitively answered by simply going and discovering out for myself.
So, to assist YOU know what to put on within the Galapagos and work out what to pack for a Galapagos cruise, I made a decision to write down this detailed submit! It is 100% based mostly alone expertise on a 7-night Galapagos cruise I took with my dad, and all of the issues we did/did not use.
What you REALLY must pack for the Galapagos
This primary listing represents my private must-haves for a Galapagos cruise, from clothes to solar safety to different extras you may be completely satisfied you introduced.
(For those who’re simply right here to see my full Galapagos packing listing, preserve scrolling!)
The ten issues I believe you want probably the most within the Galapagos are:
- Severe solar safety – The solar on the equator is NO JOKE. It (and its UV rays) are a lot stronger on this a part of the world, and your pores and skin burns faster and extra simply. I packed a combination of sun-blocking clothes (this Columbia shirt is my favourite) and SPF 50+ mineral sunscreen to assist shield me from the equatorial solar. (My favourite sunscreens are all listed additional down!)
- Seasickness meds – The Galapagos Islands are additional aside than most individuals understand, and open water may be tough year-round (it is roughest from July-October). Packing seasickness meds is rarely a nasty thought, particularly for those who’re liable to it! I had no points whereas taking Dramamine (lively ingredient Meclizine) prophylactically each day, and likewise packed a ReliefBand, simply to be secure.
- A number of swimsuits – You may be swimming/snorkeling a minimum of 1-2 instances per day, generally straight after mountain climbing. So until you always need to be placing on a moist swimsuit, pack a minimum of 2-3 you possibly can rotate via!
- Moist brush or detangler – Frequent swimming in salt water may be tough on longer hair particularly, so I like to recommend packing a very good detangler spray and/or detangler brush. Imagine it or not, the TikTok viral Unbrush is a superb detangling brush, and it is what I introduced with me to the Galapagos.
- Day pack – You may be on and off the ship fairly a bit to go on hikes and seashore walks. You may at all times need to have water and sunscreen with you, plus in all probability your digicam and a spot to stow an additional layer. I extremely suggest a very good daypack – I introduced a light-weight REI daypack (the Flash 22 is what I took), whereas my dad went with a bigger chest/hip pack choice.
- Reusable water bottle – You may need to convey your individual reusable water bottle on this journey. Single-use plastic bottles are literally banned within the Galapagos, and never all ships will present water bottles (however they will all present ample ingesting water). I like my Camelbak Chute bottle; mine has been to so many nations with me.
- Mountain climbing sneakers and sandals – I used to be completely satisfied to have each lightweight hiking shoes and a pair of hiking sandals with me for the completely different terrain we encountered. No matter you convey, be sure to can put them on simply, as you may be doing many moist landings after which will put your sneakers on on the seashore.
- Ship sneakers – You additionally could need to convey a pair of flip flops or slip-ons to put on on the ship; our ship had a strict “no outdoors sneakers indoors” rule, which means the sneakers you wore onboard might solely be worn onboard. Loads of individuals went barefoot although!
- Telephone lanyard or dry bag – A small dry bag is rarely a nasty thought since you may be doing moist landings, however what truly got here in additional useful for me was a phone lanyard to make sure my telephone by no means fell out of my pocket on zodiac rides or hikes. Some individuals introduced waterproof phone pouches on lanyards, which form of did double obligation.
- GoPro for video – Whereas a telephone in a water-proof pouch is ok, for really nice underwater footage of issues like playful sea lions, penguins, sharks, and extra, utilizing a devoted motion digicam like a GoPro actually is good. You’ll be able to even get an older mannequin – all my underwater footage was shot on a Hero 7 Black!
Belongings you need not pack
A number of issues that you just would possibly think about packing however in all probability do not *actually* must pack embody:
- Fancy garments – You are going to be sporting mountain climbing garments and swimsuits and be slathered in sunscreen a lot of the day. “Dressing” for dinner on a Galapagos cruise is just not actually an anticipated factor, so do not trouble with something fancy for those who do not need to pack it. I wore linen pants and a smooth t-shirt to dinner each night time.
- Your individual towel – My dad and I did pack our personal quick-dry towels for the seashore, however ended up barely utilizing them. Our ship supplied ample towels, together with small towels to dry our toes after moist landings, and warm-out-of-the-dryer seashore towels anytime we got here again onboard after swimming or snorkeling.
- Your individual wetsuit and snorkel masks – You CAN convey your individual wetsuit and masks/snorkel (and a few individuals decide to convey their very own masks if they’re critical divers/snorkelers, or in the event that they use a prescription masks), however you do not have to. Your cruise ship ought to provide a masks, snorkel, and fins to your entire journey, in addition to wetsuits if the water is chilly sufficient.
- Water sneakers – The identical goes for water sneakers; pack some if you need (my dad did), however you do not actually need them. The seashores we walked on and swam at typically had actually smooth sand, and wherever else we went you can put on sandals or mountain climbing sneakers.
- Mosquito repellent – Mosquitos aren’t an enormous drawback within the Galapagos – a lot of the islands are too dry and lack standing contemporary water for them to breed in. You continue to would possibly need some bug repellent for different biting bugs (flies had been the principle bugs we bumped into), however you need not stress about mosquito spray.
- An enormous telephoto lens – For those who even convey a very good digicam (loads of individuals simply convey their telephones nowadays!), you do not essentially NEED an enormous telephoto lens. You’ll be able to stand up near a lot of the wildlife {that a} zoom lens would possibly truly make some conditions difficult. An enormous lens could be good for some chook images, however for all the pieces else you do not want it. (I take advantage of a Tamron 28-200mm lens on my Sony A7iii, and took all my Galapagos photographs on that.)
(You’ll be able to in fact convey no matter you need from this listing! On the finish of the day, you do you.)
RELATED: 11 Things to Know Before Going on a Galapagos Cruise
Full Galapagos packing listing
Here is my full listing of what to put on within the Galapagos on a Galapagos cruise:
The bag(s) I used
First off, I am nonetheless touring with my trusty Osprey Sojourn rolling travel pack. This factor is a beast, and has survived practically a decade of world journey!
And like I discussed above, I introduced an REI Flash 22 pack as a day pack.
I additionally introduced a small cross-body anti-theft purse, which was helpful for our time in Quito (the place pickpocketing is certainly one thing to look out for).
Clothes for the Galapagos (for ladies)
The important thing right here is clothes that’s light-weight, breathable, and cozy sufficient to hike in and climb in/out of zodiac boats in. Bonus if it is clothes that features some solar safety (as a result of, once more, the solar is not any joke right here!).
- 2 merino t-shirts (nice for moisture-wicking, and likewise odor-blocking)
- 2-3 lively t-shirts
- 2 lively tanks/crop tops
- 2-3 light-weight long-sleeved solar shirts (I particularly love this Columbia one)
- 3 pairs of biker shorts or mountain climbing leggings (I’d have used my biker shorts for snorkeling, too, if we hadn’t been supplied wetsuits; nobody desires sunburnt butt cheeks!)
- 1-2 pairs of capris or lengthy shorts (like these or these)
- 1 pair of sunshine mountain climbing pants
- 1 pair of linen pants
- 1 set of pajamas
- 2-3 swimsuits
- Underwear, bras, socks (together with compression socks for the airplane)
- Raincoat (this Columbia one is my go-to)
- 1 wide-brimmed sunhat
- 1 baseball cap
Clothes for the Galapagos (for males)
Footwear for the Galapagos
Tech I packed
- Digicam with further battery and reminiscence card
- GoPro camera (or an Insta360 would additionally work)
- Chargers (I like this Anker charging strip)
- US wall outlet adapter (Ecuador makes use of the identical plugs because the US)
- Kindle or pill
- You should definitely obtain what you want upfront; you possible will not have cell sign or wifi for many of your cruise!
- Headphones
Toiletries to pack
- Seasickness meds
- SeaBands (or a ReliefBand)
- Sunscreen (my favourite mineral ones beneath)
- Detangler brush or spray (or each)
- Shampoo and cleaning soap bars
- Good conditioner
- Aloe lotion (in case of sunburn)
- Eye drops (my eyes received actually dry from all of the saltwater!)
- Moisturizer
- Bug spray or bug repellent lotion (principally for horseflies)
- Electrolyte packets (nice for journeys once you sweat loads)
- Primary first support package (with Band-Aids, ache relievers, sleep support, and many others.)
- Decongestant (by the tip of our cruise, many individuals had stuffy noses from a lot ocean swimming)
And for a very good toiletry bag, I like me a very good hanging bag. This Sea to Summit one is nice if you do not have a ton of stuff, whereas this larger hanging bag (I’ve the XL dimension) is great for an extended journey.
Misc + cash
- Passport
- Sun shades (polarized are greatest)
- Day pack (I appreciated the Flash 22 from REI for this journey)
- Reusable water bottle (I like my Camelbak Chute bottle)
- Small dry bag
- Phone lanyard
- Buff or headband (principally to guard the scalp when you do not have a hat on)
- Elective: Quick-dry towel
- Elective: Hiking pole(s) (my dad introduced one in all his personal, although our ship additionally supplied some)
- Elective: Your individual masks/snorkel
- Elective: Deck of playing cards or small video games for onboard (keep in mind, no wifi or cell sign!)
You additionally NEED $120 USD in money for this journey. $20 is required to buy a INGALA Vacationer Management Card (TCT) earlier than you fly to the Galapagos, and $100 money is required once you arrive within the Galapagos to pay the Galapagos Nationwide Park entrance price.
You additionally need to have some money (Ecuador makes use of the US greenback) available so you possibly can tip your information and crew! Our ship did have one bank card machine to shut out bar tabs (alcohol was the one factor we needed to pay for as soon as we received onboard), however money is required for suggestions.
I hope this submit was useful so that you can work out what to pack to your personal Galapagos cruise!
Mainly, nobody cares what you seem like on an lively, outdoorsy journey like this. So long as you are ready to be outdoors within the solar and water all day, you may be good! Pack for solar safety and luxury first, and style final.
And most of all, pack your sense of journey! That is the journey of a lifetime, and also you’re gonna find it irresistible.
Do you have got every other questions on packing for a Galapagos cruise, or what individuals put on within the Galapagos? Let me know!
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise, a journey weblog that goals to encourage individuals to suit extra journey and journey into the approach to life they have already got. Since beginning her weblog in 2010, Amanda has traveled to greater than 60 nations on six continents from her house base in Ohio.
