One of the most popular backpacks is the Osprey Fairview 40L. Osprey has a bigger version at 55L, but if you pack no more than 7 days’ worth of clothes and 1 extra pair of shoes, then you don’t need anything bigger than 40L.

The male version of the Fairview is the Osprey Fairpoint 40L.

I used a Kelty Redwing 40L when I was in the Galapagos. I like this backpack. Sadly, Kelty no longer makes that size. They now just have a 36L and 50L.

Either of these bags is great for visiting other places in Ecuador.

If you want to do a suitcase, make sure it’s not heavy. Airlines to the Galapagos have strict weight restrictions. Checked luggage is 50 pounds (23 kilos) and carry-on is 22 pounds (10 kilos).

Get this highly-rated Samsonite Hardsided luggage. It’s lightweight and durable with good wheels and zippers. You’ll need good wheels as Galapagos and Ecuador in general don’t have the best streets or sidewalks.

If you use compression cubes and don’t bring so many shoes, you can probably get by with a 20-inch one. For a suitcase a bit bigger, there’s also a 24-inch and 28-inch Samsonite.

It might rain while you’re in the Galapagos, so you’ll want to pack two rain covers for your (1) big backpack and (2) small daypack.

Ideally, get rain covers that have their own little pouch that you can store them in. It’s also good to get ones with reflective strips in case you’re walking along the road at night (there are VERY few sidewalks in the Galapagos, so you’ll be walking on the street). You’re thus more visible to drivers.

To save space in your backpack or suitcase, get compression packing cubes. I personally hate regular packing cubes, but I love compression cubes. They compress your clothes, thus, saving you lots of space.

I’ve been using these cubes from Tripped for the past 2 years of full-time continuous travel, and they are still in good condition. No rips or tears. After 2 years, the zippers on one cube fall off sometimes when I’m trying to close it and I’ve got a lot of stuff in it, but I can easily reattach it in a second.

You get a set of 4 cubes: 2 large and 2 small. The cubes are narrow, which is the perfect shape for backpacks. They also come with a bag for shoes and a laundry bag.

Along with your larger backpack or suitcase, bring a small backpack (daypack) no bigger than 20L as your carry-on. This will come in handy when you’re out and about during the day like on a hiking excursion. You can use it to carry your water bottle, phone, sunscreen, insect repellent, a pack of tissues, a small first-aid kit that contains bandaids, antiseptic spray, antibiotic ointment, and wallet. If you want to bring your laptop to the Galapagos, you’ll most likely need a backpack to carry it in.

For those not carrying around heavy camera gear, I’d go with something from Osprey. They have one that I’ve used in the past and that I felt was quite comfortable—Osprey Daylite and the Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack. The straps give you good support and the back panel has good ventilation.

The Daylite Plus is 20L and has got 2 side pockets for water bottles and an inside pocket for a 15” laptop. Ratings on Amazon are high—4.7/5 (over 1,000 reviews)—can’t beat that! For those on a land-based tour, I’d go with the Plus.

The Daylite is 13L and is just as highly rated as the Plus version at 4.7/5 with over 1,000 reviews. It fits a 13” laptop and has side pockets for a water bottle. I bought this one but couldn’t use it because the body of the backpack is too narrow for holding a camera case. The 13L is good enough for those on a Galapagos cruise.

Remember fanny packs (bum packs as the Brits call them)? They used to be so out-of-fashion.

But NOW they’re back. In the past year, I’ve seen lots of European travelers using fanny packs. But they aren’t wearing them around their waists Instead, they wear them across their body. The packs look so much more fashionable and they’re more secure when they’re worn this way.

An alternative or an addition to an Osprey daypack is a crossbody fanny pack. This is useful for storing your phone, money, cards, wallet, and passport.

 I like this fanny pack from Entchin. It’s got 4 pockets including an interior one that goes against your body. Good for storing a passport and money. It’s also water resistant. You can wear it over your shoulder, around your waist, or across your body.

One of the best things to do in the Galapagos is to go snorkeling. My ship, the Anahi, had us snorkeling twice a day: once in the morning and once in the afternoon! So, of course, you’re going to want to pack a swimsuit for the Galapagos for not just snorkeling but also swimming and spending time at the beach. The islands have some amazing beaches!

I just brought one swimsuit to the Galapagos and one was enough for me. After snorkeling in the morning, I’d hang it outside to dry. By the time we went out again in the afternoon, it was already dry.

 However, if you plan to snorkel a lot and you don’t have the luxury of having someplace to dry your suit outside in the wind, I recommend packing two swimsuits. The Galapagos can be humid and thus, it takes a while for things to dry.

Which swimsuit do I recommend?

It’s a personal choice. I don’t have a beach body, so I like to wear a tankini. I like the one from Yonique because the straps aren’t going to slip off your shoulders and the top doesn’t billow when you’re in the water. The built-in bra part could be better though. Another kind of swimwear I prefer is swim shorts over bikini bottoms.

Along with a swimsuit, a rash guard is another essential item for your Galapagos packing list. Everyone on my cruise who snorkeled without a wet suit or rash guard got severely sunburned.

Rash guards are short-sleeved or more commonly long-sleeved shirts that give you an added layer of protection against harmful rays of the sun when surfing, snorkeling, and swimming. They are thin and lightweight, and the material (spandex, polyester, or nylon) is perfect for getting wet as they dry quickly. You can wear them over your swimsuit or in place of it.

Some rash guards come with a built-in bra. Those you wear in place of your swimsuit. The problems are that the built-in bra doesn’t always fit as well as the swimsuit one AND that when you’re back on the boat and you’re hot, you can’t take off your rash guard to change into a short-sleeved shirt. For these reasons, I recommend getting ones without a built-in bra so you can wear it over your swimsuit.

Rash guards have other benefits: They give you protection against jellyfish (I didn’t see any in the Galapagos, though) and give you an added layer of warmth in cold water.

Here are the different kinds of rash guards you can get:

• Rash guards with zippers – women
• Rash guards without zippers – women
• Rash guards with built-in bra
• Rash guards for men

If you don’t have a rash guard, you can also often rent a wet suit. A wet suit is not necessary from January to May, but it is from June to December when the water gets cold. On my boat, the Anahi, you could rent a wet suit for $40 a week. I did that because I didn’t have a rash guard. I regret not having a rash guard.

Whenever I go to the beach or on a boat trip, I pack water shoes, and this was no different when I was in the Galapagos. They can protect your feet from stepping on sharp and painful rocks on the beach and in the water.

When you do excursions or day trips, you’ll often do wet landings. This means the boat doesn’t land at a dock. Instead, you need to hop off the dinghy into the water and walk through the water to the beach. Sometimes the rocks can be really rough and painful. Water shoes protect your feet.

Water shoes are also good for protecting your feet from parasites and hookworms on the beach.

Instead of water shoes, wear Tevas or Chacos sandals for wet landings. You can get them wet and continue hiking with them on. I used to always pack a pair of Tevas, but I found that packing both the sandals and walking shoes took up too much space in my luggage and were just too heavy, so I no longer bring them on trips.

• Tevas for Women
• Tevas for Men
• Chacos for Women
• Chacos for Men

You can rent a snorkel and mask in the Galapagos, but if you want to ensure that yours fits perfectly, you might want to consider packing your own.

I’ve been on tons of boat tours throughout Asia and South America, and about half the time I have to return the first snorkel and mask set for a new one because the first leaked. The last time I went on a snorkeling trip (Isla de la Plata in Ecuador), I was told I had to use the first one they gave me or not use any.

If you’re doing a cruise, you can usually rent them for free. When I was on the Anahi, I used the boat’s snorkel and fin set and I always used the same one every time I went out snorkeling. It fit perfectly for me, but ideally, it would have been nice to have my own.

If you want to pack your own snorkel set for the Galapagos, the New York Times Wirecutter product reviewers recommend this Cressi Palau Snorkel set. They test out products before choosing the best one. According to Wirecutter, the mask doesn’t leak and water doesn’t get into the breathing tube. You can get a set with short fins. Ideal for travel. There’s a set with longer fins as well.

If you’re new to snorkeling, I recommend getting a full face mask. I used this type of mask when I first started snorkeling. It was easier to control my breathing, which made snorkeling more relaxing and fun.

One of the most important things to pack for the Galapagos Islands is sunscreen. The equator runs through the islands. That means the sun is going to be extra strong and those UV rays are powerful.

Lots of bloggers recommend getting reef-safe sunscreen. That’s great. However, according to Consumer Reports, the science is contradictory and unclear about what sunscreen ingredients are actually safe for reefs. Save the Reef also says that you can’t really trust brands that say they’re reef safe as there’s no regulation over what constitutes “reef safe.”

Consumer Reports writes that the only two ingredients that are conclusively shown to be harmful to reefs are oxybenzone or octinoxate, so look for sunscreen that doesn’t contain those two chemicals.

However, you also need to be careful that you’re not sacrificing protection from the sun for saving the ocean reefs. Ideally, you want to do both.

According to Consumer Reports, these are the sunscreens that give you BOTH sun protection AND don’t contain oxybenzone or octinoxate.

• Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen (spray)
• Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen (lotion)
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Lotion SPF 60 Sunscreen

For those of you doing an independent tour, you’ll want to pack your own towel. However, towels can take up a lot of room. That’s why I recommend getting a microfiber towel. They not only save you packing space but they also dry quickly. Plus, sand doesn’t stick to them as much as traditional towels.

I like the Rainleaf microfiber towels. They come in a variety of colors and sizes. I have a small one for my face and a large one for the beach. They’re also compact so they don’t take up much space in your luggage.

Plus, you get a pouch with a handle to store your towel in—great for keeping the wet towel away from your dry clothes in your luggage and for keeping dirt away from the towel.

If you’re on a cruise, your boat will most likely provide towels for you. I don’t believe I ever used my microfiber towel once during my Anahi cruise.

One of the most irritating things that can happen to you when snorkeling is that your mask gets fogged up. My cruise always helped us by putting shampoo on our masks to prevent fogging. However, not all tours are going to be that helpful or responsible. And sometimes it’s just better to take care of things yourself, so it’s a good idea, especially for those on independent tours, to pack your own anti-fog spray.

You’ll want a bag to keep your things dry when you go out on snorkeling excursions. Expect the bottom of the boat to get wet and anything you lay on the floor is going to also get wet. On my Anahi Galapagos cruise, we went on two snorkeling trips a day! Every day! The best way to keep our things dry was with a dry bag.

I also used my dry bag when we went on excursions where there were wet landings and I wanted to keep my camera dry. Sometimes when I got out of the boat, the water would go up to my waist.

Make sure to get a dry bag with backpack straps. Earthpak dry bags are VERY highly-rated with a 4.8/5 rating on Amazon (27,000 reviews)!

If you don’t have a GoPro or other type of underwater camera, a waterproof phone case is a must. It will allow you to take underwater photos with your phone.

However, not all cases are made equally good. You have to be careful which one you buy! Some leak and others make it hard to press the buttons on the phone through the case. The latter is what happened to a friend of mine—she kept on missing the shot because she couldn’t press the button through her phone case.

The phone cases from Pelican have a good record of not leaking and pressing the buttons through the case is fairly easy. It takes decent photos as well. The other reason I like it so much is that it floats! Imagine your phone falling into the ocean. With the Pelican case, it won’t sink.

Pack 7 thin lightweight shirts that can dry quickly. If you’re in the Galapagos for only 5 days, then pack 5 shirts.

Get shirts whose material has good moisture-wicking qualities. This means that the shirt will dry fast and won’t get saturated with your sweat. In the end, you won’t feel so hot. Ideally, you want synthetic fabrics like polyester. Avoid cotton shirts. These Under Armour shirts are good ones for hiking.

Some people on my cruise wore long-sleeved UV Sun protection shirts when they were out hiking. On my cruise, we were in the water when the sun was at its brightest and out hiking only in the early morning from 8:00 to 10:00 and late afternoon from 4:00 to 6:00.

If you’re going to the Galapagos from June to December, still expect it to be hot enough to walk around in a short-sleeved shirt. It’ll be cooler at night and that is when you might want to wear a long-sleeved shirt.

Pack up to 5–7 pairs of shorts, capris, leggings, and pants (trousers). If you’re going to be in the Galapagos for less time than 7 days, pack less.

Whatever combination you pack, make sure they come with pockets, especially at least one pocket with a zipper. It’s a great place to stash your phone when you’re out on a hike. You can easily grab it to snap a photo but a zipper will make sure your phone doesn’t fall out of your pocket.

You’ll want to pack at least one pair of pants for the plane ride to and from Quito and the Galapagos, and if you’re spending any time in Quito or other places in Ecuador.

For hiking, bring a pair of pants or capris in case you’ll be hiking on narrow trails where your legs might come in contact with tall grass and brush.

These North Face Aphrodite Capris are my absolute favorite trousers to wear. I’ve had them for 10 years and they’re still in really good condition. They’ve got an elastic waistband with a drawstring. The material wicks away moisture so they dry quickly and don’t soak up sweat, keeping you cool. They have two pockets with no zipper and one pocket with a zipper.

Libin Women’s Cargo Hiking Pants are my second favorite pair. They’re lightweight, slightly elastic, quick dry, breathable, and comfortable. There are 4 zippered pockets!

One of the BEST items I took with me to the Galapagos was my RipSkirt. Made by a company from Hawaii, RipSkirts are simply wrap skirts.

However, they’re very versatile. You can wear them BOTH to the beach as well as out to dinner. They’re lightweight, quick-drying, and comfortable. The skirts take up very little space in your luggage and they don’t wrinkle! I also love that they come in a variety of colors, stylish patterns, and four different lengths:

• length 1 – really short (maybe too short for Guatemala)
• length 2 – just above the knees
• length 3 – just below the knees
• length 4 – ankles

You’ll be at the equator, so another must-have piece of clothing to bring to the Galapagos is a hat. It doesn’t matter what kind of hat: a safari hat or baseball cap. Just something to protect your scalp against the sun.

It doesn’t really get so cold in the Galapagos that you need to pack a fleece. I think I wore it once when the air-conditioning was too cold on the boat.

However, I always travel with a fleece jacket no matter where I’m going. This is even if the destination is hot and humid.

A fleece is also perfect for on a plane, in an air-conditioned bus, in the mountains, or on a chilly night. It’s an ideal clothing item to pack in case you get sick and you’ve got the chills and you need to warm up.

However, if you don’t have room in your luggage, keep the fleece at home.

Some people spend loads of money on a fleece, but you really just need an inexpensive Columbia fleece. It’ll keep you warm in the Galapagos.

A lightweight rain jacket is an optional item to pack. I packed one for the Galapagos but I didn’t wear it. In April and May, it was just too hot and humid even when raining. When it rained, which it did three times during my trip, I used an umbrella that I had bought for us$1 in Quito or rented a poncho when I visited El Chaco Ranch.

If you’re going from June to December, there’s usually no rain but it will be windier and cooler, so a lightweight jacket and layering will still come in handy. This Columbia Switchback III Jacket over a fleece is a good combination.

You don’t need to pack hiking boots. Instead, just get a good pair of sneakers with good support and grip that you can wear on the hiking trail, in town, and on the plane.

I always wear Brook’s Adrenaline GTS shoes because I have bad feet and knees and they give me lots of support. Plus, they come in wide and extra-wide sizes and as someone with bunions, the shoe’s material doesn’t rub against them. You can read more about why I like them so much in my article on the best travel shoes for bunions and plantar fasciitis.

• Brooks Adrenaline GTS22 (2022) – women
• Brooks Adrenaline GTS23 (2023) – women
• Brooks Adrenaline GTS22 (2022) – men
• Brooks Adrenaline GTS23 (2023) – men

Two alternatives to sneakers are Teva or Chaco sandals. You can wear them on the hiking trail, around town, and to the beach. You can do wet landings with them on as well. After you get to shore, you don’t need to worry about changing into your sneakers.

I used to pack both Tevas and sneakers when I traveled. Now I don’t. I found that bringing both took up too much space and added too much weight to my luggage.

If you do go with sandals over walking shoes, here are the ones I recommend:

• Tevas for Women
• Tevas for Men
• Chacos for Women
• Chacos for Men

If you’re on an independent tour, you’ll want to pack a pair of flip-flops to wear around your hotel room and to the beach. They’re lightweight and thin.

However, on my cruise with Anahi, I never wore my flip-flops because we weren’t allowed to wear shoes on the boat.

You’ll of course need to pack a toiletry bag for the Galapagos. Get one that comes with a hook that will allow you to hang the bag up from something like a towel rack in the bathroom. Also, get a bag with zippered compartments to keep out bugs, especially if you’re staying in one of the towns on the islands.

I have had good luck with the brand Tripped with other travel gear. They have a toiletry kit that comes with 3 bags:

• Hanging toiletry bag with multiple pockets
• Transparent bag for liquids – great for getting past TSA
• Pouch organizer for cosmetics

I love this Japanese-brand soap box. Sadly, I left mine in Costa Rica and I have to make do with a cheap one that leaks.

The Kiasona Soap Box has a sponge that soaks up the extra water, which keeps the soap dry and helps it last longer. The container also has a band that goes around it, preventing it from opening up in our toiletry bag and spilling all the contents out.

These exfoliating washcloth towels for the shower are another one of my favorite packing items. They’re quick-drying and lightweight, and they lather up nicely! Plus, they don’t take up much space in my backpack.

They come in a package of three, but you only really need to pack one for the Galapagos.

Another must-have packing item for the Galapagos is something to hold your toothbrush. But which kind do you get? One that just covers the brush part or one for the brush and handle.

After trying many toothbrush holders over the years of international travel, I’ve settled on these steripod clip-on holders that just cover the brush part of my toothbrush. The ones from Steripod also use this ingredient in mouthwash that releases vapors to keep my brush smelling clean and fresh. They also don’t get filled gunk and if gunk gets on them, I can still clean them easily.

Just remember to throw yours out after 3 months of use.

For those doing a land-based independent tour, packing a power bank is a must. You’re out on an excursion and your phone battery dies. No problem! You can recharge it with your power bank.

For those doing a cruise, a power bank is NOT essential. Excursions usually last 2 hours and then you’re back on the boat where you can recharge your phone. However, if you’re taking lots of videos with your phone, it might run out of batteries. Then a portable power bank will come in handy.

If your phone uses USB-A ports, you’ve got to get a power bank that does both input and output for USB-A. The Mophie power bank was the only one I could find in 2023 that does that.

Power plug adapters allow you to plug in your electronics that use a different type of outlet from what you have in your home country.

If you’re from North or South America, you probably don’t need a power plug adapter because Ecuador uses the same type of outlet for electronics that Canada, the United States, and the rest of the Americas use.

For people from Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world, you’ll probably need a power plug adapter so that your electronic gadgets plug fits into Ecuador outlets.

The one reason North and South Americans might also need a plug adapter is for tech gear using 3-prongs. I usually just saw 2-prong outlets in Ecuador.

I’ve been in Ecuador for over four months and I have yet to use my power plug adapter.

The best tech gear for travel that’s come out recently has been item trackers. Most people call them Air Tags, but those are just the trackers used for Apple products. If you use Android gear like a Samsung phone, you’ll need to get a Tile Mate or a Tile Slim.

Tile trackers will give you peace of mind when you’re flying to Ecuador and then to the Galapagos. Just attach them to your checked luggage and you’ll be able to track your bags, so you’ll know if they don’t make it with you to your next destination.

Another time your bags might be out of sight is for those on cruises when the crew is bringing your bags on and off the ship. It’ll give you peace of mind knowing that they’re following you to the airport. When I was on my Anahi cruise, there was some confusion about which pile of bags was going to the airport and which one was for people staying in the Galapagos.

I also like to put a Tile Mate in my purse and daypack when I travel. However, the Galapagos is pretty safe and I don’t think you need to worry about crime, especially theft in the islands.

Pack a Kindle Paperwhite or Kindle Fire to read a book during your free time, on the plane, or on a ferry between islands. If you’re on a cruise, you’re going to have a few hours of downtime during your day. We had a 2.5-hour siesta from 12:00 to 2:30 pm every day and then we had our evenings after 6:00 pm free.

I would get a Kindle Fire so that you can read the Galapagos wildlife guides in color and you can watch your favorite movies and TV shows.

If you can afford it, get a good camera for the Galapagos. However, BEFORE you arrive take a class on how to use it. You will thank me afterward.

You want a camera that has good autofocus—meaning it’s good at focusing on moving or suddenly appearing objects like birds. The BEST camera for that is the Sony a7 III. This was the one most people on my tour had, and it really does take the BEST photos—sharp images in low light. 

I actually don’t use a Sony. Instead, I have the Fuji XT-4. The colors are nice but the autofocus isn’t as good as the Sony.

What camera lenses do you need for the Galapagos?

• Telephoto Lens – Essential for shots of animals
• Wide-angel Lens – Essential for shots of landscapes
• Average focal length lens – Not essential

Most people take photos of animals. To do that, you’ll need a telephoto lens. That’s what I used most of the time when I was in the Galapagos. Get a lens that can shoot at least 300 mm.

The other lens you’ll need is one for landscapes. For that, you’ll want a wide-angle lens (10-18 mm or 10-24 mm). I don’t have one, so I was unable to get the whole landscape into one photo and had to use my phone instead.

If you want to add a third lens to your Galapagos trip, bring an average focal length one—this is usually the kit lens that you get when you buy your camera. Focal length is usually 24-70 mm or 16-80 mm. But you could easily leave this lens at home or back in your hotel room and not miss it.

Before going out on an excursion, ask your guide which lens to take: wide (landscape) or wildlife (telephoto).

Another packing list essential for the Galapagos is at least 2 memory cards. Most cameras have two memory card slots, so you can use 2 memory cards at the same time. In case one card fails, you have a backup. And yes, cards fail.

Get cards with at least 128 GB of memory. I like the SanDisk brand and the Extreme Pro memory cards.

If you need a camera strap for your trip to the Galapagos, I cannot recommend this Peak Design one enough. I love it!

It’s supposed to work with any camera brand, so it’s quite versatile. I have found the strap easy to adjust, durable, and comfortable.

Just watch several videos first on how to attach it to your camera before attempting to do it yourself. It’s a little different for each camera. And some videos teach you a way that’s more complicated than it needs to be.

Don’t go to the Galapagos with your nice camera and lenses but NO lens cleaning kit. Dust, dirt, and water drops can easily get on your lenses or your sensor and ruin your photos of Blue Footed Boobies and Frigate Birds.

Bring a good kit with you that has a spray bottle, a brush, a microfiber cloth, sensor cleaning cloths and brushes, and most important of all a lens pen.

Don’t use your shirt to wipe your lens clean no matter how dirty your lens gets.

Humidity can destroy a camera and lenses. It can get really humid in the Galapagos from January to May. So, bring some silicone gel packets with you to keep the moisture out of your camera and lenses.

I destroyed my camera and a lens while traveling through Central America because the moisture from the humidity got into my lens and camera.

You’ll want to store your photos somewhere while traveling around the Galapagos. Pack your laptop and/or an external hard drive. I recommend downloading your photos at the end of every day onto your laptop. Then erase all the photos on your memory card by reformatting it so that the next day you start with an empty memory card.

Make sure your laptop or hard drive has plenty of storage space, preferably 3 – 4 TB. You won’t need that much for only the Galapagos, but you probably will in the future.

The external hard drive has also got to be durable enough so that if you drop it, it doesn’t break. You’ll also want one that transfers photos quickly. The Transcend Hard Drive is what I’ve used for many years. The other one that many travelers use is the LaCie brand rugged hard drive.

The PERFECT camera bag is the Wandrd Prvke Lite. It’s 11L that can expand to 16L. The bag has got four compartments as well as smaller internal ones. It’s sturdy, durable, and comfortable to wear on your back. There’s a laptop sleeve. I also like that the camera compartment opens from the back instead of the front. Plus, the bag is water resistant.

If you’re doing a lot of snorkeling and/or diving, you’ll want to be able to take photos of what you see underwater. A good GoPro camera is perfect for that. Get a GoPro Hero 11.

You’ll also need a Go Pro Waterproof Case for when you use the camera underwater. Make sure the one you get is well-built so that water doesn’t leak into it and ruin the camera.

If you’re using your GoPro underwater, you’ll want to use a hand grip. This hand grip has a strap and it floats. It’s also lightweight and comfortable to hold onto. Great for snorkeling with your GoPro.

Let’s start out this section with my favorite packing item: a laundry bag.

You will thank me for bringing this!

 I used to just use a plastic bag to store my dirty clothes. Then the bag would get holes or rip, and I’d have to search for another one but I could never find a big enough replacement. Eventually, my dirty clothes would just get mixed up with my clean clothes, and my whole backpack would start to smell.

Then I got a laundry bag. Problem solved!

It also helps to keep your laundry bag with your dirty clothes in your compression cubes.

The compression cubes that I use come with a laundry bag that’s the perfect size for 3 kg of clothes (one week’s worth of clothes).

I ALWAYS recommend that people keep a journal when they travel. You think you’ll never forget your experiences. But trust me! You will! And worse you’ll get things mixed up and months or years later you’re not sure whether you saw something or not. You’ll look at your photos but you won’t know what you’re looking at because you simply forgot.

I love these Moleskin Journals. They’re lightweight, thin, and durable. I’ve never had one fall apart on me on a trip. And the smoothness of the paper gives you a nice writing experience. They are perfect for the Galapagos!

The other thing I would NOT visit the Galapagos without packing is a pair of hiking poles. You’ll be hiking on a lot of unstable volcanic rock. It’s easy to slip and fall. This happened to one person on my Anahi cruise. He slipped, fell, and hit his head on the rocks. Hiking poles are also useful when climbing out of boats onto a rocky shore.

If you’re on a cruise, the boat might provide you with poles. However, the ones my cruise had weren’t that good. I also found that our guide and captain would often forget to provide poles for us and when we got to shore, some of us would be struggling to walk over the unstable ground.

Make sure the poles are collapsible so you can pack them inside your bag!

It gets hot and humid in the Galapagos, so you don’t really want to put a jacket on when it rains. I found an umbrella to be more useful than my rain jacket. I bought one for US$1 in Quito and I used it twice in the Galapagos when I was staying in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island.

However, don’t buy a fancy, big, and expensive umbrella. Keep it small, collapsible, and inexpensive. Something that will fit into your daypack. If you lose it, you won’t be too sad.

If you like to have printed copies of things when you travel like your passport, cruise voucher, airline and hotel reservations, or tour bookings, you’ll need something to store them in.

Pack a document holder that you can store your papers in. Make sure it has some way to close like a zipper or a snap button to prevent papers from falling out.

To avoid contributing to the trash on the islands, It’s essential to bring your own water bottle to the islands. It’s not safe to drink the water from the tap in the Galapagos, but most hotels and boats will have filtered water for you to fill up your water bottle.

I like this bottle from Opard—it’s tall and skinny so it easily fits in the side pocket of your backpack. It’s got a handy strap to carry it. My favorite part is that there are measurements on the outside so you can see how much you’ve drunk that day.

Sunglasses make it onto every Galapagos packing list that I’ve read. I don’t wear them because I now wear glasses. However, I do think they’re a good thing to take with you to the Galapagos as the sun is pretty harsh. The equator does run through the islands.

Get sunglasses with polarized lenses and UV protection.

Bring a flashlight or a headlamp with you to the Galapagos. On a couple of our hikes, it was getting dark and it was hard to see the trail and the rocks we had to climb on. It would have been nice to have a better flashlight than my phone’s. We also went down a dark tunnel on our first day and it would have been nice to have a good flashlight to see things better.

Make sure the light is strong but the flashlight is not big. A headlamp will allow your hand to be free so might be a better option for you.

One of the passengers on my cruise had a really strong flashlight. He would point it at the ocean at night and the sea lions and fish would come to the light. We could watch the sea lions trying to catch the fish.

Another item I can’t travel without is a set of plastic Ziploc baggies. Get two to three different sizes and bring as many as your luggage will take.

They will come in sooooo handy. You can use them for storing wet clothes, shampoo bottles (because they always leak at least once on a trip), camera and camera lenses to protect against humidity, passport (keep from getting wet), money, and snacks.

Once when I was in Thailand, I got caught in a downpour and my passport got wet. The ink from my country stamps ran and you could no longer read them. Don’t let that happen to you! After that, I never traveled anywhere without storing my passport in a Ziploc bag.

By the way, I have been able to find good quality plastic bags like the Ziploc brand in Ecuador.