LAST UPDATED: 2/11/24 – Galápagos Islands Packing Guide

This Galápagos Islands packing guide contains references to products on my Amazon Store site.  I may receive a commission when you purchase these products from my store, though at no additional cost to you.   I hand-pick and recommend only the products that I am either familiar with or comfortable recommending.

The Galápagos Islands are a dream travel destination for many people around the world.  If you are reading this article, then chances are that it is a dream destination for you as well.  Hopefully, you are in the planning phases of making that dream a reality. If so, this article should answer some questions about what you should and should not bring when you visit.

The Galápagos Islands is as unique of a destination as it is beautiful. However, with that uniqueness comes some challenges when packing for your trip. 

Being an island chain without a large population, especially the smaller islands, it can be difficult to find things. If you forget to bring something, you could be out of luck.  For that reason, you will want to make sure you are extra prepared when it comes to packing.

In this Galápagos Islands packing guide, I will discuss the general guidelines you should follow when it comes to packing. In addition, I will also outline some of the essential gear that I suggest you bring. 

Finally, as a photographer, I can’t help but provide some tips on the photography gear you should bring with you.  There are many beautiful things to photograph, so you will definitely want to bring photography and video gear with you.

General Guidelines

Before I list the gear that I recommend you bring to the Galápagos Islands, here are some general guidelines. These guidelines will help you prepare for your travels in my Galápagos Islands packing guide below.

Avoid Bringing Plastics

The Galápagos Islands are a unique and fragile ecosystem, and it is our responsibility to protect that ecosystem.  To an extent, the Galápagos Islands have prohibited you from bringing plastic bags onto the islands. 

I say “to an extent” because you will see plenty of signs discouraging you from bringing them. However, they appear to be enforcing this policy in stages. I saw quite a few plastic bags in the open when I was there.  In fact, some of the stores on the island were giving them to customers.

I will leave the ultimate decision up to you, but I would suggest avoiding using plastic bags when possible.  It’s the right thing to do. If you saw the damage that irresponsibly disposed of plastic bags can have on marine wildlife, you would understand why.  If you do bring bags with you, please make sure you are responsible handle and disposing of them.

Understand the Seasons

Like any other place, the Galápagos Islands are different depending on the season you visit.  The Galápagos is on the Equator, but it also has the chilly Humbolt Current that brings cold Antarctic water to the islands.  These factors influence the weather, as well as the ocean conditions, which differ depending on when you visit.

The Wet Season

For instance, during the wet season, the hot Panama water currents warm the waters around the Galápagos Islands. This brings warmer and wetter weather. So, from January thru May, which is also the warm season, you should expect wetter weather.

However, even though the islands see more rain this time of year, the rain doesn’t last long. They are usually quick showers, and the rain is quickly absorbed into the island’s volcanic rock.

During this time of year, you will also see much calmer waters.  This makes the warmer wet season the favorite time of year for people looking to take boat cruises. The calmer waters make for a much more pleasant boating experience.

The Dry Season

As you can see in the diagram I included in my Galápagos Islands packing guide above, the dry season is much different. The weather is starkly different than the warm, wet season. Unlike the warm season, the weather is much dryer and cooler. So, from June thru December, you should expect much drier and cooler weather.

During this time of year, the waters are cooled by the Humboldt Current coming up from Antarctica. The colder waters make snorkeling and scuba diving more challenging without a wetsuit. However, the nutrient-rich Humboldt Current also makes the waters much more active with wildlife. If you are looking to see a lot of wildlife, this is a good time to visit.

This time of year, there are also stronger seas. The ocean waters are typically much choppier than they are during the warm season. This can make long boat rides a little more challenging. If you are visiting at this time of year, you will want to bring motion sickness pills or patches.

Bring Layers of Clothing

The weather in the Galápagos Islands can vary, depending on the time of year. It can also vary depending on the time of day and where you are on the islands. For instance, the weather in the highlands is typically much cooler. The lower you go, the warmer the temperatures become. It can also be much cooler at night in the Galápagos than during the daytime.

For this reason, I strongly recommend packing layers of clothing. In addition to T-Shirts, make sure you bring long pants, sweatshirts, and a light jacket. It is also a good idea to have rain gear with you in case the weather requires it. For a detailed list of the gear I recommend bringing, please refer to the essential gear list in my Galápagos Islands packing guide below.

Bring Sun Protection

Because the Galápagos Islands are right on the Equator, the sun can be pretty intense.  This is especially true when you are out on the water during the day.  Make sure you pack some strong sunscreen when you pack for your trip.  I would recommend a sunscreen with at least a 50 SPF.  My recommendation would be one with an SPF of 70-100.

Be Prepared to be on and in the Water A Lot

Because the Galápagos Islands are an island destination with a strong wildlife focus, it should be no surprise that much of your visit will be spent either on the water or in a boat. Much of the time in the water will be spent snorkeling or scuba diving. 

You will want to spend some time on land seeing the Giant Tortoises, the Charles Darwin Research Center, hiking the volcanoes, and doing some shopping and other sight-seeing, but the majority of the time you will be on the water.

Keep this in mind as you pack for the Galápagos.  I would recommend that you bring multiple swimsuits because you will be spending a lot of time in the ocean.  You might also want to consider packing towels, though most of the hotels or boats that you stay on will provide them for you. 

I also strongly recommend investing in a wetsuit to bring if you are visiting during the cooler wet season or typically have a sensitivity to colder waters.  Many tour operators will rent them, but not all do.  We invested in some before we visited, and we were very glad we did.  You can find some very reasonably priced wet suites in the recommendations I have provided in my Galápagos Islands packing guide below.

Waterproof Bags are Handy

Because you will spend a lot of your time in the Galápagos near the water, having a waterproof bag will be a valuable asset.  There are some very effective and affordable water-tight bags on the market, and I would strongly recommend picking one up.  When I was in the Galápagos, I had a few occasions where my waterproof bag saved my phone and camera from what would have been disasters on boats.

Be Prepared for Motion Sickness

This is a point I cannot stress strongly enough.  Even if you don’t typically have issues with motion sickness, I would bring motion sickness medication with you to the Galápagos.  At a minimum, I would bring motion sickness pills that you can use when taking inter-island public speedboats and other long boat rides.  Ideally, I would recommend getting the prescription motion sickness patches that you apply behind your ear.  I brought these with me to the Galápagos and I didn’t get sick when plenty of others around me did.

The Essential Gear

NOTE:  This post contains references to products on my Amazon Store site.  I may receive a commission when you purchase these products from my store, though at no additional cost to you.   I hand-pick and recommend only the products that I am either familiar with or comfortable recommending.

To give you a good idea of what gear I would specifically recommend bringing, I have compiled a list of essential gear in my Galápagos Islands packing guide below for you to review and refer to when packing.  All of these items I would consider essentials when visiting the Galápagos Islands.

Recommended Photography Gear

The Galápagos Islands are incredibly beautiful and amazing.  When you visit, you are going to want to have a camera with you to record all of your wonderful memories.  To give you an idea of what to pack in your camera bag, I have compiled a list of essential gear for you to refer to in my Galápagos Islands packing guide below.

When applicable, I have provided links to gear that I have used and recommended.  I will be writing a post with some more detailed photography tips for photographing the Galápagos Islands in the coming weeks.

• DSLR Camera Body
• GoPro or waterproof camera
• Red Filter Set for GoPro (to correct color distortion underwater)
• Wide Angle Zoom Lens with Lens Hood (for landscape shots)
• Fast Zoom Lens with Lens Hood (for wildlife shots)
• Battery Grip
• Extra Camera Batteries
• Plenty of Card Memory
• GPS Unit (if not built into the camera)
• Camera Rain Sleeve
• Photo Journal

Don’t Forget to Subscribe to My Adventures!

Let Me Help You Save On Your Next Adventure!

‘Start Exploring Today’ Merchandise Available Now!