What to Pack for the Galapagos Islands
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What’s the weather like in the Galapagos Islands?
The easiest part about what to pack for the Galapagos Islands is that every day has almost the same weather and almost the same amount of sun. Because the Galapagos Islands are on the Equator, the sun rises and sets at approximately 6 AM and 6 PM, respectively, each day. The weather is warm and tropical, ranging from the mid-70s F to mid-80s F (between 20 and 30 C) daily, so expect high humidity and seasonal rains. But the biggest thing to remember is that the sun is going to be V E R Y strong on the Equator, and with as much time as you’ll spend on the water or at the beach, your Galapagos Islands packing list needs to include items that account for that. More info below!
What should you wear in the Galapagos Islands?
When I looked around at the locals, I saw almost everyone wearing long sleeves and long pants most of the day, unless they worked in a place that was mostly shaded through the day. The guides on our tours all had those wide-brimmed hats like you see on safaris in addition to sunglasses and UV-resistant clothing. So when you know the locals are covering their skin, you should too.
Unless you are already rocking a solid tan, I’d HIGHLY recommend wearing UV clothing all day, and switching to nicer, cuter clothing like shorts and tank tops at night. Thankfully, you’ll have plenty of time to wear both since the sun sets so early.
Dressing Tips for the Galapagos Islands
On the boat
Unless you get anxious on boats (like me) you’ll likely spend a lot of time on them while you’re in the Galapagos Islands. The inter-island ferries are like speed boats with a cover over the seats (more details in my Galapagos Travel Guide), which means you won’t need as much sun protection unless you sit in the back row. However, they do get stuffy, so you’ll want to wear loose, breathable clothing. If you’re going snorkeling for the day, pack/wear a few layers to keep yourself comfortable. UV clothing is also a must, especially because the water will reflect the sun stronger, and there will not be as much shade. You’ll want waterproof shoes to wear — keep reading for my recommendation so you know what to pack for the Galapagos Islands!
On the land
While exploring on land, make sure to have comfortable walking shoes or sandals. If you visit a tortoise ranch, you’ll need closed-toed shoes and ones you don’t mind getting muddy. If you’re out while the sun is strongest, make sure to layer up and wear a hat.
Galapagos Islands Packing List
Shoes
There are three kinds of shoes you’ll need for your Galapagos packing list: tennis shoes, sandals, and water shoes. You can consolidate the sandals and water shoes by buying Chacos or Tevas. If you prefer a harder sole, go with Chacos, and if you prefer a softer sole, go with Tevas. Shoes are a very important part of what to pack for the Galapagos Islands because you’ll be going from water to land activities and back, so you want to ensure you have to right footwear to make it happen. Other than those, I recommend bringing a pair of comfortable, closed-toed walking shoes. My all-time favorite travel shoes are the Adidas grand court or all star sneakers!
Bottoms
For what to pack in the Galapagos Islands for bottoms, I’d recommend several pairs of shorts (you will get sweaty) and a few pairs of leggings or loose, flowy pants. These double as a great coverup!
Tops
The number one thing you should pack for the Galapagos Islands is UV clothing. These UV shirts will save your shoulders from that dreaded burn with the Equator sun beating down on you all day. They come in a variety of colors to match your style. And if you’re interested in a cool souvenir, there are many shops that sell UV shirts along the main road in Puerto Ayora with Galapagos Island themes! Other than UV shirts, you need to pack a few tank tops, t-shirts, and possibly a sweatshirt if you get cold easily. After getting a horrific sunburn on my first day, I only wore long sleeves while the sun was out, but in the evenings, I opted for flowy tanks and shirts so they would not press against the burn 😅
Accessories
What else do you need to pack for the Galapagos Islands? Swimsuits. You’ll likely spend a significant amount of time in or near the water. If you plan on snorkeling, you can rent wetsuits (which I highly recommend), or find a tour that will provide them for you. Beneath the wetsuit, you’ll still want a comfortable bathing suit, so make sure it’s one you feel comfortable swimming and twisting around in. Several of my skimpier bikinis made it on my Galapagos packing list, but I ended up only wearing them while I was laying by the pool. You’ll also want a hat and sunglasses to protect your face.
Toiletries
Pack all your usual toiletries, including all medications you take in their original bottles. I love this bag to hold all my bathroom stuff while I travel and to bring my favorite products with me, I use these reusable bottles. The hotel we stayed at had every type of soap you could imagine — body wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, bar soap, etc, which made packing easy for us. It was absolutely incredible, and you can read my full review here. If I didn’t sell you on Villa Escalesia, check where you’re staying to see what they provide!
If you burn easily, you might consider packing a small bottle of aloe along with reef-safe sunscreen. Buying a bottle of either on the islands will cost you over $25. Yikes! But please, please make sure if you choose to bring sunscreen that it is REEF SAFE. If you’re at all worried about sun exposure in the water, wear a wetsuit and save the environment.
Electronics + Entertainment
The outlets in the Galapagos are the same two or three-pronged ones as the United States, so if you’re traveling from the United States to the Galapagos Islands, you won’t need to put a travel adapter on your Galapagos packing list. If you’re traveling from Europe, pack the same adapter you would if you were going to the United States. Other electronics you might need are phone chargers, a camera (especially an action camera for snorkeling), a book or Kindle to read by the water, and headphones. The cell service and wifi in the Galapagos are extremely spotty and slow, so don’t bank on being able to stream any entertainment while you are there.
If you’re into audiobooks, give Audible a try! Recently, I’ve been trying to give my eyes a break while traveling, and I’ve been downloading audiobooks before we go anywhere. Pop your headphones in while you’re on the water taxi so you can catch up on your favorite books while soaking in the beautiful nature surrounding you!
PS - I wrote a book! If you love romantasy, download it for your next vacation read.
Galapagos Islands Outfit Ideas
If you’re wondering what to pack for the Galapagos Islands outfit-wise, here are some examples of what I wore on a daily basis. The black shirt I wore was a UV shirt, which I ended up layering some days because of how bad my sunburn was. 🤣 I’m so glad I put several on my Galapagos packing list, otherwise I would have been very gross by the end of our trip!
Final Thoughts on What to Pack for the Galapagos Islands
I hope I’ve answered all your questions about what to pack for the Galapagos Islands! We did not do a Galapagos Islands cruise, so if you are planning a cruise your list might look a little different than mine. If you’re connecting in Quito, definitely check out the capital city. I’ve got everything you need to see in one day in Quito in a post for you.