What to Pack for a Galápagos Trip: Complete Checklist

By Juan Magallanes, Galápagos Travel Advisor

Pack light layers you can dry fast, a warm layer for early-morning small boat rides, and reef-safe sunscreen. Regular sunscreen is barred to protect the marine reserve. Bring water shoes for wet landings and trail shoes for dry ones. Carry USD cash: the park fee is $200, the transit card about $20.

Key figures at a glance

The numbers that matter before you pack

Item The number Notes
National Park entrance fee $200 Most foreign adults; cash USD on arrival
INGALA transit control card about $20 Per traveller; buy online in advance
Seasons 2 Warm/wetter Dec–May · cool/dry “garúa” Jun–Nov
Reef-safe sunscreen Required Regular sunscreen barred in the marine reserve
Wetsuit / snorkel gear Usually provided Confirm with your vessel, not guaranteed

What clothes do you actually need?

Dress for two seasons and for cool water, not for the tropics you’re picturing. The Galápagos sits on the equator, but the currents keep the water cold and the mornings brisk. Light, quick-dry layers do the work. You’ll add and shed them all day.

There are two seasons, and they change what you pack. The warm, wetter season runs roughly December–May. The cool, dry “garúa” season runs June–November, with the mist heaviest July–September. Neither is a “better” time, but they call for slightly different bags.

Cool/dry season (Jun–Nov) — cooler water, garúa mist

Cooler air, cooler water, and a fine mist (the garúa) that peaks July–September. Pack a light rain shell and a real warm layer, a fleece or light down. You won’t be cold all day, but early small boat rides and overcast mornings are chillier than people expect.

Hot/wet season (Jan–May) — warmer water, sun and rain

Warmer water and warmer air, but with short, heavy downpours. You still want quick-dry layers and a rain shell, because the rain comes and goes fast. The sun is stronger now, so sun cover matters even more (more on that below).

The layer everyone forgets — a warm layer for small boat rides

Here’s the thing most first-timers get wrong: they pack for the equator and freeze on the water. Early-morning small boat rides and wind off the sea are cool year-round because the currents are cold. A fleece or light windproof layer is the item people wish they’d brought. Pack it whatever the season.

How do you handle the sun and the water?

The equatorial UV here is very high, so burning is fast and easy. Cover up. A wide-brim hat, sunglasses, and a rash guard do more than sunscreen alone, and they don’t wash into the sea.

Why your sunscreen has to be reef-safe

Reef-safe sunscreen isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a park rule that protects the marine reserve, and regular sunscreen is barred. Buy it before you fly; don’t count on finding your preferred brand on the islands. A rash guard cuts how much you need in the first place.

Snorkel gear and wetsuits — bring or rent?

The water is cold enough that wetsuits are usual, not optional. Most cruises provide wetsuits and snorkel gear, but “most” is not “all,” so confirm with your vessel before you leave the bag behind. If you have a mask that fits you well, bring it. A leaking rental mask ruins a snorkel.

What footwear works for wet and dry landings?

Bring two pairs, because there are two kinds of landing. Landings are by small boat (a small dinghy), and they’re either “wet,” where you step into shallow water, or “dry” onto rock. Trails cross uneven volcanic terrain, so you want real grip.

  • Wet landings: water shoes or sport sandals (Teva-style) that can get soaked and dry fast.
  • Dry landings and trails: closed trail shoes with grip for uneven, sometimes sharp, volcanic rock.

If mobility is a concern, be honest with yourself and with us: most days involve that step off the small boat and some walking on rough ground. Tell us your needs and we’ll flag which trips suit them.

Health, money and documents — what can't you forget?

The items that derail a trip are usually the small ones: the cash you didn’t bring, the seasickness pills you left home. Handle these before you fly.

The $200 park fee and the about $20 transit card

Two fixed costs are extra on every trip, cruise or land-based. The National Park entrance fee is $200 for most foreign adults, paid in cash USD on arrival. The about $20 INGALA transit control card is per traveller. Buy it online in advance and keep it for departure. Carry the park fee as cash; it’s not billed with your fare.

One more money note: the currency is the US dollar, and ATMs are only on Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal, limited on Isabela, none on Floreana. Carry small bills. Plugs are 110 V US-style.

Propósito: Recordatorios de salud y botella reutilizable; anticipa la preocupación por el mareo.

Seasickness, water bottle and meds

If you’re at all prone to motion sickness, bring your remedy of choice. Smaller boats move more, and you don’t want to be hunting for pills on day one. Pack a refillable water bottle: single-use plastic is a real problem for the reserve, and a bottle you refill is the simple fix. Bring any personal prescriptions in your carry-on; pharmacies are limited.

Fly to the mainland a day before your cruise. Flights run about three hours, and a missed connection is the most common avoidable problem.

What should you leave at home? (biosecurity rules)

Some things aren’t just unnecessary. They’ll be confiscated, or they break park rules. Biosecurity is enforced by the ABG agency: luggage is inspected, and sniffer-dog teams work at Baltra and, since 2025, San Cristóbal.

  • No fresh produce or seeds — the top biosecurity risk; luggage is checked for it.
  • No tourist drones — they’re not allowed without a permit.
  • No single-use plastics where you can avoid them — plastic is a named threat to the reserve.

Leave the wildlife alone: stay at least 2 m from animals, no flash photography, and take nothing home. No rocks, shells, sand, or wildlife souvenirs.

The packing checklist, season by season

Galápagos packing checklist — what to bring, and what changes by season

Category Bring Season note
Clothing Light quick-dry layers, rain shell, one warm layer (fleece/light down) Warm layer matters year-round for small boat rides; heavier rain in Jan–May
Sun cover Reef-safe sunscreen, wide-brim hat, sunglasses, rash guard Very high UV all year; reef-safe is required
Water Mask if you have one; wetsuit/snorkel usually provided — confirm Water is cold year-round; colder in Jun–Nov
Footwear Water shoes/sandals (wet landings) + closed trail shoes (dry landings) Uneven volcanic terrain year-round
Money USD cash: $200 park fee + small bills; INGALA card about $20 ATMs only on Santa Cruz & San Cristóbal
Health Seasickness remedy, refillable water bottle, personal meds Smaller boats move more year-round
Documents Passport, INGALA card, park-fee cash Keep the transit card for departure
Leave home Drones (no permit), fresh produce/seeds, single-use plastics Biosecurity inspected at arrival

 

Key takeaways

  • Pack for cool water, not the tropics. The currents keep the sea and the mornings cold, so a warm layer is the item people wish they’d brought.
  • Reef-safe sunscreen is a rule, not a preference — regular sunscreen is barred.
  • Two pairs of shoes: water shoes for wet landings, trail shoes for dry, rocky ground.
  • Carry USD cash: the $200 park fee is paid on arrival; the INGALA card is about $20.
  • Leave drones, fresh food and single-use plastics home — biosecurity is inspected.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a wetsuit for the Galápagos, or is one provided?

The water is cold year-round because of the Humboldt and Cromwell currents, so a wetsuit is usual, not optional. Most cruises provide wetsuits and snorkel gear, but not all, so confirm with your vessel before you leave gear behind.

Is reef-safe sunscreen required in the Galápagos?

Yes. Reef-safe sunscreen is a park rule protecting the marine reserve, and regular sunscreen is barred. Buy it before you fly, and don’t count on finding your brand on the islands. A rash guard and hat cut how much you need in the first place.

What shoes should I bring to the Galápagos?

Bring two pairs. Water shoes or sport sandals for wet landings, where you step from the small boat into shallow water, and closed trail shoes for dry landings and walks on uneven, sometimes sharp, volcanic terrain. Both earn their place.

Can I bring a drone to the Galápagos?

No. Tourist drones are not allowed without a permit, and biosecurity checks enforce it. Sniffer-dog teams work at Baltra and, since 2025, San Cristóbal. Leave it home rather than risk it being confiscated on arrival.

How much cash do I need to bring to the Galápagos?

Carry USD cash for the $200 National Park entrance fee, paid on arrival, plus small bills for extras. The about $20 INGALA transit card is best bought online in advance. ATMs exist only on Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal, so don’t rely on them.

Does a longer trip mean a better or more luxurious one?

No. Extra days buy wider island reach, not a finer trip. Nearly every boat reaches nearly every island, so the sites on a route don’t set its quality. The shortest 4-day cruise can be as polished as an 8-day one. Comfort comes from the vessel, not the length.

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