You’ve waited, planned, booked, and waited some more, the anticipation mounting with every passing day! And the day is coming, soon, we promise — packing day!

Packing your suitcase for a big vacation is exciting For many, it’s the first moment that a vacation becomes real, even before stepping out the door. Packing for a cruise requires a little extra foresight because you won’t have access to a store or pharmacy if you forget a toothbrush or prescription. But don’t worry, we’ve outlined what you do (and don’t!) need to pack for your Galápagos cruise onboard the Yacht Angelito.

Before you start packing a bag, here’s a few things you might want to know:

1. You need your original passport, and it must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date in Ecuador. If your passport will expire less than 6 months from your arrival date, you will not be allowed to enter the country, so make sure you renew now if you need to!
2. Pack light and try to bring only the essentials. The airlines that service the Galapagos Islands allow one checked bag of 20-23 kg (44-50 lbs) plus one carryon of max. 8 kg (17 lbs).
3. To protect the ecosystem, please try to bring biodegradable products for personal care and sun protection.
4. Don’t forget electrical adapters for charging your camera, phone, and other electronics. Ecuador, Galápagos, and the Yacht Angelito use American electrical outlets.

In Your Suitcase

CLOTHES: It is typically warm in the Galápagos, so you’ll want to pack accordingly. Shorts, lightweight pants, and comfortable T-shirts are great for walking around the islands. Onboard, comfortable clothing is best! Women might enjoy a comfortable romper or sundress for laying around on the sundeck. It’s smart to also pack a fleece for nighttime stargazing and a lightweight rain jacket for unexpected weather changes. Bring a shirt you don’t mind swimming in, as an extra layer of sun protection while snorkeling.

You will definitely need a swimsuit! Pack a second swimsuit if possible. This way, you can alternate between suits and allow each time to fully dry on the sundeck between activities. If you feel more comfortable with your own snorkeling equipment, bring it with you, but we do provide quality masks, snorkels, and fins onboard, at no extra cost. Depending on the season, the water may be very comfortable or quite cold, which is why we rent wetsuits onboard for those who would like one, for only $5 per use.

FOOTWEAR: Your Galápagos cruise with the Yacht Angelito will include a variety of terrains, as well as wet and dry landings. A “dry landing” means you will move from the Yacht, to the dinghy, and onto the island while staying completely dry. A “wet landing” on the other hand, means that you will get your feet and lower parts of your legs wet while exiting the dinghy onto the island. For this reason, we highly recommend trekking style sandals such as Keen or Teva that can go between wet and dry terrains easily. There are some excursions on which you’ll need the better support of tennis shoes/sneakers, but we strongly recommend that you bring older or used sneakers as they could suffer damage from saltwater, sand, and volcanic rock.

While you’re onboard the Yacht Angelito, you may choose to go barefoot or opt for flip flops or slippers. You will leave your trekking shoes, whether they are sneakers or sandals, in cubbies at the entrance to the Yacht to help keep the space clean for everyone. We do NOT recommend walking in socks on the boat as there is an increased risk of slipping.

SUN PROTECTION: You’re going to need it! The Galapagos Islands are on the equator, where the sun is much more intense than you’re used to. You can get burnt before you even realize it. We advise that you bring a variety of different sun protection techniques, including wide-brimmed or long-billed hats, good sunglasses, and waterproof, high SPF sunscreen (50, 70, and 100 SPF are great options). You’ll probably want to apply sunscreen at least twice a day, so be sure to bring enough to last the duration of your cruise. Don’t forget to apply it to the back of your neck, ears, arms, and the tops of your feet! You’ll also want a long sleeve shirt or blouses to protect against the intense equatorial sun on land and while snorkeling.

PHOTOGRAPHY: You’ll encounter some of the best photography opportunities in the world, right here in Galápagos! Even if photography isn’t the main attraction for you, you’ll probably find yourself taking one picture right after the other. Bring your camera, and don’t forget extra memory cards and batteries, the charger, charging cables, and power converter if needed, and a good dry bag to protect from water or rain. Underwater cameras are a cool way to capture the magical landscapes underwater.

There is no cell phone service for most of the cruise, so please note that you likely won’t be able to backup or upload your photos to an online or cloud server.

MONEY: The official currency in Ecuador and the Galapagos is the US Dollar. You need $100USD in cash to pay the National Park entrance fee upon arrival in Baltra, and additional cash for tips for the crew and guide, as well as optional expenses onboard the Angelito, like soda and alcoholic drinks, and wetsuit rental. Many of the souvenir shops in Puerto Ayora and at the airport accept credit cards, but mostly only if the expense is more than $10 or $20. You will find a small safety box in your cabin where you can store your cash.

MEDICATION: Always travel with enough of your prescription medications to last for at least your entire trip. Bring your standard first aid travel kit with Band-Aids, antibacterial ointment, pain relievers, and diarrhea medication, etc. Other medicines we recommend are seasickness pills/patches, aloe-vera gel or any other after-sun creams, and insect repellent. Keep in mind that you will be on a boat in very isolated islands, approximately 1000 km (620 miles) from the mainland. If you suffer from any medical, physical or other special condition that might impact the travel experience for yourself and/or for the group, please consult with your doctor prior to booking.

TOILETRIES: We will supply your biodegradable shampoo, conditioner, and bodywash, but you do still need to bring your own toothbrush, toothpaste, razors, etc., preferably without any packaging or single use plastics (like grocery bags).

ACCESSORIES & EXTRAS: Don’t worry about jamming a bath or beach towel into your suitcase because we’ll be providing those for you! Be sure to pack electrical adapters, cables for your phone, laptop, and camera charging, etc., as well as extra batteries and high capacity memory cards.

Many people like to write about their experiences while traveling, so it’s nice to bring along a journal and pen to jot things down while they’re fresh in your memory. Finally, you’ll want to bring a small daypack (preferably a drypack) to carry your water bottle, camera, binoculars, etc. during the daily excursions.

WHAT YOU DON’T NEED TO BRING: The Yacht Angelito will provide each passenger with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, towels for the bathroom and the beach, a reusable water bottle, and fresh drinking water filtered right on the boat for endless free water refills.

You will also be provided three chef-prepared meals daily plus two snacks every day. You will eat a variety of meats, seafoods, fresh fruits and veggies, and fresh, homemade fruit juices. Have a dietary restriction or food allergy? No worries! Just let us know when you book your ticket (or as soon as possible thereafter to make sure that we have what you need onboard). In short, don’t worry about getting hungry on board the Yacht Angelito!

Stay Up To Date Before Your Trip

Before heading off for your Galapagos cruise on the Yacht Angelito, make sure you stay up to date with all our notifications, announcements, and awesome trip photos! Follow along with us on Facebook and Instagram (because what better way is there to get REALLY excited about your trip than seeing all the amazing travel photos we post?!), then head over to LINK to subscribe to our email list.

We’ll be seeing you soon!