Galapagos What To Bring

What should I bring to Galapagos Islands?

In short, less is more when planning your trip to the Galapagos Islands. The less you bring, the less you carry, the more you enjoy your tours. Below are some general suggestions on what you may need when traveling to the Galapagos Islands:


Sun Protection 

• Hat or a cap
• Sunglasses 
• Sunscreen (at least #15) 
• Lip salve or ointment 
• Aloe Vera cream or gel for sunburn. Just in case. 

Camera Gear 

• Extra memory cards for digital cameras. 
• Waterproof bag for your camera or a plastic bag to keep things from getting wet.
• Camera. If you have an underwater camera would be better.
• Video Camera 
• Extra Batteries and the battery charger
• Extra film
• Galpagos Islands use 110V electricity. 

Money & Security  

• Original Passport 
• Copy of passport 
• Credit card. There are ATM's on San Cristobal and Santa Cruz Islands only.
• Debit cards. Use is limited in Galapagos, on the mainland is ok.
• USA Cash. It’s better, if you can bring small bills. Bills of no more that 50.00 USD for your extra personal expenses and tips. 

Other Gear 

• Watch Travel Alarm Clock 
• Binoculars and a flash light
• Recipient to bring water 
• Toiletries 
• Shampoo (biodegradable) 
• Insect repellant 
• Small day pack 

Clothing

I suggest you to bring casual clothes that are light weight, comfortable to wear and walk. Please consider that the flights to Galapagos limit you to a maximum of 20kg.

Comfortable walking shoes (2 pairs). Sturdy sandals with straps, not flip-flops, a wind breaker or rain jacket, lightweight rain suit or poncho and a light wool sweater for cool evenings. T-shirts, lightweight pants and short pants, light cotton socks, 2 or more swim suits, light short sleeve shirts. One extra towel for the beach.

Galapagos Petrels Coservation

70% of petrels eggs are active in 

San Cristobal Island

As well known Petrel has critically endangered on The Red List of Threatened Species, but a census made during the last months by the Galapagos National Park determined that 70% of nesting petrels are active, the monitoring is being developed in the San Cristobal Island. Petrels are predated by introduced animals such as rodents or feral cats. 

Galapagos petrel protection

The monitoring equipment check if there are alive nests according to the presence of adults, chicks, eggs or traces of feathers. In order to increase the number of protected areas and species, forest keepers list the nest position with the help of global positioning devices (GPS), it's important to verify the good conservation of the nests.

The biggest collapse of the Galapagos petrel population occurred on Santiago Island, where it fell from about 11,250 pairs to fewer than 500 pairs in two or three decades.

An Albino Darwin's Finch was seen in Galapagos.

An Albino Darwin's Finch was seen in Galapagos Islands on the border of the Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island.

The Excursionists were very excited about this sighting that happened while doing the excurcion the volcano Sierra Negra organized by Nature Galapagos & Ecuador.

"Albino animals are extremely rare and unusual. They have all the characteristics of others of their species except they are all white in color. Not one inch of their natural coloring comes through as their bodies are unable to produce a pigment known as melanin. Melanin creates the normal pigmentation and coloring in an animal’s skin, fur or scales. This lack of melanin generally results in the animal looking bleached all over, appearing white or pink.

Being white doesn’t mean an animal is albino. The true test is in the eye coloration. All albino animals have pink/red eyes whereas white animals with blue eyes are called leucistic, which means they may have a reduced amount of pigmentation in relation to a normal specimen of their species but it is not as severe as albinism. We have some of both pictured here.

Albinism is an inherited trait and is passed from adult to young. An albino offspring is formed from a specific combination of genes coming together in any species. Albinos are rare because the genes which cause albinism are recessive and rarely occur." Source: Factzoo.com

Where are the Galapagos Islands Located?

The Galapagos Islands are located in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, 973 km (604 miles) off the west coast of South America. The closest land mass is the mainland of Ecuador to the east (the country to which they belong and should leave to get to the Galapagos Islands), to the North is Cocos Island 720 km (447 miles) and to the South is Easter Island and San Felix Island at 3200 km (1,990 miles).

The Galapagos Islands consist of six main islands: San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Floreana, Santiago and Fernandina these last two uninhabited, 12 smaller islands and the island Baltra uninhabited Santa Fe, Pinzón, Española, Rabida, Daphne, Seymour, Genovesa, Marchena, Pinta, Darwin and Wolf and over 40 islet. The islands have a population of 28,000 with exception of people who are temporarily working or visiting the islands.