What to pack for The Galápagos in December

19 rain days a month finds every seam. A real shell, not a windbreaker.

UV index 7.7 burns exposed skin in under 30 minutes.

Water reflects intense sun and glare makes navigation difficult.

Insects breed in wet terrain during the rainy season.

Remote islands mean medical help is hours away by boat.

Tap water isn't safe here. A filter bottle beats buying plastic twice a day.

Limited outlets and 12.2 hours of daylight drain batteries fast.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Overhead bins fill fast on small aircraft serving remote islands.

Day trips across islands require carrying water, sun protection, and gear.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Nineteen rain days and 85% humidity mean sweat won't dry on cotton.

UV hits 7.7 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

Water temperature stays at 72°F, warm enough to swim most days.

12.2 hours of daylight at equatorial intensity requires overhead shade.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Heat and humidity accelerate dehydration faster than you notice it.

Unfamiliar water causes digestive trouble in most travelers within days.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International travel and rural areas increase theft and scam risk.

Crowded boats and multiple islands make bags easy to misplace.

Packing tight prevents salt spray and humidity from reaching clothes.

Constant water exposure and 85% humidity threaten electronics.

Nineteen rain days mean laundry dries slowly without treatment.

Highs of 77°F and coastal terrain call for minimal leg coverage.

Salt spray and 19 rain days corrode leather quickly without protection.

Lips crack and blister in high UV and salt wind.

Tap water isn't safe here, and surfaces collect contamination quickly.

Bites swell in heat, and scratching spreads infection in humidity.

One power source means charging happens in sequence, not parallel.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

National park entry requires documentation; humidity damages paper passports.

International travel through multiple islands increases luggage handling risk.

High humidity and salt air degrade toiletries and medications rapidly.