What to pack for The Galápagos in May

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

UV index of 8.8 burns skin in under fifteen minutes.

Water reflects intense equatorial sun straight into your eyes.

Insects thrive in 85% humidity and coastal vegetation.

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.

Twelve-hour days mean cameras and phones drain by late afternoon.

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

Overhead bins on inter-island flights are tight and strictly enforced.

Daily island excursions require carrying water, sun protection, and camera 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.

Heat and humidity at 85% make sweat cling to skin all day.

UV hits 8.8 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

Water temperature stays at 75°F, warm enough for frequent swimming.

Wet terrain and coastal spray require footwear that drains instantly.

Twelve hours of direct sun exposure daily makes shade rare.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Heat and humidity drain electrolytes faster than plain water replaces them.

Tap water here carries bacteria that causes traveler's diarrhea.

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 petty crime risk.

Boat transfers and island hopping make bags easy to misplace.

Humidity and salt air wrinkle clothes fast, so organizing them helps.

Constant water exposure from rain and ocean spray soaks pockets.

Twenty-two rain days mean clothes stay damp, so washing often is necessary.

Highs of 81°F mean legs stay exposed from morning to evening.

Twenty-two rain days soak boots through, so sealing them matters.

Lips crack fast in salt air and constant wind.

Wet hands and shared surfaces spread illness in close quarters.

Sunburned skin swells and itches worse when insects bite it.

One outlet per guesthouse forces charging phones and cameras in sequence.

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

Salt water and humidity damage paper documents without protection.

Shared accommodations and tour boats create opportunities for bag tampering.

Humidity at 85% breeds mold in toiletries within days.