Packing in a Carry On: Galapagos Islands

Packing in a Carry on: Galapagos Islands

Time to test of our packing skills with a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Our carry on bag weight limit for this trip was 17 pounds and we were ready to accept the challenge. Since a trip like this is mostly beach wear, shedding off pounds would have to come from places other than clothing. With a bit of research and separating out the needs (sun protection) from wants (beauty routine), the packing list became quite simple.

Watch the full packing video here:

In addition to our packing backbone as deskrib’ed in Packing in a Carry On, we made some new additions for this trip:

Shoes- Xero trail sandals

Since flip flops are not the recommended shoe to choice (can lose easily during water landings off boat), I wanted to find a Teva styled shoe without the price tag or bulk. I was also intent on bringing one pair of shoes only- packing extra shoes adds pounds to the carry on I do not need or have.

I wanted a shoe I would rewear after this trip and not despise the look of the shoe to appreciate the utility. It needed to be functional on land for hiking and water resistant as well as lightweight and attractive. I was not optimistic that a shoe would meet all of these needs.

Then I found Xero trail sandals. The shoe is insanely light- Kevin even questioning if these shoes would stand up to our needs of several miles of walking a day, hiking, sharp lava rocks, and water landing but the hundreds of reviews said these tiny shoes would do the trick. These shoes were incredible, achieving everything we wanted out of a shoe, super comfortable and supportive- these will be a staple to future trips.

Camera- Gopro 5

This was a tough decision for me – mostly because I saw a new camera as an investment for future blogging and not just a purchase for this trip. I want great photos and video quality without needing multiple cameras. Since underwater housing made traditional camera options massively more expensive, I opted for the waterproof GoPro 5 for underwater video footage and depend on my trusty phone for land photos as I have been doing.

Accessories- Gopro 5

Floating strap– so the GoPro did not escape my grasp in the water and plummet into the abyss
Red filter– for underwater filming to filter blue hue
Underwater housing case – yes, i know the GoPro 5 is underwater proof already but there were enough comments on this malfunctioning that spending an extra 18$ for security was worth it
Anti fog insert– so there is no fog built up in the case when underwater
Strap mount– for hands free shooting
Spare GoPro batteries and charger
Screen Protector
Extendable waterproof hand grip– essential!
Large SD card– 128g
SD card reader

Iphone waterproof case – once again, at under $5, why wouldn’t we get these since we will be around water constantly on this trip? Piece of mind. Disclaimer: We never used them underwater.

UPF Shirts/Shirts- his and hers– Being near to equator is no joke with the sun (as the locals reminded us repeatedly- “Do not forget sun protection” “Did you apply sun protection?” “What sun protection do you have?”) and to avoid constantly being plastered in sunscreen, we got UV sun protection shirts. We each brought two and we ended up wearing these every day. They washed great in the sinks and dried overnight quickly.

Waterproof bag– Since we would be out all day in the water, having a bag that was actually waterproof rather than resistant was important to me. Being compact was also key since this daybag was in addition to our backpacks. While I could not find a truly waterproof bag that was compact, I did find this one that was cheap, water resistant, and folds up into itself for easy packing- and it had water bottle holders! We used this every day- definitely loved this bag.

Wide brim hat for Kevin and for me– both collapse and lay flat for easy packing

Microfiber Towels– It was our first time using a microfiber towel and it was essential for our water activities. It quickly dried us off and also dried on its own overnight, ready for the next day.

Returning favorites include sunscreen stick or stick (solid sun tan lotion= win win), lush products, and Northface rain jacket compact and ready for wet weather!

Here is the full list: