Galapagos

• January 2012
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• May 2016
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• January 2017
  • Species List
• November 2017
  • Trip Report
  • Species List
• February 2018
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• November 2018
  • Trip Report
  • Species List
• February 2019
  • Trip Report
• November 2019
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• February 2020
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• November 2021
  • Species List
• February 2022
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• November 2022
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• January 2023
  • Species List
  • Trip Report

This information is important for being prepared for your journey; we want you to have the best experience possible. If you only read one section, this one is key!

Ahead of Your Tour - (If taking the post tour extension to Machu Picchu, follow instructions for Peru as well)

• Make sure your passport will be valid at least six months after the date of your scheduled return to the U.S. No Visas are required for U.S. citizens for stays of this length in Ecuador (or Peru). See "Passports, Visas & Documentation" below for details. If you are from another country, please contact that country's embassy website for guidelines.
• Please check current CDC recommendations for travel to Ecuador and consult with your doctor about general travel vaccinations you should have as precaution for travel. See the “General Health and Inoculations” section below. If taking the extension to Machu Picchu, CDC link is Peru.
• Travel insurance in case of serious medical emergency is strongly recommended. Full health coverage and repatriation is available through Allianz Travel Insurance.
• Soft sided luggage/duffel bags are easiest for packing the vans.  Pack essential medications in your carry-on luggage, as well as one day of clothing and optics in case of luggage delay.
• Please check the Travel Details tab of this tour for additional information and updates.

Passports, Visas & Documents

Guidelines and regulations can change. It is always advisable to double-check the country’s documentation requirements 60-90 days ahead of traveling. Information for U.S. citizens can be found at:

Equador: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Ecuador.html.

Extension to Machu Picchu, Peru: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Peru.html

If you are from another country, please contact the Ecuador embassy website for guidelines. 

Passport: At the time of writing, you must have a passport that is in good condition and valid for at least six months after your scheduled return to the U.S. You should have at least one blank page per entry stamp. The blank pages need to say “Visas” at the top. Pages marked “Amendments and Endorsements” will not be accepted. 

Visa: At the time of writing, a tourist visa is not required for the duration of this tour for travelers with a U.S. passport. Your tourist card is part of your airline ticket and you will receive inbound forms to complete on your flight.  If you are issued a card at immigration, be sure to carry it with your passport at all times. You will need the card to exit the country. We advise that you bring your eContact list of hotels for use at immigration as well. The departure tax from Ecuador is now included in the cost of your flight, so you do not have to pay this separately at the International Airport before checking in for your flight. 

As a precaution for lost or misplaced documents you carry on your person during travel, we highly recommend you keep hard and digital backup copies on your phone (either photo or PDF scan), as well as a hard copy left with your emergency contact at home. The recommended important documents to copy include, but are not limited to; your passport ID page, travel visa, the front and back of your credit card(s), the airline barcode on your luggage. This will greatly expedite getting new ones if necessary – we hope everyone will always keep travel documents close so that losing them will not be an issue.

General Health & Inoculations Information - Be Prepared!

Health requirements for entry to any country can change. It is always advisable to double-check the country’s health requirements and recommendations 60-90 days ahead of traveling. A helpful website for planning is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for  Ecuador website or by phone (800) CDC-INFO or (800) 232-4636. If taking the extension to Machu Picchu, CDC link is Peru.

We will share your health information with your guide. This information will be kept confidential but is very important as we want to be best prepared in case of medical emergency.  Be sure to pack your health and travel insurance and vaccination documents. Make sure we know of any allergies or foods that you cannot eat ahead of your departure. 

The Galápagos Islands and the highland areas of Ecuador (vicinity of Quito, the Andes, Mindo area, Haciendas near Otavalo Market and Antisana) present a safe, healthy environment for visitors. However, rest assured that the ship carries first aid kits and the guides are trained in first aid procedures. All vessels have radio contact with the mainland for any medical emergencies. 

Vaccinations: Bring copies of your current vaccination records with you. The CDC recommends that all travelers be up to date with routine vaccinations and basic travel vaccines (such as Hepatitis A and Typhoid) before traveling to any destination. Consult with your doctor for recommendations at least 4-6 weeks before departing on your trip. 

Yellow fever: Though requirements are conditional, yellow fever vaccination is highly recommended. If you choose to, or already have a current certificate (usually valid for 10 years) from a previous vaccination, be sure to bring it with your other records. 

Anti-malarial drugs are not required for any area that you visit. There are occasional reports of Dengue Fever in lower elevation areas, for which there is no vaccine. Dengue fever, Zika, and other diseases are contacted by mosquito bites so be sure to use mosquito repellant containing DEET or Picaridin, though at this time of year there should be little mosquito activity.  Travelers can reduce their risk of disease by protecting themselves from mosquito bites by using protective clothing.

Prescriptions: It is a good idea to pack any meds you take regularly in your carry-on luggage.  Bring an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses. Bring an adequate supply of any prescription medications you use. You’ll want to keep medications in their original, labeled containers. In case it is necessary to purchase drugs while abroad, bring a copy of the prescription and a list of generic names of your medicines as “back-up”.

• Important: while pharmacies and medical facilities are readily available on the mainland areas of Ecuador, they are NOT available outside of Santa Cruz Island (town of about 22,000 people) on the Galápagos Island or the small town on San Cristobal, so it is important that you carry any necessary personal medication with you.

Allergies: To be prepared for environmental triggers to allergies or breathing difficulties, please bring your allergy and/or asthma medication(s).  If you have severe allergies talk to your doctor about carrying an EPI pen and notify your guides. It is also recommended to carry with you an up-to-date record of known allergies, chronic medical problems and Medic Alerts so that, if necessary, emergency treatment can be carried out without endangering your health.

Common Ailments: We recommend that you bring a travel-sized first aid kit and a supply of standard over-the-counter medications for prevention or treatment of common ailments (such as diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset, cough, congestion, head or body aches, insect bites and sunburn); as well as ointments, moisturizer, sunscreen, oral rehydration salts, band-aids, moleskin for blisters, cotton swabs, nail clippers, and tweezers, etc.

Motion sickness: If you experience motion sickness, you want to be prepared. Your ship’s crew will try to make deep water crossings at night and in all ways keep you comfortable, but this is the ocean, and it will rock and roll. Pills such as Bonine are often adequate here, as the waves and roll come only in certain sections. But if you tend toward motion sickness you will need more; ask your doctor about options, as there are various patches and pills.  Do ask for any complications with sun exposure as you can’t avoid that exploring the islands. For those with mild reactions, Ginger is very good for calming the stomach, however, since fresh foods cannot be brought into Ecuador, buy candied ginger in a sealed package.

Altitude sickness: Quito is at 9,350 ft. (and if you are taking the extension to Machu Picchu, the highest elevation is 7,972 ft.). According to the CDC's website, day trips to high-elevation destinations less than 8000 ft. with an evening return to a lower elevation are much less stressful on the body, depending on the time provided for your body to adjust. However, overnights at higher altitudes may have more adverse affects on your body and you should be informed about altitude illness and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) (see https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/environmental-hazards-risks/high-elevation-travel-and-altitude-illness). The most general symptoms are headache and occasionally fatigue and dizziness. You’ll want to take it easy, particularly at first. The likelihood of these symptoms can be reduced by resting, drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol, taking aspirin and optimize acclimatization by adjusting itineraries to avoid going “too high too fast." If you have worries about the altitude, ask your physician about medications (such as Diamox) that may be right for you. 

Bird Checklist & Wildlife Sightings

Your cruise naturalists and Naturalist Journeys guide will do a wildlife and bird list each day with the groups. Some of our guides post sightings on eBird so if you wish to have those shared, make that wish known to your guide.  For group travelers, a list of species will be sent to you at the tour completion.

Weather & Climate

In general, weather where we travel in Ecuador is quite variable, and particularly dependent on the altitude. We start in Quito at 9,350 feet of altitude. Temperatures should vary in the upper 40s°F to upper 60s°F. In the lower elevations and while on board, temperatures will be higher; expect mid 70s°F to upper 80s°F. Rain is always possible. You may wish to check your favorite weather website such as www.weather.com closer to your departure to best predict what the weather will be on your adventure.

Annoyances & Hazards

Mosquitoes can occur, especially along the Napo River; therefore, a supply of insect repellent containing DEET is essential. At grassland or farm locations you may encounter chiggers, and if so, spraying your shoes with repellent and tucking your pants into your socks helps a lot.  When back, be sure to shower and air out your clothing. Chiggers are a part of lowland and mid-elevation habitats throughout Central and South America. Your guide should have a good read on if it has been wet enough that they are active. There can also be poisonous snakes and insects, though encountering them is rare.  Please listen carefully to any advice given by your local guide. And remember, the sun is strong, so be prepared with proper protection.

Packing, Clothing & Laundry

Dress is very informal. While some people will change for dinner, it is usually just to a drier or cleaner version of what they wore during the day. The climate is warm to hot, so you will be comfortable in lightweight clothing.

Please, pack light.  We are serious about this – we move around a lot and you just do not need many changes. Please do not bring anything more than you must. Lay out your hopeful things to take and then do a serious paring down. See "Packing List" for more details.

Laundry services are available for a fee at our hotels. On the ship, laundry service may be available [for a reasonable charge] from a crew member on the ship who goes on Santa Cruz Island. For items you choose to hand-launder, consider quick-dry fabrics that will dry faster in high humidity.

Spending Money

Ecuador:

• The official currency in Ecuador is the US Dollar. We advise you carry a mix of different types of payments, such as cash, an ATM card, and a credit card or two. Bring crisp, unsoiled U.S. dollars in good condition in SMALL denominations ($1, $5, $10, $20) for purchases and tipping. Bring large U.S. bills ($50 or $100) that will give you the better rate when choosing to exchange to local currency.
• When using the ATM to withdrawal cash, keep in mind it might only accept cards from local banks or not allow cash advances on credit cards. Many U.S. banks charge a fee of $1 - $5 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. Check with your bank before departure. You must become familiar with how to use your ATM card and PIN number ahead of the journey.
• We suggest you have more than one card available, if possible. You may want to bring more than one brand of card (VISA and Mastercard are commonly accepted; American Express is less common). You can use credit cards at lodges to pay your bar and gift tabs. Not every shop will accept every card. Some smaller shops and restaurants or taxis require cash, so it is always a good idea to ask before making a purchase. Also, we recommend that you advise your bank or credit card company that you will be traveling abroad to avoid questions, card freezes, or charges. If you have a choice of cards, bring one with no foreign exchange fees. Traveler’s checks are not widely accepted. They can be difficult to exchange. We do not advise you use them.

Peru (tour extension):

• The Sol is the official currency of Peru. For the current exchange rate, please refer to online converter tools like www.xe.com or your bank. The U.S. Dollar is also an accepted currency in Peru (especially in hotels or businesses that cater to visitors). We advise you carry a mix of different types of payments, such as the U.S. dollars and local currency, an ATM card, and a credit card.
• Bring crisp, unsoiled U.S. dollars in good condition in SMALL denominations ($1 and $5) for purchases and tipping. Large U.S. bills ($50 or $100) will give you the better exchange rate. However, not every business (smaller shops and restaurants) will accept U.S. dollars. For that reason, we still recommend converting some money into Sols.
• You can exchange money in Peru. The easiest way is to withdraw funds from a local ATM. The airport is a convenient place. ATM machines are readily available in large cities, like Lima, and become less available in rural areas. The ATMs provide local money and your bank will convert that into U.S. Dollars. Many banks charge a fee of $1 - $5 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. Check with your bank before departure. You must become familiar with how to use your ATM card and PIN number ahead of the journey.
• Credit cards are accepted, but not as widely as in the USA. We suggest you have more than one card available. You may want to bring more than one brand of card (one Visa, and one MasterCard; American Express is less accepted), if possible. Not every shop will accept every card. Some machines are set up for both, while some will only service one or the other. Also, we recommend that you advise your bank or credit card company that you will be traveling to Peru to avoid questions, card freezes, or charges. For handicrafts and smaller purchases, such as drinks with dinner, it is easiest to have cash available, preferably in Peruvian Soles.
• Traveler’s checks can be difficult to use in Peru, especially in villages and small towns. We do not recommend that you use them.
• Many people ask how much money to plan to bring for spending money. Part of that depends on how much you want to shop. Typical items people purchase include: local souvenirs and T-shirts, carvings, beads, textiles, artworks, drinks before or with dinner, maps and natural history books. Cash is also handy for your drinks from the bar.

Gratuities

Tipping is optional and completely at your discretion. If you would like to show your appreciation to your guides, lodging and cruising staff, or anyone associated with this tour, it is entirely appropriate. Know that they appreciate anything you care to give and of course you can do more if you wish! Lodges normally have a box for tips that the staff share, and at hotels you would just tip the maids as you do at home. We hope that you will be pleased with all professional services.

Here is a standard suggestion for tipping on birding trips:

• Birding tour guide: US $10.00 - $15.00 per day per guest
  Note: If there is more than one guide, this can be split among them, so that is a total, per person, per day
• Tour driver if different from guide: US $5.00 - $7.00 per person/day
• Lodge staff: US $6.00 - $10.00 per day per guest
• Transfer (airport shuttle) driver: US $2.00 - $3.00 per person
• Hotel & international airport bellmen: US $1.00 per suitcase

You may wish to bring small gifts for local people that you meet and enjoy (this is totally optional!). T-shirts, school supplies like pens and small notebooks, inexpensive watches, and baseball caps are always popular.  Your guides can pass along school supplies to a local school if you bring them. They also love any nature books/coloring books.

Cell Phones & Internet Service

Your guide is well connected and can help if any urgent communication need arises. However, it is highly recommended that you travel with a CELL PHONE, if only as a precaution for the unfortunate occurrence of a medical emergency during an outing and needing swift accessibility to critical personal or medical contacts. 

Please check with your wireless provider to see if your phone and service will work in your destination country and ask for “international roaming” service for your phone. If you still have a cell phone that accepts a SIM card, you can buy a local SIM card at the airport to insert in your mobile phone.

If your phone can connect to Wi-Fi, you may be able to make voice and video calls free of charge. Please contact your cell phone provider for further details. Another option if you have access to Wi-Fi, is to use smartphone apps like Skype, WhatsApp, or Viber to send text messages, and make voice calls, or video calls. Many smartphones, tablets, or laptops come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download for free. If bringing a laptop or tablet, get a good dustcover to protect it at all times.

Make sure if you do NOT want to use your cell phone that you turn off your cellular data. You could incur huge charges if you are not on Wi-Fi. Putting your phone in airplane mode if you mainly use it for photos will save the battery as well. 

Your hotels and most local restaurants provide Wi-Fi at least in their common areas. Although it is generally a reliable service, it can be affected by adverse weather conditions due to the remote location.

Please refrain from taking or making cell phone calls in the vehicles when traveling with other passengers, unless it appears to be an emergency. This disrupts other guests, plan on cell phone call use on your own time.

Peru (tour extension to Machu Picchu): For those calling you in Peru, advise they use the USA exit code, 011 and then the full number including country code (51 for Peru).  Dialing to the USA from Peru starts with 001, then area code. Internet cafes are readily available in Lima for both email and internet-based calls.

Electricity

Ecuador: The standard in Ecuador is the same as in the United States: 110-120 volts AC (60 cycles). Plugs are set up in the same style. However, three-pronged outlets can be scarce, so it's helpful to bring along an adapter for a two-prong outlet. If your appliance plug has a different shape, you may need a plug adapter. More information can be found at https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/ecuador/.

Tour extension to Machu Picchu: PERU uses 220 AC voltages at 60 Hz so you will need an adapter for many of your appliances. Do check your appliances, as these days many will work on this voltage automatically – they have a built-in converter in the little box on the cord. If not, you will need a converter as well. In Peru, power sockets are type A or C. Type A sockets take flats of equal width, so a simple adapter from unequal width flat plugs is very helpful where you find USA style plug ins. Also there are fewer grounded plugs, so a 3-prong to 2 prong (available in hardware stores) is helpful. More information can be found at www.power-plugs-sockets.com.

Time

Ecuador is in the Eastern time zone (GMT-5 in the mainland). Daylight savings time is not observed. Galápagos is one hour behind mainland Ecuador. On board, we observe mainland Ecuador time.  Check https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ecuador/quito before leaving home for your conversion.

Peru (tour extension to Machu Picchu) is UTC/GMT -5hrs and observes the PET (Peru Time) time zone. You can check time differences conveniently on www.timeanddate.com.

Questions?

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone at our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey!

Pace of the Tour & What to Expect

You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of hotels (our eContact List) a few weeks before your departure. This will serve as an outline for each day and alert you to any recent changes made in the schedule or to our hotels, if needed.

Our journeys are set up to follow the rhythm of nature. Our focus is on birding and nature; we offer full, well-planned field days and often get up early for that magical time around dawn. We generally follow the published itinerary, but we stay flexible to the weather, wildlife opportunities and the interests of the group. Your guide will keep you apprised of the next day’s schedule at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.

The pace of our Naturalist Journeys tours is moderate; to fully participate you should be able to get in and out of vehicles several times a day, and walk 1-3 miles over uneven terrain. It is important to participate with a flexible attitude as adjustments may be made in our schedule to make the most of our time in the field or for other purposes at your guide's discretion. We are not a “listing” bird company that drills down on target species, but at times we do wait for those special species unique to the places we visit. During the day, we take time to stop for photos and for educational opportunities to learn about conservation projects, landscapes, and geology. We appreciate other taxa as well as birds, with mammals often the biggest draw but plants and butterflies are also very popular. Our clients often lend their own expertise to the mix.

We like to make meals a fun and memorable part of the experience, too. Breakfasts are often at hotels, and we carry snacks, fruit, and water in the vans each day. Lunches are a mix of picnics in the field (weather dependent) and a chance to dine with locals at small cafes and restaurants. For dinner, we pride ourselves in our homework to keep up with the best choices for dining, choosing restaurants with atmosphere that specialize in local foods. On occasion we keep dinner simple to go back out in the field for sunset wildlife viewing or night walks. In some remote locations, our choices are limited. If you are tired, room service for dinner may be an option you can choose.

Naturalist Journeys International Trips: Guide Role

Naturalist Journeys supports ecotourism and the development of excellent local guides. Once we know our international partners and guides well, we can send out small groups working directly with these trusted partners, adding a Naturalist Journeys guide to assist the local expert when we have a group of 6-7 or more. This helps us keep your costs down while retaining tour quality. The local guide is your main guide. You can expect your Naturalist Journeys guide to be well-researched and often they are experienced in the destination, but their role is not to be primary, it is to help to organize logistics, help you find birds, mammals, and interesting other species in the field, keep reports, help facilitate group interactions, and to keep the trip within Naturalist Journeys' style. Local guides live in the countries we travel to, know the destinations intimately, and are often the strongest force for conservation in their countries. They open many doors for us to have a rich experience.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in any vehicle or in any situation where the group is participating in an activity together, such as a vehicle excursion or a guided walk. Please respect all designated smoking areas at hotels and restaurants.

Transportation

As a courtesy to each other, we ask that all travelers please rotate seating. On international trips we may all be in one small bus, on some trips we are in vans, particularly the roomy Sprinter Vans when available. Some areas require us to be in smaller 4-wheel drive or safari vehicles. Rotation allows you to sit with different drivers and alternate front and back seating.

Photo Release & Sharing

We take many group photos and will share photos with the group. And after your tour, we will organize a chance to share photos via Dropbox or Google Photos. Please note that this is our policy and if you prefer to be excluded, we need to know ahead of your tour.

By registering for this tour, you agree to grant to Naturalist Journeys and its authorized representatives’ permission to record on photography film and/or video, pictures of my participation in the tour. You further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochure, or other printed materials used to promote Naturalist Journeys, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation.

Travel Insurance

You are traveling in remote areas. Naturalist Journeys strongly recommends you have full medical and evacuation insurance from a company such as Allianz, for all international travel. If you do not have medical coverage or evacuation coverage on your existing travel insurance policy or for some reason elected not to take that out, we advise getting an evacuation plan with Global Rescue, World Nomads, Medjet, Allianz (they can do evacuation only) or a similar company. These plans are typically $300-$400 for a year for multiple destinations. This coverage may be a part of a larger Travel Insurance policy but can also be purchased on its own.

Questions?

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey.

Luggage

Be sure to have your name and address on the inside of all bags, as well as on the luggage tag on the handle. 

Travel Tip: Imagine NOT getting your suitcase. Consider traveling in your most important shoes for the field, and have one day’s clothing change and a change of underwear in your Carry-on! 

Checked luggage:

• Soft luggage is much easier for us to pack than a more rigid hard sided piece, so if you have the choice, please use your soft luggage. You will have to store your suitcase under the bed or in a cabinet of your cabin, so if they fold up or stack together, that works well.  It is our hope that you can pack in a suitcase that does not exceed 44 pounds, the weight limit on the flight to Galapagos. 
• To be better prepared in the case of a loss of checked luggage, don't pack any essentials such as medications, original travel documents, or your vital optics, in your checked luggage! Pack these in your Carry-on! 

Carry-on: 

• This is where you want to pack your personal medication, airline tickets, passport and other travel documents, binoculars, camera, glasses, and other essential items.  That said, it must be able to fit under the seat or in the storage bin above, or it will be taken away by airline staff and put with the regular luggage. 
• To save space, an ideal carry-on would be one that can double as a daypack for your field trips.
• We recommend that you double check with your airline a week or so before departure to verify their luggage weight and height restrictions.

Packing

Practical Clothing: Dress is very informal. Choose clothing you don’t mind getting dirty – things that are comfortable and easy to launder and quick to dry.  Supportive hiking boots are essential for longer trails on the islands, as are TEVA-type sandals that you do not mind getting wet during boat landings. 

Protection from the elements: Be prepared to layer for variable weather.  Good rain gear and shoes with good tread and support are essential. We recommend a good wind-breaking layer that can do double duty as raingear. Please bring warm enough clothing for the higher altitude and morning and evening temperatures; a fleece is good example. 

Protection from natural hazards: Lightweight long sleeve shirts and long pants make ideal field clothing as they are more protective from sun, insects and vegetation. Although, if you prefer shorts & t-shirts on occasion, by all means, bring them. But don't forget insect repellant and sun protection.

Swim gear: Bring your favorite bathing attire. Snorkel gear is available on board. Some people prefer to snorkel in a long-sleeved thermal shirt and exercise tights instead of their bathing suit, but bring whatever is your preference.  If you snorkel a lot, you may choose to bring your own mask or other equipment.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND TRAVELING WITH PRECIOUS OR VALUABLE JEWELRY – don’t tempt anyone and don’t bring things you’d regret losing - your mind will be at ease!

*Machu Picchu Extension Packing Notes: Antisana is cold halfway up to the top.  I bring a hat, gloves, and a neck buff. Definitely bring rain gear and good hiking boots.  A down vest (or at least a fleece) is a good layer to have with a raincoat, maybe rain-pants as well. Think layers. If it's sunny, all is well, and layers can be shed.  But if not, it can be so chilly! 

Clothing & Gear Checklist

• Lightweight long pants (like trekking or khakis), 1 to 2 pair
• Lightweight long sleeve shirts
• Shorts (optional)
• T-shirts or equivalent (1 per day recommended – remember you may be buying some there anyway!)
• Personal underclothing and sleepwear
• Socks – lightweight and easy to wash and dry
• Comfortable clothes for evening (a cleaner version of your field clothes or a skirt, sundress, etc.)
• Bathing suit and lightweight cloth/cover-up. If you like the water, bring 2 suits – that way you don’t have to struggle to put on a wet bathing suit!
• Rash guard (optional)
• Hat with broad brim
• Bandana (check out the gel-filled ones for great cooling effect)   
• Comfortable walking shoes and lightweight hiking boots – good tread and support is essential!
• Sandals for boat landings and boat wear – TEVA-type with straps advisable, or some sort of closed watersport shoe
• Walking stick (optional)
• Lightweight fleece top or jacket is ideal for layering in chilly breezes - on the ship as well as for higher altitudes 
• Lightweight, waterproof windbreaker jacket that can double as raingear
• Warm hat, gloves and neck buff for days at higher elevation

Equipment & Miscellaneous Checklist

• Airline tickets or E-ticket, and copy of your itinerary with flight record number in case of loss
• Passport, visa (if required), medical and travel insurance info, vaccination records, cash & credit cards.
• A secure pouch to carry the items above on your person at all times (such as a secure, under-clothing document pouch)
• As a backup: copies of all the above (phone and/or paper) packed in a separate location other than on your person, plus a set given to your emergency contact at home as a backup. For passport - copy of the  ID and entry stamp pages.
• Small daypack or fanny pack for carrying your field gear (essential!)
• A dry bag, or gallon-sized ziplock, to protect your optics during landings (good idea for anyone with quality optics)
• Small flashlight with fresh batteries
• Cell phone and charger
• Camera, charger/extra batteries, memory cards/film, lens cleaning supplies and your instruction manual (optional)
• Underwater camera (optional)
• Binoculars
• Alarm clock
• Sunscreen – reef- friendly and Chapstick - https://savethereef.org/about-reef-save-sunscreen.html
• Sunglasses with UV filter (polarized) with neck strap
• Insect repellent (containing DEET)
• Toilet articles
• Umbrella (lets you keep using optics in the rain, though rain is most likely on the mainland only)
• Laundry soap for hand washing
• Travel sewing kit 
• Personal water bottle (optional)
• Notebook and pen or journal (optional)
• Spanish phrase dictionary (optional)
• Field guides (optional)
• Sink plug (a flat universal one is easiest to use)
• Rechargeable power bank (optional)
• Snorkeling gear (optional) - equipment is available on the ship but if you have your own, we recommend that you bring it.
• Steri-Pen or other UV water treatment device to help cut down on the use of plastic bottles (optional)

 Medical & First Aid Checklist

• Heath insurance and vaccination records (kept in personal pouch with other travel documents)
• Personal medication (and copy of vital prescriptions)
• Motion sickness preventatives if likely to be needed on the boat, bus, van, drives, etc.  Anyone sensitive to motion WILL want prescription medication while on the boat in Galapagos - talk with your doctor as several excellent meds are now available.
• Personal first aid kit and medications for general ailments (Imodium or Lomotil, Antihistamine cream or tablets, Eye drops, etc.)
• Copy of eyeglass prescription and any medical alerts
• Extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts
• Band-Aids, moleskin to protect against blisters

There are many wonderful books about the Galápagos Islands and its important natural history. Here are a few of our favorites to get you started. (For those taking the Machu Picchu post tour extension, Reading for Peru follows.)

Main Tour - Equador:

Top Picks

The Galápagos: A Natural History

Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles of the Galápagos Islands: An Identification Guide

Merlin App. A phone-based birding app from Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology. Before departing the U.S., download the app for free, then from within the app, download the “pack” for Ecuador: Galápagos.

Field Guides

Birds of Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands

A Guide to the Birds of Galápagos

Galápagos Wildlife Field Guide Pamphlet

Wildlife of the Galápagos

Reef Fish Identification: Galápagos

Eyewitness Handbooks: Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises

Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands - The Travellers’ Wildlife Guide Series

Galápagos Wildlife: A Visitor's Guide (Bradt Wildlife Guides)

Photography

John Shaw’s Nature Photography Field Guide

Natural History

Galápagos: A Natural History, Revised and Expanded

Galápagos: Discovery on Darwin’s Islands

The Beak of the Finch, A Story of Evolution in Our Time

Galápagos Diary: A Complete Guide to the Archipelago's Birdlife

A Naturalist Guide to the Galápagos Islands - 2nd Edition

Galápagos: A Natural History - 2nd Edition

On Natural Selection

On the Origin of Species: The Illustrated Edition by Charles Darwin

History and Culture

Plundering Paradise: The Hand of Man on the Galápagos Islands

Evolution’s Workshop: God And Science On The Galápagos Islands

Ecuador & Galápagos (Insight Guides)

The Galápagos Islands: The Essential Handbook for Exploring, Enjoying and Understanding Darwin’s Enchanted Islands

A Traveler's Guide to the Galápagos Islands

Fossils, Finches and Fuegians: Darwin's Adventures and Discoveries on the Beagle

The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution

Charles Darwin: The Concise Story of an Extraordinary Man

Galapagos World’s End

The Voyage of the Beagle

Local Authors

Galapagos: Preserving Darwin’s Legacy

Galapagos: Both Sides of the Coin

Darwin in Galápagos: Footsteps to a New World

The Galápagos: Exploring Darwin’s Tapestry (Volume 1)

Fiction

Floreana: A Woman’s Pilgrimage to the Galapagos

Galápagos: A Novel by Kurt Vonnegut

Post Tour Extension - Machu Picchu, Peru:

There are many titles of interest for Peru; the following are a few that we have enjoyed that can get you started.

Top Picks

Merlin App – Peru Pack. A phone-based birding app from Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology. Before departing the U.S., download the app for free, then from within the app, download the “pack” for Peru.

General Reading

Peru (Travellers' Wildlife Guides)

A Naturalist’s Guide to the Tropics

Wildlife & Nature

Birds of Peru Revised and Updated Edition

The New Neotropical Companion

Birds of Tropical America: A Watcher’s Introduction to Behavior, Breeding, and Diversity

Primates in the mountainous forests of the Peruvian Amazon: Diversity, Abundance, Distribution, Current Status and Threats

Field Guides

A Field Guide to the Birds of Peru 

Pocket Photo Guide to the Birds of Peru 

Field Guide to the Birds of Machu Picchu and the Cusco Region, Peru: Includes a Bird Finding Guide to the Area 

A Field Guide to the Families and Genera of Woody Plants of Northwest South America (Colombia, Ecuador Peru)

Natural History

Cloud Forest: A Chronicle of the South American Wilderness

Peru’s Amazonian Eden: Manu National Park and Biosphere Reserve 

History & Culture

The Machu Picchu Guidebook: A Self-Guided Tour 

Cusco & Machu Picchu: The TRUE Insider's Guide

Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary 

Exploring Cusco - 6th Edition

Peru: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture (Culture Smart!)

Chilies to Chocolate: Foods the Americas Gave the World

The Peru Reader: History, Culture, Politics

The Food and Cooking of Peru: Traditions, Ingredients, Tastes and Techniques

Memoir/Non-Fiction

A Parrot Without a Name: The Search for the Last Unknown Birds on Earth

Cradle of Gold: The Story of Hiram Bingham, a Real-Life Indiana Jones, and the Search for Machu Picchu

Your guide will also have a selection of reference books and materials for participants to share. As an Amazon Associate, Naturalist Journeys earns from qualifying purchases, and may get commissions for purchases made through links on this page at no added cost to you.

Canadian Travel Advice and Advisories - Ecuador

• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/ecuador

Travel Health Pro (UK) – Ecuador

• https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/70/ecuador

Foreign Exchange Rates

• https://www.xe.com/

ATM Locator

• https://www.visa.com/atmlocator/
• https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/personal/get-support/find-nearest-atm.html

Electricity and Plugs - Ecuador

• https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/ecuador/

Date, Time, and Holidays – Ecuador

• https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ecuador/quito
• https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/ecuador/

Post Tour Extension to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu

“Discover 10 Secrets of Machu Picchu” – Article, National Geographic

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/secrets

National Geographic YouTube Video about Machu Picchu

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnMa-Sm9H4k

History of Machu Picchu – History.com

• https://www.history.com/topics/south-america/machu-picchu

Machu Picchu - Peru’s Ministry of Culture

• https://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/

Inca Empire

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inca_Empire

Sacred Valley

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Valley

Ollantaytambo

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ollantaytambo

Lima, Peru (Capital)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lima

Pucusana District

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pucusana_District

Cusco

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cusco

Atalaya

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atalaya,_Ucayali

Puerto Maldonado

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Maldonado

Nature, Wildlife & Biology

Birds of Peru - eBird

• https://ebird.org/peru/home

Birds of the World – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

• https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/content/about-birds-of-the-world

Peru Birding Locations and Hot Spots (select English as your language, at the top of the first page!)

• https://www.perubirds.org/rutas.shtml

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

• https://abcbirds.org/bird/andean-cock-of-the-rock/

Peruvian Clay Licks – Smithsonian Article

• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/why-do-hundreds-macaws-gather-these-peruvian-clay-banks-180955719/

Species of Peru - iNaturalist

• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=7513

Andean Slope Habitats:

Puna Grassland

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puna_grassland

Elfin Forest

• https://artusobirds.blogspot.com/2010/12/peru-part-4-descent-into-elfin-forest.html

Cloud Forest

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_p5jBLfGWc

Lowland Rainforest

• https://www.britannica.com/place/Peru/Amazonia

Conservation, Parks & Reserves

ECOAN – Association of Andean Ecosystems

• https://www.ecoanperu.org/indexeng.html

Wayqechua Cloud Forest Research Station

• https://www.amazonconservation.org/what-we-do/put-science-and-tech-to-work/research-stations/wayqecha-cloud-forest-biological-station/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxwiSfBAfow

Manú (Villa Carmen) Biological Station

• https://www.amazonconservation.org/what-we-do/put-science-and-tech-to-work/research-stations/villa-carmen-biological-station/

Manú National Park

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_National_Park

Tambopata National Reserve

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tambopata_National_Reserve

Geology & Geography

Basic Geology of Peru

• https://web.gps.caltech.edu/~clay/PeruTrip/Talks/Audin2010_lowdef.pdf

Geography of Peru

• https://www.countryreports.org/country/Peru/geography.htm

History & Culture

History of Manú

• https://www.pbs.org/edens/manu/history.htm

Culture of Peru

• https://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Peru.html

Cuisine of Peru

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peruvian_cuisine
• https://www.seriouseats.com/essential-peruvian-cuisine

Helpful Travel Websites

National Passport Information Center

• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html/

Homeland Security Real ID Act

• https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

• https://www.cbp.gov/travel

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

• https://www.tsa.gov

Foreign Exchange Rates

• https://www.xe.com/

ATM Locator

• https://www.visa.com/atmlocator/
• https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/personal/get-support/find-nearest-atm.html

U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica International Travel Information - Peru

• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Peru.html

Center for Disease Control (CDC) - Peru

• https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/peru

Canada Travel Advice and Advisories - Peru

• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/peru

Travel Health Pro (UK) - Peru

• https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/

Electricity and Plugs - Peru

• https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/peru/

Date, Time, and Holidays - Peru

• https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/peru
• http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/peru/