La Virgen del
Panecillo, the winged
virgin sitting atop the
hill is essentially
the main religious
symbol of Quito

 

 

 


Saturday is the main
market day with
more stalls selling
textiles and other
handicrafts, like
carving, paintings,
masks, statues,
and so on

What to Wear


CLOTHES: 
It is best to dress in layers that can be shed as the day heats up.  Essentials include light-colored cotton pants, shorts and shirts, two bathing suits, good, rubber-soled walking shoes or sandals, a wide-brimmed hat, a light rain­coat or windbreaker and a sweater or jacket for evening, particularly when in Quito.  This type of clothing is practical and widely available through local merchants or mail order catalogs such as L.L. Bean or Travel Smith. There is no need for “dressy” clothing - not even a tie - aboard the ship, but in Quito and Guayaquil, you may want to dress for dinner.

There is no laundry service on board the Galapagos vessels, so bring an adequate yet not overabundant supply of clothing.  (That being said, currently the Isabela II now offers laundry service only on Fridays when the yacht is in Puerto Ayora.) You may also want to carry a small supply of detergent for hand laundry, albeit water on any boat is limited.  Oftentimes, you hike before you swim, so you may want to take a second swimsuit to wear if your first suit is still damp.  Most vessels do not have locking cabins or lock boxes, so we recommend that you leave all valuables at home as they are not appropriate for an adventure cruise.

RECOMMENDED PACKING LIST:

  • Small backpack to take while exploring Galapagos Islands
  • A small flashlight with extra batteries
  • Adapter plugs and converters for electrical appliances for use in Peru
  • Packaged wet tissues ("Wash & Dry" "Wet Ones")
  • A tiny calculator for estimating cost while shopping
  • Plenty of film or tape for your camera + extra batteries or rechargers
  • Good quality sunglasses - preferably polarized. Tinted fashion glasses are not good in strong light
  • Sun hat with a brim
  • Shorts/skirts
  • Long trousers/slacks
  • Underwear and socks
  • Good walking shoes (running/tennis shoes or broken-in hiking shoes are fine)
  • Water-proof sandals (for wet landings in the Galapagos)
  • Sandals or rubber flip/flops for poolside
  • Swimsuits with light cover-up garment
  • Jacket or sweater for cooler mornings or evenings
  • Light rain gear
  • If you wear contact lenses, we recommend that you bring along a pair of glasses
  • BINOCULARS  (ESSENTIAL) and a bird book if you are keen
  • Personal toiletries (basic amenities supplied by most establishments)
  • Moisturizing cream & suntan lotion
  • Insect repellent e.g. Off!, Jungle Juice, etc
  • Basic medical kit (aspirins, plasters, Imodium, antiseptic cream and Anti-histamine cream etc)
  • Motion sickness treatments (pills, patches, pressure wristband, etc)
  • Tickets, passports, money etc
  • Waterproof bags/cover for your cameras
  • Small Spanish/English dictionary

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE:
The allowance on your international flights is two pieces of luggage, each weighing 70 pounds. However, on the flights to the Galapagos Islands there is a weight limit of 44 lbs. per person, excluding a handbag. Equally important is the size and structure of the bags.  Soft luggage (canvas, fabric or duffel bags) about 24" X 17" X 7" are ideal. Large suitcases are virtually impossible to stow on board the ships and should not be used.

DID YOU KNOW?
Inside the calderas of Cerro Azul and
La Cumbre Volcanoes there is a mineral lake.