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I love a trip that doesn’t require much variation in clothing. My trip to Alaska last September, for example. The packing list was straightforward: comfortable loungewear and functional athletic clothing. Nothing fancy necessary. A recent expedition to the Galápagos Islands with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions—Travel + Leisure story coming soon—followed the same format.
I needed hiking clothes, sun protection, and some items I could wear for the (very casual) dinners on the ship. True to my packing style, I leaned into a color palette. For this trip, I went with a lot of greens and browns—quite similar to my safari packing list.
Luggage and Accessories
I firmly believe that accessories play a major part in any packing list. For this trip, I tested out this convertible duffel-backpack from Roam. While I loved it—it fit so much, and the backpack straps were easy to use—it had to be checked in. Next time, I’d go with the medium size of the same bag. I kept things organized with these travel pouches (as well as these clear packing cubes), and my Away crossbody bag came with me on the daily land excursions. Polarized sunglasses and a hat were non-negotiables, and I rounded things out with my favorite travel wrap (a nice thing to have for the air-conditioned dining room).
Tops
The daytime weather in the Galápagos in September hovered around the mid-80s, so land excursions to the islands (and on-board gym sessions) required tank tops. I recently updated my wardrobe with a couple of built-in-bra Vuori and Halfdays tanks, all of which are great for activities but still look put-together enough for lunchtime (and photos). I also brought some basic T-shirts—these are on sale—and an oversized button-down for dinners and the long travel days.
Bottoms
I’m always on the hunt for travel-day pants, and these breathable, sweat-wicking Vuori pants are officially my new go-tos. I thought they might feel a little staticky, but I was quickly proven wrong. I wore them on both travel days and for several dinners on the ship. These older Athleta linen pants (on sale) also made the cut, and I packed quite a few pairs of shorts, including these shorts with built-in spandex and the Amazon workout shorts I wear five out of seven days a week when I’m home.
Outerwear
I didn’t end up wearing all of the outerwear I packed—we didn’t encounter too many rainstorms—but I did pack this Halfdays rain jacket and a fleece jacket from The North Face. I did, however, repeatedly throw on this part sweatshirt, part long sleeve (and I’ve worn it three times since I returned on Sunday).
Shoes
Footwear was incredibly simple on this trip. I wore these hiking sneakers for travel days, land excursions, and working out in the ship’s fitness center. They’re sturdy but still lightweight and cute. During the day, I mostly wore these water-friendly sandals; at night, I switched to more standard sandals.
Swimwear
Swimming and snorkeling are big parts of any trip to the Galápagos, so I had to pack accordingly. I brought two different colors of my favorite one-piece swimsuit, a UPF 50+ hoodie/dress, a UPF 50+ long-sleeve shirt, and a wetsuit. The latter was my personal choice; the cruise provides guests with wetsuits, but I wanted a cuter one…