Luggage — the case, boat space, and follow-ups
One hard case has to survive four different transport systems on this trip: the Quito–Galápagos flights, the Tip Top V, the inter-island ferries, and day boats. Each one treats bags differently. This page collects what is known, what the options are, and what still needs a follow-up.
At a glance
The ruleNothing fragile ever goes in the case. On the ferry run it gets sprayed, piled on a water taxi's bow, and loaded into a cargo hold. Fragile and essential items live in the daypack, on your person, on every leg.
Ferry weight20 kg enforced by Ferry Galapagos ($10–15 fee over) vs 23 kg stated by Galapagos Seaways — the seller you buy the ticket from decides which limit you get
Day tripsLos Túneles, Sierra Negra and the cruise landings are daypack-only — the case waits at the hotel or in the cabin
OpenThe baggage allowance on the included Quito–Galápagos flights is not yet confirmed in writing — it is a follow-up below
🧳 The case on the boats — space and handling
- Inter-island ferry (Puerto Ayora ⇄ Isabela): bags are biosecurity-inspected and tagged ~30 min before departure, carried out by water taxi piled on the bow, then transferred into the ferry's cargo hold.
- There is no careful handling and no dry guarantee — expect spray. A rain cover goes over the case before the pier, every time.
- Weight options: buy the ferry ticket through Galapagos Seaways (23 kg stated allowance) if the case is near the limit, and the over-weight question disappears. Through Ferry Galapagos the limit is 20 kg, enforced, with a $10 to $15 fee over it. Same boats, different ticket seller, different rule.
- Tip Top V (Dec 18–21): the case lives in the cabin for the whole cruise — main-deck cabins are ~210 sq ft, upper ~200 sq ft, so a hard case fits without living on top of it. Landings are daypack-only; the case never leaves the boat.
- Day boats (Bartolomé, North Seymour, Isabela trips): daypack only. Anything the case carries for the day moves to the daypack that morning.
✅ Follow-ups — what still needs doing
- Weigh the case packed. That one number decides the ferry seller: under 20 kg, either works; 20–23 kg, buy through Galapagos Seaways; over 23 kg, repack or budget the fee.
- Get a rain cover for the case before December — the water-taxi transfer is the wettest moment of the trip.
- Confirm the flight baggage allowance in writing — the Quito–Galápagos flights are included in the cruise fare on both channels (Sandra and Rodrigo), but neither has stated the checked-kg allowance for those tickets. It belongs on Rodrigo's pro-forma invoice checklist, next to cabin numbers and return dates. See the Flights page.
- Book ferry tickets weeks ahead, through the right seller (above) — December ferries sell out. This happens the moment the Isabela nights are picked; see the Isabela page.
- Daypack discipline: medication, documents, electronics, camera and anything breakable travel in the daypack on ferry days and flight days — never in the case.
Next step: weigh the case. Three of the five follow-ups resolve themselves once that number exists.