By Tammy · Beautifully Uncharted
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After Iceland I was hooked. Completely and utterly hooked on solo travel — on the freedom of it, the community of it, the way it kept handing me back pieces of myself I had forgotten existed. So when I discovered that ExplorerChicks — the women’s travel group that had become my favorite way to see the world — was organizing a trip to the Galapagos Islands I did not hesitate for a single second.
No terror this time. No second guessing on the drive to the airport. Just pure unfiltered excitement for what was coming. That shift — from terrified and thrilled on my Iceland trip to completely ready and excited for the Galapagos — was itself one of the most meaningful things solo travel has given me. Confidence is not something you find. It is something you build one brave trip at a time.
And the Galapagos? The Galapagos was unlike anywhere I have ever been in my entire life. Here is every wonderful extraordinary unforgettable moment of it.
1. We started in Quito — and our guide blew my mind at the equator.
Before heading to the islands our group began in Quito Ecuador — a beautiful historic city sitting high in the Andes at over 9000 feet elevation. From there we visited the equator and I want to tell you about our guide because he deserves his own paragraph entirely. The facts he shared about the equator were genuinely fascinating — the way water drains differently on either side, the way you weigh fractionally less standing directly on the line, the history and science of how it was originally measured. I stood with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern and felt that particular kind of wonder that only travel gives you. The kind that makes the world feel both enormous and intimate at the same time.
2. island hopping by boat — motion sickness patches and zero regrets.
Here is something I want to be completely honest with you about because it is useful information. I am not a boat person. The open water crossings between islands in the Galapagos involve real ocean swells and I knew going in that this could be a challenge for me. My solution — and I recommend it unreservedly — was motion sickness patches worn behind the ear. They worked beautifully and meant I could enjoy every single boat crossing without misery. Do not let a sensitive stomach talk you out of the Galapagos. Get the patches from your doctor before you go and enjoy every minute of it. The islands are completely worth it and the boat rides are part of the adventure.
3. The wildlife — closer than you could ever imagine.
Nothing I can write will fully prepare you for wildlife in the Galapagos. The animals here have no natural fear of humans — they have evolved in isolation without predators and the result is an encounter with the natural world that feels almost surreal in its intimacy. Sea lions lounging on benches. Marine iguanas basking inches from your feet. Blue footed boobies going about their business completely unbothered by a group of twelve women standing three feet away with their mouths open. The Galapagos does not feel like a wildlife documentary you are watching. It feels like a wildlife documentary you are somehow inside. It is the most remarkable thing I have ever witnessed and I say that as someone who has hiked a glacier in Iceland.
4. Snorkeling with seals sea turtles and nurse sharks.
I need you to understand that I am a woman who grew up in landlocked circumstances and had very limited snorkeling experience before this trip. And I slipped into that water in the Galapagos and came face to face with a sea lion who was clearly more curious about me than I was about him. I watched sea turtles glide past with that particular ancient grace they have. I saw nurse sharks resting on the ocean floor below me and felt — to my own considerable surprise — not fear but absolute breathless wonder. Snorkeling in the Galapagos is one of those experiences that rearranges something fundamental in you. The ocean is so full of life and beauty and the Galapagos shows you that in the most direct possible way. A good quick dry travel towel is absolutely essential for days like this — you will be in and out of the water constantly.
5. The giant tortoise sanctuary — a moment of pure magic.
Visiting the giant tortoise sanctuary was one of those quietly profound experiences that sneaks up on you. These ancient magnificent creatures — some of them over a hundred years old — moving through their world with complete unhurried dignity. I stood watching one of them for a long time and thought about everything that tortoise had witnessed in its lifetime. The sanctuary work being done to protect and preserve them is extraordinary and visiting it feels like both a privilege and a responsibility. If you go to the Galapagos — and I hope you do — give the tortoise sanctuary the time it deserves. Do not rush through it.
6. Hiking each island — rugged beautiful and completely worth it.
Each island in the Galapagos has its own distinct landscape and personality and exploring them on foot is the only way to truly understand that. Some hikes were gentle and accessible. Others were rugged volcanic terrain that required proper footwear and sure footing. All of them were spectacular. Good hiking shoes and water shoes that can handle both trail and wet rocky coastline are absolutely essential for the Galapagos — you will need them for both land exploration and getting in and out of the water at snorkel sites. Do not underestimate the terrain and do not underestimate yourself. The views from every island are worth every step.
7. ExplorerChicks — why I keep coming back to this travel group.
I want to talk about ExplorerChicks specifically because they deserve the recognition. This is the women’s travel group I have now traveled with twice — Iceland and the Galapagos — and the experience has been outstanding both times. The trips are thoughtfully organized, the destinations are genuinely adventurous rather than just comfortable, and the women who join are exactly the kind of people you want to travel with — curious open warm and up for anything. If you are looking for a women’s travel group that takes you somewhere truly extraordinary rather than somewhere simply easy I cannot recommend ExplorerChicks enough. You can find them at explorerchicks.com. Tell them Tammy sent you — not that they will know who that is but still.
8. What to pack for the Galapagos — the complete honest list.
The Galapagos requires some specific packing consideration and I want to save you the mistakes I might have made. Here is exactly what you need:
A good carry on suitcase: You do not need to check a bag for the Galapagos. A quality carry on suitcase with smart organization is all you need and saves you time and baggage fees at every connection.
A reliable day backpack: You will carry this on every island excursion and boat trip. Choose a lightweight waterproof daypack that can handle the elements.
A travel purse or fanny pack: For Quito and any city time a secure travel fanny pack keeps your essentials safe and your hands free.
Reef safe sunblock: This is not optional in the Galapagos — it is required to protect the marine ecosystem. Pack plenty of reef safe mineral sunscreen and reapply constantly. The equatorial sun is no joke.
Quick dry towel: Already mentioned but worth repeating — a quick dry travel towel is essential when you are in and out of the water multiple times a day.
Quick dry clothing and UPF shirts: Pack quick dry lightweight clothing and at least two or three UPF sun protective shirts — they dry fast keep you cool and protect you from the intense equatorial sun better than sunscreen alone.
A great sun hat: A wide brimmed packable sun hat is non negotiable. The sun in the Galapagos is relentless and a good hat protects your face and neck all day long.
Hiking and water shoes: You need footwear that handles both rocky trails and wet conditions. Waterproof hiking shoes that drain quickly and grip wet rocks are the perfect solution and save you from packing two separate pairs.
9. What the Galapagos taught me about this chapter of my life.
I boarded my first solo flight to Iceland feeling terrified and thrilled in equal measure. I boarded my flight to the Galapagos feeling completely ready. That difference — that quiet unmistakable growth in confidence and trust in myself — is one of the most meaningful things that has happened to me since my divorce. Solo travel does not just show you the world. It shows you yourself. It shows you what you are capable of when nobody else’s preferences or fears are part of the equation. I swam with nurse sharks at 57. I stood on the equator. I watched a hundred year old tortoise move through the world with complete unhurried grace and felt something settle in me that I did not even know was unsettled. The Galapagos was not just a trip. It was a chapter. And I cannot wait to see what comes next.
Has the Galapagos been on your bucket list?
I would love to hear where you are dreaming of going next. Drop a comment below or reach out at [email protected]. And if you are curious about ExplorerChicks — the women’s travel group that made both my Iceland and Galapagos adventures possible — check them out at explorercchicks.com. They are the real deal and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
With love and a little chaos,
— Tammy