A month long trip doesn’t just require good planning, it requires good gear. And, as a farewell post to this amazing trip, I thought I’d take a minute to answer some of the questions we’ve gotten and some of the endless conversations about ‘how do you pack for that’ (and in carry on!). 5. Packing Cubes I feel almost silly talking about these, because EVERYONE knows about them already, right? And yet, I’m constantly surprised that not everyone is using them! Seriously, if you’re not packing in cubes, are you even packing? Not only do these handy compartments keep your bag looking neat as a pin and create handy crevices…

There’s a lot of talk in Ecuador about its even- keel geography. Situated right on the Equator, it has one foot in each hemisphere, and its very name reflects its unique and balanced position. With that in mind, it wouldn’t feel equitable not to write at least one post about our mainland activities. From our various tours, guides and discussions, it seems like Ecuador – and Quito in particular – have a bit of a complex. On a walking tour we took, the guide asked why we were all in Quito. Were we passing by on the way to Colombia? Did our cheap flight include a stopover on the way…

If you’re reading this blog, we are probably friends. (And if you like reading this blog and we’re not friends yet, we probably should be). Jay and I count ourselves lucky to have so many awesome friends, and on this trip we’ve seen evolutionary proof that friends lead to longer, healthier, happier lives. Here are just a few of the exceptional examples we’ve had an opportunity to observe. A Sensation of Sea Lions I think these are actually called a colony, but whatever – they are sensational! They hang in groups, speckle beaches, and get awfully territorial when an interloper hones in on their turf. Thinking of taking a photo…

Footwear might just be the most important component of the perfect pack for the Galapagos. Along with headwear (which we’ll get to), good footwear is critical for the islands. There are wet landings and dry landings, and as we’ve discovered, a lot of varied levels of moist landings in between. Different shoes are required for each. We have also been on a wide variety of walks. Walks on sand, walks on gravel, walks on corral, walks on rickety wooden stairs, and, walks on Lava. Each comes with its own warning label (or should!) Walks on Lava Walking on Lava is one of the many challenges we’ve faced on this trip…