It is Amazon Prime Days! There are hundreds, probably thousands, of great deals for photographers on July 16 and 17, but I wanted to highlight a few items I have been waiting to purchase for an upcoming trip to the Galapagos Islands with Wildside Nature Tours. There are a few items I have already acquired as well in preparation for the excursion, which will include hiking, photography, snorkeling and just enjoying this destination that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection.

Marine iguana Copyright: Kevin Loughlin The Galapagos Islands offer an abundance of wildlife, bird and landscape opportunities. It will be my first trip, which I am co-leading with Galapagos expert and owner of Wildside Nature Tours, Kevin Loughlin, and I am quite excited. Thanks to a fellow Wildside guide, she provided a list of items to make photographing and visiting this remote destination a bit more comfortable and productive. Here are many of the items on my Galapagos travel list, with several having some great discounts during Amazon Prime Days. 

If you have been on the fence about joining Wildside on a Galapagos tour, now is the time to book. They are offering a $1000 per person discount on any Galapagos trip but hurry, this offer expires July 30, 2024. No code required.

Book today!

1. Galapagos: A Nature History: The authors of this book include Kevin Loughlin and John Kricher. Yes, the same Kevin I am traveling with on my journey to this Ecuadorian archipelago. He is currently on his 50th trip to the region, making him one of the most well versed travelers to the area. This is the first must-have item when planning a trip the Galapagos. Its wealth of detailed information and abundant photographs will not only prepare you for what to expect but will increase your excitement level tenfold. 

2. Memory cards: You cannot expect to focus on photography in the Galapagos Islands without an abundance of memory cards to capture the images. On new destinations, I usually budget 1,000 images a day. With RAW files of about 63MB each, that will require a lot of memory. The trip is 12 days long so even on the conservative side, that means I need memory cards for at least 693GB!! Amazon has a Prime Day Deal on the Lexar 512GB Professional CFexpress Type-B memory cards. Usually I try to avoid extremely large cards because if the card fails, I could lose a lot of images. That would be heartbreaking on a unique trip like this one. You can't beat the deal, however, and this size card works well for saving video files. Make sure to check what type of card your camera uses, and then purchase the fastest read/write speeds you can find. That will help prevent buffering when photographing and videoing those snorting marine iguanas, like the one in the above photo by Kevin Loughlin.

3. Waterproof case for miscellaneous items: Speaking of waterproof, there are three items that should be purchased for any water-based adventure. That could include a kayak trip, a day of fishing, photographing island birds or the Galapagos. Store your small items, like a cell phone, money, room key, camera batteries, etc. in a waterproof case. This micro case from Pelican fits the bill, has a lifetime guarantee and is 20% off for Amazon Prime Days. Multiple colors are available.

4. Waterproof case for memory cards: Like miscellaneous items, your memory cards should also be in a waterproof case for a water-based excursion. Make sure to avoid cases that have foam on the interior as it can create static electricity, which could potentially wipe or damage the card. Read the description carefully to also make sure it will hold your type of memory card. Also remember that although the cases are described as weatherproof, waterproof and water resistant, no case is 100% secure from infiltrating water but this can certainly help. My standard memory card case that that stays in my camera bag is the Pocket Rocket from ThinkTank, but I also picked up a PROfession weatherproof case to use on day trips for just a couple of extra cards.

5. Waterproof bag: I just bought this bag, the 35L Earth Park Waterproof Backpack, for the Galapagos trip, and I am very much looking forward to using it. The size is perfect, there is a padded area on the back of the backpack, comes in appealing colors and it has easy-to-access pockets. I should have waited a couple of weeks, however, because it is now 34% off for Amazon Prime Days!

6. Three pairs of shoes: Most of my trips involve packing heavy coats, winter or waterproof boots and hiking boots when I head to places like Churchill, Yellowstone and Alaska. For the Galapagos, however, the excursions happen on rocky coasts and sandy beaches. A pair of comfortable shoes for wearing on the boats between islands is also a necessity, especially ones that won't damage, scuff or scratch wood floors. So, I picked up three pairs of shoes for this trip. The first is a pair of low-rise hiking boots. I purchased the same brand and style – Lowa Renegades – as my regular hiking boots but went with the lower version for this trip to stay a bit cooler. The second pair of shoes I purchased were a sturdy hiking sandal – the Keen Astoria – that works well for keeping my feet cool while also protecting my toes from getting cut on rocks on hiking outings. The third pair of shoes I will have with me are Crocs flip flops. These will work perfectly for time on the boat - easy to slip on, lightweight and pack well.

7. Cool, loose and lightweight clothing: Outings during the day may involve swimming in bathing suits and wet suits or hiking out in the sun in t-shirts and shorts. Most guests will want to freshen up when we return to the main boat so why not have a few outfits that look stylish but pack well and are comfortable. I picked up a pair of linen overalls at Target, a pair of loose fitting palazzo pants on Amazon (lots of patterns and they are on sale for Prime Days), a loose fitting tank dress from Target and a basic, loose fitting white shirt on Amazon (also on sale for Prime Days). Most of the items are mix-and-match and all compress well in a suitcase.

8. Retractable clothesline: This is a tremendous idea that I would not have though of if not mentioned by my fellow guide. On days when laundry is not done or you want to dry a wetsuit or bathing suits, this can be hung in the bathroom to air dry the items. 

9. Bathing suits: I'll be honest; I haven't put on a bathing suit in public in years. So, I went to Target, where bathing suits have been on display since the winter for vacations and summer for local swimming, and picked up two suits. One is a long sleeve version to protect from the sun and the other is a more traditional one piece. Two allows one to dry while wearing the other. 

10. Snorkel and mask: Usually I just use the local supplies and don't carry my own, but my fellow guide mentioned that the ones provided on the boats tend to be scratched and don't seal well. With Amazon Prime Deal Days, I found one on sale that had good reviews and few returns. Also remember to bring a little Vaseline to help with the suction of the mask around your face.

11. Wet suit: This is actually something I have been considering getting for some photography ideas here in Colorado, so I was excited to hear this recommendation for the Galapagos trip because it gave me the excuse to buy one. Now with Prime Deal Days, they are discounted too. I picked up a full-body, front zipper wet suit for the trip. I have been advised that the water is cool when you first jump in but becomes pleasant after moving around, and a wetsuit will definitely help maintain a warmer temperature.

12. Underwater camera: I have been toying with the idea of buying a waterproof case for my Nikon D850. I sadly don't think I will have that for this trip but I definitely will bring my GoPro Hero for underwater photography and videos. The GoPro Hero 12, the latest model of this popular action camera, is discounted $100 for a limited time on Amazon. Remember to buy the underwater housing as well.

Have fun shopping and we will definitely have fun exploring the Galapagos Islands. See you in the field!

NOTE: Links on this website lead to products on Amazon, where I may receive a small commission on purchases made through their site at no additional cost to you.