ESSENTIAL EVENT INFORMATION 2025
Due to the scale and nature of Rat Race Events, changes to the course, structure and timings sometimes need to be made right up to the date of the event. To ensure you have the latest information and are fully prepared for the challenge that lies ahead, please check back on this EEI before travelling to the event.
The EEI was last updated on: 19/08/2025
WELCOME TO ECUADOR.
WELCOME TO GALAPAGOS 2025!
Dear #Ratracer,
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Prepare to go way beyond the ordinary—because in just three months, you're heading to one of the most remote, untouched, and awe-inspiring places on the planet.
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Welcome to Rat Race Galapagos Uncharted – an epic journey where wild beauty meets raw adventure. You'll run through volcanic landscapes, alongside pristine white-sand beaches, and past wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Think giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and sea lions cheering you on as you conquer an ultra-distance course across San Cristobal Island.
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This is your chance to experience the Galápagos in the boldest way possible—the Rat Race way. Get ready to run wild, explore deeper, and immerse yourself in nature at its most untamed. Let the countdown begin.
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This is our Essential Event Information Guide—a comprehensive outlook towards your upcoming adventure with us! If you have not done so already, do ensure you are fully conversant with the website and then pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee (or even something a little stronger!) and read on….  
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Abbi Naylor
Event Director, Rat Race Galapagos Uncharted​​
FILES AND DOWNLOADS:
KEY REMINDERS:
Make sure you’ve read this document thoroughly well ahead of your departure date to ensure there are no last minute panics or surprises, if you have any questions after reading this please reach out to us on events@ratrace.com
SKIP TO SECTION
TIME ZONE
GMT - 6 hours
PHONE CODE
+593
LANGUAGE
Spanish
CURRENCY
USD
TEMPERATURE
Day Temp Approx 25°C (77°F)
Night Lows Approx 19°C (66°F)
Water Temp Approx 21°C
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
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Event Participation Form MUST be submitted NO later than 1st October 2025.
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Medical declaration MUST be submitted NO later than 1st October 2025.
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The Q & A webinar will take place at 1730 UK TIME on Monday 13th October 2025. The webinar will be recorded and sent out to all participants the following day so you can watch it back at your leisure if you are unable to make the date and time.
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Arrival: For participants landing in San Cristobal on the 14th November you will be picked up by the local team and taken to the hotel. It is a very short journey of 2km.
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Trackers: Please remember that GPS tracker service at all times is not a-given; you should particularly note this if sharing live links with supporters.
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Insurance: You need insurance. If you are bringing your own equipment, please ensure it is insured against loss, theft and/ or damage. You will need a medical repatriation and evacuation policy that has a minimum of $500 000 trip cover on it. You will submit this to us pre-event and we will ensure we have the correct number to call your insurer if we need to evacuate you or provide serious medical attention. We also highly recommend a policy that covers you for curtailment and non-attendance.
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Kit: You will need to pass kit check before being able to the event, this will take place in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. If your kit is not right the Event Team will reserve the right to prevent you starting the event. Don’t worry – there are several touchpoints before departure to ensure this does not occur including the Q&A session and the Kit List section below. If in any doubt on kit, please do get in touch with us at events@ratrace.com and we can help! 
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Live events decision-making: During the event, the Event Director’s decision is final. They are always acting in the combined interest and safety of both individuals and the group. 
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Snacks: It is suggested that you bring some of your own snacks to compliment the Rat Race Pit stops and meals provided. You should also bring your own electrolytes and additional sports/protein powders if they are in your usual endurance event routine.
ITINERARY
Trip Meeting & End Point 
The dates of the adventure are fixed as 14-18 Nov 2025. These are the dates on which our itinerary commences and finishes.  
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Meeting Point: San Cristobal Airport (SYC)
There are 3 flights per day landing on the 14th Nov. A transfer vehicle will be allocated to each of these to make sure you are picked up and taken to our event hotel.
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It is a very short 2km transfer to the hotel.
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If you have arrived into San Cristobal pre-itinerary date, please make your way to the hotel after 2pm for check-in. Please do not arrive with your baggage before check-in. It is suggested that you keep your baggage at your prior accommodation before transferring over to Casa De Nelly.
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If you have planned a day out on the 14th that is fine. You can check into the hotel at any point after 2pm that day. Please ensure you return to the hotel for 5pm for registration and event briefing.
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Event Hotel: Casa De Nelly
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End Point: The transfer to the airport will be from our hotel to the airport (SYC).
 
At the end of the itinerary, we will be arranging transport back to the airport to correspond to the outgoing flights that day.
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If you have extended your stay it is your own responsibility to get to the airport in time for your chosen flight.
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Here’s how the days will shape up:
DAY ONE / ARRIVAL DAY
14th November 2025
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You will be picked up from the airport and transferred to our hotel where we spend the next 4 nights. If you have already landed on the island, we will greet you at the hotel from 2pm to check-in.
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At 5pm we will have the event registration and briefing. This is an opportunity to meet other Rat Racers, to meet the us and the local crew, go over the full event and itinerary and have a medical brief.
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At this point you will be asked to bring a couple of mandatory kit items to ensure you are ready and safe for the ultramarathon ahead.
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These items are:
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Sunhat
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Sunglasses
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First Aid kit
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Survival bag
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Water carrying capacity of 1.5lt
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GPX watch
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Phone with downloaded GPX file
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Collapsible cup
Meals: None Included
Accommodation: Hotel. Twin or double room​
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DAY TWO / ACTIVITY DAY
15th November 2025
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After a good breakfast you will have a day of activities with local guides. We'll hop on the bikes and take a relaxing cycle to Loberia to get those legs warmed up! Here we'll visit the famous sea lions and explore the waters as you get the opportunity to snorkel with turtles and discover the world beneath the waves. After a hearty and healthy lunch, you will head back out for a guided walk along the Tijeretas Hike. These two activities are very relaxed. You just need to be wearing normal comfortable outdoor clothing and have swim kit ready for the snorkel.
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Loberia cycle: 6km
Tijeratas hike: 3km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel. Twin or double room
Kit: Bikes, helmets, wetsuits and snorkel equipment will be provided.
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DAY THREE / ULTRAMARATHON DAY!
16th November 2025
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Get ready for the most stunning ultramarathon packed full of wildlife, beautiful flora and fauna and the most breath-taking and varied landscape as you explore all the hot spots on the island by foot. With over 1500m of elevation this amazing route packs a punch so be ready for a big day out.
Ultramarathon Distance:70km
Elevation: 1650m
Meals: Breakfast, pit stops, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel. Twin or double room
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DAY FOUR / KICKER ROCK
17th November 2025
After your HUGE achievement yesterday we're going to take the whole day to recharge and celebrate in style! After breakfast we will jump aboard our chartered boat and head to Kicker Rock for some swimming & snorkelling to stretch out those legs and kick start your recovery. After a day of exploring, it's time to celebrate each one of you at our local evening dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, celebration meal
Accommodation: Hotel. Twin or double room
Kit: Wetsuit and snorkelling kit will be provided.
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DAY FIVE / DEPARTURE DAY!
18th November 2025
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After breakfast you will be transferred back to the airport in time for your flight or we will wave you goodbye for onwards adventures.
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Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel. Twin or double room
DAY-TO-DAY: WHAT TO EXPECT
STYLE OF TRAVEL
On day 2 of the itinerary (activity day), we will be split into two groups. Each group will be accompanied by a local guide. The first group will cycle to Loberia and snorkel in the morning, whilst the second group will complete the Tijereras hike. After lunch the group will switch activity.
The Galapagos is a highly protected area. There are restrictions on tourist numbers to locations and a maximum number of 15 people per group. Splitting our team in half for the activity day allows us to stay in line with the rules and regulations of the island. We will aim to put you in a group with friends and family if applicable.
During the ultramarathon everyone will start at the same time, you are able to complete the course at your own pace. The start will be early; a 6am start line will give you 13hours to aim to complete the route. There are no firm cut off times, however safety is paramount, we aim for most of the route to be run in the daylight. The start line will seem dark as we are still in twilight before the sunrises at 6:40am.
On day 4 we have chartered a boat to go and snorkel Kicker rock. It is an incredible experience. The full team will be together and be assisted by our local guides. All equipment is provided.
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ACCOMODATION
We are staying in the same hotel for the duration of the 4 -day itinerary.
You will be allocated into twin rooms. You can specify a person to be allocated with when you fill out the participant information form.
FOOD INCLUDED
Day 1 – Arrival day: NO meals included.
Day 2 – Activity day: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3 – Ultramarathon day: Breakfast, Pit stop provision,dinner
Day 4 – Activity day: Breakfast, Packed lunch, dinner
Day 5 – Departure day: Breakfast
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ALCOHOLIC DRINKS & EXTRAS ​
Where we provide meals as part of the general event service, we will not include alcoholic or soft drinks as standard, and these must be provided by yourselves.
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At the hotel there will be a bar where you can buy alcoholic and soft drinks. If you put anything onto your ‘tab/room’ please pay for it before you leave the hotel.   We will provide you with some beers and soft drinks at certain locations, to celebrate a job well-done. That is a Rat Race tradition! These will be at the discretion of the organisers, however. In general, you should expect to pay for alcoholic and soft drinks.
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PITSTOPS
Our provision will be made available to you four times on the ultramarathon route. These are spread out equidistance. The 3rd Pit stop location will be at Puerto Chino beach. This pit stop will also have some ‘lunch style’ snacks such as wraps and sandwiches. Your pit stop bag will also be available to you at pit stop 3. This also means you have your swimwear if you would like to cool down in the sea before carrying on finishing the route. Each of our pit stops will feature a vehicle, staff, first aid support, comms and of course, some food and drink. Expect the odd cameo local snack appearance, some baked goods from time to time, plenty of sweets and salty snacks and loads of fresh fruit.   
General note  – your own trail snacks and electrolytes_Please pack your own hearty supply of snacks and electrolytes that you enjoy on the trail. These can be stored in your running packs and or in your pit stop bag. Please do not skimp in the electrolytes you will need more than you think! 
THE ROUTE
We travel through 5 climate zones, seeing a variety of landscapes and vegetation. There will be a mixture of terrain and the ground underfoot could be tarmac, cement, paved and dirt roads.
The route is hilly; it has an elevation profile of over 1600m! It is up from the start line as you head to El Progreso highland town. This town was founded by Manuel J Cobos who was the first person to colonise San Cristobal Island in 1866. There is then a great view from La Capilla church, after which you pass through lots of local farmland and run through banana and papayas plantations. Run around El Junco. A Volcanic Crater filled with fresh water, the only freshwater crater in Galapagos. This is a great place to see frigate birds that come to bathe In the fresh water. Here you can observe Miconia, an endemic plant in danger of extinction.
The climate in El Junco is different and may find it misty, rainy, and muddy but can change very quickly. You can see the vegetation changes as you come down from El Junco and the climate becomes dryer. We will pass by more farmland and enjoy beautiful views of the coast. You will head down to the coast and Puerto Chino Beach where you will have lunch whilst enjoying watching the sea lions and blue footed boobies. On the way back you will head through the coffee farming area. The Galapagos has fantastic coffee! At this point you are homeward bound, heading back down to the coast along the Malecon to the finish line!
TRAINING & PREPARATION
Galapagos Unchartered is a substantial undertaking. It is approximately 70km of varying terrains with 1600m to ascent. It is a beautiful place, but it will pack a punch. For the ultramarathon you can run or hike this, if you aim for a pace of an average 3mph/5kph you will have time to finish before the darkness sets fully. If you do plan to hike it, you will need to have trained to power walk and consider how long it takes you to get everything you need at each pit stop.
Training should now be focusing on running/hiking. Do not avoid hills as hill strength will be the key to success. If you don’t have access to multiple hills, find one hill and do some hills repetitions to strengthen the legs. We understand it is by no means easy for everyone to fit in the training, everyone is different, everyone also has different day-to-day pressures, commitments and equipment available.   
Train with the kit you are planning on wearing. You will then be able to check if it is comfortable and fits correctly. Chuck the bag on that you are planning to be running or hiking with, fill it with some tasty snacks and water, this will help your body to get use to the extra weight on your back. The fitter and more prepared you are for a challenge like this the more you can enjoy each and every moment.  
www.ratracearchive.com/training-plans
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ROUTEFINDING & GPS
We will NOT waymark the route. Unless the route must be diverted due to an obstruction or last-minute change.  
In general, this event is operated with GPS as the main method of route guidance. YOU need to bring a GPS watch and a navigation device and application on your phone as a backup.  It is imperative that you are well versed in the usage of your own device and that you are confident in their battery life and reliability. 
If you wish to rent a Coros GPS watch from us, that is also possible at a cost of £50. This will have the GPS already downloaded and you will get tuition of how to use the watch on registration day. 
Please indicate in the Event Participation Form  if you wish to rent a GPS watch and an invoice will be sent over to you separately. 
As stated above, you will get to know your devices intimately on this event. We will also make available route GPX files for you to upload onto your own devices as you see fit. These files will be provided much closer to the commencement of the event, once we are satisfied there are no on the ground changes, and we therefore do not end up with version control issues that are hard to resolve.  
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As a back up we suggest having the GPX file also downloaded onto your phone. We suggest the Garmin Explore app for its ease of use and reliability. RideWithGPS or Komoot or any number of other Apps are also totally acceptable.
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GPX FILES 
We will also make available route GPX files for you to upload onto your own devices as you see fit. These files will be provided much closer to the commencement of the event, once we are satisfied, we have the definitive version to share. Experience has shown that we will never share the file until it is the final, final, final version. Or else we end up with version control issues that are hard to resolve. We do not anticipate major route changes from the route published but never say never.  These files will be issued at the 1-week out email phase. 
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COURSE CUT OFFS & WITHDRAWALS
This event is not about cut-offs. But, having a ‘cut-off’ and a ‘sweeping’ structure is an important part of our Event Management Plan and Risk Assessment processes. Cut off times are independent of any other factors that occur earlier in the course such as start time, injury, going the wrong way, time taken at Pit Stops, head winds; and whether it is your fault or not. We understand that missing cut offs can be tough to take but please remember this is not the crew member’s fault that breaks the news to you, should it happen to you. Please also remember that if this does happen to you, the Event team’s decision is final.   
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If you are cut off, there will be no option to re-start from where you were cut off. (The event only ever moves forwards).
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There are a number of reasons why you may be cut-off or withdrawn from the event. These could be medical, pace, kit, personal or other factors.   
  
As far as the time available goes to avoid a cut-off, there is no ‘set’ cut off time each day. (ie. Time limit or published time). Instead, we require all participants to be at the finish location before nightfall. If this is looking unlikely you will be ‘swept’ forward. That is the cut-off.  
Above all else, please remember, this event is not about cut-offs. It is about getting the most out of this magical environment. We will not cut you off and sweep you forward unless we really have to. And if we do, it is for your own safety.  
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‘BEDDING DOWN INTO THE COURSE’
It is probable that when you set off on the ultramarathon the first hours of the day may be a bit hit n’ miss. Pace, temperature regulation, kit selection, footwear etc. All to be expected. Embrace that ‘bedding down into it’ phase and listen to your body and to your kit. Expect some unexpected phenomena (not UFOs, just unusual kit or equipment issues that you may not have quite been expecting). Use this time to just get used to the environment, the gear and the temperature. Go with it and relax. By Pit Stop 1 or 2, you’ll have worked out enough to be comfortable… 
COURSE CHANGES
The nature of an adventure is that sometimes, the certain becomes uncertain! That is all part of the adventure. Whilst we will always strive to pull off ‘Plan A,’ it may well be that for any one of several reasons, we cannot do so and we need to wheel out Plan B, C or D. We do line up contingencies for many eventualities of course. But it is worth knowing that the course may change if we deem it prudent for your safety or for other operational or weather-based reasons and we must always reserve the right to do so. Ultimately our skill and judgement in organising such events is part of why you are entering, so we must be able to exercise this on your behalf where we deem it necessary. If we do have to make a route change, we will strive to inform you in good time (if that is possible). Usually, these unforeseen changes simply add to the flavour of proceedings and provide for a good story to tell at day’s end! 
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MANDATORY KIT
Some of the kit listed is to help you have a safe experience and have the best chance of finishing. Some of this kit is to ensure that if you are unable to continue without our assistance then we can be confident of you having the level of equipment required to keep you as comfortable as possible whilst you wait for that assistance. Some of it is simply to keep you from perishing. It is a serious list and we know everyone knows this, but we ask that you please do work with us on this. Please do not skimp on kit.
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CASA DE NELLY KIT CHECK
During Registration at Casa de Nelly on arrivals day at 5pm, we will be conducting a kit check as part of the Reg process. The full kit list can be found above, however, as a minimum, we will be checking:
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Sunhat
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Sunglasses
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First Aid kit
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Survival bag
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Water carrying capacity of 1.5lt
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GPX watch
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Phone with downloaded GPX file
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Collapsible cup​
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You may be asked to show any other items from the mandatory kit list. Clearly at this point, the die is somewhat cast in respect of where we are geographically and the ability to ‘fill in any gaps’ is therefore heavily reduced; however we will look to assist where we can, in the event of major kit catastrophe.
If you do not have the appropriate kit with you when you register in San Cristobal you may not be allowed to participate. We have devised the mandatory kit list for your protection and safety, and we will not be able to make any exceptions on required items. If you have any kit questions, you can bring them to the webinar or contact us via events@ratrace.com and we will be more than happy to help!  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
EVENT REGISTRATION PACK
In Casa De Nelly, there will be one event pack issued per person. Your Adventure Pack will contain:
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Bib Number
You should try and wear this on the outside of all clothing so that it is always visible. It is also essential for the photographer to see who you are, if you are going with the photo service. A good place to wear it is on the back of your event pack, if you are carrying one.
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Numbered Bag Tags
For your overnight and race bag. These must be attached to your bag before handing them over to our crew to transport each day.
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Event T-shirt & Rat Rag
If you do not select your t-shirt size in advance, you will automatically be allocated a Large.
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Tracking Device
We will issue the tracking device and demonstrate its use.​
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BAGS
There are 3 bags you need for this event:  
Overnight bag – This will remain at the hotel for the duration of the itinerary.
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Running bag – This is to be used for the ultramarathon, it needs to be big enough to contain everything you need for the run – water, snacks, tracker, first aid kit, thin running waterproof, electrolytes/salt tablets and any other sundries you may need.
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Pit Stop bag – This will be used for pit stop 3 on the ultramarathon day and can also be used as your bag to carry what you need on the activity days. It is recommended that is still have shoulder traps and is approx. 20l.
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AVOIDING KIT CATASTROPHE
It is not impossible that your gear may not arrive with you into San Cristobal. In general, the longer you are in the Galapagos the easier this is to solve. Once you start travelling away from major airports, getting re-united with lost bags becomes harder. However, it is not impossible and if you do lose bags, it does not necessarily spell certain doom. However, to avoid the chances of total catastrophe, we would recommend that you do travel with some event clothing in your hand luggage: Running/hiking trainers, running bag, sports bra (if applicable).
  
Experience tells us that if you arrive wearing or physically carrying some of what you need, the likelihood of getting you on the start-line increases dramatically, vs those who entire event kit is in their hold baggage, making its way around a carousel in the wrong airport far, far away.  
​Q&A WEBINAR
The Q&A Webinar on October 13th at 1730 UK Time is a great opportunity to ask any kit related questions and ensure you are fully prepared for the adventure ahead.
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TRACKING DEVICE
During Registration you will be issued with your tracker. It will be in a waterproof dry bag. It is your responsibility to look after the device until you return it to us at the finish line in exchange for your medal. This device not only allows those at home to follow you on the route, it acts as a tracker for us too, meaning we can see where you are throughout the event. 
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Tracking will go live on the first morning of the event. The link will be available via Open Tracking here: https://results.opentracking.co.uk/ and will also be shared in the event WhatsApp group closer to the time. 
The trackers rely on GSM signal to report, which is generally very good across a lot of our route but there frequently can be a delay on tracking. Sometimes, our team back at base will increase or decrease the reporting frequency, so those watching at home will sometimes not see your dot moving or see you moving very slowly. Or they may see you adrift from others in the group.
It is Important that you ensure anyone watching at home knows this, for their own peace of mind and for our own safety systems. Experience shows that if someone watching at home does not understand this, they can sometimes unwittingly commence full rescue missions by panicking, calling in the cavalry and sparking confusion for us as organisers. As such, it really is a very important point to note.    
As with any GPS units that you use from us, you must return the tracking device at the end of the event or whenever a member of staff asks for you to do so (for example to check a setting or to charge it) and as with all electronic devices, there is a replacement cost for loss or damage. For the tracker, it is £150 so please do look after these units.   
 
VERY IMPORTANT: As we have stated, the reliability and operation of the tracking devices in this environment is likely to not be 100%, 100% of the time. As far as our safety system is concerned, we know that and we have considered that as part of our other overarching plans and risk assessment.   
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For those watching the tracking at home, it is important you explain that the trackers are not always going to give a fully accurate reflection of exact locations. What can happen, (if this is not communicated on the part of the participant to their supporters), is that where people see a tracker displaying erratic behaviour or not moving, this manifests in undue worry. Over a number of days, this worry can turn to panic and raising of unnecessary alarms, from the comfort of sofas in the internet-equipped watching world-at-large. We require you to ensure that, should you decide to share the tracking link, you are unequivocal in this explanation to your supporters. We cannot afford for an international incident to be commenced as someone sitting at home in front of their desktop has decided to contact the Emergency Services as they cannot see your dot moving. It really is a deadly serious point we are making here and we thank you in advance for making this clear to your supporters at home.
MEDICAL & SAFETY
MEDICAL OPERATIONS
Our team is there for you in case you have an incident with which you require assistance. The team will shadow the progress of the adventure each day in vehicles or on foot (whichever is most appropriate given the days activity) before establishing a medical clinic each afternoon/evening at our overnight accommodation. Whilst the medics are there for ‘what ifs,’ they are also a great source of preventative advice; so please do use them to ask questions and check best practice, particularly in suspected foot injury or issues such as blisters.  
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MEDICAL SCREENING
At this stage we are inviting you to have a medical screening process, which can be completed via the link HERE. Please complete this as soon as possible – and certainly please, no later than 1st October 2025. If you do have any conditions that you feel we should know about, however small you feel it may be, please do share this with our Medics. Experience has shown that early pre-screening can assist both us and you greatly in enabling the care you need pre and during the trip. If you do not share information on conditions which are likely to affect your participation or decide to share them very late in the process, we are all under pressure and we will always reserve the right to cancel your participation if we feel there is a medical issue that may affect yours, or others’ safety. So please, do share anything and everything you feel our team should know about, at the earliest opportunity.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS AND MEDICAL INFORMATION:
We are very fortunate to have an excellent Medical Director providing oversight, planning and screening on all of our international trips, who in turn engages seriously professional and qualified staff to join you on the trip. Rat Race also conforms and has been audited to the rigorous BS8848 standard of expedition management. This means our approach to all things safety and medical is extremely thorough and it is designed throughout with your best interest at heart. 
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Your medical screening details will be sent direct to our medical team and under medical confidentiality rules, this will only be shared with our medics and no-one else. If they decide this is information that is in the best interests of everyone for us as organisers to be privy to, they will seek and gain your consent before doing so. It is therefore important you complete the link to the medical survey only which can be found HERE; do not send Rat Race medical information direct. If you have any queries at all on the medical side of things in relation to this event, you can email our Medical Director, Dr Patrick Musto confidentially on office@trailmed.com and he and his team will assist. 
SUN & HEAT
Please carefully review our Sun & Heat Safety Guidance issued by our medical partner Trail Med.
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EMERGENCY PROTOCOL
In the event of a true emergency or serious incident you will be notified of protocols at the pre-event briefing. If you are with an injured party whilst on the route, stay with the casualty and await assistance. In the event of a non-emergency incident but for which action is requested from the organisers, then you should place a call (we will give you numbers) or if no phone reception, you should send a message forward to the next Pit Stop with another participant if possible and/or await an event crew member approaching via vehicle/or on foot from behind. This might be medical, logistical or kit/ equipment breakdown as examples. We politely ask that you stop and help someone that is in difficulty – you will be the first person to find them – remember to take note of time, place (number of km, or minutes/ hours from last Pit Stop) and participant number/ name at the incident site. Remember we are all in it together and we are in effect one big team. 
POOR WEATHER CONTINGENCY
We have chosen to go to the Galapagos in November as it is the most stable of all months and shouldn’t be too hot or too windy. However, the weather can rapidly change due to the remote locations of the islands.
In all cases, the decision of the Event team is final in these matters. We will monitor weather and general course conditions throughout, and rest assured that any decision we do make in this regard is only ever made with the safety of event participants at its core. But please do understand that the very nature of such an undertaking in such an environment requires us to plan (and deploy) contingencies and we cannot therefore guarantee that the exact itinerary as laid out on the website and in this document will be achieved. Such is the essence of adventure! ​​
INSURANCE FOR YOU AND YOUR EQUIPMENT
We have asked that you have in place Travel Insurance cover and specified Evacuation cover to last for a minimum period of the event duration for the days you are with us on the published itinerary. Evacuation and medical expenses cover should total no less than $500 000. A copy of this cover/covers (if separate policies) is required to be received by us by Wednesday 1st October.
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We recommend that participants have insurance to cover damage, loss, theft, injury and non-attendance. Rat Race cannot accept any responsibility for the loss of, theft, or damage to any Participant property or the circumstances of Participant non-attendance. Within the 12-week departure window, we cannot provide any transfers, and, in all cases, we cannot entertain requests for refunds. We respectfully remind all participants that unforeseen circumstances preventing attendance is what travel insurance is designed for and is the reason for this as a strong recommendation on such undertakings.   
Some suggested providers are as follows:   
  
For UK and Channel Island residents Rat Race’s own insurer brokers have a brand-new product: https://www.mannbroadbent.co.uk/sports-travel-insurance/.  
  
Note: This is Rat Race’s UK-based insurance broker, specialising in the leisure insurance market. This is a specialist sports travel cover product; however, Rat Race is neither an insurance broker or underwriter. We can recommend Mann Broadbent wholeheartedly as good people to deal with, but please remember that this is not a ‘Rat Race product’ and we have no say whatsoever on claims decisions made by the insurers, in the event that you raise such a claim via one of these policies.   
Other providers:  
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www.battleface.com  
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www.internationalsos.com  
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Note: We have no relationship with any of these providers, but previous customers have found them reasonable to deal with regarding some of our similar Bucket List challenges.   
  
Note: For all insurance, please remember that cover is offered based on several factors, (the nature of the event disciplines being one of them), but your own insurance profile, age, health and other details form a big part of this. As such, we are always happy to provide details to insurers in support of cover requests from customers, but we cannot influence their decisions as to whether to offer cover to individuals.    ​
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GENERAL SAFETY AROUND VEHICLES
This event takes place on open roads and trails. There are vehicles, this is not a closed road event. Vigilance must be always taken.
LITTER
We want to show that this event has exemplary control of littering. Please help us achieve that. Pack your litter into your pack, pockets or nearby bin bag at a vehicle. No exceptions. The Galapagos is a beautiful environment, and our absolute commitment is to keep it that way.  
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MUSIC PLAYERS
While these are allowed, please control their volume according to your environment. Use your judgment at all times when listening to music or audiobooks. Please also be aware that if you cannot hear general voice levels you might miss instructions or warnings from crew, other participants or approaching vehicles. We suggest that you run the leads behind you so that persons or vehicles approaching from behind might be able to see that you are wired for sound.  
FINAL ADMIN
EVENT ETHOS: ‘RACING’ AND OUR FINISH TIMES SERVICE
Completing not competing. Rat Race’s ethos has always been about inspiring folk to undertake challenges in awesome outdoor locations. Galapagos Unchartered is just that, taken to an epic level. This is not a formal race environment and there are no winners and losers. We do not award prizes for the fastest folk. There will be no splits. Indeed, there will be no timings. Rat Race totally appreciate the incredible commitment of those taking on the challenges we lay down and each participant is as important as the next regardless of how fast you can cover the distance. This is akin far more to an expeditionary undertaking than anything else. 
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In delivering this unique challenge we prioritise factors such as safety, camaraderie and environmental concerns. Respecting the wishes of local stakeholders with our route management and litter policies is vital in being able to bring folk together for this unique experience. Safety above all else is paramount, as you will fully appreciate. To reasonably balance all these factors, we emphasise that the event is not a formal race environment, rather it is a challenge in the great outdoors where great folk come together with a common purpose.
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TRANSFER DEADLINE
At the time of booking, on our website and within our welcome email we made clear that your purchase is non-refundable. But up until 12 weeks prior to departure, you could use our transfer system if you wished to withdraw from the event. We respectfully remind all participants that unforeseen circumstances preventing attendance is what travel insurance is designed for and is the reason for this as a strong recommendation on such undertakings. 
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We want to be really clear that the transfer option is there for you if you need it. But it does have a deadline. That deadline is  22nd August 2025. This is 12 weeks prior to the event and our advertised standard transfer window for international events. After this time, we regret that we simply cannot change entries and if you are in, you’re in. So if you don’t think you’re in this time around, please do ensure you use that transfer window and get your transfers in by the dates above. You can do that by logging into your RR account, heading to the ‘Your Entries’ tab and hitting the ‘Transfer button’. 
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Please note event credit is except from the transfer process. Once credit is redeemed against an event entry it is locked into that event. You can read our transfer policy HERE 
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LOCAL PAYMENTS
Most places on San Cristobal take card and cash in USD. There is an ATM available in the town where we are staying. When we are staying in hotels, you may charge incidentals to your room if the hotel has that facility. All room accounts should be settled prior to leaving the accommodation in each location. If hotel room bills remain unsettled Rat Race will reserve the right to charge your nominated card, plus a £20 admin charge per unpaid bill. 
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Entry Fees & Tip Culture
The Galapagos has two entry fees, These fees are primarily to fund conservation efforts, manage tourism impacts, and support the local community. These funds are used for a range of purposes, including protecting the unique biodiversity, upgrading infrastructure, and improving basic services like health and education for residents. The fees also help to mitigate challenges of overtourism.
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INGALA Transit Control Card: $20 per person
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The Galapagos National Park Entrance fee: $200 per person. This is a fee paid on arrival to the airport in San Cristobal. This money is directly used to fund conservation efforts and improve services on the island.
Local guide tips - We will have two local guides assisting us for the duration of the event. These local guides are highly experienced. It is custom to provide them with a tip. We will be passing around a 'hat' at the celebration meal to put in some cash. It is a discretionary sum of your choosing but it is recommended to be about $10 per day. $40 in total.
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ENTRY ADVICE - BEFORE ARRIVAL AT AIRPORT
Transit Control Card: All visitors must complete and pay for their Transit Control Card (TCT) online before flying to the Galápagos Islands. This must be done within 48 hours of your flight through the official site: HERE
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Once payment of $20 pp is complete, download or print the confirmation and bring it with you (printed or digital) to present at check-in or boarding gates.
Galapagos Biosafety Sworn Declaration: To protect the fragile ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands, all travellers must complete a Galápagos Biosafety Sworn Declaration. Submit this form online at declaracion.abgalapagos.gob.ec within 48 hours prior to your flight. It asks you to declare any biological materials, food items, or equipment that could pose a risk of introducing invasive species.
After you submit the form, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a QR code. When you arrive in the Galápagos, present this QR code to biosecurity officials, either digitally or as a printed copy. If you don’t complete the form in advance, officials may ask you to fill it out at the airport or during your flight. Given that they’re phasing out the paper version, we highly recommend submitting it online beforehand.
ENTRY ADVICE - AT THE AIRPORT
Transit Control Card: If this has not been done in advance, you may still be able to complete the process at the INGALA (Galápagos Government) counter at the airport, though this option is being phased out.
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We strongly recommend completing the process online to avoid delays. You’ll need to present your confirmation (digital or printed) during check-in and when boarding your flight to the islands.
Scan Your Luggage: All luggage, checked and carry-on, must be pre-scanned at the Agrocalidad. It will be checked to make sure you aren’t bringing organic products, foreign species, or anything that could be a threat to the biodiversity of the Galapagos. All bags are passed through the scanner and tagged.
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ENTRY ADVICE - DURING THE FLIGHT
Spray: During the flight to the Galapagos, the plane will be sprayed with passengers on board to kill any species possibly residing in your hand luggage. The spray used is recommended by the World Health Organization.
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ENTRY ADVICE: ARRIVAL IN GALAPAGOS
Arrival: Once you arrive in the Galápagos, follow the airport signs to the correct line: Foreigners, Nationals (Ecuadorians), or Residents (Galápagos Residents).
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At this point, you’ll pay the Galápagos National Park entrance fee of $200 per person, payable in cash or by credit card.
Next, present your QR code from the completed Biosafety Declaration Form, and note that any hand luggage will be re-scanned.
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Your checked luggage will be offloaded and inspected by trained sniffer dogs before you can collect it.
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COMMS COVERAGE & DATA
Signal and mobile phone coverage is good on San Cristobal. However, it is worth checking with your mobile phone provider if data, calls and messaging is included in your tariff. You will NEED access to the WhatsApp group throughout the itinerary. You can also get an online E-sim via an app for Ecuador. Recommended apps are – Saily, Airallo and Nomad.
The event will not be providing satellite data or phone services as standard unless for EMERGENCY USE via satellite phone. 
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EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY
The event is very lucky to have secured the services of James Appleton as official event photographer. James has worked on several of Rat Race’s Bucket List events before, including the Galapagos Test Pilot trip. This means not only is he an excellent photographer in his own right; but that he really ‘get’ these types of events.
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For this adventure, we are doing photography a little different than run-of-the-mill standard event photography, but an entirely standard approach for us and it’s tried and tested – to 100s of customers’ satisfaction. Instead of James shooting and you then you selecting a number of photos post-event from a fairly unwieldy and piecemeal selection (leading to a lot of wastage in the shots and hours spent spreading the editing thinly across ‘anything and everything)’ we want the service to be as personal as possible. We think that something this epic deserves that.
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James will therefore be offering a one-price, advance purchase arrangement. He will shoot you in action during the ultra as well as providing shots to encapsulate the whole experience, not just the event day itself. This means the wildlife, water activities etc so you can focus on soaking up the beauty of this truly incredible locations and leave the snapping to James!
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The price for this service is £100. If you would like to use this service, please tick the box in the pre-event form in the email and purchase the package via the link HERE. The crux here is that he will ONLY shoot those who sign up to the service in advance, ensuring he is concentrating on those who have taken the plunge. This ensures that he can 100% focus on the job in hand for those who wish to purchase; and avoids the wastage of hundreds of shots on the edit-room floor. For clarity, James is doing this at his own risk and all proceeds of photo sales go to him and not to Rat Race. We believe this is an excellent service, at a very keen price, from a first-class photographer. It is of course not in any way compulsory.
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CONTACT
To facilitate the very best support for you whilst embarked on the event, we have prepared some contact information below that should assist you and loved ones both before departure and then throughout your Event experience in Patagonia. Please find a series of phone numbers and email addresses and instructions on which is to be used; and for what. Finally, we have included an action check-list so you may tick off the pre-event jobs arising from this Essential Event Information document.
1.) For ALL pre-event email correspondence prior to departure:
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events@ratrace.com - Admin, challenge & kit questions
office@trailmed.co.uk - Medical-based advice or discussion on medical conditions in confidence
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2.) For specific arrivals and pre-trip issues to San Cristobal in the immediate day’s pre-arrival – You will also be issued phone numbers to use to get in touch during this arrivals period. These numbers will be issued much nearer the event as well as a link to a group Whatsapp chat.
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3.) Emergency correspondence from people who need to get in touch with you (i.e. from those who need to contact you) IN EMERGENCY ONLY while you are embarked on the event: events@ratrace.com
The originator should quote ‘Emergency correspondence for (your name)’ in the email title and they must provide a phone number for return comms. This will be patched through to our crew’s mobile phones, (or satellite messaging platform if we are out of reception) from our office and a satellite phone will be made available for you to return the comms to the originator. We would aim to provide a suitable response period of within 24 hrs for this service to the originator. Please, please, please do tell your family and supporters not to contact us about Tracker Emergencies!
FINAL CHECK LIST
Submitted no later than 1st October 2025
Submitted no later than 1st October 2025
1730 UK time - Monday 13th October 2025
I am looking forward to seeing you all in paradise!
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Yours in adventure!
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Abbi
Event Director