Galapagos + Europe trip -- what gear?

Redivivus wrote:

By a strange combination of constraints I will soon go on a vacation to Galapagos (small boat cruise) and then straight from Quito to southern Europe, part business part pleasure. So like millions before and after I would like to ask this wise community what gear to take along with my X-T3. More precisely:

1. The consensus re Galapagos seem to be that 50-140 + TC 1.4 is long enough. So I am weighting (pun intended) whether to do this combo (that I own) or to rent or buy a 55-200 (currently on sale). Would save more than 500g but lose some IQ and WR.
2. Same dilemma at the shorter end, go 18-55 (save weight & get OIS) or 16-55 (get wider, OIS, WR, & extra IQ). It seems most people do not think wider than 18 is a must have (true?) and I plan to take the 12mm for Europe.
3. BTW, if I were going just Europe, I would probably take the 12mm Rok, 18-55 or 16-55, and 90, a combination I used & liked in the past. But I'll pass on the 90 b/c weight.
4. For snorkeling I'll go with a Sony FDRX3000 (a go pro type camera) and my wife will probably have an Oly Tough (which would be my backup camera for everything).
5. Should I take a monopod for Galapagos? What other accessories are a must?
6. Last but not least, what's the best way to carry everything? I will take a backpack both on flight and on some hikes in Galapagos. (It was just Europe I would have taken a fanny pack, trying to be less conspicuous.) I am thinking of buying a MindShift Gear Backlight 18L ($200) and use the rain cover while on Zodiacs. Is this enough or do I need better water protection? I have looked at the PeakDesign 20L Everyday Backpack ($260) but the MindShift has a serious harness and when loaded feels a lot more comfortable to me. I heard the Wandrd Prvke 21L photo bundle ($265) is great but couldn't find one nearby to demo but I have one on order.

Many thanks for any advice! -- Red

Congratutions on going on such a trip!  I personally never been to the Galapagos islands, but, have loaned camera gear to a buddy that had gone.

If you are going to use a photo backpack, go with the heavier 50-140 + TC route. When I'm on the sort of vacation where I use a messenger style bag so that I cans swap lenses without removing my backpack, I tend to bring the 55-200 over the 50-140 because on your shoulder the extra weight adds up. I can't see borrowing a 55-200 for longer than a few weeks.

In my friend's opinion the ultra wide isn't necessary for Galapagos, but, might come in handy for Europe.

The MindShift Gear Backlight 18L looks great if you can fit all your gear in it.  I'm tempted to go with the 26L bag that can still fit in the overhead bin.  The method of opening the Backlight gear without putting the bag down (use the waist strap to support the bag while cantilevering the bag) doesn't work for me because I am overweight and the hip belt was an issue.  To make this your trekking bag, you need to able to carry food, water (I like carrying a water bladder in addition to a water bottle), a jacket, etc.  So that's where the fact the main compartment is dedicated to camera gear can be a bit of an issue.

A similar bag to the Backlight 18L is the Lowepro Protactic BP 350 AW II.

I own and use the PeakDesign Everyday Backpack 30L and don't recommend it for your purpose.  The side pockets are the mesh stretch material you see on other bags; so you overstuff the side pockets and you can find difficulty in wedging a water bottle into the side pocket.  Having a water bottle in the outside pocket also opening the pack from that side to be more difficult.  The dividers are a pain in that I tend to have wasted space between smaller lenses; I tend to put each lens in the lens pouch and stack them.  What I really like about the PeakDesign Everyday Backpack is the top opening where I can really stuff it.  The Everyday Backpack is a good urban bag; but, I would not consider hiking with one.