In General
Passport; travelers checks, credit or debit cards; medical prescriptions or health supplies; Swiss army knife; cloths for warm and cool weather as one can encounter both in a day in the Andes or if traveling between regions; raincoat; backpack; money belt or neck pouch; watch with alarm clock; flashlight or headlamp; plastic bags for separating dirty and clean clothes and shoes; needle and thread; biodegradable soap (if in backcountry areas); notebooks and pens/pencils; hat; and sunglasses.
Leave copies of your important documents, such as your passport, as well as travelers check and credit card numbers, with someone who can fax them to you if they are stolen or lost, and/or give a copy to a trusted traveling companion.
Ecuador's electrical current is 110 volts 60 cycles, the same as North America, so adapters for North American equipment are not needed. However, plug converters are necessary in older buildings.
For each region:
Andes
In most parts of the Andes, you can experience all four seasons in one day. Be prepared for cold nights and cold rain, especially if you plan on camping. Warm, fast drying clothes are recommended (synthetics and wool are good, but avoid cotton, especially directly against the skin). Good hiking boots that either dry quickly or are water-resistant are a must for most activities. For trekking through páramo, rubber boots work exceptionally well, even with a full pack. The general packing list plus these items will serve you well in the Andes.
Galapagos
Sun hat; sun glasses; sandals (for the boat); sneakers (for dry landings and rocky shores); teva-style sandals (for wet landings); swim suit; umbrella (for sun protection during island hikes); high factor, waterproof sunscreen; beach towel and bath towel (most yachts provide bath towel); wind resistant jacket; light sweater or sweatshirt (nights can get rather cool and you don't want to miss stargazing on deck); twice as much film as you think you will need; extra camera batteries; underwater camera; and motion sickness pills.
Most yachts will provide snorkeling equipment. But if you have your own equipment, we recommend bringing it.
Amazon Rainforest
Rubber boots (a must since hiking boots don't work well in calf-deep mud - most lodges and arranged tours will provide boots up to size 10 or they can be purchased in most towns for about USD 5); mosquito net (most hotels and tour companies offer nets); insect repellent (with DEET); malaria pills; antihistamine tablets and an epi-pen for people with serious allergies to stings; water purification tablets (iodine is recommended); oral re-hydration packets; binoculars (invaluable in the rainforest); plastic bags for keeping your clothes dry; swimming suit; lightweight quick drying clothes; at least one long-sleeved shirt; one pair of loose-fitting pants (no jeans); a light sweater (it gets surprisingly chilly in the rainforest, especially on boat trips); poncho that fits over you and your pack (the cheap plastic knee-length type coats are better than Gore-Tex, which will soak right through in a real rainforest deluge); bandana; a pair of clean socks for each day; teva-like sandals or sneakers for around camp; and zip lock bags for food, books, maps and anything else you hope to keep dry.
All clothes (undergarments included) should be loose fitting to help keep you cool and to reduce your chances of being bitten by insects. |
