What should I bring with me to Ecuador?

From EcuadorWiki

Recommendations from the folks at the Academia Latinoamericana:

General Items

• 3 Extra copies of your Passport and Immunization information
• Lightweight layer able clothing
• International Calling Card
• Long underwear, turtleneck-sweater-jacket for cool mornings and evenings
• Sweat pants, jeans, shorts, sandals
• Comfortable wet/dry walking shoes
• Rain clothes
• Towel
• Small knapsack/Fanny Pack
• Camera – lots of film!
• Swim stuff
  • Suit, sun screen and sun glasses
  • shortie…..(goggles/flippers/snorkel?)
• Small Flashlight
• Small alarm clock
• Medical supplies (antiseptic, aspirin, Imodium/Lomotil, antacid, lip moisturizer or supplies as liquid for contact lenses, for example) –Extra refills….also Cepro!!
• Day pack, and one back pack or duffel bag of luggage per person
• Binoculars
• Plastic bags
• Gift for your family - a little gift for their host mother.... cologne, scarf, and candy.... a little remembrance!
• Money….Small bills….lots of quarters ($20.00 are hard to break!)
• Bring a money belt!

Note #1: You can get a cash advance on a credit card......but you must know your pin. Most people don't know their credit card pin. You can also get cash out of ATMs, but...many banks put limits on the amount on a daily basis that is different than in your home country. Be sure to know your bank terms and conditions

Note #2: Ecuador has everything Europe or the United States has....you are not going to Congo. If it's an imported item, as many things are, it will be very expensive

Note #3: Set up a phone tree or an email list so that a general message can be sent out to families at home. With a phone tree, the first person calls the second person. The second person calls the third person. If the second person isn't home or the message doesn't get thru, then the first person calls the third person so that the message gets thru, and so on...the first person continues to contact the second person until the message gets through...it is great!

Particular Trip Items

• Quito - Cold/Hot/Wet/Dry
  • Comfortable Clothing
• Schools – Professional Clothes
• Otavalo Indian Market
  • One of the most fun days will be going to Otavalo Indian Market where you can buy fabulous hand-knit sweaters leather items, jewelry, paintings, ceramics, blankets, scarves, jackets, weavings….thousands of items…. plan suitcase space appropriately
• Cotapaxi – Cold and Dry!
  • Windy/Snow gear
• Bella Vista Cloud Rain Forrest – Cold and Wet!
  • Rain gear
• Galapagos – Hot! Hot! Sun! Sun Burns!
  • Shorts/Hat
  • Walking - wet/dry shoes