This information was kindly submitted
by www.ecuadorexplorer.com
who originally published it on their Packing
List page.
What to Pack For Your Trip to Ecuador?
What to pack really depends on where
you are going and your style of travel: budget backpacking, luxury
island-cruising, a two-week guided historical tour, or a combination
of all three. Every type of travel has its own list of bare essentials,
so we list some of the obvious and not-so-obvious items for the
various regions and activities you may encounter in Ecuador.
| General
| Andes | Galapagos
| Coast | Oriente |
General
Packing List
Passport; travelers checks; medical prescriptions or health supplies;
Swiss army knife; cloths for warm and cool weather as one can encounter
both in an afternoon 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.
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Regional Packing Lists
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.
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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; snorkel and mask (you can rent them
in Quito or in Puerto Ayora); beach towel and 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.
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Coast
All of the Galapagos equipment minus
all that may be rented if you plan on doing a lot of hiking or travel
by bus. Travelling light is always recommended. You'll also need
insect repellent (at least 30% DEET) and possibly a mosquito net
(most hotels provide them). Malaria pills may also be necessary,
read about the disease and how to prevent it in our health
page.
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Oriente
(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 rehydration 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 goretex,
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.
This information was kindly submitted by www.ecuadorexplorer.com
who originally published it on their Packing
List page.
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