What to put in your suitcase to travel to Ecuador and Galapagos?

Are you planning a trip to Ecuador and don’t know what equipment to pack in your suitcase? Terra Ecuador has listed for you the essentials to bring according to the regions you will visit.

What to bring in all cases

Photocopies of passport
Photocopies of the insurance certificate
Contact information for Terra Ecuador
Personal pharmacy (see paragraph below)
Camera
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Anti-mosquito cream
Flashlight with spare battery(ies)
Comfortable clothes
Sun protection (cap, cream, glasses)
Binoculars
Rain cape
Travel alarm clock (always safer than the hotel receptionist’s alarm clock…)

Personal pharmacy

Analgesic
Anti-diarrheal
Intestinal disinfectant
Ointment for sunburn
Broad spectrum antibiotic
Anti-mosquito cream, very effective especially during the green season
Anti-itching ointment
Disinfectant for wounds (Hexomedin type)
Set of bandages, plasters, scissors.

Equipment for the Amazon, Costa and Galapagos

Light clothes (short and long sleeves) + some warm clothes for the evenings + rain poncho
Bathing suit
Open shoes that can go in the water
Anti-mosquito cream
Sun cream
Hat
Sunglasses
Personal pharmacy
Toiletries with wipes

Equipment for the Andes

The weather in the Andes is very capricious, we usually say that you can find in one day the four seasons! It is therefore preferable to put a little of everything in your suitcase because it is necessary to plan for all types of weather (sun, clouds and rain), it is generally hot during the day, cool as soon as you go into the shade or after 6 pm and the polar fleece may be necessary in altitude.

Shoes

When there is no hiking in your program, walking shoes are not necessary. However, it is important that you have “all-terrain” shoes that can withstand all types of weather and that grip the ground well.

Equipment for trekking

(to be specified according to the accommodation chosen)

Backpack or sturdy travel bag (like a duffel bag) + small personal bag
Good sleeping bag (resistant to -5 to -10°C)
Ground sheet
Warm clothing (windbreaker and polar fleece / hat / gloves / socks…)
Rain poncho or Kway
Walking shoes
Walking sticks (can be rented on site)
Sun cream
Hat
Sunglasses
Lamp (preferably headlamp) and spare batteries
Water bottle
Pocket knife
Personal pharmacy
Toiletries with wipes

Equipment for the ascents (Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Cayambe)

A bag of relatively large capacity for the ascent to the refuge (60 liters minimum
A very good pair of sunglasses or glacier glasses
Underwear like Carline
A very good Gore-Tex mountain jacket with a hood
Gaiters, or “stop everything”, adapted to your shoes
Gore-Tex overpants
A pair of silk gloves
A hat
A pair of Nylon or Gore-Tex slippers
High mountain boots*
A helmet*
Two carabiners* (one with screws) and a rope ring (2 meters long)
A good quality sleeping bag (- 5 to – 10 °C) for the night in an unheated refuge
A sheet-bag
Headlamp
Water bottle
Personal pharmacy (high protection sun cream, wipes…)

*It is preferable to have your own mountaineering equipment. However, it is possible to rent in Quito ice axes, crampons (without boot protectors), harness and shoes. Approximate price: 30 USD for the duration of the ascent. The choice (model, brand, quality) remains limited, and there may be some difficulties for extreme sizes (small or large).