The varied climates and situations we experience require you to have all items on the first day of your trip. Forgotten items will be purchased with your pocket money. Do not pack more clothing than listed. Remember to leave space for items you buy in Ecuador!
____Duffel: Wheels are preferable! We suggest a tough bag approximately 34” x 16” x 16” or smaller. You must be able to pick up this bag and carry it by yourself!
____Daypack: Bring one large “school type” daypack. To be used during the day to carry personal items. Please make sure your day pack has a chest and waist strap.
____Sleep Sheet (optional): This is different from a sleeping bag. It is your own sleep sheet to use as a liner for your hotel or hostel bed. It is for your comfort and is very lightweight. GREAT TO HAVE! You can purchase this at an outdoor store or online.(Please do not bring a sleeping bag!) Sleep sheet example.
Weather: Be prepared for varied weather conditions. Temperatures in the Andes can change in a matter of minutes and range from below freezing to 80°F.
TRAVEL GEAR
____Passport
____$110 Galapagos entrance fee
____$41 exit tax paid in airport upon departure
____2 backpacking type water bottles
____1 liter minimum Camel Back type hydration system (optional)
CLOTHING
You need a ten day supply of clothing. If you bring too much it gets in the way. You will do laundry twice on your trip.
Inner layer
____Ten day supply of underwear
____1 set Long underwear shirt and pants; polypropylene or similar synthetic fabric is essential
____Pajamas: Boxer shorts or sweat pants & t-shirt
Middle layer
____3 pairs of Jeans or khakis
____1 pair of hiking/track pants
____2 pairs of lightweight shorts
____4 short sleeve T-shirts
____3 long sleeve shirts
____2 swimsuits
Outer layers
____1 medium weight waterproof, gortex-type rain jacket
____1 medium weight waterproof, gortex-type rain pants
____1 polar fleece jacket (the fuzzy synthetic material)
____1 pair fleece pants
HEAD, HANDS & FACE
____1 Fleece or wool hat
____1 Baseball style hat
____1 pair warm gloves or mittens: preferably waterproof
____1 pair of sunglasses with secure strap (Chums or Croakies)
FOOTWEAR
____4 pairs of hiking socks; a synthetic blend
____Water sandals that secure around your ankles (Tevas, Chacos or Nike)
____1 pair of sneakers(good for walking/ hiking/running)
TOILETRIES
____SPF 30+ sunscreen, 2 sticks of chapstick with SPF
____Toiletries, prescriptions, medications, bandana, etc.
____1 medium towel 2-3 packages of Wet Naps - personal cleaning towelettes
____Laundry bag and small pillow (optional)
MISCELLANEOUS
____Headlamp
____Cheap watch
____Travel alarm clock
____Photocopies of your passport AND flight ticket to be handed over to your trip-leader upon arrival.
____If you wear glasses or contact lenses, please bring a spare pair of glasses, including a protective case. Yes, wearing contacts is okay!
____Camera (Phone & camera must be separate devices!)
____Stationary and journal
____Suggestion: small, colored nylon “stuff sacks” or plastic Ziploc bags to organize your stuff
Information Regarding Your Trip---PLEASE READ THIS!
Expectations: EG is a physically, mentally and culturally demanding trip. You stay in simple homes and native hotels; no “camping”. We will expect you to be open to the Ecuadorian culture and food. It is essential that we have a flexible attitude and behave with cultural sensitivity in order to make no impression or a good impression as guests.
Passport & Visa: Please contact Bold Earth with your passport number as soon as possible! For US citizens, passport valid 6 months beyond intended stay is required but no visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. Contact your local embassy, or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION. A Travel Permission Slip is MANDATORY(available online 3 weeks before your trip).
Special vaccines or medications: Contact your family physician or your local travel clinic for the most up-to-date health information. It is your responsibility to know if you require any vaccinations or precautions for the country that you are visiting. Hepatitis A & B and Tetanus are recommended for most international travel.
Health Notice: Bottled drinking water will be provided throughout the program; however, intestinal illnesses are common when traveling. If after the summer you are ill, inform your doctor you traveled in Ecuador.
Time: Ecuador & Galapagos time is the same as Central and Mountain Standard Time in North America.
Spending Money: ATM or credit cards are the best way to get money in Ecuador. Also bring a mix of cash (Ecuador uses US$). We suggest bringing approximately $75 per week for personal expenses and gifts. If you run out of money, you have spent too much. Unless there is an emergency, Bold Earth will not advance money.
Laundry: We wash clothes at a Laundromat at least once during the program. A good practice is to put your name on items which are not unique to you.
Trip Journal: Bring along a notebook to record the "Challenge, Pride and Success" of your adventure.
Reading List: The people, places and activities you will encounter on your trip are diverse and incredible. These are a few books offering background information. We suggest you consider reading these books before, during or after your adventure. Also, you might like to read Outside Magazine available everywhere. For additional adventurous reading, check out Extreme Classics: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time.
The Conquest of the Incas by John Hemming. is the best regional history book and contains several chapters on Ecuador. The introduction offers an overview of the exploits of many explorers, thereby giving students background to this comprehensive study of the famous Spanish conquistador. The book is well written in a clear and interesting tone. Pizarro's daring and drive to succeed may have been forged in his difficult childhood. To escape the trap of poverty, he joined the Spanish Army and made his mark. The story of Pizarro and the Incas reads like an adventure, and both sides are given their due in this balanced study.
No visit to the Galápagos Islands is complete without a peek at the book that put them on the map: Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. A less dated approach to the subject is offered in Darwin for Beginners.
Galápagos: A Natural History Guide by Michael H Jackson is the best general guide to the history, geology and plant and animal life of the islands.
The exceptional Travels Amongst the Great Andes of the Equator is Edward Whymper's story of the 1880 mountaineering expedition that made eight first ascents of Ecuador's highest peaks. A fascinating tale of adventure, friendship and challenge on beautiful and massive Andean peaks.
LEARNING • SERVICE • LEADERSHIP
