Packing list for Ecuador, travel insurance for Ecuador, and taking your belongings

What to take with you to Ecuador: spotlighted

• Documents: passport valid for at least 6 months upon arrival with an online and/or offline copy.
• Money: US dollars (Ecuador does not have its own currency), Credit card (often needed for bookings or accidents).
• Care: sunscreen or sunscreen with a high factor – especially at high altitudes and so close to/on the equator.
• Outdoor and practical items: cap or hat and sunglasses.
• Protection: dry bags and/or a backpack rain cover will come in handy in the jungle or the rainy season. A mosquito net or impregnated mosquito net or mosquito net.
• Clothing: because of the varied landscapes in Ecuador (from rainforest to beach to high mountains), varied clothing is best. Layers (with a really warm outer layer) and clothing for a humid climate (read more about clothing for when it is warm). Rain gear and gloves, hat and scarf can also come in handy. Swimwear for the coast/on the Galapagos. Shoes: both a pair of comfortable slippers/sandals and a pair of good (and possibly airy) walking shoes.
• Medicines and travel kit: a small first aid kit with plasters, painkillers and ORS. Mosquito repellent.
• Technology and equipment: world plug type A/B, power bank if you plan on taking long bus rides.

To consider:

• Reusable water bottle with filter.
• Quick-drying travel towel and swimwear for the beach or pool.
• International driving permit, if you want to rent a car.
• Snorkeling gear!

What should you keep in mind when traveling to Ecuador with your belongings?

• Which parts of the country you are going to and in which season, your clothing can differ considerably. After all, it is the country of 3 seasons per day.
• How you travel around. If you travel a lot by bus, your bag can quickly get damaged.

Are there mosquitoes in Ecuador?

• Mosquitoes are most common in the Amazon basin and on the coast. They like a tropical climate and lots of water.
• In the higher areas there are often fewer mosquitoes, although this is changing with climate change.
• Mosquitoes can carry several serious diseases in Ecuador.
• The regions of Esmeraldas, Manabi and Sucumbios have a higher risk of malaria.
• During the rainy season (October to May) the number of mosquitoes increases significantly.

Are there sandflies in Ecuador?

• Sand flies are mainly found in the Amazon region, near rivers and forests.
• Also in humid subtropical zones on the edge of the Andes, e.g. Mindo or Baños, and the valleys in the Andes.
• They can transmit leishmaniasis and bartonellosis, and the bite is also very irritating.

Can you buy DEET, or other mosquito repellents, in Ecuador?

• Mosquito repellent is available in Ecuador, but often in lower concentrations.
• You have the best chance of buying it in Quito or Cuenca.
• NOPIKEX is a popular and readily available mosquito repellent brand, especially in pharmacies.
• Jungle Formula is used, with higher concentration of DEET for higher risk areas.

Can you buy a joint or weed in Ecuador, or take it with you to Ecuador?

• It is technically decriminalized (still legal, but tolerated) - you are allowed to have up to 10 grams in your pocket for personal use.
• But be smart and careful:
  • Use in public is fines or problems.
  • Buying and selling is illegal.
  • Tourists are usually treated more severely than locals - with the risk of very long prison sentences.
  • Police can be corrupt - so: avoid the risk.
• In short: leave it alone. You are here for the condors, cocoa and volcanoes, right?