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Home > Destinations > South
America > Ecuador > Know
Before You Go
The more you know about the destination and the conditions
you can expect on your Wildland Adventure, the more you
will enjoy your experience. We invite you to call our destination
specialists at 1-800-345-4453 so that we can answer any
questions or concerns. The following information will also
help you prepare for the exciting experience ahead and enable
you to get the very most from your trip.
Air Travel Arrangements - Ecuador and the Galapagos
Islands
We are pleased to assist you with your flights to Ecuador
and the Galapagos Islands. We offer discounted bulk rate
fares with preferred airlines and are familiar with the
best schedules and routing. International flights for Wildland
Adventures’ trips to Ecuador arrive on the mainland
in the capital city of Quito. There is no obligation to
purchase your international tickets from Wildland Adventures
although our fares are usually competitive based on advanced
purchase and availability. The principal airlines that we
recommend from the U.S. to Quito, Ecuador are American Airlines,
Continental, and Lan Chile/Peru. Flights from the mainland
to the Galapagos Islands are via two local carriers using
commercial jet aircraft for the 2 ½ hour flight.
These tickets are included in the cost of your Galapagos
Wildland Adventure and are issued to you at the Quito airport
when you check in for the flight to the islands.
Health
Once you sign up for a trip, we provide detailed information
about health precautions and possible immunizations for
travel to each destination. A consultation with your doctor,
a local travel clinic, or public health office will help
you decide which medications or inoculations are necessary
for your safe participation on the trip. Wildland Adventures
staff are not licensed medical authorities. However, we
know the exact areas, environments and conditions under
which you will be traveling. All of these factors can affect
the relative risk of exposure to health conditions and help
you make decisions concerning immunizations and prescription
medicines. Preventative measures against infectious diseases
may require advance planning for immunizations. Pregnant
women and parents traveling with young children should consult
their physician or pediatrician.
The Galapagos Islands are relatively risk-free, and in
general you do not need to be any more concerned about your
health than you would traveling to most developed nations
of the world. No immunizations are required for travel to
Galapagos or the areas we visit in mainland Ecuador. Risk
to travelers is relatively low. The Amazon region is considered
a malarial zone by the Center for Disease Control and they
recommend use of a malaria prophylaxis. The best prevention
however is use of insect repellent and wearing light-weight,
natural colored clothing with long pants and long sleeves
in the morning and evening. Accommodations on Wildland Adventures
provide screened rooms or mosquito netting over sleeping
areas.
MD
Travel Health: Complete travel information updated daily
for physicians and travelers.
VISA and Passport Requirements
A passport is required for entry into Ecuador and should
be valid for six months after your return date. An advance
visa is not required for American citizens. Non-US citizens
should check with the embassy or consulate of Ecuador in
the United States.
http://www.ecuador.org/
U.S. State Department Passport Services
Reading List
Enrich your travels by using our recommended reading list
and online ordering through Longitude Books. For each destination,
we feature "Essential Reading," four or five books
that are a comprehensive introduction to each region. This
list favors well-written, concise books that capture the
spirit of a place including guidebooks, memoirs, histories,
field guides, natural histories, novels or other great books.
You will also find the new and hard-to-find books, field
guides, classic accounts of exploration, travel narratives,
books on art and archaeology, novels, essays and well-written
academic books.
Ecuador
& Galapagos Islands Reading List
Ecuador
& Galapagos Books for Kids
Travel Supplies and Packing List
We provide you with a specific packing list and recommended
travel products for your trip once you have signed up for
your Wildland Adventure. Two companies we recommend for
travel supplies include:
ExOfficio
We highly recommend their performance engineered,
quick dry and lightweight travel apparel designed for
outdoor-oriented adventure travel.
www.exofficio.com
TravelSmith
A resource for every travel clothing category
and a variety ofspecialty travel products.
www.travelsmith.com
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will I encounter lots of mosquitoes, bugs and
reptiles in Galapagos and the rainforest?
Naturally, there will be some insects and creepy-crawlers,
but approached with the right attitude, these things become
a source of wonder and delight in the natural world! Always
respect the creatures you encounter on a Wildland Adventure,
pay close attention to your guides and follow their rules
and lead. Biting insects can be dealt with preventatively
by using repellant and dressing appropriately.
2. What are the accommodations like on a Wildland
Adventure in Galapagos and Ecuador?
Wildland Adventures strives to place our travelers
in charming, personable, boutique-style accommodations that
reflect the environment in which you are traveling. We do
not use multi-national hotel chains unless absolutely necessary.
Our Galapagos yachts are luxury class, with the best naturalist
guides available in the Islands. Each cabin has private
bath facilities with 24-hour hot water. We generally use
only small (12-20 passenger) vessels, with the exception
of the 48-passenger Eclipse, which is so outstanding, we
must include it!
3. Will I get seasick on my Galapagos voyage?
Certain long transits to the outer islands can be choppy
and some passengers may experience motion sickness during
these times. If you are able to take preventative medication,
we strongly urge you to do so. The yachts travel at night,
weighing anchor around the time you sit down to dinner.
We suggest taking a prophylactic at dinner, which will
help you sleep through the transit. When you wake the
following morning, you will already be anchored at your
destination.
4. How do I pack for the Galapagos?
Very lightly! You are allowed to take 40lbs in your luggage,
which is actually pretty difficult to come up to, unless
you take a great deal of photography equipment. Our pre-departure
booklets will give you a comprehensive list of the essentials,
both in terms of clothing and other items.
5. Can I SCUBA on Wildland trips to Galapagos?
We offer 2 types of diving voyages, those which are dedicated
to diving only and include the outermost islands such
as Wolf and Darwin, or the more popular itinerary is the
Active Itinerary with up to 3 recreational dives in the
8 day voyage. Only those with advanced SCUBA certification
and minimum 30 logged open water dives will be allowed
to participate on these dives. We must have a copy of
your dive certification (PADI or equivalent) and a copy
of your logbook for verification of immersions. The divemaster/naturalist
guide will hold an equipment drill the first day of the
voyage in order to assess each diver’s experience
level. The divemaster always has the final say regarding
who will participate.
6. What do I do with my other clothes while I’m
in Galapagos?
You may safely stow anything you don’t need in the
Islands at your Quito hotel, as you will be returning
there following your voyage.
7. Will I experience altitude sickness in Ecuador?
Quito, where you will arrive, is at slightly over 9,000’.
Some people experience a slight shortness of breath and
lack of energy when they first arrive, but that is generally
gone within 24 hours. Some of our hikes and activities
also take place at high elevations in the Andes. Just
take it easy, stay hydrated, and let your guide know if
you need to slow the pace.
8. What about political turmoil? Is Ecuador safe?
What about Galapagos?
Ecuador has been relatively stable politically in recent
times. It is a very warm and welcoming country. The fishermen
in Galapagos have staged strikes from time to time, taking
over the Charles Darwin Station and other facilities.
We stay in constant communication with our representatives
in Ecuador and the Islands and travelers will be advised
of any activity and itineraries will be altered to avoid
possible conflicts.
9. Do I need to exchange money before I go?
No. The Ecuadorian currency is the US dollar. They are,
however, extremely particular about the condition of bills,
so always check to be sure there are no tears or stains
on your currency. And small denominations are always appreciated.
Destination Information
For further information about Ecuador we recommend the
following websites:
CIA
World Factbook
http://www.ecuador.org/main.htm/
http://www.geographia.com/ecuador/
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ectoc.html
General International Travel References
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