Packing for Ecuador
Tuesday morning I will be flying out to Ecuador, so today I am working on completing my packing. Fortunately, the photography group I’m going with had a meeting recently and filled us in on exactly what we would want to bring, including sunscreen since we will be on the equator (even though the temperature is cool right now), waterproof pants and waterproof shoes for floating on a branch of the Amazon River, and our own toilet paper.
We were also advised to spray our clothes with a strong, long-lasting bug spray like Duration which lasts for six washes, so this morning I went out on my balcony with my mask on and sprayed all of my outerwear, then let it dry in the breeze for a little while.
To be extra prepared, I also bought health kits at a vaccination and travel supply shop, Passport Health, including a travel and medicine first aid kit, a mosquito prevention and outdoor care kit, and a food and water safety kit. Here is a list of everything that’s included in each kit (items listed on the site) if you’re interested in getting them or making your own travel kits.
Travel Medicine & First Aid Kit
- Mole skin (blister care)
- Bandage – 2″x3″
- Bandage – 1″x3″
- Bandage – Knuckle
- Triple antibiotic ointment
- Sterile gauze -3″x3″
- Waterproof medical tape
- Single use thermometer
- Liquid skin
- Antimicrobial hand wipes
- Benzalkonium chloride antiseptic wipes
- Safety pins
- Travel scissors
- Travel tweezers
- Nitrile gloves
- Motion sickness remedy
- Melatonin sleep aid
- Acetaminophen (compared to Tylenol)
- Ibuprofen (compared to Advil)
- Diphen (compared to Benadryl)
- Cold & allergy relief
- Cough drops – cherry
Mosquito Prevention & Outdoor Care Travel Kit
- Ben’s tick & insect wipes (30% DEET)
- Mole skin (blister care)
- Bandage – 2″x3″
- Bandage – 1″x3″
- Bandage – Knuckle
- Sting relief wipes
- Poison ivy, oak and sumac wipes
- Benzalkonium chloride antiseptic wipes
- Triple antibiotic ointment
- Hand sanitizer
- Hydrocortisone ointment (itch relief)
- Burn relief gel
- Sunscreen lotion
- Ear plugs
- Eye drops
Food & Water Safety Travel Kit
- Assuregi digestive tract protection (compared to TRAVELAN) – 10-day supply
- Diaresq (diarrhea relief)
- Measuring Syringe
- Rehydration salts
- Laxative
- Water purification tablets
- Benzalkonium chloride antiseptic wipes
- Loperamide (compared to Imodium AD)
- Bismuth subsalicylate (compared to Pepto Bismol)
- Calcium carbonate (compared to Tums)
In addition to this, I bought my first suitcase at T.J. Maxx, which has really nice and affordable luggage options! Usually, I like to travel light, but this will be my biggest adventure that I’ve been on so far so I wanted to pack a few more things than I normally would to be extra prepared. Also, I hear that Ecuador has wonderful souvenirs that I’ll probably want to bring back like alpaca sweaters and Ecuadorian chocolate, so I’m allowing extra room for that, too.
For everyday use, I got a cute pink waterproof backpack to carry instead of a purse, because it’s rainy season in the highlands and because it will keep my items extra secure, which should come in handy in the town of monkeys because I’m told they will swipe anything they can.
I’ve also gotten several vaccinations in the last few weeks, catching up on overdue ones and getting travel vaccines like yellow fever, typhoid, chikungunya, as well as a malaria prescription. Some of these were expensive and not covered by insurance, but I feel like it’s better safe than sorry, and I’ll be covered for future travels.
Today I will finish packing, clean house, and bake a lasagna to freeze for my daughter and her boyfriend who will be pet-sitting at my apartment while I’m away. This will give me a couple more days to pack anything that I may have forgotten. I’d like to post a photo here now and then if I get a chance, but if I’m not here for a couple of weeks, it’s probably because I’m in a remote area without internet or a monkey stole my phone.
I am so ready! 🐒
