Planning for a Trip to Ecuador

This April I plan to go to Ecuador with a couple of good friends with a photography group and want to create a checklist of things to do to get ready for it. South America will be a new continent for me, and one I’ve wanted to see for a long time, so I’m very excited! We will get to see the Amazon jungle, volcanoes, a flower plantation, Ingapirca ruins, and visit the town of Misahualli which is famous for its monkeys! Here are some things I want to do in the next two months in preparation:

🇪🇨 Ramp up my Spanish language lessons

💉 Check in with my doctor for any recommended vaccinations

🎒 Find a sturdy medium-sized sling bag to carry

💵 Bring some cash in $1, $5, and $10 bills and maybe some smaller change since they use USD

🚱 Remember not to drink (or brush my teeth using) tap water, this is so real, lesson learned from Mexico City

💧 Remember to always carry bottled water while I’m there

🎥 Find some Ecuadorian movies to watch to get a feel for the culture. Here’s my watchlist so far:

• The Porcelain Horse (2012) aka Mejor No Hablar (de Ciertas Cosas)
• Pescador (2011)
• La tigra (1990)
• Crónicas (2004)
• Qué tan lejos (2006) aka How Much Further
• La Muerte de Jaime Roldós (2013)
• Ratas, ratones, rateros (1999)
• A tus espaldas (2011)

Ecuador is a place that I probably wouldn’t visit without a group, so I’m really grateful for the opportunity.