Wild Frontiers

Flight Information

There are no direct flights to Quito from London. The most common route is Iberia via Madrid, which takes around 15hrs.

Useful Tips

• Roasted guinea pig is Ecuador's delicacy, you should try it at least once

• Pack for all weather in the Andes, you can expect four seasons in one day

• Make sure you take binoculars with you to the Galapagos and Bellavista

• Read 'Lonesome George- the lifes and loves on a conservation icon' by Henry Nicholls

• Get yourself fit before you go to enjoy the fantastic Andean trekking opportunities

Recommended Reading

If you want to read up on your destination we recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Bradt Guides, Odyssey Guides, The Rough Guide and Footprint Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the areas you visit.

Good books and maps of Ecuador & The Galapagos are available at Stanfords in Covent Garden, London or online at www.stanfords.co.uk

Relevant Reading:
We recommend Living Poor, by Moritz Thomsen, The Panama Hat Trail, by Tom Miller, The Lost Lady of the Amazon, by Anthony Smith, A Travel Journal, by Henri Michaux and Lonesome George - the lifes and loves of a conservation icon, by Henry Nicholls For a light, humorous read try Savages, by Joe Kane.

When To Go

Being situated so close to the equator, Ecuador experiences the same climatic conditions year round, and weather can vary dramatically depending on the region you are in. You WILL encounter rain, but the sun can also be fierce (especially at altitude) and you should be prepared for all eventualities. Quito is quite prone to experiencing all four seasons in one day!

Packing List

Below is a list of general items you might take with you on a Wild Frontiers trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos.

Luggage:
It is best to use a soft bag - rucksack/hold-all/duffel bag - so it can be transported and stored more easily.
A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main luggage is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

Clothing:
In general you should bring clothes you feel comfortable with, so as a guide we suggest a packing list like this:
• 4 x Light cotton shirts or T-shirts, short sleeved and long.
• 2/3 pairs of cotton trousers. If preferred, women can wear dresses and skirts
• 2 x Lightweight jumpers or sweatshirts
• Good quality fleece or warm jumper
• Warm jacket
• Down jacket or warm ski jacket
• Set of lightweight waterproofs (poncho provided)
• Warm nightwear
• Swim suit or trunks
• Gloves
• Warm Hat
• Wide brimmed sun hat or cap
• Change of clothing for the evenings
• An extra “outfit” if you’d like to dress up a bit on occasion
• Pair of recreational shoes (adventure sandals or trainers)

Equipment:
The following is useful extra equipment for your trip:
• Travel towel, travel soap and toiletries
• Torch and spare batteries (LED head-torch keeps your hands free)
• Pair of good quality sunglasses
• Water bottle
• Plug adapter (see ‘Electricity’ section)

Personal First Aid Kit:
• Any prescription medication required (please inform the tour leader at your pre-departure meeting about these)
• Antibacterial dry hand wash
• Painkillers: paracetamol & ibuprofen
• Rehydration salts (Gastrolyte)
• Travel motion-sickness tablets if required (e.g. natural ginger tablets)
• Diarrhoea remedies
• Antihistamines
• Cold/flu decongestants
• Mosquito Repellent
• Insect bite cream
• Laxatives
• Plasters/Bandage/Steri-Strips/Blister pads
• Sunscreen (30+ factor)
• Moisturiser/after sun cream/lip balm
• Contact lenses and solution if required
• Tweezers
(A kit with most of this in is available at www.nomadtravel.co.uk)

Optional Extras:
• Ear plugs (if sharing a room / camping)
• Alarm clock
• 3-4 plastic carrier bags are very useful for dirty washing, dirty shoes and rubbish
• Binoculars
• Small packs of tissues
• Money belt or secure pouch for money and passport etc.
• Eye patches if light affects your sleep
• Sewing kit/scissors
• Writing materials
• Spare batteries/camera memory cards
• Swiss Army knife
NB: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are rare. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Hand Luggage:
Although it is very rare that luggage goes missing on flights, it has been known to happen and so it’s a good idea to carry a spare top, toothbrush, wash kit, underwear and any other essentials in your hand luggage so that you can at least freshen up while waiting for your bags to catch you up. If you wear your sturdy shoes/boots it will also reduce weight in your luggage and keep them safe.

Practical Information

Time:
Ecuador is 5hrs behind GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com

Food and Alcohol:
Ecuador is known for its fabulous exotic fruits, high quality fish and seafood, and the countless varieties of Andean potatoes. Across the country you'll find a broad spectrum of national and regional dishes, including lemon-marinated shrimp, toasted corn, and pastries stuffed with spiced meats. If you're feeling courageous, you can put your culinary bravery to the test with roasted cuy (guinea pig).

Vegetarians or those with special dietary needs can also be catered for; however in some rural places the type of food may be limited. Please let us know your requirements as soon as possible so we can make any arrangements to cater for your needs.

Electricity:
Those bringing electrical equipment should also bring a continental style adapter for use with North American/Japanese 2-blade plug. In Ecuador appliances are 120 volts.

Money:
In Ecuador the unit of currency is the US Dollar.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com
A few points to help you plan:
• Payments are mainly made in cash in remote regions, but credit cards are widely accepted in major towns and tourist shops/restaurants.
• Travellers Cheques can be changed at major banks
• In the past there has been a problem with fraudulent bank notes circulating in Ecuador. If possible, bring US dollars from home. There has also been a problem with credit card fraud, so avoid using plastic if possible.
• It is possible to change Sterling and Euros in major banks and money changers.
• Bring lots of small denomination notes - $100 and $50 bills can be hard to change.
• ATM machines are available in most big towns but please exercise caution if withdrawing money. Always cover the keypad when entering your pin and if someone tries to talk to you whilst at the cash-point, treat as suspicious.
• If using ATM machines, be sure to notify your bank before you travel..

Language & Religion:
In Ecuador, the major language is Spanish, with several other indigenous languages spoken in the Andes. English is also widely spoken. Religion is mainly Catholic.

Cultural Sensitivity:
At Wild Frontiers we are very aware of the ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures. We realise that taking a group of tourists through such a region can have a negative impact on the lives of those who live there and on all our tours we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive…after all, there are also many good things that the tourist can bring.

To help this process we ask that our clients do not hand out pens or sweets to children. As one sign in Egypt emphatically put it, ‘Please don't make beggars out of our children!' No matter how well intentioned, in our opinion the dolling out of free gifts fosters a ‘beggar mentality' that is ultimately extremely destructive to a society. In addition we do not condone giving out money to beggars or ‘students'.

However, we also realise that we are exceptionally privileged to be travelling in areas where most of the people have far less than us and that the desire to ‘help' can be very powerful. As a result we ask that you refer to your trip dossier for information on the Wild Frontiers Foundation which supports specific projects in the areas where we travel.

Photography:
Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

Also many countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your film and/or camera confiscated.