Geography 314D

Field Experience in

Ecuador

SUGGESTED PACKING LIST

** Clothing **
  - 5-6 pairs good hiking socks
- 5-6 pairs underwear
  - 1 long-sleeved moisture-wicking light shirt
  - 2 short-sleeved moisture-wicking light shirts or
t-shirts
  - 1 skirt/shirt combo if invited to church/nice
function
  - Flip-flops
  - 1-2 pairs shorts
  - 2 pair long pants – recommend convertible moisture-wicking cargo
pants/shorts (this may be best piece of clothing you’ll bring, lots of pockets)
  - 1 Warmish jacket (for Cotopaxi and to/from SF)

- 1 Poncho/raincoat/and/or at very least umbrella
  - Fleece Shell/vest or sweater
  - Sleeping Shirt & sweats
  - Comfortable Hiking shoes or waterproofed boots
  - Swimsuit
  - A big squishy HAT

** Gear **
  - Backpack – largish day pack
  - Plastic sacks (garbage sacks) for dirty/muddy
clothes (garbage bags can double as an emergency
poncho or backpack cover)
  - GPS unit if you have one
  - Small cloth handkerchief (very helpful for a
variety of things from sweatrag to neck cover - good
to get wet and keep your head/neck cool, etc)
  - Compact Umbrella (see above)
  - Camera & Accessories, in strong ziplock bag
  - Small watch
  - Nalgene Water Bottle, one quart size
  - Deet bug repellant (Essential if you don’t take Malaria meds)
  - Flashlight, small (Essential, with batteries)
  - First Aid Kit:
     * Basic First Aid Kit from REI (they have GREAT
starter kits in these sturdy plastic holders), PLUS:
     * Blister pads
     * 2nd skin for blisters
     * Film canister/sm plastic canister w/tweezers,
safety pins, needles
     * Ibuprofen (Essential)
     * Antibacterial ointment
     * Benadryl, for allergic reactions (Useful)
     * Band-aids
     * Knee brace
     * Hydrocortizone cream (Essential)
     * Powdered electrolyte replacement packet
     * Tylenol allergy, cold, etc
     * Pepto bismol And Immodium AD (Essential!)
     * Cipro (Essential, for food poisoning, although you probably won’t need it)

* Elevation meds (Diamox) optional, but helpful for adjustment in first couple of days

* Malaria meds (Essential: you should take unless you have a medical reason not to. See Deet)

** Toiletries **
  - Easy access toiletry case
  - Face Wipes (baby wipes in individual packets - a
GREAT help for freshening up, cleaning up, etc, when
you can't get to soap and water)
  - Sm bottle hand sanitizer (Essential)
  - Sm Shampoo

- Deodorant (helpful when we’re all packed into the bus and sweating)
  - Lip Balm
  - Sunscreen - LG tube (Essential!)
  - Aloe lotion - sm tube
  - Face soap/cream (e.g. oil of olay foaming
face cloths - you just add water and they foam up - no
need for sink or washcloth even)
  - Toothbrush with cover
  - Medium towel – enough to dry you after swimming, as well as for two more primitive lodging locations
  - Small case to hold pills
  - Toothpaste
  - Earplugs (Very Useful)

** Misc **
  - Packable backpack for carryon  - squishes up small
in your bag but opens up to a full daypack size to
bring back souvenirs, etc)

  - Small notebook and pens/pencils, to keep notes, write journal (Essential)

- Pocket Spanish/English dictionary
  - Gifts for people you meet -- ideas for small
packable gifts: indiv packaged teabags, Animal crackers (for the
kids), stickers, stationary, American stamps, American
coins, small tokens
  - 10 Ziplock baggies

** Books **
  - Ecuador in Focus
  - Crossword Puzzle book
  - Spanish Dictionary
  - Your chosen text for focus

- Fun reading, paperbacks

** Writing Materials **
  - Journal
  - Stationary/Envelopes
  - Polaroid I-zone camera + sticky film (great for
journal - stick little photos as you write
- Scotch Tape
  - Pens
  - Addresses

** Emergency Snacks **
  - Saltines
  - Beef jerky
  - Gum
  - Candy
  - snack bars
  - Trail mix
  - Just add water soup packets
  - Mint or ginger tea

We will be stopping at a supermarket before we leave Quito, so much of this can be purchased after you get to Ecuador.

** Wallet **
  - Money holder
  - Passport
- Photo copies (2-3) of Passport to stash in different places in your luggage
  - WHO Card (World Health Org proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination) Hasn't been necessary on past trips, but might as well have it
  - Traveler's insurance card w/phone number (from Extended Ed registration)
  - Money (cash, in small denominations. Ecuadorians strongly prefer small bills, $1, $5 , $10 max, coins)
  - Plane Tickets – print out e-ticket
  - Emergency Credit Card (be sure to call credit card
company ahead of time to tell them you will be
traveling - otherwise they'll think your card's been
stolen and block access to it)