GoBeyondGalapagos&EcuadorandActionQuestDarwin-PackingList
GoBeyondGalapagos/Ecuador&
ActionQuestDarwin-PackingList
ImportantNotes
Packsmartandtravellight!–Foryourtravelbags,bringnomorethanthefollowing…
• 1largebag–Thisbagshouldbereasonablysized(~50-70litercapacity),asstudentsare
responsibleforcarryingtheirownbags.Wheeledluggageisallowedbutshouldbeeasyto
carryoverlongstretchesofroughterrain(dirtground,cobblestonestreets,stairs,etc.).
Oftentimesstudentsprefereitherawilderness-stylebackpackorduffelbagfortheireaseof
useinvariousenvironmentsabroad.Alsonote,baggageweightrestrictionsaremorestrict
forGalapagosflights.Youareallowedonly20kg(44lbs.)ofcheckedluggageinadditionto
onecarry-onwhenflyingfromQuitototheGalapagos.
• 1smallbackpack/daypack–Thisbagwillbeusedfordaytrips,soshouldbelargeenoughto
carryafewsmallitems(waterbottle,raincoat,snacks,camera,etc.).
• 1smallduffelbag(optional)–Forsomemulti-dayexcursions(typically3-5nightsinlength),
youmaywishtoleavegearyouwillnotneedinyourlargerbaginourprimaryhotelandtravel
onlywiththissmallduffelandyourbackpack/daypack.
Weather–Ecuadorisaplaceofdramaticweatherchanges.NightsintheAndescanbecoldwithlows
inthe40sand50s(°F).Daysaremorepleasantwithaveragehighsintheupper60s(°F).TheAmazon
canbequitehotandhumidduringtheday,butcooleratnight.TheGalapagosaverages60sduring
thenightsand70sduringthedays.Pleasebringraingearandclothingthatcanbeeasilylayeredto
adjusttoswingsintemperature.
Altitude–QuitoandourinnintheAndesarelocatedhighinthemountains(~9,000–10,500feet
abovesealevel).Occasionally,travelersarrivinginQuitoexperienceheadaches,fatigue,insomnia,
nauseaandotheradversereactionstohighaltitudes.Tohelpavoidthis,besuretogetgoodsleepthe
nightbeforedeparture,andeatsomethingonyourflights.Drinkplentyofwaterandavoid
dehydrating,caffeinatedbeverages.Thefirstfewdaysincludelowimpactactivitiessowecan
acclimatizerapidly.
DressEtiquette–ActionQuest/GoBeyondstaffwilladvisestudentsonwhattowearthroughoutthe
tripbased,inpart,onlocaldressetiquette.Notethatsleevelessshirts,lowcutshirts,shortshorts,
andotherrevealingattireareNOTAPPROPRIATEformanyofthelocationswewillvisit.Femalesin
revealingclothingoftengarnerunwantedattentionfromlocalmales,andareoftenconsidered
disrespectfulbyotherlocals.Studentsmustberespectfuloflocalcustomsandbringconservative
clothes.AsnotedintheStudentAgreementContract,staffmayaskstudentstochangeorpurchase
newclothingwiththeirspendingmoneyiftheyignoreinstructions.
Laundry–Studentswillhaveatleasttwoopportunitiestodolaundryduringthetrip.Beforetravel,
pleaseuseapermanentmarkertolabelyouritems.Anylost,unlabeleditemsfoundattheendofthe
GoBeyond,P.O.Box5517,Sarasota,FL34277
T:+1.941.924.2115|F:+1.941.924.6075|[email protected]
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GoBeyondGalapagos&EcuadorandActionQuestDarwin-PackingList
programwillbedonatedtoouraffiliateorganizations.Also,fortheserviceprojectsandexcursions,
pleasepackclothesthatyoudon’tmindgettingdirty.GoBeyondisafocusedcommunityservice
experience,soclothescananddogetruinedonprogram!
Valuables–ActionQuest/GoBeyondisnotresponsibleforlost,stolen,ordamageditems.Ifyouare
concernedaboutlosing/damaginganitem,thenpleaseleaveitathome.DONOTbringtablet
computersorlaptops.PleaseseetheCellPhone&ElectronicsPolicysectionoftheGoBeyondPre-Trip
Packetformoreinformationonwhatisandwhatisnotallowedonprogram.
Donations–Everyyear,GoBeyonddonatestoourpartnerorganizationsonbehalfofourenrolled
students/families.Thisincludesbothtangibleitems(arts,crafts,sportsupplies,educationalmaterials,
etc.)aswellasafinancialdonation.Thoughnotrequired,everysummerwefindthatafew
students/familiesalsowishtodonatetoourpartnerorganizations.Ifyouwouldliketodoso,we
suggestthatyourdonationeitherbefinancial(http://sumakallpa.org/|
http://blacksheepinn.com/volunteer/opportunities.php)or“functional”innature.By“functional”we
meanbringingasmallamountofbasic,purposefulitemssuchaseducationalmaterials(pencils,pens,
colors,paper,books,etc.),sportsupplies(soccerballs,Frisbees,etc.),orsimplemedicalsupplies
(thermometers,band-aids,etc.).PleasedoNOTbringlargequantitiesofcandytogivetochildren.
Rememberthatmanypeopleweworkwithlackbasicnecessities,includingadequatedentalcare.
Travelday–Placenecessarytravel-sizedtoiletries,achangeofclothes,somesnacks,anyprescription
medication,andotherimportantitemsinyourcarry-on,justincaseyourlargebagdoesnotmakeit
ontothesameflightasyoudo.Pleasepackalltoiletriesinzip-lockfreezerbags,andbewareofairline
restrictionsregardingthesizeandquantityofliquidsinyourcarry-onluggage.
Recommended/RequiredItems
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YourGoBeyondorActionQuestshirt
5–7t-shirts
2long-sleeve,lightweightshirtsforprotectionfromthesunandinsects
2sweatshirts/sweaters/fleecesforcoldAndeannights
1prlong-sleevedthermalunderwear
1rainproofjacket(rainpantsoptional)
1prwarmpants(sweatpants,etc)forcoolernights
2prworkpantsforprojectsandhikingexcursions
3prworkshorts(shortsshouldcometojustabovethekneeorlower…Capristyleisgreat!)
1dress-casualoutfitforourclosingprogram
1prwarmgloves
UVprotectedsunglasses
2prsturdy,leatherworkgloves
1scarf
1warmhatthatcoverstheears
1sunhat,baseballcap,orvisor
6prsocks(atleast2prshouldbethickandwarmforcoldAndeannights)
2prwarmsleepwear
GoBeyond,P.O.Box5517,Sarasota,FL34277
T:+1.941.924.2115|F:+1.941.924.6075|[email protected]
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GoBeyondGalapagos&EcuadorandActionQuestDarwin-PackingList
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2swimsuits(Girls,pleasebringfull-coveragebikinibottoms.Nothongorcheekybikinis.)
Anyunderwearquantitydesired
1prrubber-soledsandalssuchasTevas/Chacos/Reefs/etc.withheelstrap
1-2prsporttypeshoeswithgoodsupporttowalkandworkin(willgetwetandmuddy!)
Toothbrush,paste,andfloss
Soaporbodywash
Shampoo
Deodorant
1tubeofChapstickorsimilarsunblocklipcrème
1bottleofwaterproofsunblock(SPF30orhigher)
Travelsizelaundrydetergentforhandlaundry
Anypersonal,misc.toiletriesyouneednotonthislist
Anysanitaryitemsneeded(youwillnotfindyourusualbrandortypeoffemininehygiene
suppliesinEcuador)
Medications(clearlyidentified,labeledwithinstructions)neededoverthecourseoftheprogram
Insect(mosquito)repellentwithDEET
ValidPassport
Ecuadorian Visa (Not required for U.S. citizens; All others, please see the passport and visa
sectionintheGoBeyondPre-TripPacket)
Allpertinentflightdocumentsandinformation(e-tickets,itineraries,etc.)
Travelandreservecashenvelope($200+)
Spendingmoney(~$300or$100andavalidATMcardwithPIN)
1Photocopyofotherimportantdocuments(seeCopyImportantDocumentssectionofthe
GoBeyondPre-TripPacket)
1toweland1washcloth
Travelalarmclock(youwillnotbeabletouseyourcellphoneforthisfunction)
Meshlaundrybaglabeledwithname
1-2waterbottles(collectivelytheyshouldholdatleast32oz)
FlashlightorheadlampfornightsintheAmazon
CellphonefortraveldaysandpossibleuseinEcuador(NOTE:ALLCELLPHONESwillbecollected
atthebeginningoftheprogram,evenifthephonedoublesasthestudent’smusicplayer,
camera,gamingsystem,addresslist,etc.Noexceptions!Cellphoneswillbemadeavailableat
designatedtimesthroughouttheprogramformakingcallshome.)
Spareglassesand/orcontactlenses
OptionalItems
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1rashguard(orsimilarshirttowearatbeach/waterforsunprotection)
1prflip-flopsorslippersforthehotel/hostel
Batterypoweredrazororblades
Personalfirstaidkit(seetheStudentMedicationssectionoftheGoBeyondPre-TripPacket)
Antibacterialhandsanitizer(thekindthatworkswithoutwaterisgreat)
Diamox(orsimilarmedforaltitudesickness)
Dramamine(orsimilarseasicknessmed)
StudentI.D.oradditionalidentification
GoBeyond,P.O.Box5517,Sarasota,FL34277
T:+1.941.924.2115|F:+1.941.924.6075|[email protected]
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GoBeyondGalapagos&EcuadorandActionQuestDarwin-PackingList
☐ 1journaland2pens
☐ Listofemergencyphonenumbersandaddressesforpostcards
☐ SmallitemsorgamesforactivitieswithEcuadorianchildren(GoBeyondprovidessomethings
too,butwe’dliketoseehowcreativeyoucanbe!)
☐ Earplugsand/orsleepmask
☐ 1wetsuit–WatertemperatureintheGalapagoscangetquitecold.Ifyouownawetsuit,you
maybringitalong.Theycanalsoberentedintown.
☐ 1personalsnorkelandmask–ActionQuest/GoBeyondprovidesfinsandmaskstothestudents,
butyoumaybringyourown.
☐ Camera
☐ Locksforluggage
GoBeyond,P.O.Box5517,Sarasota,FL34277
T:+1.941.924.2115|F:+1.941.924.6075|[email protected]
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