hello,hello  to all , so your going to south america yes and you’re wondering what  you should  do, bring ,  or maybe not bring? Here are a few tips I think might be useful  if you’re planing on coming to Ecuador specifically

But before we  get started lets assume your coming  to appreciate the nature, and general beauty of the country , and that you are neither  too high maintenance  or annoying so as to creat any stereotypes  that might make traveling difficult  for the rest of us ,ok? good, let’s get started

WHAT TO BRING

¿First of  how much roughing will you be doing?, if your camping or back packing hopefully your  looking for some one  with more first hand knowledge than me , i´m a hostel conosuer ,  on that note hostels¨take on  new light  in  south america  the price may range from 7-31 dollars usd. and may or may not include towels, soap, hot water  or private bath  usually though  the higher price  ¨hostels¨ now include amenities  that would make a hotel blush in inadequacy, so before anything  ask, or at least read amenities should be listed outside  near the name of the hostel

1. a small  towel, preferably thin and very absorbent ,i´m a big fan of the sham  wow but whatever, whether you’re at the beach or you just need to absolutely  know  who dried what,  with what, a personal towel is a is a must

2.pack light , most hotels , or hostels will not have an elevator, and you should be able to carry all , or at least most of your luggage , generally  I would say, pack half of what you think you need  and bring twice the  money you were going to bring.

cotton is your friend,

- a coat for  misty or wet weather is helpful  as well as galoshes if your going to be  needing to  be walking around much, although they are fairly cheap( 6-10 usd)  plastic flip-flops  work as well at keeping the cuties off if your shower floor seems suspect

-  bring smaller bills , and  gold dollars they are more durable and change is hard to come by , not to mention annoying  if you’re in line and the clerk has to run next door to break a twenty … stinking capitalist

- for those with longer hair a scrunchy, or boby pins

3. There are a few things here that are more expensive  due to import costs, that you would be better off bringing from home in a small  travel size container, if traveling with friends I would recommend that 1, you  each only bring a suite case small enough  to be considered ¨carry on¨ not so much for the planes but the buses  that you usually need to take  getting wherever there are no flights ,

2. Use the buddy system to your advantage  and pack all the things that you need that are cheaper, back home , but wont make it through customs as a carry on * and pack it in one suitecase,  and check that in,as  well as any bags  you don’t want to carry  on the first leg of your flight ,I just like to  have my stuff with me at all times .

3.  keep your passport with you at all times , you want to be able to get back home and  if you   have no papers that becomes very difficult

4,  ask for the prices of taxis, before you get in , and if possible  have the hostel call a driver they know and trust

5. food prices vary,  anywhere from .50 for an empanadas,  to 10.00-20.00 usd for a three coarse  meal , mostly though i can get a  breakfast(desayuno) for about 2usd and  lunch  or even a full lunch (almuerso; a set menu) for about 2.50usd at a local comedore although  street food  is a personal fave and for the price can’t be beat, people with germ  issues  should  avoid, i´ve never had any issues but they are selling food that tha occasionally may be touched with human hands so  you know use common sense.

* I have found this stuff a little more expensive here than in the states so you might  just as well  bring your own

- contact solution, hard to find as well

conditioner, shampoo

lotion,although the weather improves your skin

clothes,sweaters, pants , swim wear

-shoes, especially dressy shoes or  boots, even pay less is up here

-tampons ,since they’re so  rough on the septic ´systems and pose a health risk to   water systems ,they  are generally not sold in stores , women  are asked not  to flush them  ever .

-any kind of toner, or face wash that has been imported  or anything that helps control acne

-special vitamins

-anything for a baby

- coffee,  most is  instant  unless you ask for  cafe tinto, or you at a coffee specialty store, most  of the countries beans are exported the rest are  burned to a crisp,a few brands are pretty good though but if you don´t have time to shop around bring your  own grind  and ask if the hostel  will let you make it there

6. minimize the amount of jewelry you bring if any

7. be sure to bring  a water bottle you can fill up, avoid plastic if you can

8. a pillow case girls know why( keeps  your skin  fresher jic), but you can also  carry  dirty clothes in it if you need 

9. good socks , girls might even want to bring some tights, the footless kind,as they are th thin and help  with soo many things

10. a book, an i pod, and a digital camera, if you can , I prefer the  kind you can charge as opposed to batteries, but i take about 500 pics a week, if you have a batteries camera get good   lithium batteries   wich should last you about  600pics  and in here they run about 10.usd shop accordingly