Quick answer: Pack layers for Quito and the Andes (2,850 m, roughly 9–20 °C in one day), light long sleeves and strong repellent for the Amazon, reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard for the Galápagos, and light clothes for the coast. Ecuador uses US dollars and US-style Type A/B plugs at 120 V, and most Amazon lodges lend rubber boots.
Updated September 2026 by our local guides in Quito.
| What to pack | Quito and the Andes | Amazon | Galápagos | Coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical temperatures (as of 2026) | About 9–20 °C in Quito; near freezing above 4,000 m | About 22–32 °C, humid, rain most days | Air 22–30 °C; water 19–26 °C by season | About 23–31 °C |
| Clothes | Base layer, fleece or light down, waterproof shell | Quick-dry long sleeves and pants, long socks | Swimwear, rash guard, light long sleeves | Light, breathable clothes |
| Footwear | Walking shoes or light hiking boots | Rubber boots (lent by most lodges), sandals for camp | Water shoes or sport sandals, trainers | Sandals |
| Rain gear | Rain jacket | Poncho (usually provided) and dry bags | Light rain jacket | Light jacket for evenings |
| Sun and bugs | SPF 50, sunglasses, hat (UV is intense at altitude) | DEET or picaridin repellent, headlamp | Reef-safe sunscreen, hat with strap | Sunscreen, repellent |
| Region-specific extras | Warm hat and gloves for Cotopaxi and Quilotoa | Binoculars, quick-dry towel | Seasickness tablets, cash for the park fee | Beach towel, cash for small towns |
Layering for the Andes
For the Andes you need layers, because Quito and other highland cities sit around 2,800 m and temperatures swing from warm midday sun to cold nights. Quito itself is at about 2,850 m, and a typical day runs from about 9 °C at dawn to 20 °C in the afternoon.
Pack a fleece or light down jacket, a warm hat, and clothes you can layer easily. Add a waterproof shell, because afternoon showers are common most of the year, and walking shoes with grip for Quito’s steep cobblestones.
Day trips go much higher. The José Rivas refuge on Cotopaxi is at about 4,864 m and Quilotoa’s rim at around 3,900 m, where wind makes it feel close to freezing. Bring gloves and a buff even if Quito feels mild; see our guide to visiting Cotopaxi independently.
The sun is the thing most visitors underestimate. UV at 2,850 m on the equator is intense even when it is cloudy, so pack SPF 50, sunglasses and lip balm with SPF. For the effects of altitude, read our guide to altitude sickness in Quito.
Rainforest Essentials
For the Amazon, bring quick-dry, lightweight long sleeves and pants for sun and insect protection, a strong insect repellent with DEET or picaridin, and plan on rubber boots.
Closed rubber boots are essential for muddy trails and flooded paths. Most Amazon lodges lend them, and on our Cuyabeno Jungle Tour boots, a waterproof poncho and a mosquito net are included, so you do not need to carry boots from home. If you have large feet (US men’s 12 or above), confirm sizes before you go or bring your own.
- 2–3 quick-dry long-sleeve shirts and 2 pairs of light pants (avoid jeans)
- Long socks to tuck pants into your boots
- Repellent, a headlamp with spare batteries, and a small dry bag for your phone
- Swimsuit (in Cuyabeno we swim in Laguna Grande at sunset) and a quick-dry towel
- Binoculars if you have them, and a refillable water bottle
Deciding where to go? Compare the two main reserves in Cuyabeno vs Yasuní, or read about the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve.
Local tip: Nothing fully dries in the jungle. Pack each day’s clothes in its own zip bag, keep one dry set sealed for the bus back, and choose synthetic or merino over cotton. Dark or neutral colors also attract fewer insects than bright ones.
Galapagos Packing List
For the Galápagos, reef-safe sunscreen is essential, along with a swimsuit, snorkel gear if you prefer your own fit, water shoes for wet landings, and a light rain jacket for sudden showers.
A long-sleeve rash guard cuts your sunscreen use and protects you on long snorkels. From June to November the water drops to about 19–23 °C, so a wetsuit makes snorkeling far more comfortable; many tours rent them for around $10 per day.
- Seasickness tablets for speedboat transfers and day trips
- A hat with a chin strap, polarized sunglasses and a dry bag
- USD 200 in cash for the park fee (foreign adults), paid on arrival
- A reusable water bottle and a cloth shopping bag
Plastic bags, straws and polystyrene containers are banned in the islands, so bring reusables. For timing and water temperatures by month, see the best time to visit the Galápagos.
What can’t you bring into the Galápagos?
You cannot bring fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, live plants or flowers, fresh meat, fresh milk, soil, sand or live animals into the Galápagos. These rules come from the Galápagos Biosecurity Agency (ABG), and bags are inspected in Quito or Guayaquil and again on arrival.
| Category | Examples | Status (as of 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Prohibited | Fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, live plants and flowers, fresh beef, pork or lamb, fresh milk, soil and sand, live animals | Not allowed |
| Restricted | Cheese and dairy, cooked or processed meats, some animal products | Must be declared and may be refused |
| Permitted | Sealed, fully processed and packaged snacks | Allowed, still inspected |
Since 31 January 2026 the paper sworn declaration is gone. You now register online in the ABG’s SIABG system, ideally 72 hours before you fly, and show the QR code at inspection. Check hiking boots and snorkel gear for mud and sand before you pack them.
Coastal Ecuador
For the coast, pack breathable, lightweight clothing, sandals, sunscreen and a hat for the beach towns and Pacific coast. From June to November skies are often gray and evenings cool, so add a light layer; from December to May it is hotter, sunnier and more humid, with more mosquitoes, so bring repellent.
Documents and Health
For documents and health, bring a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, travel insurance details, and any prescription medications in their original packaging.
Most nationalities, including US, UK, Canadian, Australian and EU citizens, enter Ecuador visa-free as tourists for up to 90 days in a 12-month period. Check the details for your passport in our Ecuador visa and entry requirements guide and on travel.state.gov.
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover, especially for the Galápagos and the Amazon
- Yellow fever vaccination if you are heading to the Amazon, as recommended by the CDC for most travelers there
- Altitude sickness medication if you are sensitive to elevation, discussed with your doctor before you travel
- A basic kit: rehydration salts, antidiarrheal tablets, blister plasters and your usual pain reliever
- Photocopies or phone scans of your passport and insurance policy
What to Leave at Home
Leave heavy cotton clothing that will not dry quickly, excessive jewelry, and single-use plastics, which are restricted in the Galápagos.
You can also skip a power adapter if you are from the US or Canada, rubber boots for the Amazon if your lodge provides them, and big-denomination bills. A drone also needs special permits in the Galápagos and national parks, so most travelers are better off leaving it behind.
Do you need a power adapter or local currency in Ecuador?
Ecuador uses the US dollar and US-style Type A and B plugs at 120 V and 60 Hz, so US and Canadian travelers need neither an adapter nor a currency exchange.
Travelers from the UK, Europe and Australia need a Type A/B adapter. Most phone and laptop chargers accept 100–240 V, but check hair dryers and straighteners before plugging them in.
Bring cash in small notes ($1, $5, $10 and $20). Many shops, taxis and markets cannot change $50 or $100 bills, and cards are less accepted outside cities. For more essentials, see our Ecuador travel facts 2026 page.
Ecuador packing checklist you can print
This checklist covers a two-week trip through the Andes, the Amazon and the Galápagos; cut what does not match your route.
Clothes
- 3–4 quick-dry T-shirts and 2–3 long-sleeve shirts
- 2 pairs of light hiking pants and 1 pair of shorts
- 1 fleece or light down jacket and 1 waterproof shell
- Warm hat, gloves and a buff
- Swimsuit and rash guard
- Underwear and socks for a week, including 2 pairs of long socks
Footwear
- Walking shoes or light hiking boots
- Sport sandals or water shoes
Gear
- Daypack of 20–30 liters and a small dry bag
- Headlamp, refillable water bottle and quick-dry towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50, lip balm with SPF, sunglasses and a hat
- Insect repellent (DEET or picaridin)
- Type A/B adapter if needed and a power bank
Documents and money
- Passport valid 6+ months, plus copies
- Travel insurance details
- USD cash in small notes, including USD 200 for the Galápagos park fee and USD 20 for the transit card
- Debit card and a backup card kept separately
Health
- Prescription medications in original packaging
- Seasickness tablets, rehydration salts, antidiarrheal tablets and a small first-aid kit
Cuyabeno Jungle Tour · from USD 310 · 3D/2N, 4D/3N or 5D/4N · Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday departures
Rubber boots, waterproof poncho, mosquito net and life vests are included, along with a bilingual naturalist guide and meals on tour, so your Amazon bag stays light. Transport from Quito to the Cuyabeno Bridge and the $10 community contribution are extra.
Browse Ecuador tour packages for day trips from Quito, the Andes and the Galápagos.
Related guides
- How much a trip to Ecuador costs in 2026
- Is Ecuador safe to travel in 2026?
- Hiking in Ecuador
- Galápagos island hopping vs cruises
- Ecuador travel glossary
Plan it with us
Not sure what your route needs? Visit our office at Pedro Fermín Cevallos N6-78 y Olmedo in Quito, message us on WhatsApp at +593 97 953 3832, or email info@communitytravel.ec. Our guides will tell you exactly what to bring for your dates.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear in Quito?
Dress in layers. Quito sits at about 2,850 m and usually ranges from around 9 °C in the early morning to 20 °C in the afternoon, with showers most afternoons in the rainy months. Jeans or light trousers, a T-shirt, a fleece and a rain jacket work most days. Locals dress fairly conservatively, so beachwear looks out of place in the city.
Do I need rubber boots for the Ecuadorian Amazon?
You need them, but you usually do not need to bring them. Most Amazon lodges lend rubber boots, and on our Cuyabeno Jungle Tour boots, a poncho and a mosquito net are included. Bring long socks to wear with them. If your feet are larger than about US men’s size 12, confirm sizes with your lodge in advance.
What is prohibited to bring to the Galápagos?
Fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, live plants and flowers, fresh meat, fresh milk, soil, sand and live animals are prohibited. Cheese, processed meats and some animal products are restricted and must be declared. Since January 2026 you declare these online through the ABG’s SIABG system before flying, and bags are inspected in Quito or Guayaquil and on arrival.
Do I need a power adapter in Ecuador?
Not if you are from the US or Canada. Ecuador uses Type A and B plugs at 120 V and 60 Hz, the same as North America. Travelers from the UK, Europe and Australia need a Type A/B adapter. Most phone and laptop chargers handle 100–240 V, but check hair tools before using them.
What currency should I bring to Ecuador?
Bring US dollars. Ecuador has used the US dollar as its official currency since 2000, so there is nothing to exchange. Carry small notes ($1, $5, $10, $20), because many taxis, markets and small shops cannot change $50 or $100 bills. ATMs are common in cities but scarce in the Amazon and small towns.
Is tap water safe to drink in Ecuador?
We recommend bottled or filtered water throughout the country. Quito’s tap water is treated, but old building pipes can affect quality, and in the Amazon, the coast and the Galápagos tap water is not drinkable. A filter bottle saves money and plastic, and many hostels and tours, including ours, offer purified water refills.
Quick reference: Ecuador travel facts and figures 2026 · Ecuador travel glossary · About Community Adventures Ecuador
