Ecuador & Galapagos Summer Programs

Packing List

Keep in mind you will experience several different climates throughout the trip. Warm layers are very important as evening temperatures can dip down into the low 40s. Layering is essential, so be sure you have all of the required items on this list.

Backpacks & Bags

Duffel Bag

70-liter duffel

Qty: 1

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70 L or North Face Base Camp M duffel 71L

Day Pack

20 – 30 liter daypack /school backpack to carry your rain jacket, water bottle and snacks

Qty: 1

Patagonia Refugio Pack 26 L or Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Day Pack

Buy in our gear store

Stuff Sack

Extra nylon stuff sack (sleeping bag size) for dirty clothes storage

Qty: 1

For holding your gear

Additional Equipment

Water Bottles

Minimum 32oz water bottles

Qty: 2

Nalgene 1L wide mouth

Buy in our gear store

Sleeping Bag Liner

Silk, cotton, or synthetic. Sleeping bag liner/travel sheet isn’t required, but is nice to have

Qty: 1

Sea to Summit Expander Travel Liner

Buy in our gear store

Headlamp

With fresh batteries + 2 sets of spare batteries

Qty: 1

Black Diamond Spot or Black Diamond Storm

Sunglasses

With 100% UV protection

Qty: 1

Goodr

Sunglasses Holders

Qty: 1

Croakies or Chums

Additional Required Items

Footwear

Trail/Tennis Shoes

A pair of comfortable, close-toed, sturdy shoes.

Qty: 1

River Shoes

These can be open-toed, but do need to have a back strap

Qty: 1

Chaco, Teva, Keen

Flip-Flops/Crocs

Backless, comfortable shoes that can get wet

Qty: 1

Socks

Non-cotton, lightweight hiking socks

Qty: 6 Pair

Smartwool or Darn Tough

Required Shoes

Upper Body Layers

Long Underwear / Base Layer Top

Synthetic, non-cotton, medium-weight long sleeve top

Qty: 1

Patagonia Capilene Crew or Patagonia Tropic Comfort Hoody

T-shirts

Minimum of 2 synthetic, non-cotton t-shirts, other shirts may be cotton

Qty: 4

Patagonia Capilene T-shirt or Marmot Windridge

Lightweight Top

Synthetic, non-cotton. This can be a fleece pullover, sweater or a full-zip jacket

Qty: 1

Patagonia R1 Fleece

Fleece Jacket

Synthetic, non-cotton. This needs to be heavier than the lightweight top

Qty: 1

Patagonia Synchilla or R2 Jacket

Rain Jacket with Hood

100% waterproof rain jacket with a hood - no ponchos!

Qty: 1

Patagonia Torrentshell or Marmot Precip

Sports Bras

For girls

Qty: 4

Buy in our gear store

Required Clothing Items

Lower Body Layers

Quick-dry Shorts

Synthetic, non-cotton shorts

Qty: 3

Patagonia Baggies

Bathing Suits

Boys: your quick-dry shorts can double as your bathing suit

Qty: 2

Long Pants

Minimum 1 pair of synthetic, non-cotton hiking pants, but the other pair may be cotton

Qty: 2

Rain Pants

100% Waterproof pants large enough to fit over regular pants

Qty: 1

Yoga Pants

For girls, if you prefer to wear them

Qty: 1-2

Women's Performance Jogger

Buy in our gear store

Underwear

Synthetic, non-cotton are best (but a couple cotton pairs are okay)

Qty: 8

Required Clothing Items

Head & Hands

Warm Hat

Wool or fleece, non-cotton beanie

Qty: 1

Buy in our gear store

Baseball Hat

A baseball hat or wide-brimmed hat for sun protection

Qty: 1

Buy in our gear store

Work Gloves

An inexpensive pair of basic work or gardening gloves for the community service project

Qty: 1

You can expect to get your clothes dirty during your community service section, so keep that in mind when choosing specific clothing and footwear items.

Toiletries

Dopp Kit

Contains: toothbrush, toothpaste, prescription medication, travel shampoo & soap, deodorant

Qty: 1

Patagonia Black Hole Cube 6L – M

First Aid Kit

Contains: Insect repellent, , reef safe waterproof sunscreen (Kokua, Thinksport, Stream2Sea), Band-aids, Moleskin, Chapstick w/ sun prevention, Wet Ones wipes, Dramamine (if prone to motion sickness), personal hand sanitizer

Qty: 1

Prescription Glasses + Contacts

If your child wears glasses and/or contacts, please bring at least one spare pair of glasses/ lenses. Contact lens wearers should bring a pair of glasses as backup in addition to contacts.

Qty: 2 Pair

Required Hygiene Items. *Please keep all toiletries in your checked luggage, with the exception of your toothbrush and any personal/prescription medication

Miscellaneous

Wallet

Personal wallet with $150 spending money and valid identification

Qty: 1

Passport + Copies

Passport (valid for 6 months after the last day of your trip) + 2 additional photocopies of your passport

Qty: 1 + 2 Copies

COVID-19 Vaccination Card + Copies

Valid COVID-19 vaccination card + 2 additional photocopies of your vaccination card

Qty: 2

Bandana / Buff

For additional sun and wind protection. Buffs are tube-like and can be worn up to 12 different ways providing versatile sun protection. Can even be worn as a headband!

Qty: 2

Moondance Buff

Buy in our gear store

Pack Towel

Absorbent & quick to dry, large or extra-large is ideal

Qty: 1

Sea to Summit Drylite Towel

Buy in our gear store

Beach Towel

Regular Beach Towel

Qty: 1

Additional Required Items

Optional Gear

Digital Camera

With charger & international adapter or batteries, and a 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1

Canon Powershot G9X

GoPro

With charger and 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1

Buy in our gear store

A Good Book

Paperback books are less bulky

Qty: 1

Notebook with Pen

For journaling

Qty: 1

Spanish/English Dictionary

Helpful Tool

Qty: 1

Binoculars

Qty: For wildlife viewing in the Galapagos

Personal Protective Equipment: Mask

Two (2) reusable, breathable masks that completely cover nose and mouth and fit snuggly; Moondance will not provide masks. To be used where it is required by trip location or outfitter.

Qty: 2

Not required by highly recommended *Since we don’t allow cell phones during our trips, you may not use your phone as a camera. Leaders will take photos that will be shared at the end of the summer.

Packing Tips

In the event that your luggage is delayed or lost in transit, we want you to be prepared. Therefore, wear tennis or hiking shoes on the plane. Plus, pack the following items from this packing list in your daypack / school backpack carry-on:

A change of clothes (underwear + t-shirt + shorts or pants)
Your rain jacket
Prescription medications & toothbrush
Passport, ID, money
COVID-19 Vaccination Card
Personal Protective Equipment: Mask (2)
Completed International Travel Authorization form

These items are already included in the packing list – they are not additional items!

Lodging

Sleeping

During your trip you will stay in a variety of community stays, hotels, and hostels (all single gender rooms).

Eating

Eating utensils (plates and cutlery) will be provided throughout the trip.

If you have any special dietary restrictions/ considerations, please contact the Moondance office for further information.

Immunizations

Required Immunizations

None Required

Recommended Immunizations

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Fiji.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Fiji. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Fiji.

Malaria Medication

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Kenya take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Measles

Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.

Rabies

Iceland is free of dog rabies. However, rabies may still be present in wildlife species, particularly bats. CDC recommends rabies vaccination before travel only for people working directly with wildlife.

Typhoid

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Yellow Fever

Required if traveling from a country with risk of YF virus transmission and ≥1 year of age, including transit >12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of YF virus transmission.

Resources to Share with Your Physician

Click here to view the map of where Moondance groups will be travelling throughout Ecuador + Galapagos. Provide this information to your physician of choice (primary care physician, travel clinic, etc.) in order to get the most accurate suggestions for immunizations and vaccines.

Click here to see what the CDC recommends for travelers in Ecuador + Galapagos

Flights

Ecuador + Galapagos 1, June 8 - June 21, 2023

Arrive

Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Arrive before 12:50 PM

Depart

Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Depart after 8:40 AM

Inbound Flight

Date	Flight	Departure City	Departure Time	Arrival City	Arrival Time
Thursday, June 8, 2023	Delta 633	Atlanta (ATL)	3:51 PM	Quito (UIO)	8:09 pm (6/08)

Outbound Flight

Date	Flight	Departure City	Departure Time	Arrival City	Arrival Time
Tuesday, June 20, 2023	Delta 632	Quito (UIO)	11:30 PM	Atlanta (ATL)	5:42 am (6/21)

Ecuador + Galapagos 2, June 23 - July 6, 2023

Arrive

Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Friday, June 23, 2023
Arrive before 12:50 PM

Depart

Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Thursday, July 6, 2023
Depart after 8:40 AM

Inbound Flight

Date	Flight	Departure City	Departure Time	Arrival City	Arrival Time
Friday, June 23, 2023	Delta 633	Atlanta (ATL)	3:51 PM	Quito (UIO)	8:09 pm (6/23)

Outbound Flight

Date	Flight	Departure City	Departure Time	Arrival City	Arrival Time
Wednesday, July 5, 2023	Delta 632	Quito (UIO)	11:30 PM	Atlanta (ATL)	5:42 am (7/06)

Ecuador + Galapagos 3, July 8 - July 21, 2023

Arrive

Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Saturday, July 8, 2023
Arrive before 12:50 PM

Depart

Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Friday, July 21, 2023
Depart after 8:40 AM

Inbound Flight

Date	Flight	Departure City	Departure Time	Arrival City	Arrival Time
Saturday, July 8, 2023	Delta 633	Atlanta (ATL)	3:51 PM	Quito (UIO)	8:09 pm (7/08)

Outbound Flight

Date	Flight	Departure City	Departure Time	Arrival City	Arrival Time
Thursday, July 20, 2023	Delta 632	Quito (UIO)	11:30 PM	Atlanta (ATL)	5:42 am (7/21)