Preparing for Your Guadalupe Trip
Language
- A minimum of Spanish is absolutely necessary. The more Spanish you know, the better your experience. Click here for help with medical Spanish and dental Spanish.
Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and typhoid are recommended.
- There is no need for yellow fever vaccination or malaria prophylaxis unless you plan to travel to the Pacific Coast.
Travel Documents
- Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. You will receive an automatic 90-day tourist visa upon arrival.
- If you plan to stay in Ecuador for more than 90 days, please contact P. Jorge Nigsch well in advance to apply for a missionary visa.
- During the flight to Ecuador you will receive two forms to fill out:
- Customs form which you give to Customs ( it seems that this form in not necessary anymore lately!)
- Immigration form: Keep this in your passport. It is required when leaving the country.
Currency
- The currency in Ecuador is the US Dollar.
- Bring small bills for personal expenses, as vendors have difficulty making change.
- ATM machines are in Zamora and Loja, 1 to 2 hours by bus.
- Not all hotels accept credit cards.
- Prices in Ecuador are generally low compared to your country.
Average Travel Costs
- Transatlantic flight to Quito or Guayaquil approx. €1200 round trip
- Flight from the US to Quito or Guayaquil approx. $700 round trip
- Domestic flights within Ecuador approx. $180 round trip
- Hotels in Quito & Guayaquil: minimum $40
- Domestic bus travel within Ecuador is inexpensive.
Clothing and Personal Gear
- We have enough clinic clothing (scrubs) for you.
- Please show respect for the local people by dressing conservatively in your free time. Long shorts, t-shirts and blouses with short sleeves are appropriate. Short shorts and revealing blouses are not.
- For hiking bring durable, functional clothing and sturdy footwear.
- Bathing suit for river swimming.
- Lightweight rain gear and umbrella.
- Insect repellent, sun screen, sun hat, sunglasses and flashlight.
- If you forget something, personal items can be bought at the Clinic pharmacy or in the village.
- It can occasionally be cool so bring a pair of long pants and long sleeved top or lightweight jacket.
- There is a cold-water washing machine and laundry detergent in the Residence, but no dryer. Clothes are hung out and can take awhile to dry on rainy or overcast days with high humidity. Quick-drying clothing is preferable to jeans, which can mold when damp.
Travel Insurance
- You might want to look into this website of Allianz. If a person wants health insurance only and not the full trip insurance they need to call the company and tell them that. Their computer page doesn't have an option for health insurance only. That way you will get the inexpensive insurance.
Please, see also the Useful Tips Page...