• Photocopies of all documentation/ tickets/passport (first 2 pages in color).
• Money, credit cards. Wear a neck wallet or money belt.
• Plastic bags to separate dirty clothes.
• Always carry spare toilet paper in your purse or pocket.
• Take enough underwear for the length of the trip plus two days.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Pack flip-flops for showering and/or in case shoes are damaged.
• Bring a small backpack or fanny pack for sightseeing.
• Plan on inclement weather.
• Write your guide’s name and cell phone number, as well as your hotel name and address.
• Always have 100% Aloe Vera gel. It is amazingly effective at healing sunburn overnight with no peeling, closing deep cuts overnight with no scarring, ridding you of rashes, and killing athlete’s foot.

Tips from Road Scholar participant Tina’s blog:

• Bring at least one hat!
• Apply sunscreen early, liberally, and often.  Use a high SPF block—the sun is strong and when you’re on an outing, shade is scarce along the paths.
• Bring several small lip balms.
• We recommend consulting your doctor or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for motion sickness or any other health issues.
• Buy lots of memory cards for your camera.
• Since flashes are not allowed on the islands, make sure you know how to turn off the flash on your camera.
• Bring small dollar bills as well as $20s. Ecuador’s currency is the U.S. dollar.

Most importantly, bring a journal and a pen and/or pencil. Stephanie Kowacz, chief operating officer at Holbrook Travel, found it very useful to help keep track of each island she visited during her trip to the Galápagos Islands. Stephanie also recommends bringing an underwater camera to capture a unique perspective of marine life.

We hope you enjoy your program with Holbrook Travel. If you have any questions or concerns about the trip, feel free to contact us at 1-800-451-7111.