What to Bring

REQUIRED ITEMS:

These are things that every participant must bring. You will need them at the start of the trip, as you may not be able to acquire them in Ecuador .

NOTE: There will be a secured room at the station for you to keep your valuables.

  • PASSPORT: To enter and exit Ecuador, you will need a valid passport (be sure it does not expire until after the trip is over). If you do not already have one, you will need to have a passport photo taken (there are specific requirements for this) and it is necessary to apply several weeks before the trip.
  • YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION RECORD: A copy of your yellow fever vaccination record is required for entry to the Tiputini station. There are several clinics in the Valley that provide them. It is mandatory that you consult with a physician about tropical travel.
  • BOOKS: A Neotropical Companion 2nd Ed., by Kritcher 1998. Available at www.amazon.com used for about $10.
  • HEADLAMP: A good weather-resistant headlamp with a focusable beam. The brighter the better, and halogen/LED combos are preferable. Petzl has been a reliable brand, and models range from $45-65. REI has a decent selection of various brands.
  • BATTERIES: Bring enough batteries to change out your light at least once a day (3 sets ought to suffice).  Nickel metal hydride chargers will be available, but there may be a wait for them.
  • RAIN PONCHO: or waterproof jacket. Much of our work will be in the rain, and you must be prepared to get drenched occasionally. Good quality ponchos can be found at Army surplus stores.
  • BINOCULARS: You can pick up an adequate pair of binoculars for $40-50. However, if you are buying a high quality pair ($300+), you should look for ones that have close focusing (e.g. 2 meters) capabilities, and wide apertures for low-light environments such as rainforest. Eagle Optics (www.eagleoptics.com) and Pentax sell affordable, waterproof models of high quality, but there are many other excellent brands. In general, you get what you pay for. If time is short or you need expert advice, Wild Birds Unlimited in Tempe has Eagle Optics in stock.
  • BEDDING:  You will need to bring a pillow, pillow case, and light blanket. Mattresses with sheets and mosquito netting are provided. Compact pillows and blankets can be found at sporting goods stores. News flash-blankets will be provided.
  • WATER BOTTLE: For drinking, at least one-liter capacity, with a non-spill lid.
  • NOTEBOOK: medium-sized for field notes, at least 75 pages (see:www.writeintherain.com)
  • PENCILS: or waterproof pens for writing in your notebook
  • PLASTIC BAGS: such as ziplocks to store electronic items since rainforest humidity can be damaging to them.
  • LAUNDRY BAGS: Two are recommended, one for clean and one for dirty clothes. These can be heavy duty garbage bags.
  • INSECT REPELLENT: with DEET.
  • BACKPACK: or waist-pack Water-resistant fabric (leather will mildew).

RECOMMENDED ITEMS/ NOTES:

  • CLOTHING:  For rainforest work you will need clothes that both protect you and keep you cool. Long pants and long shirts are best (lightweight cotton or quick-drying synthetics), especially if you are sensitive to insect bites. Otherwise, t-shirts are acceptable most of the time. Avoid jeans and similar heavy fabric. "Cargo pants" with lots of pockets are generally good. Plan on using clothing for 2-4 days in a row.  Bring a swimsuit for swimming in the river and at the volcanic baths at the end of the trip.  Bring a layer of warmer clothing (light jacket or sweater) for Quito . If you are going on the camping trip, bring a windbreaker for a potentially cold canoe trip.
  • HAT:  A wide brimmed, water-resistant hat is good for rainforest work because it keeps both the rain and sun out of your eyes.
  • SUNGLASSES: When the sun is out, it’s bright.  Also, Quito is at 10,000 feet and the sun is intense.
  • LAUNDRY: There will be an opportunity to do some laundry by hand, although it can take days for it to dry in the humidity of the jungle. Jatun Sacha has a laundry service, but it is not always available.
  • STORAGE:  You should bring several large garbage bags to store your clothes in. Fabric left open to the humidity can accumulate mildew rapidly.
  • SHOES:  Rubber boots are required. Knee-high boots are provided by the reserve. However, if you have an unusual shoe size, or do not wish to share boots, bring your own. They should come to just below the knee, as we sometimes wade through deep mud or water.  You will also need a comfortable pair of shoes for Quito and around the cabins at Jatun Sacha. Bring a pair you don’t mind getting dirty.  A pair of Teva-type sandals will be good for walking to the shower and latrine.
  • FIRST AID:  We will have some of the basic first aid items available. You should consider bringing additional items as you might need them. For instance, you may want extra Band-Aids or mole skin. If you are susceptible to traveler’s diarrhea, you may want to bring Immodium.
  • TRAVEL ALARM CLOCK: If you are not a morning person, you will want either a reliable watch alarm or a separate, battery-operated travel alarm to get you up on time for morning activities. 
  • CAMERA: Compact point & shoot film and digicams are convenient for their portability and ease of use. However, SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses will have more versatility. For wildlife photography, it is best to have both macro (close-up) and telephoto (zoom) capabilities. You should bring your manual if you are not familiar with these capabilities on your camera. Since the instructors are knowledgeable about cameras and methods, they can help you with techniques on the ground. For flash photography, film speeds of ISO 100 or less provide the best resolution.

    However, For natural light photography in the rainforest, ISO 400-800 is recommended, and on the higher end of this range for telephoto. Plan on shooting a lot of film–you can not overestimate the number of photo opportunities in the rainforest. (Film is not available where we are staying.)  Bring spare batteries, since you will not be able to purchase specialized batteries anywhere near the reserve.

    For digital photography, we will have a laptop computer available with CD-burning capabilities to back up your photos and clear your memory cards. Bring both software and cables for your digital camera to set this up.  Anyone interesting in purchasing a camera for this trip can check with Paul or Linda (for film cameras) or Ryan (for digital) to get some tips on what to look for.
  • DICTIONARY: Portable soft-cover Spanish-English.
  • EXTRA SNACK FOOD:  The food at Jatun Sacha can be low in protein.  You may want to bring beef or turkey jerky, energy bars, candy, etc. to supplement the meals or take on the trails.  This is especially true if you have diabetes or are prone to low blood sugar.  If you do bring food, make sure you have included zip-lock bags to store it once it is opened.  Ants are quite plentiful everywhere.