Documentation
England or USA citizens need a passport with a minimum validity of six months. No visa is necessary.

Time difference
The time difference in Ecuador is 6 hours in relation with England

Electric current
Voltage is 110 volts. It is also necessary an adaptor which can be acquired locally.

Currency
In Ecuador the currency is the American dollar. We advice not to take big amounts of cash with you. Is not advisable to take euros and exchange them at high rates. You should also avoid the travel check as few banks exchange it and this may take rather long.
Nevertheless, the credit card is very practical (especially Visa - Mastercard) and you may also withdraw money from the ATMs with it (if you know your security code).

Weather
Ecuador is a country you may visit all year long.
In the Andes there is great variability during the day. The climate is pleasant and temperate, it rains less during summer but the hottest months are during winter. Nights are cooler and temperature decreases in relation to altitude.
In the coast the climate is warm with frequent night precipitations from January till April. These months are also the hottest ones and the best ones for holidays at the beach. In the Galapagos the weather is template and variable without considerable changes in between seasons.

Clothing
Light clothing during the day, and a little bit heavier during the evening.
In the Andes: thick jumper and light wind jacket. In the whole territory and the Galapagos: waterproof jacket, hat to cover yourself against the strong sun. We advice you to take a backpack with you to the excursions. In it you can carry a sweater, your camera, sun cream, etc.

Language
Ecuador’s official language is Spanish.

Medicines
All kinds of common medicines can be found at the several local drugstores.

Vaccination and health problems
No vaccination is mandatory. However, it is better to ask your doctor, considering the package you have selected, about the vaccines or treatments available for: typhus, malaria, hepatitis. It is important to inform yourself about your own health and thereby select the package that suits you the best. Notice that most of our packages to Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia include visiting geographic areas higher than 3000m. above see level. It is important as well to respect some rules related to nutrition such as not consuming products elaborated on the streets, drink only sterilized water and in bottle, prefer to try the food your guide suggests. Mashipura Viajes proposes a modality of traveling which looks to avoid excessive tiredness so that the participants may enjoy and learn form their experience up to the end of the trip.

Air rates
You will be requested to pay air fees from $25-42 per person at some of the local airports.

Responsible Tourism
Mashipura Viajes´ proposal is oriented to a responsible sustained tourism. Generally defined, responsible tourism is the one that allows finding the people living in the visited places without breaking in their culture and moreover respecting it by learning from it. Sustained tourism is linked to the principle of continuity and respect, not only to the local culture, but also to their land. In some cases we look to revalue the abilities and knowledge including the community and the locals in our guiding and hospitality activities. This is why Mashipura Viajes asks from the participants an educational, attentive, civilized and respectful attitude.

Gastronomy
In these countries it is possible to meet every taste by try international food as well as local delicacies. Soups are generally taken as first course. These “sopas” are mostly made out of vegetables and cereals. Main courses are made out of fish or meat, accompanied by cooked or raw vegetables as side dish. Meals made out of “verde” (cooked banana), maize, quinoa and rice are very typical.

Shopping
There is much variety of handicrafts. Ecuador offers lots of textile products: jumpers, hats, globes and scarf, rugs, backpacks and bags. Wood and ceramic objects are part of the local production as well.