Frequently Asked Questions

Each of our 'Crash Course' tours begin in Quito after breakfast at 9AM in the conference room of our tour hotel.  Your hotel stay the night PRIOR to the tour start day is INCLUDED in the price of the tour. We do recommend arrival at least 1 or 2 days before the tour starts to allow for a bit of acclimatization to the high altitude. We will be happy to help you make any additional hotel reservations you may require.

You should book your flight to Quito, whose airport code is UIO. Many carriers have daily flights to Quito from numerous major cities in the US and Canda, including American Airlines, Delta, United. LAN, COPA, JetBlue and TAME. We provide pick up and transport to the hotel for our Crash Course participants at no extra cost.

You will need a current passport valid for at least 6 months after your arrival in Ecuador. A VISA is not required.  Your passport will be stamped with a tourist VISA as you pass through immigration which is good for 90 days.

To confirm your spot on one of our tours, you will need to make a down payment of 50%, which can be completed via PayPal or by a direct bank transfer. The remainder can be paid any time, up to and including the first day of the tour. For details regarding cancellation or rescheduling, please visit the 'Book Now' page.

As we attempt to keep costs accessible and show you the “real Ecuador” we do not stay in international chains or in fancy hotels. The places we stay are clean, comfortable, often family owned and with a local feel.   Private bathrooms and hot water are guaranteed at all hotels.  

The electrical current is 110 (the same as US and Canada.)

There are no immunizations required to visit Ecuador. Some visitors choose to visit a travel clinic and receive immunizations and some do not….we leave it up to you and your doctor to decide.

Yes, we strongly recommend that you have health insurance in the event of any accidents or illnesses during the trip. As a convenience to you, we offer a very affordable health/accident traveler's insurance plan which can be purchased.

Since the tour includes your lodging, transport and most expenses, you do not need to bring a large amount of cash with you. ATM machines are easily available, but credit cards are only accepted in the larger cities. Any cash you bring should be in small denominations…up to $20, as larger bills are rarely accepted. DO NOT bring Travelers Checks, as they are generally not accepted in Ecuador and can be extremely hard to cash. 

It is best to travel light and prepare to wear layers. It can be cool at night and quite hot at mid-day. Afternoon rain showers are the norm for most of the year. Dress comfortably and conservatively. Close-toed shoes with good traction are recommended. Avoid sandals or shoes with heels, as the terrain can be uneven. Shorts are not commonly worn in the mountains, but are fine on the coast. You can check any weather app to get an idea of temperatures in Ecuador's major cities.

You will receive a detailed list of items you will need to bring once your reservation is confirmed.

Check with your cell phone provider. If you are able to unblock the signal, you can buy a phone chip when you are here in Ecuador.  

The Hotels and Hostals where we stay will have complimentary Wi-Fi in the rooms. However, service interruptions are common in some areas. Internet cafes can be found at each of our stops for those needing access to the internet.