Packing List for 10 Days in Ecuador

Packing time! You guys know I love packing and sharing my packing lists with you. You also know I sometimes go on back-to-back trips that include lots of varied destinations, and I still manage to fit it all in a carry-on.

This time I was heading out for two and a half weeks: 7 days touring Northern California in an RV with my mom and 82-year-old-grandmother, and then straight from there heading to Ecuador for 10 days on an adventure travel trip.

Related: The ULTIMATE Guide to Packing in a Carry On

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Ecuador Adventure Activities

On this trip I would be doing the following:

Ecuador Packing List

I mention this to show the variety of activities I had to be prepared for, which meant a variety of clothing and gear. Here is what I brought, starting (as always) with the gadgets (non-clothing items):

• Earplugs and eye mask (Read this: 3 Things to Help You Sleep on the Road)
• Glasses x2
• Passport and Travel wallet (Read this: 3 Packing Tips to Carry With You)
• Camera, charger, extra battery (Read this: Canon EOS M Review: A Digital SLR That Fits in Your Pocket!)
• GoPro and accessories (I call it my wand)
• Phone, charger cord, and Portable travel charger
• Laptop and case (you know I work on the road)
• Collapsable water bottle
• Headlamp
• Mini binoculars (for the jungle treks and bird watching)
• Travel towel
• Toiletries (shampoo, razor, toothbrush, etc.)
• Pills (enzymes, shelf-stable probiotics, Tylenol)
• Dry bag
• Stuff-able day pack
• Warm hat and gloves (highlands in Ecuador are cold!)
• Flip flops, sandals, runners/hikers, some version of non-Toms (my new faves) (Read this: The 3 Best Travel Shoes for Women)
• Travel hairdryer
• Packable purse

Before we go on, here are the things I did NOT use out of the above items: travel hair dryer (I actually took it out of my bag and didn’t bring), binoculars, travel towel, collapsible water bottle.

Check out my favorite travel hair products.

Here are the clothes I brought:

• Rain jacket
• Zip-up light-weight fleece
• Merino wool long-sleeved shirt
• Lightweight active top (Carve Designs)
• My go-to travel scarf (you all know it from photos)
• Black maxi dress (rolled up)
• Socks, underwear, bras (in the green stuff pouch)
• 4 Tank tops – one running top, two simple cotton, one cami for layering
• 4 Long-sleeved shirts – simple cotton
• 4 T-shirts – unbranded (plain cotton)
• 2 Running skirts (from Backcountry.com)
• 1 pair of skinny jeans
• 1 long pair of black leggings
• 1 capri length black leggings
• 1 bikini (Carve Designs)

What didn’t I use? Hardly any of the long-sleeved t-shirts. What I should have brought instead are activewear, light-weight tops similar to the yellow one, which I wore constantly over tank tops. It was great for protection against bugs and sun in the humid temps.

Not pictured are my socks – I brought just three pairs: two running socks and one mid-calf, appropriate for rubber jungle boots (brilliant).

Travel Planning Tip: Order a prepaid SIM card before you travel!

My Mistake with the Luggage Choice

For luggage, I chose a strange combination this time and I’ll be the first to admit it. I did not bring my backpack, I actually brought a suitcase on this trip.

Since I was also bringing my laptop, I brought a carry-on bag with a laptop sleeve and plenty of space as well. The suitcase worked out just fine (I prefer to have a suitcase if my bag is going to be transported for me, as it was in Ecuador), but I should have brought my REI Traverse instead of the carry-on bag.

It would have been more comfortable to carry with all the weight I put in it. However, I still had a backpack to use (don’t forget the stuff-able day pack) which I did use constantly. I appreciated having this, because I could easily stow it and pull it out when I needed it, without having to unpack or repack any items (as I would if it were my carry-on).

What did I wear on the plane? Slip on shoes (easy on-off), super comfortable skinny jeans (no pockets, no belt – easy for security), a tank top and a lightweight top for versatility. Hair down and ready for adventure.

Questions? Hit me up in the comments. Happy travels!!

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