Travel Information - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 48

dusk till dawn, as well as an insect repellent (with DEET). Although
snakes are plentiful, there are only a few poisonous ones. They are
rarely seen and hardly ever bite humans.
In the higher elevations of the Andes, especially if you will be climb-
ing some of Ecuador's renowned volcanoes, altitude sickness is a
very real issue. Altitude physiologically affects different people in dif-
ferent ways. Symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) include
headache, nausea, loss of appetite, trouble with sleep, and lack of en-
ergy. To help prevent altitude sickness, you should always remain
well-hydrated, gradually expose yourself to higher elevations, exer-
cise moderately until you are acclimatized, eat a diet consisting of at
least 70% carbohydrates beginning one to two days prior to ascent,
and get plenty of rest. And remember that alcoholic beverages, caf-
feine, and aspirin tend to dehydrate you. If you are prone to altitude
sickness or are concerned that it could be problematic for you, the pre-
scription medication Diamox has been approved by the FDA for pre-
vention and treatment of altitude sickness. Unless you are allergic to
sulfa drugs, you may want to bring it with you, but be sure to check
with your physician, as Diamox has potentially significant side-
effects.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are extremely important and should be addressed as
soon as possible before traveling. Although they are not necessary for
entry into Ecuador, the following are recommended.
Hepatitis A is the most common travel-related illness that can be
prevented by vaccination. You can protect yourself with the antibody
globulin or a new vaccine called Havrix. Check with your local clinic
or physician for the latest developments.
A yellow fever vaccination is important if you are heading into the
Amazonian rainforest or tropical coastal region (excluding the
Galápagos Islands). This vaccination lasts 10 years.
A typhoid vaccination is recommended if you plan to spend a signifi-
cant time in rural parts of Ecuador. It consists of two injections taken
four weeks apart.
Most people get diphtheria-tetanus (DT), polio and measles shots
while in school. You should get boosters for DT every 10 years,
whether you are traveling or not.