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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to get any vaccinations?
No vaccinations are required for you to come to Ecuador, but several are recommended. You should consult your local doctor or you can take a look at the US Department of Health website: http://www.cdc.gov/travel. The most commonly recommended vaccinations are: Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid. Some experts recommend a Yellow Fever vaccination, however this is usually only needed if you are traveling from one Latin American country to another; Ecuador is free of yellow fever. Some doctors also prescribe anti-malarials. To our knowledge, malaria was eradicated from the local area years ago, and there have not been any recent out-breaks. Since malaria pills can cause side effects, we leave the decision to your discretion. We, personally, do not use them. However, we believe you should follow your doctor’s medical advice.
Do I need a visa?
The local government allows US citizens to travel to Ecuador for up to 90 days without a visa. If you are not an American citizen, you should check with your nearest Ecuadorian consulate about visa requirements. Also, if you plan on coming for more than 90 days, you will need to request a visa from the Ecuadorian Consulate nearest to you. Ecuador offers tourist visas up to 6 months, volunteer visas up to 2 years and even unlimited investor visas. You should contact your nearest Ecuadorian Consulate http://www.ecuador.us/info/consulate.htm or the Ecuadorian Embassy if you desire more information.
What are the passport requirements?
Ecuador requires all incoming visitors to have a passport that is valid for the duration of their stay. Visitors who must get a visa in order to enter Ecuador are required to have at least 6 months of validity left on their passports; we recommend this to all visitors regardless of the need for a visa.
How much money should I bring?
Not much. The currency in Ecuador is the US dollar. ATM machines are common throughout the country. . Neither Travelers Checks, nor credit cards are widely accepted outside of major cities, so we recommend that you stick to cash. Also, since almost all your expenses are covered by Solidarity Travels, you won’t need lots of cash. When you do, an ATM is available about 15 minutes from where you will be staying at Las Acacias. We recommend you bring one credit card (VISA or Mastercard are most accepted), one or two debit cards and about $200 in cash per person.
Can I use a credit card?
Solidarity Travels accepts credit cards for any additional purchases made at our facility, Las Acacias, so you can plan on paying with credit card for any long-distance phone calls, bar tabs, etc. Otherwise, you will probably find yourself spending cash when buying from local artisans, going out to a local bar or making any other local purchases. You can use credit cards at any malls or major shopping centers, but even there, shop owners often prefer cash. Please take note that US debit cards are not always accepted in Ecuador, so if you plan to use a credit card, please bring a regular credit card in addition to your debit card. Your debit card will serve you well though when taking out cash from local ATMs.
Why should I choose Solidarity Travels?
We know that there are many options out there when choosing a vacation. We believe that you should choose Solidarity Travels because we offer you a one-of-a-kind opportunity.
- You receive the benefits of a vacation in a beautiful tropical location: lovely beaches, cultural exploration, nature adventures, relaxation, and delicious meals.
- When you travel with us your money is being used to create living-wage jobs, support businesses and entrepreneurs from the local community, contribute to development projects, and protect the beautiful natural environment which sustains our business.
- We offer you opportunities for personal growth and cultural exchange. These include interactive classes in Spanish, cooking, handicraft making and others. You also have access to educational, guided tours.
- We make sure that you have natural opportunities to meet local people and through them, get a true understanding of the local culture
- The accommodations at Las Acacias are beautiful, and for that alone people come to visit.
- There are many more reasons- we organize fun trips to places you probably wouldn’t find on your own. We make sure that you are insured and safe, so you don’t have to stress about anything. We organize your travel to our location, so that you don’t waste any time. And we also make sure you experience some of the unique cultural experiences that you might not find without the guidance of people who live here.
How is the weather?
The weather ranges between pleasantly temperate (about 70˚) to hot and sunny (about 90˚). Because we receive the wind currents from the ocean, it is never extremely hot. And because we are near the equator, it is never cold. During the year, you can basically find two marked seasons: the rainy, hot season and the temperate, more dry season. December through May tend to be the rainier, hotter, more tropical months. Although don’t be deterred- it almost always rains at night and is sunny in the day. This is probably the best time to come for beach-lovers. June through November tend to be more temperate, with less sun and humidity. For those who are not fans of the heat or lots of sun, this is probably a better time to come. Because we are located between the mountains and the beach, there are always activities available whether it is hot and sunny or a cloudier, cooler day.
When is it best to go?
Any time is a good time to come. It really depends on your weather preferences and the types of activities you most enjoy. Dec-May is called temporada here on the coast. During this season, you can visit the many beaches in our area, and are sure to come home with a tan. If you aren’t a summer person, the best time to come would be between July and November, when the temperatures are more spring-like. Nature activities like whale and bird watching are at their peak during this time of year. We invite you to contact us if you have any further questions, and we can help to advise you about the best time for you to come.
How many other travelers will be there?
Las Acacias been designed for guests to have an intimate, more personal experience. For that reason, you are not likely to find more than 10-12 people at a time staying with us.
Can I bring my kids?
Right now the answer to that question is: it depends. People of all ages are welcome to come for overnight stays with us. We can help you to design your cultural adventure vacation with youth-friendly activities if you are coming with your child/ren. Of youth, mature teenagers are considered the mostly likely to enjoy the ST experience. You should consider the option if you feel your child/ren would maintain their interest over the course of your stay. However, we do not yet have a package designed for children. Nor, have we made extra provisions for the service of small children. Please contact us if you are interested in bringing your child/ren so that we can discuss your specific situation and needs.
How do I know when my trip is confirmed?
After you fill out the information in the Sign Me Up (link) section, you will receive an email and or phone call from us letting you know that your vacation has been confirmed. We will probably want to chat with you briefly as well to see if you have any special requests or needs for your trip.
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(also check out Getting Here)
What airlines travel to Ecuador and which do you recommend?
Currently, three American carriers travel to Ecuador: Continental, American and Delta. In addition, several Latin American carriers also travel to Ecuador. Please see the section Getting There for more detailed information.
Do you arrange my flight or do I?
We can help to advise you in choosing a flight, but we leave that part of your trip up to you so that you can find the price and itinerary that best suits your needs. We would be happy to recommend a travel agency if you need further assistance.
What are your accomodations like (how many stars, etc.)?
Our accommodations at Las Acacias are beautiful and high quality. We have a modest size villa with 6 spacious rooms. Our space has a unique look for the area, since most accommodations consist of more basic cabañas made from bamboo and banana leaves. Las Acacias is certified as a three star accommodation according to the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism.
Should I reconfirm my tickets?
If you travel on an US-based carrier, you probable don’t have to. If you are traveling on a Latin American carrier, you will probable have to confirm your return flight within 76 hours of travel. We recommend you consult your airline about this question. We are happy to assist you with re-confirmations.
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Is the water safe to drink?
We provide you with bottled spring water at Las Acacias. It can also be purchased at any store that sells food. It is not recommended to drink water straight from the tap, although in the location of Las Acacias, there is probably very little risk because the water comes from a natural spring that we access directly through our well. If you have a sensitive stomach it may also be a good idea to brush your teeth with bottled water.
What will I eat?
Many delicious things! Because we want you to experience the local culture, most of your meals are traditionally prepared Ecuadorian meals. You will eat lots of fresh seafood (fish, shrimp, calamari…), organic chicken and some meat. You will eat plantains, fresh fruit and vegetables and delicious, locally made desserts. In general, the food here is fresh, healthy and free of chemicals. A lot of your food will come straight from a farm, garden or the sea. You’ll also have some delicious fresh-squeezed juices, tasty cocktails and, if you like beer, lots of Pilseners – the local beer of choice.
Do you accomodate to vegetarian diets?
We can accomodate special dietary needs. Please notify us of any dietary restrictions when you sign up.
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How do I get around?
For organized trips you will travel in an ST vehicle or with a partner subcontractor. We also provide bikes for your use when in the local area. Of course, you can also schedule with us to pick you up or drop you off when necessary. We also encourage you to try out a local bus or the nifty pick-up truck system used by the locals to get a truly Ecuadorian experience.
What are the buses like?
Honestly, the buses are a blast and you really need to see for yourself. They resemble Greyhound buses in the US, only their interiors are decorated with all sorts of bumper stickers. Generally, they play loud salsa or merengue music. Every bus is unique, but we recommend you at least take a short ride on one!
What happens if I get sick?
We are very fortunate to have a hospital within a 5 minute drive of Las Acacias, our facility. In addition, the local foundation – Santa María del Fiat – houses an infirmary with plenty of health services. About an hour from our facility is a state of the art hospital facility if anything more complicated should come up. Your US medicalinsurance should reimburse your medical costs, which would be very inexpensive in comparison to the US anyhow. We’ll make sure that you get any medical treatment and medications that you need. You can also get travelers insurance, with our assistance, which would cover any medical needs.
Yes, we will be happy to help. Prepare a list of the tickets you want to book and ring us up for quotation.
We accept payment by cash, cheque, Visa, Mastercard and Amex. There is a surcharge of 2% for Visa and Mastercard, 4% for Amex.
Passports must be valid for at least 6 months.
American Buffet style breakfast is available in most hotels. For our China tour, Lunches will be at local Chinese restaurants. Since dinner time in China is generally too early for European travellers (normally around 5:30 pm), evening meals are not included in the main tour. You can eat at your own time in the hotel or ask your guide to recommend some local restaurants in the vicinity. Vegetarian food should be ordered in advance.
In Latin America, we prefer to offer more flexibility to our clients, by including meals only when we feel it is necessary such as the lovely buffet lunch in Machu Picchu and full board in the Amazon. A continental or American style Breakfast will be included each morning, but as eating out is more to the European style and taste and each place visited offers marvellous restaurants where you can enjoy good food to suite all pockets and tastes. We feel that by being free to eat out will enable you to sample more of the local atmosphere and culture.
Reconfirmation is required when you break your journey for more than 72 hours at the boarding point of the next segment of your itinerary. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of your ticket.
What kind of clothes should I bring?We always try to accommodate any changes. We do also reserve the right to charge for extra demands. Please refer to our booking conditions.
Keep it simple. A few bathing suits, a few pairs of shorts and/or skirts, one pair of long pants in a light material and lots of T-shirts and tank tops. You probably want to bring one sweat-shirt or sweater. If you are coming in the cooler season, we recommend packing at least two. You might want a pair of jeans for horse-back riding. As far as shoes, you should bring flip flops or sandles and a pair of tennis shoes. You should also pack sun glasses, lots of sun screen and any other sun gear you might need. Mosquito repellent can also be a good idea.
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