"To Bring or Not to
Bring:" What to pack with you

By Jennifer Simpson

DO BRING:

The following items have been found to be very useful --or would have been useful-- on trips in the past.

  • Sleeping bag. There are sheets but no blankets provided at Rancho Grande.
  • Thermos/canteen. You WILL get thirsty on hikes.
  • Poncho/ Rain gear. Bring all you have; you will need all you bring.
  • Boots that can get muddy and don't leak water.
  • Long underwear/ sweat suit, for sleeping in.
  • Towel, soap, laundry detergent.
  • Travel size alarm clock.
  • International phone card: a stop can be made for a quick call home from a phone booth if you really need to, but try not to keep everyone waiting too long! There is no phone at Rancho Grande.
  • Enough cash for roadside snacks and drinks, soda pop, other. Fruit juice and coffee is provided at mealtimes, but soda costs extra -- chip in and purchase several 2-Liters.
  • Powerbars/granola bars (i.e. snack foods. You can get hungry when hiking all day).
  • Insect carriers (i.e. extra film canisters, jars, vials...anything small that you can conveniently carry with you to hold insects that you catch in the field for study).
  • Any and all laboratory supplies you will need for your project.
  • Taxonomic keys, field guides to birds and insects. Extra camera film.
  • A deck of cards may be a fun way to spend an evening.
  • Bathing suit (for 1 day at the beach).
  • Flashlights, lanterns, extra batteries.
  • BUG SPRAY
  • Binoculars
  • Spanish-English dictionary
  • If you get car/motion/altitude-sickness, bring medication. The road up and down the mountain is extremely winding and never taken at a walking speed.

    • DON'T BRING:

    The following items are things that are really a waste of space for packing purposes. Don't bother with them!

  • Good/nice clothing. You won't have need for anything fancy. If you are afraid for it to get dirty, don't bother bringing it.
  • Hairdryers, curling irons, electric razors, etc.
  • CD players, boomboxes, and radios: Do you really want to lug it around with you? Bring a walk-man instead.
  • Heavy parkas, winter coats. It's not that cold.
    Expensive watches or jewelry
    A craving for McDonalds, Pizza Hut or Taco Bell.

    • Also:

    Make sure you have a valid passport! If you need to apply for a passport be sure to apply in more than plenty of time. The passport agency can and has misplaced or not processed applications before without any notification. It is suggested to apply at least two months in advance for the Venezuela trip. You can have your application rushed for an extra fee. This cuts the waiting time in half.

    You are likely to be stung or bitten by plants, insects, and chiggers. And in the likely event of a cut or bruises from climbing the trails, it may be advantageous to have an anti-irritant cream handy. So far as we are aware, the mosquitoes and ticks at Rancho Grande do not carry any diseases transmissible to man. As far as we are aware, the water at Rancho Grande is entirely safe to drink. And the catered food is of high quality, however, if you have a sensitive stomach, you may want to bring Pepto-Bismol or antacids, etc. Beware of drinking water elsewhere.

    There are neither lockers nor safes in which to keep valuables at Rancho Grande. Money belts (fitted under your shirt) and fanny-packs are highly recommended to avoid any pick-pocketing when in the city. Keep cash in plastic baggies to keep them from getting moist or wet. Don't bring traveler's checks to Venezuela--it is hard to find places that will exchange them. If you take an "emergency money" supply, take dollars; maybe a major credit card would work at a Venezuelan money machine.

    In general, be prepared for both hot weather (in the valleys) and cold weather (in the mountains and at Rancho Grande), and for a lot of rain and moist surroundings. Temperatures can easily be in the 80-90's in the valleys, and dip to 40's at night at Rancho Grande. When on the road, there will be bathroom breaks/soda-stops. Take advantage of the breaks when you can. Always take advantage of breath-taking views and Kodak moments.

    Finally, in some ways you are an ambassador for UF and the USA, so think about your behavior.

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