going to south america for 2 months.
satying in hostels (no camping)
please let me know if im forgetting anything
packing the following in one 80L internal frame pack, and one daypack/carryon
1 pair of jeans
1 pair of other long pants
5 pair of cargo shorts
5 t-shirts.
Flipflops
7 pairs of socks
7 pairs of underwear.
Sweater/hoodie
light jacket wind and rain proof
hat
sunglasses
pillowcase
very light sleeping bag
viscose towel
toothbrush
toothpaste
deodorant
razor
shampoo
sunblock
kleenex/wetwipes
lipbalm
insect repellent
medication: malaria, stomach, altitude
cash
debit card
travelbook
Digital camera, memory card, batteries
Paperback book
journal
first aid kit
flashlight, batteries
alarm clock
earplugs
sewing kit
duct tape around pencil, rubberbands, sash
raincover for bag
locks
passport
plane ticket
insurance
visa number
travellers cheques
photocopies of all above documents (as well as phone numbers for calling/canceling them) in other bag
Reply to this Pocket sized dictionaries for English to Spainsh and Portugese and visa versa would be useful if you have them.
Pen
band aids
sissors
Paring knife
Hand wash stuff for clothes
Nail clipper
Universal sink plug if you have one
Reply to this A flashlight can also be useful. They are good for seeing what you are doing without turning on the lights when everybody in your dormroom is sleeping, or for reading in bed when the lights are out, or for travelling in remote places which dont have many/no streetlights.
Reply to this Franklin English/Spanish dictionary was invaluable for our travels- contains country specific terms too
Skip the scissors, paring knife etc. and bring a all-purpose leatherman
Headlamp (hands-free light) instead of a flashlight, but yes, this is a necessity
Are you traveling through Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina? If so, why 5 pairs of cargo shorts? It's cold in those mountains and five pairs seems ridiculously expensive. Judging by your list you are already planning on doing laundry and two pairs will suffice. Suerte
Reply to this ....why 5 pairs of cargo shorts?....
I was thinking exactly that too. In my opinion, even if you have to hand wash them the inconvenience of doing that is less than the inconveniance of carrying them around. Take 2 pairs. If your backpack still has room in it take more books to read for when you have nothing to do or else the extra space will be good for when you see things you want to buy.
While we are on the subject of too much clothes the socks and underwear could be reduced to 3 of each.
Reply to this thanx for the advice.
i agree maybe 5 pairs of shorts is excessive, maybe ill take 3 instead and add a pair of pants? (since it will be cold)
and regarding the: headlamp, multi-tool, nailclipper, and phrasebook - i actually do have those things packed already (just forgot to add to list).
but the sinkplug and washing detergent i might add also... (although i guess i could just buy that stuff there i guess)
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regarding cash; should i exchange for some american dollars (couple hundred) before i leave?
and do the bank machines dispense local country money in each respective country? (or do some of them do us dolars?)
and is it safe to bring my credit card? should i?
travellers cheques?
thanx again 😉
Reply to this i am also going to south america soon, so im merely speaking solely from information that i have gathered in preparation for the trip.
im wondering if you are aware that you may need vaccines such as yellow fever, you will also be required to carry a little booklet around with your passport stating which vaccines you recieved.
the legal requirement for vaccinations varies from country to country, but in the interest of your health, and since your considering visiting a malaria zone i think you should talk to a doctor about it before going.
also, i would suggest to scan a copy of your important information (passport, plane reservations, vaccination book, and contact numbers) and email them to yourself in case of loss of your luggage.
i agree that there is too much clothes in your backpack. im guessing if you weigh your pack it will be about 18KG.... if you give it some thought you may reduce it by at least 6KG.
3 pairs of pants plus the ones your wearing is an unneccesary amount of weight, why not just one pair and one spare pair in your pack? and one maybe two pairs of shorts.
also bear in mind you will surely buy a t-shirt or two when you are there.
Reply to this yo've packed far more there for 2 months than I did for 1 year in South America. I would pack as light as possible, you can always buy extra clothes out here should you need them, for very cheap prices.
USD is official currency in Ecuador - you can also take dollars out in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile if memory serves me correctly. Only take malaria tabs if you are going to the jungle - they're not needed at all in Arg, Uruguay, and Chile
Reply to this regarding cash; should i exchange for some american dollars (couple hundred) before i leave?
You will generally get a better exchange rate when you get there, than if you exchange money before you go.
Check the exchange rate on the internet. If the bank in your own country is offering you equal to that rate or above it then it is OK to exchange before you go.
What you could try to find out from other travellers on the interent is whether you will get a better exchange rate at the airport you are flying into or someplace else. You can let how much you change at the airport depend on that.
Reply to this ok, im going to loose some things and pack a bit lighter.... seems to be unanimous advice 😉
i like the tip of scanning and emailing documents to one-self! (brilliant)
should i bring a big 'hefty' garbage bag to put my pack into - in case it needs to go on top of a bus (for rain protection) ??
Reply to this What I do is pack my things in plastic bags before I put them in my backpack. As well as preventing them from getting wet, it makes packing and unpacking easier while you are travelling.
It is however wise in S. America to not put your backpack on display on the top of busses in the poorer countries. It is a bit like declaring that there is somebody worth robbing on this bus. Cover it with anything that would not mark it as something owned by a foreigner. As far as I remember the Lonely Planet books suggest a potato sack.
Reply to this I hope you have something more for your feet than just flip flops! The universal sink plug is an excellent tip. Buy it before you go. They can be hard to find. I always slip in a rubber wedge thing to put on the inside of the door at night. But I am female and paranoid. 😊
Reply to this Most buses, even in the poorer countries, employ someone to look after bags on buses so I wouldn't worry too much about trying to disguise it. It's rare that bags go on top of buses but if they do the bus company usually provide a rain cover for all the bags.
Reply to this I studied abroad in Chile for 6 months, so if you are planning on going there then make sure you have U$100 for the tourist visa...assuming that you are American. But like they said before don't bring so many pairs of shorts it's freezing there right now and won't heat back up until probably October. So I would add another pair of pants. And make sure you have a good pair of shoes, like actual tenis shoes, seeing as you will do a lot of walking, sadly flip-flops won't cut it.
Reply to this thanx.
so even if i just want to visit chile for a few days, i need a visa? (im canadian)
regarding shoes; the list does not include what is on my body .... obviously i will have shoes
Reply to this Canadians pay US$132 reciprocity fee if entering Chile via the airport in Santiago. There is a booth just before passport control. You don't pay if entering by land.
Reply to this What is that fee acutally for? It seems a bit steep.
Reply to this The same amount is charged to Chileans applying for a visa to Canada. Thus it's name, reciprocity fee. Most countries don't charge for a visa and their nationals pay nothing. The list of countries which charge is short and it is just unfortunate for you if your country is on it. It is only charged if you enter Chile via the airport at Santiago.
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