2.5 Months in South America: Packing List

Well look at that. I figured out how to add numbers to a picture. Game changer. So here is the most coveted of all packing list blogs and pictures: the clothes and gear list. 

To preface this blog entry and questions as to why I chose certain items or gear over others, I will just start out by explaining where I will be. As mentioned in the previous entry, I will be backpacking through 8 countries from Mid-October to the end of December. During that time I will be within multiple climate zones and temperatures ranging from 90 degrees Fahrenheit to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The zones in which I will be adventuring include the tropical rain forest, tropical moist deciduous forest, tropical dry forest, tropical mountain system, and subtropical humid forest. I found all of this information here: http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/y1997e/y1997e1b.htm. And it seems pretty legitimate to me. 

What all of that means: my climate will be changing pretty dramatically throughout this trip and I need to be prepared and flexible. Now to explain all of the gear, when I might plan on using it, and other thoughts and details, just because. 

1. 1 Land's End packable rain jacket. This rain jacket got me through the monsoons in Ghana during their pounding, sideways rain. It's light but gets the job done and packs small. It's a keeper. 

2. 9 pairs of socks. I have two pairs of warm, toasty technical wool socks for the Inca Trail hike and other times I expect I will be freezing along the way. I have three pairs of technical mid shin length socks for hiking or when its a bit chilly and wool socks are over kill. Four pairs of non-cotton ankle socks are packed and will be used for everyday city exploring. 

3. 1 Infinity scarf. I know, i know, I could buy a sweet one over there that is probably much warmer and authentic. However, infinity scarfs are perfect for flying, since I am always freezing, and it acts as a nice neck blanket. 

4. 2 Swimming suits. One set that is matchy and a top and bottom that can be interchangeable, because change is good. Good for the beaches and thermal baths. 

5. My most favorite dress of all time. It is a Columbia sport dress (with pockets!), that is the wicking, quick dry material. It's fantastic and will be perfect for the beaches in Brazil or boat tour of Iguassu Falls. 

6. 3 Nike Long sleeve quick dry, wicking tops. I am bringing three for the simple fact that the hike through Inca is 4 days long and it will be the coldest part of the trip (I hope). 

    1 Columbia Quarter sleeve active top with hood. This is a sweet top that is perfect for a windy day while adventuring through the cities. 

7. 4 sports bra and 1 'normal' bra. I love sports bras and am not going on this trip to impress anyone, so this is what I will be wearing 99% of the time. Comfort rules all. 

8. 14 pairs of Undies. Yes, that is a lot. However, that means I only NEED to wash clothes once every two weeks. Sounds good to me. And they pack very small. 

9. 2 pairs of hiking shorts (with sweet pockets). 1 pair of Nike running shorts. 1 pair of silky night capris when it is hot at night. 1 pair of sports capris. 1 pair of yoga pants. 1 pair of hiking pants that zip off into shorts (yes, I am thee most attractive of them all with those pants). 1 pair of fleece leggings for cold nights. And 1 pair of skinny jeans. Okay, lots of personal debate on that last item. However, thinking it through, I am cold all of the time and if I will be in Ecuador for three weeks with an average temperature of low 60's I will be sad without the warmth. 

10. 1 Ironman hat. I am proud of my past accomplishments and this is sincerely the only hat that remotely fits my child size head. 

11. 1 sport headband. I never really wear headbands. Maybe I will find a reason to wear one there? It's small, so it's okay. 

12. 1 nice tank top. 2 layering tank tops, one brown and one black. 2 short sleeve wicking tops. 1 short sleeve grey v-neck (which just happens to be my favorite shirt of all time). 1 short sleeve Columbia active top. 1 patterned top, because my wardrobe is boring and too plain without one. 1 baggy and super comfy Nike shirt for night. 

13. 1 pair of Merrell's hiking shoes. These puppies are awesome and light weight, but I am worried about the shoe strings that do not always tie very tight or securely. And that I should have been wearing them more before my trip to get used to them. Oh well, too late now. 

14. 1 pair of my beautiful TOMS sandals. I love them. And they make me look less backpacky traveler and make me feel like I don't always look gross. They make me feel dainty. Even with a size 10. 

15. 1 super old school Columbia jacket. I found said jacket at a thrift store for $7.99. It's the perfect jacket that I do not have to worry about getting ripped, ruined, or lost. I think it's from the 80's. 

16. 1 pair of the dorkiest of all of the Tevas. My Tevas are not the most attractive thing in the whole world, but oh my goodness, they are the most comfortable little cloud shoes. They are also rugged. And allow me to walk through water, rough terrain, and avoid injury, especially when unconcernedly  walking through an underwater field of sea urchins (oops). 

17. 1 silky sleep sack. Okay, before I go on I must tell the tale of when I went to Ghana and how I under packed for the unexpected cooler temperatures. My dad, (otherwise known as hero in this situation) in the last moments of my day before I left for Africa, bought me this sleep sack which I almost quickly tossed aside and left in the US because I am a snob about not over packing. Well, thank the Lord I did not! That sleep sack was the only source of warmth I had for every night of those two months I was there. It came in handy when I stayed all over the country in many hostels and even on later trips to other countries. Case in point, this baby is coming with me! 

     1 travel towel. Because honestly, who uses normal towel material towels when they are backpacking anymore?

     1 wash cloth. Because sometimes the travel towel just is not necessary for every face washing, hand drying need. 

18. 1 fleece Columbia jacket with a hood and deep pockets. Perfect for chilly nights and layering with my old school packable coat. 

      1 sweater that keeps me warm, but actually does not make me look like a backpacker. I am saving this for the classier of occasions. Occasions that the zip off hiking pants will not be invited to. 

Alright, so there is the pile of clothes that I will be wearing for the next two and a half months. Woah, seeing it all piled neatly there gets me very excited and ready for this experience. 8 days. I cannot wait. 

Rio to Quito

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil to Quito, Ecuador 

The long awaited two and a half month backpacking trip to South America has finally reached single digits until take off. With that being said, I am still in the preparation mode for this 72 day journey as I type.

My adventure will take me through 8 countries: Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. I will be spending the majority of my time, 51 days, backpacking throughout the first seven countries. Exploring, soaking in the culture, hiking Machu Picchu, boating through Iguassu Falls, and checking off bucket list items. The last 21 days will be spent living with a host family, with whom I still do not know anything about, in Cuenca, Ecuador. While there, I will be taking Spanish lessons for six hours a day and enjoying the thriving city.

While initially researching my travels abroad I searched and researched through many travel blogs and websites to decide on which was truly the best backpack, things to pack, clothes to wear, etc. So here it is for those who also enjoy reading blogs about traveling and what others pack for their journeys. 

Hygiene

Okay, even though I will be staying in hostels, sleeping on a lot of busses, and generally not caring much about how I look, I do appreciate keeping my good habits while abroad. Going from top left and over, because I am unable to figure out how to add numbers to my pictures:
Floss/ picks. Foldable toothbrush. Dirty Lush Brand Toothy Tabs. Small travel tube of toothpaste, because sometimes it just does not feel right to use powdery tabs. Deodorant, disclaimer: I WILL be using more than one stick for the amount of time I am going, I just still need to make those purchases. Pocket pack of hand sanitizer. Travel size body wash. Travel size conditioner, sometimes I feel like the bar conditioner just won't be my friend. Disposable razor, since I plan on carrying on all of my belongings I am not technically allowed to bring said razor on to the plane (I plan to sneak it on and if caught will surrender it, but with sad eyes knowing who knows when I will find another source in which to shave my legs and pits). Travel size brush and large tooth comb. Lush Brand Bar Conditioner. Lush Brand Bar Shampoo. Q-tips. Four travel size bottles of contact solution, again, I know how much wasted plastic these provide but to stay within carry-on regulations, travel size it is. Two boxes of contacts. Contact case. Glasses and glasses case.

Cetaphil wipes, for face and body, if need be. Pocket pack of soap leafs. Two styles of stick sunscreen, I have never used either so I bought two different types to try out just in case. Seven packets of powder laundry detergent. Three rolls of toilet paper to go, these puppies saved me back when I was adventuring in Ghana, they are a must. Wet ones, because well, why not. 45 Repel Mosquito Wipes with 30% DEET, I got malaria while in Africa: NEVER AGAIN. 

Medications

This might be a handy reference for those who are traveling with Type 1 diabetes. Since I will be gone for two and a half months, I have planned to bring enough diabetic supplies for around three months, just in case. For the 'betes: Glucose tabs. Glucometer and kit. Three hundred test stripes, in cool, and yet, incredibly wasteful individually packaged foil packs. Needles, not sure how many exactly but around 90. Syringes, I do not use these since I used insulin pens, but just in case a situation might arise that I need a clean syringe I am ready. Lancets, a have a lot of those, probably around 50. Humalog, I will be bringing 8 pens with me. Lantus, I will bring 6 pens. 

Other non-diabetic related medications:

Tums. Big bandaids. Little bandaids. Stomach Relief Aid pills, think Pepto, never used them but want to be prepared. Malarone, a 75 day supply. Birth control, I don't want female cycles occurring during this awesome journey, just no. Allegra, just in case my allergies flare up. Aleve, for the 27 mile hike into Machu Picchu. Anti-itch Allergy Cream, for all of those inevitable bug bites. Airborne gummies, to help keep my immune system in check. Water purification tablets, this is specifically for the Inca Trail hike, but could come in handy at other times. Two Platypus collapsable 1 Liter water bottles. 

Bags 

I went to my not at all local REI while vacationing in California to find the perfect bag for my trip. I wanted something that was a medium capacity and could be used as a carry-on, could allow me to zip it down to the base to retrieve items from the bottom of the bag easily, and had awesome pockets and storage. This is when the beautiful Kelty Redwing 50 called my name. This beauty comes from a brand that I know, love, and trust. It is the smaller version of the Redwing 50 so it is technically 49 Liters, rather than it's male counterpart that is 52 Liters. The bag itself is only 3 lbs 3 oz. I cannot explain how much I love this bag anymore without sounding like a weirdo, but trust me, I cannot wait to take this thing on our little adventure together. 

The second of the bags, the Columbia Silver Ridge 30 Liter, is the bag that I plan to use for day hikes around the cities and on my four day Inca Trail hike. The backpack is pretty sweet with it being a 30 Liter at 2 lbs 8 oz and comfortable straps, and even a waist belt for support. However, the small feature that won my mother over when she was helping me pick it out was the small built in whistle included in the sternum strap. I thought the built in rain cover was cooler, but okay, safety first, mom. 

As the trip nears closer and I have all of the gear in order I will add another entry on what I plan to wear for the trip and other random thoughts in which I did not include here. Hope this was helpful or, at least, somewhat entertaining to read for those who do not plan to journey into SA.