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.