Packing List

I pack light. The photo above is all I am bringing on my 52-day trip in South America.

Many people have asked me how I pack for lengthy trips (lengthy meaning one month plus). I try to bring as little as possible because I can get anything I need there and it is more fun to bring back clothing from abroad.

Not the most interesting post but just wanted to put my packing list out there. With this being my 5th backpacking trip, I feel pretty confident that I bring just as much as I need but am not lugging around anything that is unnecessary. With over 61 weeks of backpacking experience, I feel like a packing expert at this point. Hopefully this can be useful for people who are not sure how much or what to pack. Keep in mind that this list is all-weather appropriate as I will be traveling in Uruguay and Argentina during their winter and Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, which will be warmer because they are father north and closer to the equator. Also, it is worth noting that I mail back completed journals, read books, presents or clothing that is no longer weather appropriate throughout the trip to keep my bag as light and small as possible. Lastly, this list was pretty much the exact same for my 10-month trip except I had 3 pairs of pants instead of 1, no winter clothes and no drawing tablet.

CLOTHES

3 shirts: 2 shirts and 1 long sleeve shirt
1 pair of long pants
3 pairs of travel underwear (quick-dry and sweat resistant. dries in a few hours after you wash your clothes in the sink)
2 pairs of socks
1 pair of flip flops
1 pair of sneakers
2 bras and 1 sports bra
1 sweatshirt
1 light raincoat/windbreaker
1 set of pajamas
1 travel towel (another worthy investment. dries in a few hours)
1 shawl (to cover my shoulders in churches or use as a wrap)
1 belt
1 small day bag


FIRST AID

bandaids
sunscreen (with either zinc dioxide or titanium dioxide. i don't mess around)
insect repellent with deet
earplugs
pepto bismol
iodine tablets (to purify water)
neosporin
lip balm
2nd skin (for blisters from walking)
aleve

TOILETRIES
(everything is travel size. I can get everything I need there. Why bother with the extra weight?)

Dr. Bronner's (all-purpose soap to use as shampoo, body wash and laundry detergent. can even be used as toothpaste)
deodorant
razor
toothbrush
toothpaste
conditioner
comb

IN MY MONEY BELT

credit card/debit card
100 dollars in cash for an emergency
a $100 travelers check
passport
good luck charm from my grandmother
International Immunization Record

THE REST

Camera
Camera charger
camera memory card
thumb drive (to have a place to back-up my photos)
swiss army knife
book to read for pleasure (always set in the country I am traveling)
travel book
sunglasses
watch
flashlight (to read in the dorms at night)
journal and pens
drawing tablet and drawing pencil
plastic bag (to put wet articles of clothing)
a few ziploc baggies