After years of dreaming about travelling South America, this dream became reality in April 2024. I was finally going to be able to explore the middle of the world in Ecuador, Machu Picchu in Peru, the salt flats of Bolivia, the Atacama desert in Chile, Patagonia in Argentina, and the colonial towns of Uruguay. How I was going to pack for such a vast array of activities and climates was beyond me, but I had to fit everything into a backpack and a large suitcase (I am definitely not a backpacking girly) and here was everything I brought with me (alongside whether I used each item and would recommend it in hindsight).
The Backpack: Essentials
Passport This is pretty self explanatory, but I obviously needed my passport to travel. Annoyingly, I actually had to bring two passports, a newer one as my older one wasn't expired but only had one blank page left, which wouldn't be enough for all of the border crossings, and my older one as it had been used to book my ticket for Machu Picchu, which authorities made clear would be needed.
ID card Although I was already carrying two British passports on me, I also packed my Portuguese ID card, on the off chance that if anything went wrong, I'd have two countries' embassies I could visit, and also to have a form of ID on me without carrying my passport on my person.
Yellow fever certificate Again, this is a boring item but was compulsory as I'd travelled throughout South America previously and many countries required evidence of vaccination against yellow fever.
Travel insurance
Boring but essential, I carried a copy of this in my bag at all times in case anything went wrong. In fact, I opened a bank account specifically because it offered good travel insurance coverage. Luckily, I didn't need to make any claims on this trip, but we couldn't have done the Gadventures portion of our trip without it and given that I visited Ecuador immediately following a State of Emergency, it was better to be on the safe side.
Uniqlo bag When I say that this was by far my most used and appreciated item that I packed, that is not an understatement. This bag was on my person at all times and could fit an insane amount of things inside it, including: a 500ml water bottle, a book, hand cream, lip balm, suncream, my passport, a small purse, sunglasses, my phone, pills, and a snack bar. It was extremely convenient and I felt secure as all of my valuables were in sight and against my person at all times, so whenever I was in crowds I would hold my arm over it and no one could access it. I also often put it under jackets and even attached a cap to the strap via a carabiner. I bought this bag specifically for this trip and it was honestly a game changer - I cannot recommend it enough!
Snack bars This may seem dramatic, as of course you can buy these abroad, but I got through every snack bar that I'd brought with me as often we'd have early rises or not stop for breakfast so these snacks were a huge help.
Headphones
Headphones are a must, and I brought both overear headphones and AirPods. There is a lot of travel time when travelling, and we went on every form of transport including planes, trains, cars, buses, coaches, and boats, so we had a lot of free time to listen to music and podcasts.
Notebook and pen
Although I wanted to buy a notebook abroad and create a little travel diary throughout my trip (which I did and is one of my favourite souvenirs of the trip), I also brought a small notebook with me (gifted by Audley for the Argentine leg of the trip) on the off-chance that I needed to write something down or ran out of pages in my other notebook. Obviously, a pen was needed to write in the aforementioned notebooks.
Phone
This is a very obvious item, however an essential one nonetheless. My mother had kindly gifted me a new phone for my birthday, specifically with a large screen and high quality camera so that I could capture better pictures on the trip, and honestly it made a huge difference. This phone was a life saver whilst abroad, especially as I bought data so used it constantly to order Ubers, check itineraries, and find our way on Google Maps.
Chargers
I didn't bring a laptop or iPad with me as I didn't want to spend my time abroad staring at screens, however I did bring my phone and Airpods, both of which needed to be charged regularly throughout the trip so this was an essential.
Adaptor
In line with the above, I needed an adaptor to charge my phone and Airpods, and my go-to adapter is one with almost all the global plugs, which was perfect given how many countries we were travelling through.
Books
I'm a big reader and six weeks abroad provided the perfect opportunity to delve into a couple of stories. That said, I didn't want to lug around an excess of books that I wouldn't have time to read and likewise, didn't want to be reading when I could be exploring, so I settled on just two books, although both were fairly hefty: A Gentleman in Moscow (one of my all time favourites that I knew I would enjoy), and I Am Pilgrim. I finished both, mainly during solo meals in Ecuador and on flights.
Spare bags
I had an array of spare bags with me, that could be folded and squished in order to take up minimal space. This included a tote bag for the beach, plastic bags for ditry laundry or shoes, and reusable bags for any small shops we did or to throw things in as required. This is something I bring on every trip and always comes in handy.
Cards & UNO
Again, there were a lot of times where we were waiting for buses or on trains, and during these points it was a lot of fun to play some card games. One fond memory I have is of us playing cards on the train to Machu Picchu with some friends we'd made in our Gadventures group.
Water bottle
I brought a 500ml insulated water bottle, which was a huge win as often the weather was very hot so I could keep cold water on my person all day and I could refill my bottle in hotels, hostels or airports for free, without wasting plastic bottles. The only negative with this was that we had to be careful with the water in South America so we often had to buy plastic bottles anyway where there weren't potable water fountains, which was a shame as I try to avoid this as much as possible.
Padlock
This is an essential for any hostels, and whilst we had a mix of hotels, hostels and Airbnbs, during the Gadventures portion of our trip, we spent a couple of nights in dorms of 12 girls, so the padlock kept my mind at ease when I was unable to keep an eye on my belongings.
Sunglasses
I was travelling between deserts, mountains, salt flats, coasts and glaciers, and obviously South America is known for its sunny weather, so these were a non-negotiable. That said, I was shocked by just how useful they were on the salt flats in Bolivia; due to sun reflecting off the bright white expanses, it actually hurt to open my eyes without sunglasses (similar to when the sun reflects off snow whilst skiing!
Money
Before my travels, I was extremely undecided of how much money to bring and which currencies to take out. I didn't want to carry a lot of cash on me, but also I had been in one-too-many sticky situations involving a lack of the local currency (namely in Georgia and Cambodia), so one thing was for sure: I was definitely going to bring some cash with me. I ended up bringing around GBP 500 worth of USD and GBP 500 worth of Peruvian soles, which would cover me for my first two destinations and I converted the remainder of cash (and took out more cash) as I went along
Debit/Credit Cards
I brought two credit cards with no fees abroad, as well as my Monzo. The reasoning for this, was that although Monzo can be a hassle as you need internet to deposit money into the account, I was accustomed to my bank blocking my credit cards and so my Monzo had often saved my skin. As expected, my bank did indeed block my cards several times during this trip (despite me advising that I would be going abroad and pleading with my bank manager to prevent this from occurring), so my Monzo debit card was definitely the hero here.
Purses
I brought a small coin purse with me, as well as a money belt that I could wear under my clothing. I used the coin purse all the time, and it was very convenient to store tickets or receipts that would later be required, however I rarely used the money belt as the uniqlo bag served that purpose and was much easier to access.
Eye mask & ear plugs
Again, we spent some nights in hostels and a lot of time travelling, so whilst we were lucky with having very few inconsiderate people, it is always better to be prepared. I don't remember using the ear plugs but I definitely used the eye mask on some overnight buses and early mornings to block out the light and get a few extra hours of sleep in.
Neck pillow
A guaranteed way to appear a diva whilst following a typical backpacking route is to show up with a large suitcase and neck pillow, but I wouldn't change it for a thing. Although I must have come across as a princess, the neck pillow made treacherous journeys bearable and I'd highly recommend it. Again, we spent a lot of time travelling within and between the countries so whether this was acting as a neck pillow or simply something soft to lay my head on, it was a great travel item.
Conditioner sheets
This is a rogue one, but I saw this recommended by a backpacker before my trip and thought it wouldn't hurt. The idea was that clothing and luggage can start to smell a bit grubby after travelling for a while, and putting a few conditioner sheets in packing cubes (spoiler) and in your backpack will keep everything smelling fresh. Honestly, I don't think I travelled for long enough for this to be needed, especially as we washed our clothes at least once a week, so probably wouldn't recommend, but it's a good idea if you're travelling long-term.
Compact mirror
This isn't a necessity, but can be useful on the go. My compact mirror also contained a mini hairbrush on the inside, which was particularly helpful when space was lacking.
Sleeping bag liner
Okay so hear me out: this was actually on the Gadventures packing list. I initially thought it was overkill and unnecessary, but when I tell you that one hostel we stayed at in Peru felt very unclean and grimy, I was so relieved to have brought this. It is essentially some linen that you can get inside to create a barrier between you and the bedding (or sleeping bag), and whilst I don't think that it's essential, I definitely would recommend if you're staying in (questionable) hostels.
Silk pillow case cover
On a similar vein, this was overkill but was available on the off-chance that the pillow cases in the accommodation were unhygienic. I only used it on the night aforementioned in Peru, however for any fellow curly-haired girlies, I'd recommend this just to reduce frizz if nothing else.
The Suitcase: Clothes
Packing cubes
Despite packing cubes being all the rage, I never bought into the hype, until a good friend of mine raved about them whilst we were in Central America. I decided to give them a go, and for varied trips I think they're great. Mainly, it's ideal having different clothing items or outfits compartmentalised so everything is much easier to find and things stay a bit neater for longer. I bought a set of about 15 in different shapes and sizes and although as the trip progressed I found myself using them less or rearranging my suitcase after washes, I would recommend them!
Winter coat
Many people told me I was being dramatic by bringing a winter coat, and although I did feel silly lugging around a big coat in 32°C, it was definitely needed at points. There was even one night in the Uyuni Salt Flats where I slept in my winter coat because it was so cold. People always associate South America with warm weather and blue skies, however I was making my way to Patagonia and this was absolutely an essential for me.
Jumpers
Again, jumpers were an absolute must; even in warmer climates it was still great to have jumpers to hand for layering and keeping warm in the evenings. I brought four.
Waterproof jacket
My mum kindly lent me a waterproof jacket of hers, which was lightweight but kept the wind out and this was another essential for me. I used it most days, including up Machu Picchu in Peru, in the Moon Valley in Bolivia, and whilst wine tasting in Chile.
Hiking trousers
I'd packed these for one specific hike: Rainbow Mountain. That said, I ended up hiking a lot more than I'd anticipated, and whilst these were lightweight and comfy, they weren't a necessity (most people wore leggings instead).
Leggings
These were ideal, as I could wear them under jeans when I was cold, as trousers for hikes or long walks, and as pyjamas for comfort. I wish I'd brought more pairs as I only had a couple and they don't take up much space at all.
Hiking boots and socks
Whilst hiking boots were a great shout for all the walking we did across different terrains, they were slightly bulky so could be subbed out for some high-quality trainers, however I used them in all climates and wouldn't have changed them for anything. The hiking socks were a bit overkill, but were comfy, warm and didn't slip down at all.
Thermals
I brought two thermal tops, and as you can imagine, these came in handy many a time. They were also very thin so could be shoved in any corner and I'd recommend bringing more for layering.
T-shirts & tops
I brought 14 tops, which was very much an arbitrary number and there wasn't much logic behind it other than that I'd be able to wear two tops a day for a week before needing to do a wash. I ended up doing roughly one wash a week throuhgout my trip so it worked out quite well.
Jeans
I brought two pairs of comfy jeans and one more structured pair, and these items were worn almost daily. Along with my leggings, shorts, and other trousers, three pairs of jeans were more than enough.
Gap-yah trousers
Despite never having taken a gap year, I have several pairs of 'gap-yah' trousers (loose, thin trousers with an elephant pattern on them). These absolutely saved me in Cambodia, where we visited several religious buildings, so had to be covered up, but it was very warm and humid, so needed light clothing. I wore these on coaches and flights as they were comfty but offered full coverage.
Shorts
Although I definitely wore both pairs of shorts I'd brought throughout the trip, I needed them a lot less than I'd have liked. In fact, I probably could have gotten away with bringing just one pair. Nonetheless, they were especially useful in Peru, where the weather was warmer and I was changing outfits several times a day.
Kimono & linen shirt
Although I did get around to wearing the kimono once or twice, I didn't touch the linen shirt, and honestly both of these could've stayed at home.
PJs
I brought two pairs of pyjamas (a summer set and a longer set) so that I could alternate between washes and this was plenty.
Dresses & cycling shorts
I brought three summer dresses, which I wore whenever the opportunity presented itself. I love these dresses as they're lightweight and feminine but make you look put together and can be worn with either trainers or sandals. I wore cycling shorts under each of them so that if it was windy I wouldn't be exhibiting myself, which also prevented any chafing so was a double win.
Underwear
This is obvious but essential and I made sure to bring enough to last me a couple of weeks between washes!
Flip flops
I brought flip flops for any beach days, but also to wear in hostels and airbnbs between my bed and the bathroom. I used them daily and even bought superglue to fix them when they broke in La Paz, Bolivia as I valued them so highly!
Cap
I attached my cap to my uniqlo bag and this was a lifesaver whenever it was sunny (which given how cold it was in some parts, was surprisingly often!). I get sunburnt very easily so this was an easy way to prevent any unwanted surprises.
Swimsuit, bikini and cover up
Although I didn't have as many beach days as I'd have liked, I had a couple and we did a few water activities, such as white water rafting in Arequipa, Peru and these were all necessary items. That said, if one had to go, it'd be the bikini as two swimming costumes was unnecessary.
The Suitcase: Toiletries
Facial wash, retinol, and face cream These are part of my daily skincare routine, which I wanted to keep on track whilst abroad, espeically since I was bringing a large suitcase with me so could afford to pack them.
Scrunchies, hairbands, and hairbrush
As someone with long, thick hair, these were a non-negotiable and were used throughout the trip.
Silk bonnet This is an essential for anyone with curly hair and prevented frizz between washes.
Hand cream and lip balm
These are two items that I carry with me in my day-to-day life as I consider them both to be essentials, and I wasn't about to change that for this trip.
Moisturiser and perfume
Again, these are two items that were used whenever possible and did a lot in making me feel a bit more put together and fresh whilst constantly on the go.
Mini mirror
There were a few situations where having a compact mirror came in handy as a bigger mirror wasn't available, for example on coaches or whilst walking around a town. Furthermore, my mini mirror doubled as a mini hairbrush, which was particularly handy.
Floss, toothbrush and toothpaste
These are self-explanatory and obviously essential.
Tweezers and razor
Again, these were just to maintain a level of kemptness that I enjoy and were used often.
Conditioner
I use a leave-in conditioner for curly hair that I absolutely swear by, and since I was travelling for several weeks, I wasn't able to forgo this item. I also wanted to feel good and not look back on pictures and think that my hair was unruly. With shampoo however, I am much less fussy and I was willing to use whatever was available there.
Suncream (face and body)
I have pale skin and have been burnt many a time in my life, however given the destinations on my itinerary, I packed a lot of sun cream to prevent any burns. It actually ended up being much colder than anticipated in most of the places I visited so burning wasn't as big a problem as I'd anticipated, but I did still manage to get one burn (ironically, it was in Lake Titicaca, Bolivia, where I was all bundled up in even my winter jacket, however my jeans were cuffed so my ankles got burnt.
Nail scissors and nail file
I love having my nails done, but knew that this would quickly become an inconvenience whilst abroad, so instead simply brought nail scissors and a nail file in order to keep my nails in good shape.
Menstrual products Due to the length of time I'd be travelling, I had to bring menstrual products. Whilst a mooncup is great day-to-day, it's not so ideal in countries where a sink isn't always guarenteed in a cubicle and the tap water isn't potable. Therefore I also brought pads and tampons in order to be prepared.
Mosquito repellent x2 I brought two cans of mosquito repellent, specifically the strongest repellent for use in rainforests and jungles, as I am an absolute mosquito magnet and am also allergic to mosquito bites. In fact, the main thing I was nervous about on this trip was being bitten. That said, we actually avoided mosquito season in most countries and throughout the entire trip, I only got one mosquito bite, which was in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I doused myself in repellent in the places with high mosquito activity and kept an eye on the forecast in each city, but was pleasantly surprised (and shocked!) by the lack of mosquito bites.
The Suitcase: Medical
Tissues and antibacterial gel We saw some truly unhygienic toilets, many of which lacked soap and toilet roll, so as a rule of thumb we always carried some tissues and hand san on us. Funnily enough, one of the things that my mum advised me to pack was tissue, as she said that she struggled to find any when she visited Venezuela almost 30 years ago. I noticed this during my travels to Central America in 2023, so brought a few packs.
Wet wipes I also brought some wet wipes with me, which came in handy many a time to clean any dirty surfaces.
Anti-altitude sickness pills
We were planning on visiting Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain whilst in Peru, and then ascending further to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, reaching peaks of 5,300m above sea level. We were also told by various sources that altitude sickness can hit hard and impact our trip negatively, so before leaving to South America, I made sure to obtain enough anti-altitude sickness pills to last me the first half of the trip. Luckily, they seemed to pay off as I wasn't impacted by altitude sickness, although I did feel the side effect of tingling fingers and toes. Unfortunately, one of my friends did struggle with the altitude, but this only lasted for a couple of days in Cusco, Peru.
The pill
This one is self-explanatory, but was essential nonetheless.
Blister plasters
I knew that we would be walking a lot more than I usually do in my day-to-day life, and on top of that, I'd be wearing hiking boots that I hadn't worn since I was 16 on DofE. Therefore, I made sure to bring some blister plasters and wear in my shoes. Luckily, I didn't get any blisters and these came back with me to London.
Piriteaze
I suffer from hayfever in the spring and summer months and am allergic to mosquito bites so I brought some hayfever tablets on the off chance that I was struggling to breathe. These anti-histamines have been life-savers in the past so I brought my fair share of them but luckily they weren't needed. Regardless, it was comforting to have them close by.
Ibuprofen
Painkillers are always useful to have at hand, and although I didn't require them at any point, others did so it was I'd recommend bringing some..
Imodium
Unfortunately, these ended up being a lifeline for me. I had never used imodium before but packed some tablets, following my mother's advice, just in case the food didn't sit well with me at any point. It took less than a week. I found myself taking imodium several times whilst in Lima, Peru and it wasn't a pleasant experience, but I swear by these little pills.
Constipation medication
I also brought medication for the opposite ailment, but luckily this was not required.
Comments