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Packing list for Central and South America

Bylibbytes

Packing for any backpacking trip is always challenging and I do have a tendency to overthink (and over pack) 😬

Our last trip was to Asia and South East Asia, and I ended up posting back a parcel of unused clothes and random items midway through the trip. So this time, I want to nail it from the start 😉

There are some items in my bag I realised I can’t live without (mascara, where are you?!) and some things I realised I just can’t justify carrying every day for the occasional use (sorry epilator).

Plus the geography and landscapes of this trip are incredibly diverse and we’ll need clothes and accessories for swimming and snorkelling, hiking, high altitude, dark and cold mornings, hot and humid jungles, deserts, mangroves, tropical islands and more… That’s a lot of environments and climates!

But I think this time I’ve really nailed it, but of course, only time will tell!

Here’s what I’ve taken for this 5 month trip from Mexico to Bolivia.

Clothes

  • 3 Decathlon NH500 tees
  • 2 Decathlon NH500 vests
  • 1 Crop Top
  • 1 nice vest
  • 3 dresses
  • 2 pairs of Acai shorts
  • 1 pair of decathlon ultralightweight shorts
  • 1 pair of Nike leggings shorts
  • 1 pair of long leggings
  • 1 pair of long Acai Trousers
  • 6 knickers, 4 socks, 2 bras
  • Buff
  • Patagonia Hoodie
  • Patagonia Houdini Windbreaker
  • Pyjamas

When we were in India last time, our bags were delayed temporarily, and so we took a quick stop at Decathlon to grab some “temporary” clothes. I found a style of T-shirt there which I just fell in love with; the NH500 hiking tee. With a light cotton blend, feminine cut, but cooling back vents and sleeves, it was probably the most comfortable and cool top I’ve ever worn and stood up to even the most intense heat in Delhi and Bangkok! As soon as I got back, I bought 4 new tops from the same range, and basically that’s all the tops I’m taking, plus one long sleeve lightweight Rab top and one long-sleeve warmer Montane top for higher altitude and cooler mornings.

Also last time, I found that in the fierce heat, short shorts are actually not the most comfortable, so this time I’ve opted for slightly longer styles from my favourite brand “Acai” and invested again in those Nike shorts (which again, I initially bought in India, wore to death and then damaged during laundry in Labuan Bajo).

I’ve got dresses again, but this time, just one longer fancy one, the essential beach cover-up (which I also wore to death last time) and a lightweight shorter dress.

3 dresses (last one was ditched), 6 tops, 4 shorts

I’ve also gone for the long leggings again, for planes and travel days where A/C could be an issue for cold legs! And my trusty Acai pants which are PERFECT for jungle adventures and can be layered over the leggings for particularly cold high altitude jaunts.

With layering in mind, I also invested in the Patagonia houdini wind-proof water resistant layer, as there were a few occasions (mostly on sunrise hikes) where I had to nick Dave’s Inov-8 wind-breaker, and it really does make a difference. This Patagonia one is just over 100g and I’ve been wearing it to walk to the gym whilst we are back, and I think it might be my favourite item in my clothes list at the minute.

I’ve got my pjs, which are shorts and a long sleeve top, if only Dave didn’t like it so cold at night haha!

Pyjamas, 2 long-sleeve tops, Acai pants, buff, Patagonia houdini (folded into it’s own pocket and gloves

Topping it all off I have my buff, again we got from India last time, and a pair of gloves, which I didn’t take last time and felt I needed at least at high altitude and on cold mornings.

Underneath it all, I’ve got 6 pairs of knickers, the Victoria’s secret no-show cheekies are my secret weapon, their ultralight and dry so quickly and don’t get hot or sweaty, perfect under any outfit and completely invisible, I’m obsessed.

Plus 2 bras, one can go multiway for going under the vests.

4 pairs of socks including one pair of thicker smart wool socks.

Plane/travel outfit; leggings, Patagonia hoodie

Accessories

  • Northface cap
  • Tilley hat
  • Roxy surf shoes
  • Havianas*
  • Hoka Challenger 9s

I got this north face hat as it has a clever feature which can accommodate a high pony tail as well as a low one, which I know most women can relate to!

And Dave convinced me to invest in a Tilley hat, no more burned forehead for me haha

Swimwear

  • 3 Roxy bikinis
  • Rash vest
  • Swim shorts
  • Snorkel and Mask*
  • Microfibre towel and hair towel
  • UV headband (can you tell I burned my forehead a lot last time 🤣)

And no I don’t think 3 bikinis is overkill, I took 4 last time, this is a compromise 🤣 and having my own snorkel and mask, I can’t tell you how much of a difference this makes to the enjoyment of snorkeling, as since I have a tiny child’s head (I really do) I can never find a good fitting mask and always leak or fog up. This mask I’ve had for a few years now and is technically a kids one (it’s a ‘young adult’ one by cressi* and fits me PERFECTLY!)

Beauty items

  • Sunbum factor 30*
  • Soltan swim factor 50
  • Mosquito and fly spray
  • Jellyfish cream* – Stops any stings or irritations!
  • Face suncream
  • Face wash (effaclar) and refill
  • Hair conditioner mini
  • Tangle teezer hairbrush*
  • Mini body moisturiser
  • Hair styler
  • Eye cream and face cream
  • Dry shampoo (only for the flight and will be gone after that)
  • Sleep spray (from my anxiety tool kit!)
  • Soap bar
  • Intima Cup*
  • Make-up remover
  • Deodorant
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Scrubber
  • Face serum and scrub minis
  • Make-up bag
  • Shaver
  • Epilator (got ditched, sorry nan! Haha)
  • Baby shampoo (anti-fog which doesn’t sting your eyes!)

Ok so this is where I think I went a bit overkill… But I’ve since got it down from when the pic was taken and am happy with it all, especially considering the weight will go down over time as everything gets used!

My favourite items here are definitely the waterproof suncream, we took it last time in the Maldives and managed to not get burned!

The intima cup has been a game changer for me at (home as well) as it saves SO MUCH money and space on conventional period products, is so easy and comfortable to wear, and yeah for travel it takes up hardly any space and I never have to worry about not having something or not being able to find good products abroad.

The mini tangle teezer is also great, the most compact and lightweight hairbrush I’ve ever had!

Items I regret, but can’t go without, include the make-up remover, so bulky, but since I go for waterproof mascara, if I don’t take it off every night I find it damages my lashes over time, and we can’t have that can we… Plus all the effaclar, but I’ve been there done that with breakouts and teenage skin, and this is the only thing which keeps my skin balanced and blemish free. It’s worth it. And the hair curl cream, but since I’m not taking a hairdryer, it’s kind of a middle ground compromise.

And my makeup bag is 100% ESSENTIAL, and trust me, only taking 4 eyeshadow colours is a BIG improvement for ultralight travel for me, I usually have 15 🤣 plus I ditched the liquid foundation as I found it was too hot and humid in Asia to wear it last time, and I imagine it will be similar here too.

Jellyfish cream, sleep spray, a stress pulse point roll on, plus the Miniroll speaker are all part of my newly formed “anxiety relief toolkit”, which (touch wood) I’m needing less and less, but having them on me helps me feel prepared and in control, so I’d say they are pretty essential too!

Electronics

All normal items I think, but my favourite item is probably the 2 in one travel charger (with interchangeable adapters) and a built in power bank. £30 off Amazon, it’s been one of the best purchases!

The fan was a gift from Dave in Asia, and got used and abused in the hot humid weather.

And since both Dave and I are quite into music, the speaker is a splurge that’s totally worth it, thanks to my mum for getting me this smaller boom to replace the bigger one we took last time, it’s over half the weight and 1/3rd the size 😍

Bags and Misc.

Osprey packs are just the best and this 50L bag is slightly too big in all honesty, and is definitely underfilled, but that means I have room to combine my main bag and day pack into 1 bag once we get there, which will be a bit of a game changer I think, just having one bag. And it’s SO comfy to wear.

I’m also obsessed with my Arc’teryx pack, (another Dave Christmas special), as it’s so functional but also looks really cool casual or out, and fits all the essentials, plus it was elevated by the bag charm my mum got me 😉

Dave also got me the osprey packing cubes which are another game changer for me, I think I’ll be getting them for him for the next trip too haha.

The scrubba doubles as a dry bag and wash bag big enough for a few items and saves washing in the sink as we did MANY times last time haha

Finally, the water bottle is a new addition as we did not enjoy carrying around 2 massive and solid water bottles last time and NEVER used them as actually nowhere we stayed had filtered water on tap 🤷🏻‍♀️ but we read that it’s a bit more eco in central America and we should be able to get refills more often here. Let’s see!

And there it all is, there’s room for impulse buying haha and for gifts 😉 so let’s see how I get on and if I regret any items or sent anything back this time haha

What do you think? Is there anything you would take out straight away, or anything you’d add to this list??? Let me know!!!

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