 |
 |
||
Main | Tripcenter: Faq's | ||
 |
Frequently Asked Questions Q: What should I bring with me? A: Of course, many factors will affect your shopping list. I can say that there were a few items that made my journey better. Below, I have listed some backpack stuffers that may not be so obvious.
Ex-Oficio pants were probably the best investment that I made before my trip. For about $80, I got both shorts and pants that could be worn at the hottest club in Buenos Aires and in the North Bolivian jungle. Those quick-drying, lightweight, comfortable trousers rarely left my legs over six months. Whenever I was feeling a little cold, I'd zip on the pant legs; Whenever I was overheating a bit, I'd zip them off. Whenever I needed to securely place my valuables somewhere, I put them in the concealed pants' pockets. In fact, I just bought another pair of the more rugged version of the pants for my future adventures. Per usual, I lost the pant legs after arriving Stateside.
2-3 Thick Paperbacks - Good books in English were somewhat hard to come by. Although this forced me to read the local dailies, I often yearned for a breezy read. You can find book exchanges in hostels and the like, but you'll find the trash that everyone traded in.
Lonely Planet Phrasebook - This little $7 wonder contains many of the key situational phrases that you'll need such as "Let's go to bed" or "Where is the monastery". It even helped my pal Elliot to communicate with a four-year old while we waited for her parents to make us breakfast. Not that Elliot progressed too quickly, but I thought that he could become fluent before we would be served our eggs.
Miner's lamp, altitude sickness pills, motion sickness pills… - Please refer to the Cusco sections for Elliot's laundry list of entertaining travel accessories.
Mini Chess Board - Playing chess is a good way to pass the time on planes, trains, buses, etc., a great way to meet people, and it fits easily into any day pack. But that's not all, you can enjoy the game and enjoy serene natural locations such as the town square in Cusco. Just watch out for the sock peddlers!
Harmonica - Traveling South America is a great way to learn the harmonica and meet the locals…or drive them away. I wouldn't recommend the guitar. Too difficult to transport and likely to be stolen or destroyed.
Tent, Stove, Sleeping Pad - Depending on how much camping you plan to do, you may need these important camping items. However, respectable, even good, tents and stoves can be rented for about $5-10/day and are not fun to lug around for several months. Sleeping pads are essential (as I learned one very cold night) and can easily be strapped onto a backpack. You may even get lucky like I did and join up with a buddy who has the aforementioned items.
Mini-Mag Light - Essential and easy to fit in the bag.
Excellent Pair of Broken-in Boots - Especially if your feet are > size 10, you'll want the right boots because you can wear them just about anywhere and you will. However, if you're reading this from South America, you may find a good, reasonably priced pair in Punta Arenas, Chile. Well, at least I did.
Long Underwear - For those sub-zero evenings under the stars.
Swimsuit - For those warm days on the beaches in Brazil.
White T-shirt - For any bar, any bus, or any rainforest.
Team/School Hats and Shirts - Probably not recognized by 95% of the people you'll meet but they'll start a few conversations.
Earplugs - Trust me. Just as important as those pants. I gave out a few of these and regretted it as I lost the others.
Clif Bars - You can't find these there. Elliot brought me several to help hike Macchu Picchu. I think Clif needs a market entry strategy into this untapped market.
Favorite Tapes - You can find cheap, rip off versions of music from the Beatles and other favorite bands, but you'll need to come with 10-15 tapes that you really don't mind hearing 20-30 times over the course of a few months. Remember, those bus rides are long, and I was glad to have something to take my mind off the cramped, dark, sometimes lonely rides over bumpy roads. Thank you, Clapton!
Jar of Peanut Butter - Another hard-to-find, sustaining food that filled my stomach.
Cross Trainers/Running Shoes - Great 2nd pair for more relaxed environs.
Sandals - For the warmer climates.
Have a question that isn't answered here, submit a question and we'll post a response on the site. Make sure to check back soon to see your answer.
|
 |
| travelbackpacker.com is dedicated to unique backpacking travel experiences. Viaje A Sudamerica highlights a six month trip backpacking through South America. |
|