Not sure what to pack for South America? I’ve got you covered. While I ended up staying in South America for five months, I packed with three months in mind.

Pack for all climates

Before we begin, let’s start with this major premise: South America is a large continent consisting of a diverse array of climates, from the hot and humid Amazon jungle to to the arid and cold Andean mountains, so obviously this really depends on where you plan on going exactly. I was going to be mostly in Peru, but had to be ready for anything. Here is how I packed for 3 Months in 1 Carry-On Bag

I actually ended up living in South America (mostly Peru) for those five months. So, I was not  constantly on the move. I did end up buying things for my apartment such as dishes, towels, and a space heater.

Pack some rugged/outdoor wear

You are going to need it!

Unlike more trendy destinations, Western Europe for example, trips to South America tend to involve more rugged and outdoor activities, so the items you pack will likely reflect that. 

My original plan was to go to Cusco, Peru and then Buenos Aires, Argentina–two very different climates. To deal with this disparity, I packed clothes that I knew I could layer.

Cusco, at 11,000 feet in the Andean region, is much dryer and colder than Buenos Aires, which is at 80 feet and borders a large river.

Additionally, I knew I would be trekking the ancient Inca site of Machu Picchu one week, and then strolling the fashionable metropolis of Buenos Aires the next. Quite the packing conundrum.

So what did I end up bringing?

Here is my actual pack list

Here’s my list of what I packed for Cusco, Peru and it all fit in one in 1 Carry-On Bag . I’ve tried to link to the exact product models I purchased, when possible.

1. 1. 7 shirts (1 for dressier occasions, 3 made of breathable material, and 3 T-shirts)
   2. 1 cardigan
   3. 1 scarf
   4. 2 jackets (1 lightweight faux leather jacket and 1 rain jacket)
   5. 1 swimsuit
   6. 1 dress
   7. 3 pants (1 khaki, 1 jeans, 1 sweatpants)
   8. 1 pair of leggings

1. 1 pair of ballet flats
2. 1 pair of sandals
3. 1 pair of sunglasses
4. 1 pair of prescription glasses + glasses case
5. 1 pair of zip-up hiking shoes
6. MacBook Air 13″ + charger
7. Kindle (this is the newer version; I had the old, discontinued one) + charger
8. Smartphone + charger
9. Lonely Planet Spanish phrasebook
10. Small notebook
11. 1 pack of different outlet adapters
12. Canon DSLR camera+ charger
13. 2 debit cards and 1 credit card
14. $100 in U.S. dollars
15. Driver’s license and passport
16. Passport holder
17. Sea to Summit Laundry detergent sheets
18. Travel laundry clothesline
19. Rubber sink stopper (For doing laundry in the sink in a pinch; rarely used this, but was nice to have)
20. Daypack
21. Aluminum water bottle
22. 1 pack of Pepto Bismol chewables
23. Tylenol
24. Ginger candy (If you’re like me and get motion sickness in cars and buses, I highly recommend these for Cusco’s winding mountain roads!) I also love these ginger chews.
25. 7 bottles of prescriptions (I visited a doctor and got precautionary medications for any travel illnesses, such as Cipro for traveler’s diarrhea and Diamox for altitude sickness. Never ended up using either of those. I did end up using Meclizine, which is for motion sickness. I got major motion sickness anytime I got in a car in Cusco, with its high altitude, winding roads, and crazy drivers)
26. 1 pack of wet wipes
27. Travel water purifying system (Never ended up using this, but would be good if you plan on camping in the jungle or something)
28. Headlamp

Items I didn’t end up bringing

These items that are pictured above I ended up not bringing: 1 towel, 1 hairbrush, 1 pair of running shoes. These things pictured above are what I wore on the plane: shirt, tank top, jacket, pair of jeans, pair of boots, leggings, wool socks, and a scarf.

Here are some great tours

It’s important to note that I was not exactly a fashionista during this time; backpacking through South America made me care only about functionality, not style. This made packing much easier.

Recommended South America Packing List

1. Scarves These are great because they’re versatile and can be layered for warmth.
2. Rain-resistant jacket For the times you’re in rainy weather.
3. Good walking shoes
   One thing is true across the board for most of South America: You’ll be walking a lot.
4. Insect repellant
   Much of South America is jungle, which has lots of biting insects
5. Sunscreen
   This is a MUST for the Cusco region, where high altitude means some intense UV rays.
6. Sunglasses
7. A wide-brimmed hat
8. Toiletries you need
   Yes, you will find that you often can buy anything you need in the place you’re traveling to, but, as a female, I can tell you the hardest things to find will be toiletries you’re accustomed to using, such as tampons or makeup, for example.
9. Socks
10. Slip-on shoes (flip-flops or sandals)
    One pair can be for walking around town. Don’t forget water-resistant flip-flops for showering!
11. Shorts
12. Swimsuit
13. Versatile hiking pants
14. Jeans
    Don’t let anyone talk you out of this; everywhere I went in South America, the locals wore jeans regularly
15. Earplugs
    Especially if you’ll be staying in hostels, you’ll find the world to be a noisy place.
16. Pocket phrasebook for Spanish (and Portuguese if you’ll be visiting Brazil)
17. Daypack
18. Headlamp

Frequently Asked Packing Questions

Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?

No. Unless you plan on camping every night, you do not need a sleeping bag. Occasional campers can rent gear once they get there.

Do I need to bring hiking boots?

Unless you are going to wear them on the plane and then use them on a weekly basis while in South America, I say leave the hiking boots at home. They are way too bulky and you can always rent a pair if you go on a major trek.

How many pairs of clothes should I pack?

Fewer than you think you need. My weekly wardrobe consisted of the same 2 pairs of paints (1 khaki and 1 jeans) and about 5 shirts I rotated.

This, of course, will mean you have to do laundry every week (super cheap usually) and you won’t be a fashionista. Anyway, you can always buy more clothes if needed.

Should I bring my DSLR?

This is tough. DSLRs take up precious space in your bag and are heavy. Basically, if you are a professional blogger or photographer, then yes, bring that professional camera because you need high-quality photos.

If you’re not either of those things, then a point-and-shoot–or maybe even your smartphone–will be sufficient for capturing memories.

My Best General Packing Tips

1. Pack clothes you can layer
   This is essential because you’ll be traveling across different climates.
2. Don’t worry about getting everything you think you need into your luggage–you can buy things when you get there.
   As you can see, I did NOT pack well for an Andean winter, so I had to buy a down feather jacket while in Cusco. This worked out perfectly for two reasons: 1) A puffy jacket would’ve taken up WAY too much room in my bag and 2) Buying a North Face jacket (even if it was a knock-off) was much cheaper in Cusco than in the United States.
3. Trying to go carry-on only? Find ways to work around the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule (where you can only bring 3.4-ounce size bottles that can fit into one 1-quart-sized bag)
   I did this in a number of ways: Packing powder shampoo, dry laundry detergent sheets, moist wipes (these don’t count as liquids!)
4. Wear as much as you can comfortably wear on your flight
   This saves room in your bag! Plus, I tend to freeze anyway on flights, so this works out perfectly for me.
5. Roll your clothes
   Yes, this does enable you to pack more.
6. Use packing cubes Packing cubes enable you to pack more, by compressing items and keeping them organized so they don’t slide around in your bag.

What are your best packing tips?

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you buy a product through one of the links I provide, then I will receive a commission–at no extra cost to you. I included links either to the exact products I personally used or products that are similar. Thank you!

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