The Not So Light Packing List for 4 Months In Central and South America

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When I spent 10 months in Spain last year, I brought 2 giant Samsonite suitcases and a small carry-on, plus a decently sized tote bag I used to carry to work that fits a ton of stuff. For the next leg of my travels, I decided to embrace the backpacker lifestyle and for Christmas, asked for an Osprey 70L backpack (55L backpack + 15L day bag).

Before I get into the packing list, here are a few things you should know:

• This is not a guide on how to pack light. This is more of a guide on how much you can actually stuff into a 55L backpack. When I tell people I have a 55L backpack, they comment on how much space that is. But not for me. I have to allocate an extra 30 minutes to get it zipped everytime I pack up to go to the next destination.
• I need options. I’m no fashionista, but I need more than two t-shirts. Plus, I am tall and have giant feet so my shoes take up quite a bit of space. I didn’t even bring my hiking shoes this time around and have been relying on my old Nike Frees, which has so far been working for the short hikes I have been doing.
• I wear daily contacts, so I had to bring at least 4 months’ worth, which came out to 120 pairs. The number of contacts I could fit in my backpack was really one of the deciding factors of length of this trip.
• I would be spending time in tropical climates, but also in not-so-tropical climates, so I needed at least one sweater, a jacket, and jeans.
• I am currently on week 8 (about halfway through). I started my trip at the end of March in Austin, Texas with some girlfriends, followed by the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, then onto Guatemala, and Nicaragua. The jacket, sweaters and jeans were necessary in the highlands of Guatemala. I am planning to travel to Honduras and Panama, and possibly Colombia and Ecuador if there is time (where I will most likely need a sweater again).
• I also got lucky as 6 weeks into my trip I met my mom here in Nicaragua, and I had her bring me a few things, and I sent a few things back with her.
• I’ve worn almost everything. The one thing I haven’t worn much of is makeup (except pressed powder and my eyelash curler – otherwise I look half asleep). I do apply vitamin C serum and moisturizer with SPF daily.
• If there’s ONE thing on this list that I highly recommend, it’s packing cubes! It’s a great way to keep your clothes organized in your backpack. I LOVE the Shacke Pak ones. Also, plastic bags. Lots of plastic bags, especially for shoes. Ok, so that was 2 things.

The Not So Light Packing List

Backpack

• Osprey Farpoint 70L (55L backpack and 15L day bag)

Inside the 55L Main Part:

Packing Squares

• Shacke Pak Packing Squares

Shoes

• Old trainers for hiking and dirt roads
• New trainers for wearing around town
• Flip flops
• 2 pairs dressier sandals (one pair black, one pair tan) – I sent one pair back

Underwear

• 3 bras (one strapless)
• 2 sports bras
• 7 pairs underwear
• 7 pairs socks (2 pair white ankle socks, 4 pair no show socks, 1 pair dual lined socks)
• 2 bikinis

Pants

• 2 pairs yoga pants (capri length)
• 1 pair yoga pants (long length)
• 2 pairs jeans (1 cropped, 1 regular)
• 2 pairs denim shorts
• 1 pair palazzo pants (I’m 5’11” so I needed these for tall women, but they have regular sizes too)

Sleeping

• Lightweight pants
• Sleeping shorts
• T-shirt

Jewelry

• 2 pairs stud earrings
• 1 pair nicer earrings
• 1 long necklace
• 1 set bracelets

Tops

Accessories

Travel size EVERYTHING. Most things can be replenished on the road.

• Hanging toiletry bag (I got mine at Target)
• Foundation
• Tinted moisturizer
• Mascara
• Powder
• Eyeshadow
• Blush
• Makeup brushes
• Eyelash curler
• Travel size sunscreen
• Toner (I ran out of this)
• Face serum
• Face moisturizer with SPF
• Eye cream
• Hand cream
• Travel size body lotion
• Travel size shampoo/conditioner
• Makeup removal/face wipes
• Razor and an extra blade
• Cotton balls/Q-Tips
• Nail file and clippers
• Toothpaste/toothbrush/dental floss
• Travel size deodorant
• 4 months worth of contact lenses (8 boxes)
• Prescription glasses (which I never use but it’s nice to have a backup)
• Hair ties
• Hairbrush
• Hair straightener
• Travel size hairspray
• Argan oil for my hella dry hair (which dropped and broke within the first week)
• Microfiber travel towel
• Tampons (as many as I could fit into a ziplock bag)
• Bug repellent (organic, I don’t like chemicals)

Inside the 15L Day Bag:

Essentials

• Passport
• Driver License
• Small zip wallet
• Money

Electronics

• Laptop
• Kindle Paperwhite (although I mostly use the Kindle app on my phone)
• iPhone 7 Plus
• Portable charger
• Travel adapters
• Chargers and cords for the above. I use the Think Tank cable organizer to hold everything (minus the laptop charger)

Misc – organized in a clear plastic zipper bag

• Eye mask/ear plugs
• Small padlock
• Foldable toothbrush/toothpaste
• A couple of extra pairs of contacts
• Pens (a must when traveling, especially when flying to new countries and filling out customs forms)
• Kleenex
• Advil
• Vitamins (I didn’t bring 4 months worth, just a small bottle’s worth, to take occasionally. I love the MegaFood brand)
• Hand sanitizer
• Some essential oils (tea tree, lavender, DoTerra OnGuard – this last one is great for your immune system)

Kindle Books

So there you have it. As the weeks go on, I’ll slowly recover the minuscule space my contacts are taking up and maybe I can bring a souvenir home for someone. I hope this helped anyone who is a bit of an overpacker and ever wondered how much they can actually stuff into a 55L backpack.

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