The Travel Chica

Live Simple. Consume Less. Experience More.

Packing Round 2

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One of the great things about my visit home is that I get a do-over on packing.  I have obviously learned a lot about what I really need and do not need while traveling in Latin America.

I was gone for 9 months, and I took very little with me. When I go back to Latin America, I will still travel with the same 45L pack and a smaller day pack that I can use for hiking and for transporting my electronics.

Note that day pack has been replaced with something less matchy due to theft.

That means I cannot take more.

I can just swap things out and make better decisions this time around.  Check out my original packing list because not much is changing.

Now I’ll tell you what I am doing differently.

My Strategy

Because I already know I will stay in Buenos Aires for about 1 month before traveling around Argentina, I can take back a few “extras.” My worn-down clothes will come back with me to be used for my time with Andres at the gym. When I move on, I will simply donate or throw away the extras.  When I packed, I made sure everything I plan to travel with long-term will fit into my 45L backpack.  The “extras” are all in another bag.

I am taking a few of my favorite foods that you cannot find in Buenos Aires.  Most of this will be consumed before I start traveling through the rest of Argentina.

I am being nice and bringing back a few things for friends.

Clothes & Shoes

I am not taking any more clothing or pairs of shoes than I brought the first time.  The difference is that I am bringing back new items to replace what is too worn down.  This includes:

  • T-shirts, tank tops, long-sleeve shirts
  • Jeans & tights
  • Tennis shoes
  • Flip-flops (I’ve worn through 3 pair while traveling)
  • Underwear

This time around, I bought some of my replacement clothes so that they would be more multi-purpose.

For example, I am replacing 1 of the 2 pairs of jeans with a pair of black tights.  These can be used as an extra layer when I get to the colder weather in Patagonia.  They can also be the base for a dressier outfit when I am in cities like Buenos Aires.

I also bought a knee-length, flowy dress that will be perfect for hot, summer days and can also be worn with tights when I want to dress up.  I have lived as a scrubby backpacker for months at a time.  I am okay with that, but it sucks when you want to go somewhere nice like a wine tasting or a dinner with a local family you’ve met and have nothing appropriate.

I LOVE Target.

I was able to replace my clothes with cheaper and better quality stuff than I could get in Argentina.

I bought a new rain jacket (which was on sale) to replace the one that was stolen in Ecuador.

Electronics

Point-and-Shoot Camera

I bought a new point-and-shoot camera to replace my 6+ year-old camera.  This was one of my biggest mistakes the first time packing.  I had my D-SLR and assumed I would be using this all the time.  There are two reasons I need a decent point-and-shoot.

1.  Size

A D-SLR is heavy.  Then when you add in the weight of carrying an extra lens, it makes for a long day.  Sometimes I know I’m going out specifically to work on my photography, and of course, I want the good camera with me.  But other times, I am just out and want to have a camera that is light and small in case I see something interesting.

2.  Safety

I learned the hard way when I arrived in Quito, Ecuador and got robbed my first day that there are going to be some places where it is not advisable to take out my D-SLR, especially when I am alone.

I am also not comfortable taking my D-SLR out at night, especially when going out and having drinks with friends.  I’ll be happy to share my opinion of it after I figure out how to use it :-)

I bought the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS with an extra battery.

Portable Music

I bought an iPod Shuffle because my generation 2 Nano is on its last leg and keeps cutting out when I go running.  Some sort of compact MP3 player is also a necessity for long bus rides, and I have many of those ahead of me.

Memory Cards

I did not bring enough memory cards with me the first time.  I brought 3, and 1 stopped working just a couple months into the trip. Now I have a total of 5.  When I go to places like Torres del Paine and Machu Picchu for trekking and hiking, I will need these extra cards to get me through several days without a guaranteed connection for uploading photos to my online storage.

Fitness

Staying fit while traveling is important to me.  Running is usually pretty easy to do, but strength training is more difficult.  So I bought an exercise band that I can use for numerous arm, shoulder, and back exercises.  It takes up so little space and weighs nothing.

And it’s multi-use because I can use it to strap things to my backpack if needed.  There are probably several other MacGyver uses of this exercise band that I will figure out as well.  I am open to suggestions.

Cooking

I know this seems a bit ridiculous, but I am bringing a pepper grinder.  I cook most of my own meals.  Nothing beats the flavor of fresh ground pepper.  In Latin America, even if you go out to eat, you will never find pepper on the table… and certainly never fresh ground pepper.

This is worth the small amount of space it will take up in my backpack.

A Month of Consumables

Here are the special items I am bringing back for the month I’m staying in Buenos Aires.

  • Dove Dark Chocolates
  • Granola Bars
  • Extra Gum
  • Peanut butter
Photo of treats
My special treats.

After my ode to peanut butter post, I am sure most of you assumed this would be on the list.

I hope I didn’t forget anything!  If I did, I can probably live without it.

Comments

  1. Sometimes when I’m packing I always consider to only bring what’s important for the trip. I don’t want to carry a large bag full of unnecessary things.
    Julie Hayes recently posted..sms

  2. Haha, good luck at your coming adventure!

    Yea, the big cameras are great for photography, but it hurts my neck when I wear it all the time. I am considering investing in a smaller, lighter version of those high quality cameras, Panasonic DMC GF-3. (Still has the changeable lens, but much smaller body and almost like a point and shoot)

    Don’t forget your camera and cell phone chargers……..
    Annie recently posted..Japan (19) Narita Airport ~ Omiyage is Serious Business

  3. Oh I wish you had said something. I have an iPod Shuffle that just sits on my desk and is never used. I would have been happy to donate it for a trip through South America!

  5. I’m not surprised by the peanut butter, but I can’t believe you’re bringing a pepper grinder :) Love the list by the way! I have gotten smarter about packing over the years, but my trips are usually not over a month long, so it really only gets difficult for me when I hit many different climates in one trip.
    Sabrina recently posted..Eat This: A Guide to Great English Food in London

    • Different climates are a problem, especially if you don’t know if you can buy clothes where you are for reasonable prices.

      I highly recommend a pepper grinder for anyone traveling in Latin America that plans to cook a lot of their own meals. You will not be disappointed, and the other non-Latinos in your hostel will be envious :-)
      The Travel Chica recently posted..Packing Round 2

    • Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. It of course depends on where you plan to go and what you plan to do, but I think my gear list is pretty good for relatively diverse climates and a mix of city life and outdoors adventures.
      The Travel Chica recently posted..Packing Round 2

  10. The fact that Porteños don’t eat peanut butter is almost enough reason to not visit. On our last trip to BA, we had family that was supposed to fly down. They were also supposed to bring us peanut butter. They didn’t make it. I will leave it up to you to figure out what was more upsetting, no family or no peanut butter.
    Caanan @ No Vacation Required recently posted..Overcome Your Fear of Cruising

  11. I despise packing! I just flew to Chile this morning after a month in Guatemala and was at a loss as to how to pack because it’s the tail end of winter in Chile. Now that I’ve been in Santiago for a few hours, I’ve realized that the clothes I brought are all wrong- way too warm!
    Oneika the Traveller recently posted..New York City (Part 2)

  14. Great list! I’m with you on the Cliff Bars for sure…we didn’t bring enough with us to Taiwan. That was the one thing I asked family to mail us! I absolutely hate packing and never end up bringing the right things.

  18. Oh, I am jealous!!! Can’t wait to hear how the trip goes!!
    Changing subjects, funny how we miss day by day foods we had available all the time. I think food is one of the most -if not the most- difficult thing to get used to when doing long term traveling.

  19. i always love seeing what other people pack for their trips. I’m impressed with how stylish people look with just a few things. it’s when i realize that i’m a crappy packer!!!
    jenjenk recently posted..Eating in Curacao

  22. I completely agree with you about bringing peanut butter! Thankfully, I have been able to find it (though in short supply) in stories in Lima. It’s ridiculously expensive, but for me completely worth it. It’s a small bit of home and just tastes so, so good.
    Meghan recently posted..Point for Peru: Empanadas

  23. I can’t wait to see your pictures with your new camera!

    I have one question: Is your jar of peanut butter under 3.4oz? I ask because I thought the TSA wouldn’t allow you to have jars larger than 3.4oz in your carryon.

  25. Totally agree about the pepper grinder and was so thankful when Chance lent us his.

    Can I tell you I am a total convert for leggings – they are the new zip off pants. When I get hot I just crank them up to my knees, they take up less room and remind me not to eat too much or else everything will show!
    ayngelina recently posted..Bad news at home

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