Outbound Collective logo

Packing for 3 months in South America

Not included: how to keep it all organized in your backpack.

By: Kyle Frost + Save to a List

I spent the last 3 months traveling in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. We spent time on the beach, in the jungle, the desert, and on the “highest” peak in the world at over 20,000 ft. We went from sea level to over 15,000 ft multiple times. I packed for efficiency, durability, and a wide variety of conditions. This is by no means a complete (you don’t care what brand toothpaste I brought) or even an ‘optimal’ pack list, but it’s what I brought, and hopefully it can provide you some advice and suggestions for a similar trip.


General Clothing

Traveling for almost 3 months in a wide variety of ecosystems means packing for flexibility. The big winners from what I brought were definitely my Prana Brion pants, which I easily wore more than anything else. The Super Mojo’s doubled as a great lightweight short and swim trunk. On the casual side, levis were nice to have for a change of clothes and chilling around hostels/cities. Flint and Tinder (aka Huckberry) makes some of the most comfortable clothes I own. As always, Ex Officio travel briefs are the ONLY underwear you should consider bringing. Worth every dollar.


Mountaineering Clothing

I covered this in more depth in my Ecuador Mountaineering Gear Kit. If you’re not doing serious mountaineering and backpacking, you likely won’t need the majority of this gear, or possibly just a subset. This is the gear I wore in pouring rain while trekking at 14k ft in Colombia, at over 20,000 ft while climbing in Ecuador, and in the snow while hiking in Peru.


Footwear

I wore my Chaco sandals almost every day in Colombia (and the Galapagos). When the weather cooled down a bit in Ecuador/Peru, my Lems were an everyday choice and the Vasques for bad weather and hiking. I was super impressed with the lightweight/waterproof combination of the Vasque Monoliths. I put these through the ringer on some pretty wet and rugged trails and never had any problems with durability.



Other Accessories/Gear

I tested some Thule backpacks for this trip and was incredibly impressed. 88L is definitely way too much for general travel backpacking, but it was nice to have the space since we were carrying a bunch of mountaineering-specific gear as well. I used the 35L Stir as my every-day daypack and as a summit pack. My Thermarest bag and pad kept us warm in all conditions (even my girlfriend, who is the coldest sleeper I know). Was warm and toasty even when sleeping at over 15,000 ft. Because I was writing and editing photos on the go, the Macbook Pro was a must have. I’ve shot with a Sony system since the A7 was released, and have never regretted the switch. Definitely worth carrying the extra batteries though, as that is the one downside of Sony cameras right now. I had several lenses, but really used the 24–70mm most of the time. The most versatile lens length for travel shooting. BRING TWO BACKUP DRIVES AND CONSTANTLY BACK UP YOUR PHOTOS. Trust me. You won’t regret it. I brought the DeLorme mostly to make my mom happy. It's one of those things you probably won't need but will never regret having if an emergency actually happens.


We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Do you love the outdoors?

Yep, us too. That's why we send you the best local adventures, stories, and expert advice, right to your inbox.

Related

Big Bend Bound: Crafting Your 3-Day Adventure

Erin Newman-Mitchell

Lake Tahoe's trifecta: 3 Days of adventure at Zephyr Cove

Ranz Navarro

10 Ways to make camping in Yosemite National Park even better

Meghan White

Review: Danner Mountain Light boots in Yosemite National Park

Hannah Sibley

Meet TINCUP Whiskey ambassadors Renan Ozturk and Taylor Rees

The Outbound Collective