South America Packing List? • You HAVE to see these 23 Items (2024)

Best Suitcase For South America: Nomatic Carry-On Pro

Backpacks not your thing? That’s ok. Our friends at Nomatic are back again with a great alternative to their badass Travel Bag; the Nomatic Carry-On Pro. 

This suitcase is ultra-durable, sleek, and comes with a handy tech compartment for transporting your laptop and other electronic bits. Nomatic has been an industry leader when it comes to travel gear and that reputation is reflected in the quality build design and functionality of the Carry-On Pro suitcase.  I’ll be honest, I would need more space in my luggage than a carry on allows for such an epic trip. However, if you can pack light for South America then you can take full advantage of budget flights.

Check out our Nomatic Carry-On Pro review to learn more about this epic suitcase. 

Best Camera For South America: GoPro Hero9 Black

For most of us, our smartphones now feature cameras with stunning photo capabilities.

But… if you are an aspiring photographer who wants to take next-level photos and video beyond iPhone selfies, I recommend going with an action camera like the GoPro Hero9 Black.

It does deliver pro-quality video and gives you a bunch of a different angle options and shooting speeds to work with for photos (including a selfie-mode).

Think of a camera purchase like this as a long term investment that will have you capturing epic shots well beyond your time exploring here. If you are looking for something cheaper for video specifically, check out these epic GoPro Alternatives.

Salomon X Ultra 3 Low Aero Walking Shoes

It is true that a lot of South America backpackers spent the whole trip in sandals and flip flops. This is however foolhardy for a number of reasons. Firstly, no matter where you go there will be a lot of walking involved whether this is simply exploring the cities or hitting the trails. Further, wearing flip flop in Cosmopolitan cities like Buenos Aires and Bogota simply screams “tourist”.

I admit that most shoes that are also good for hiking are not the most attractive pieces of footwear. But they are some of the most comfortable and deliver good ankle support for a long day of walking about town. I mean, your body is already going to be suffering enough from all of those 2-for-1 mojito’s, beers and other famous South American party substances.

Plus, the Ande mountains offer some of the best hikes in the whole world. From the Inca trail, to Colombia’s La Ciudad Perdida, get your walking shoes on and get out there!

Check out the women’s Salomon X Ultra 3 Low Aero. 

Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots

If you plan on doing some serious hiking in South America, then you should consider bringing some boots.

This is especially pertinent if you are going above 3500 metres, or are going hiking in Chile, Argentina or Patagonia where it gets really icy and snowy.

Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody

Did somebody just say Patagonia?! Whilst most people imagine South America to be steaming hot, the truth is that a lot of regions get some real weather diversity. If you are headed to Colombia, Peru or Ecuador, then the evenings can get very cool in the elevated regions.

It weighs just under a pound and provides an excellent weight to warmth ratio. If you don’t go for one of the super bright colors, it is pretty stylish and city-worthy also. 

Some form of jacket is absolutely essential for South America.

Check out our best travel jackets article for more inspiration. 

Arc’teryx Beta AR

Did you know that the surface of the earth is over 70% covered in water? And you know how that water got there? Yep because it tends to here rain here on planet earth quite a lot! It is almost a given that at some point in South America, you will come across some hardcore rain. Whether you hit the Caribbean monsoon season, or simply get wet in the afternoon Amazon downpour, a rain jacket will get a good workout.

There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wing gear for it. Don’t let a bit (of a lot) of rain ruin your trip and make sure you are ready with some top notch rain gear.

This is our pick of the many rain jackets we have tried. It’s reliable & stylish and looks good worn out in the mountains or in city bars.

Swimwear

So it rains a lot of in South America and all that water ends up somewhere! There are endless chances to get wet in South America. The beaches of Brazil should need no introduction by now but then there is the lush Amazon river (watch the piranha’s though) and even landlocked cities like Bogota have natural hot springs in commuting distance!

Swimming gear is an essential piece of South America packing.

Travel First Aid Kit

You don’t need to tote around half a pharmacy, but a well-stocked first aid kit should be in all our backpacks. Stuff happens on the road and it’s inconvenient and embarrassing when you can’t manage small situations like a cut finger or hangover migraine.

You can tuck this lifesaver away in a forgotten pocket – and it’ll be there when you need it.

Tip: Add a few bits and pieces to the first aid kit after you purchase it, like extra headache medicine, any personal meds you need (like allergy pills), whatever you take to calm your stomach and a few more plasters.

Travel Insurance From World Nomads

OluKai ‘Ohana Flip-Flops

Circling back to the footwear question, now we are going to talk about sandals. There is always a time and place for flip flops and sandals and South America is no exception. From the beaches of Rio to the poolsides of La Paz, you will not regret throwing a pair of these in your South America packing.

These Olukai flip flops are ultra-comfortable, well-made, and come in a variety of colors. 

Check out the women’s OluKai ‘Ohana Flip-Flops. 

Money Belt By Pacsafe

There is no point denying that South America can be VERY dangerous and tourists are sometimes targeted by thieves. Watch out for bag snatchers, pick pockets and be careful with your drinks as spikings with drugs do occur.

And then there is the violent muggings – I was personally jacked at knife point and I know a few people who had guns pulled on them.

Therefore it is always a good idea to use a money belt to hide your cash just in case something does go wrong.

Patagonia Fitz Roy Trucker

Even on cold days, the sun can be very strong in the Ande’s and can faces in minutes. A good hat is therefore a wise investment. They are also useful for going incognito when you don’t want to stand out like a sore Gringo.

Patagonia makes great hats. I have probably bought three or four of these over the last five years. Simple. Practical. Comfortable. That is what you are after.

Waterbottle – Hydroflask Vacuum Bottle 32 oz. 

Packing a reusable water bottle is probably the best thing you can personally do to combat single-use plastic bottle use whilst traveling. There is simply zero need to buy plastic water bottles. Tap water is mixed bag in South America and its safety varies from one town to the next. Still, you can buy bags of water cheaply and use these to fill up your water bottle.

We love the Hydroflask Vacum Bottle for its quality and because it keeps cold water cold for many hours and vice versa for hot beverages. This bottle is the ideal water bottle to get not just for your South America trip but for daily use. Please don’t be that person buying plastic water bottles. We are all judging you…especially mother earth. 

If you go with the Hydroflask, you’ll probably never need to buy another waterbottle again. 

Petzl Actik Core Headlamp

Headlamps are great for traveling for many reasons. Firstly, they are useful as hell if you go camping or on an early sunrise mountain hike. Then, they come in useful for finding your way to your hostel bed at 3am without having to turn the lights on. They are also a Godsend if there is a power cut (pretty common in India, Nepal or Venezuela) and great for navigating darkened alleyways in Turkey & Spain.

Not all headlamps were created equal and this is one of the best. The Petzl Actik Core comes with a USB rechargeable battery (full recharge in 3 hours or less); however, it is compatible with AAA batteries. Water-resistance is another critical feature. This product can withstand splashing; but keep in mind, water-resistant does NOT mean waterproof.

MSR Hubba Hubba 2p

South America presents some awesome camping opportunities. To make the most of them, bring yourself a good quality backpacking tent.

This is more the choice for those in the market for budget backpacking gear. It’s got all the perks of a top-notch backpacking tent without all the freakishly high numbers on the price tag.

Yeah, it may not quite make the cut as ultralight backpacking gear but think of what you’re getting! The MSR Hubba Hubba 2p  is mega-roomy and has multiple of pockets for keeping your self organized when settling in for the night.As far as budget backpacking tents go, this is one of the best. It’s a happy medium between the ‘prepared for anything’ mode and the ‘I wanted to go for a trek so I bought this for 2000 rupees’ afterthought.

Nemo Disco 15

At some point in your trip to South America, you will probably go camping or at the very least will spend a night at a hostel with insufficient bedding, or with dirty bedding that you would rather not lay in. Therefore bringing a sleeping bag is often a great investment.

There are a LOT of sleeping bags on the market today and we have tried a lot of them. The quality and standards varies and not always in correlation with the price – pricey does not always mean better. The Nemo Disco 15 is a great all rounder sleeping bag packing in warmth, durability and a reasonable price tag.

On top of the essential items listed above, here is an additional suggested checklist of what to pack for a South America trip:

• A few pairs of comfortable pants/jeans
• 1-2 pairs of shorts (summer/late spring)
• A few pairs of socks
• (Sexy) underwear x 2/3
• Ladies: a few dresses, pants, outfits, or desired lady apparel for a night on the town. Whatever makes you comfy! 
• Dudes: A few collard shirts or something half-way decent for a night on the town. Whatever makes you comfy! 
• Smartphone with a good camera for photos if you are not bringing an actual camera
• Portable power bank for charging your phone on the go
• Phone charger
• Amazon Kindle for reading by the pool
• Copy of your passport just in case
• Cash (not too much, there are ATM machines everywhere
• Packable Towel