What to pack for a road trip in South America? -

South America is a perfect destination to make a road trip. You will find many routes for a road trip in South America.

Obviously, depending on the country or countries you choose for a road trip in South America, what you put in your suitcase may vary.

Bag or suitcase for a road trip in South America?

In choosing to take a road trip in South America, you will have to choose between a backpack and a suitcase.

This choice will depend on how you intend to travel. Indeed, depending on the means of transport chosen, it may be easier to take a suitcase or backpack.

Indeed it will be easier to walk around with a backpack if you choose to travel by bus. It is true that it is more practical to have only one backpack if you are doingroaming to move often enough.

On the other hand, if your road trip takes place in plane or private car, nothing prevents you from taking a suitcase if it is more convenient for you.

For my part, I went to Peru, Chile and Argentina and I had chosen to take a backpack because I found it much more practical to get around.

What clothes to bring for a road trip in South America?

Obviously, South America is a large continent where weather conditions vary from country to country. Thereby, depending on the destination you choose, you won't need the same stuff.

So I have prepared a approximate list of things to pack in your suitcase that you can refine according to the country or countries chosen.

What clothes to bring for the top on a road trip in South America?

Depending on the destination chosen, it is advisable to bring:

A small down jacket or a warm jacket : even if the chosen destination seems hot, it can always be interesting to have a small jacket in case of cooler weather or wind for the evening in particular for example.
A K-way: the k-way is essential if you decide to go for a walk or simply in case of rain to protect yourself and stay dry.
At least one sweater / sweatshirt : for the evening or for cooler days
T-Shirts : depending on the destination you choose this is probably what you will wear the most, so take a few t-shirts so you can easily change.
Breathable T-shirts for sport and if you decide to go for short hikes.

What clothes to bring for the bottom on a road trip in South America?

Regarding clothing for the bottom, it is advisable to take:

A tracksuit or leggings: this can be important for playing sports or hiking, or just to be quiet at night.
Trousers : at least if the weather is not nice or if it is cold or simply for the evening
A dress and / or skirt: if it's hot, it's always nice to go for a walk in a dress or skirt to visit the cities.
Shorts: whether to visit or to walk, shorts are essential
A swimsuit : if you choose to visit countries located by the ocean.
Hiking socks: if you decide to hike

What shoes to take for a road trip in South America?

The number of shoes to take for your road trip also depends on your destination and what you plan to do there.

If necessary, remember to take:

Small sneakers / ballerinas: for everyday life in order to walk around and visit the different places
Sport shoes : if you are athletic and want to discover the surroundings by jogging for example.
Walking shoes: there are many hikes in South America so if you want to enjoy them, don't forget to bring the correct footwear.
Flip-flops / sandals: if you opt for destinations with beaches, consider tap dancing.

What toiletries to put in your suitcase for a road trip in South America?

Basic toiletry bag: (brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap etc.)
Mosquito repellent : to protect against bites
Intimate wipes: always useful especially on a road trip when you sometimes don't really know where you can land
Solar cream : the sun is strong in South America, I advise you to protect yourself well
Aid kit : with some elements of first aid in case of small problems. For example I advise you to bring dressings, disinfectants, doliprane, treatments in case of tourist etc ...

What accessories to put in your suitcase for a road trip in South America?

Among the essential accessories to take for a road trip, I recommend:

Your photo equipment with for example:
- Phone: essential to be able to contact emergency services in the event of a problem or simply to keep in touch with loved ones
- Camera and lenses: for all photography enthusiasts, a camera will allow you to best capture these beautiful landscapes that you will find along the way
- Gopro: small action camera that will follow you on all your adventures
- Additional batteries: it is important to have extra batteries for your devices if you never have the possibility of recharging your devices over several days
External battery or solar battery: essential in my opinion to be able to remain independent for a few days.
Cap or hat: the sun in South America can be strong so I advise you to protect your head to avoid sunstroke in particular.
Meat bag: a meat bag does not take up space and is very practical when sleeping in places which can sometimes be questionable. It does not take up space and is essential for a road trip in my opinion.
Down: to see depending on the type of road trip you are doing. If you opt for camping or wilderness camping, or even youth hostels, a sleeping bag may be worth taking.
Sunglasses : think about your eyes and protect them!
Headlamp : can be very useful to help you out
Filter bottle: a filter gourd is a great alternative to plastic bottles, there are some very good ones out there today.

With all of this stuff, you're finally ready for your South American road trip, so make the most of it now!

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