South America packing list: Backpacking backpack for 3–6 months (8 kg)

The ultimate South America packing list — what you really need (and what can stay at home)

A 40-liter backpack is ideal for traveling through South America: from Colombia through Ecuador to Peru and Bolivia, in temperatures ranging from 0°C in the Andes to 40°C in the Amazon. One thing to keep in mind: your packing list can make or break your trip. Here's a packing list that has proven itself after thousands of kilometers—not a gram too much, nothing important forgotten.

The most important piece of advice first: Pack half of what you think you'll need. Then take half of that out again. Anything you forget or that breaks, you can buy in South America—often cheaper than in Germany. I bought three T-shirts, sunglasses, and a charging cable along the way, and it was completely hassle-free. What you can't buy: The fun you lose when you're lugging 20 kilos on your back through cobblestone streets in 35°C heat.

Backpacking in South America: Backpacks & Bags (The Foundation)

40-50 liters is enough for everything. I use the Osprey Farpoint 40 — Fits as hand luggage on most airlines (check cabin dimensions beforehand with budget carriers like JetSmart), has a laptop compartment. Also includes a waterproof hip bag for valuables (passport, cards, cash) — ALWAYS wear it on your person, especially in Bogotá, Lima, and Buenos Aires.

A good guideline for backpack weight is around 8 kg without water and electronics, and about 10 kg with everything. Anything more than that will eventually ruin your back — especially on the steep climbs in Cusco, the cobblestone streets in Cartagena, or the endless stairs in Valparaíso.

In South America, you'll walk on cobblestones, through sand, up and down stairs, and climb onto buses that don't have luggage racks. In Peru, I saw a guy with a hard-shell suitcase struggling up the steep streets of Cusco at an altitude of 3,400 meters. The look on his face confirmed it: a backpack was the right choice.

Panniers: Eagle Creek Pack-It Cubes (3-piece set, approx. €25) revolutionize backpack organization. Top in one pocket, pants in another, underwear in a third. You'll find everything in seconds and won't have to rummage through your entire backpack.

South America Clothing: Andean Layering for Backpacking & Trekking

My complete clothing list for 6 months in South America:

• 3 T-shirts (3x Merino wool) — Merino wool dries quickly, does not smell even after three days, and regulates temperature better than cotton. Icebreaker or Smartwool, Approximately 50-70 euros per shirt. Yes, expensive. But after 6 months of continuous use, each one is cheaper than 10 cotton shirts that start to smell after a week.
• 2 pairs of shorts — one for beach/everyday wear, one for hiking (with zippered pockets)
• Lightweight trekking trousers that can be zipped into 3/4 length trousers. Indispensable for the Andes, practical for temple visits and fine restaurants.
• 1 lightweight rain jacket — Doesn't have to be expensive, but it does need to be packable. I use one from Decathlon for 40 euros — lighter than many 200-euro jackets.
• 1 fleece/down jacket — For the Andes, night buses with air conditioning at polar bear levels, and cold high-Andean nights. I had one Uniqlo Ultralight Down — weighs 200g, packs down to the size of a fist and keeps food warm down to 0°C.
• 5 pairs of socks — a mix of merino wool (hiking) and lightweight sneaker socks. 5 are enough; you wash them every 3-4 days.
• 5 Underwear — Merino wool, Exofficio or similar quick-drying options.
• 1 pair of swimming trunks
• Flip-flops — for hostel showers (athlete's foot is real) and beach days
• 1 pair of lightweight hiking shoes — Columbia Newton Ridge or Merrell Moab 3, Ankle-high. Not heavy hiking boots — you'll need them for Rainbow Mountain, Salkantay and other Andean trails, but they also need to be comfortable enough for strolling around town.

Not at all. In six months, I never once thought, "I wish I had packed more." But I did meet dozens of backpackers who sent clothes home after two weeks.

Technology — What really needs to go in your backpack

For me, as a content creator, this is naturally more specific than for the average traveler. My tech setup:

• iPhone 17 Pro Max — My most important tool when traveling. Navigation (Google Maps + Maps.me offline), translation, Uber/Cabify, hostel booking, banking. The camera is now so good that it's perfectly adequate for most Instagram Stories and Reels — ProRes 4K/120fps, Cinematic Mode, 48MP main sensor.
• Anker 737 Power Bank (24,000 mAh) — 140W fast charger for iPhone, MacBook, and drones. Weighs 630g, fully charges an iPhone 17 Pro Max four times. Invaluable on the 22-hour overnight bus from Lima to Cusco without a power outlet.
• Sony A7V + Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 — My main camera body with AI autofocus and 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording. The Tamron 28-200mm is the perfect travel zoom lens — wide-angle for old towns to telephoto for wildlife. It covers 95% of all shots. For those who don't want to spend €3,500 on the A7V: the iPhone 17 Pro Max is sufficient for the vast majority of travelers.
• DJI Mini 5 Pro — Under 250g, therefore flyable in many South American countries with fewer restrictions (check local regulations). 1-inch sensor with 50MP, 4K/60fps, up to 36 minutes battery life. Note: Drones are prohibited in national parks in Peru (Machu Picchu, Cusco Old Town), while Colombia has more lenient regulations. Check SAC or DGAC rules beforehand.
• DJI Osmo Action 6 Waterproof to 20m, 4K/120fps for slow motion. Perfect for snorkeling on Colombia's Caribbean coast, kitesurfing in Brazil, and mountain biking in Bolivia. RockSteady 3.0 stabilizes all movements.
• MacBook Pro 16″ M5 Pro — Only if you're actually editing. Lightroom and Premiere Pro render 4K footage in real time. For casual backpackers: leave it at home and edit with your iPhone (CapCut, Lightroom Mobile).
• Universal adapter — Sockets differ depending on the country: Peru and Bolivia use type A/C, Colombia and Ecuador type A/B, Argentina type I; Brazil, Chile and Uruguay have their own variants (including C, N, L). Skross World Adapter Pro+ With 2× USB-A and 1× USB-C, everything is solved.
• Headlamp (Petzl Tikkina) — about 90 g, €20. For night buses, hostel dorms (when you have to get up at 5am without waking everyone), hikes and power outages (happens regularly in Ecuador and Colombia).
• Kindle — Perfect for long bus journeys. A 22-hour trip from Lima to Cusco goes by much faster with a good book. 180g instead of 300g per book, and you have thousands of titles with you.

Health & Safety — The underestimated part of the packing list

My travel medicine kit for South America weighs a total of 400g:

• Ibuprofen 400mg — For headaches (altitude sickness!), toothache, general pain
• Anti-diarrheal tablets (Imodium + electrolytes) — You WILL experience stomach problems at least once in South America. Without electrolytes, it will quickly become very unpleasant. Pack Oralpädon or something similar.
• Broad-spectrum antibiotic — Ask your family doctor or travel medicine specialist to prescribe a suitable antibiotic. For stubborn bacterial infections that don't clear up with Imodium alone. I had to use it once in Peru — I was back on my feet within 24 hours.
• The UV radiation in the Andes is brutal. At 4,000 meters, you'll get a sunburn in 20 minutes. I speak from painful experience. Buy reef-safe sunscreen if you're snorkeling.
• Mosquito repellent with DEET 50% — For the Amazon, the Caribbean coast of Colombia, and the coastal region of Ecuador. Without DEET, you'll get bitten to pieces. Nobite or Antibrumm Forte.
• Plasters, blister plasters — Compeed for your feet. You'll be doing a lot of walking.
• — Digitally in the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud) + 1 printed copy in your backpack. Passport, vaccination certificate, proof of insurance, credit card numbers, hostel booking confirmations. If your passport is stolen, you'll need these copies for the embassy.

Colombia has modern hospitals in Bogotá and Medellín, but outside these cities, healthcare is significantly weaker. Tourists pay for everything privately, and a return flight in case of serious illness can quickly cost tens of thousands of euros without insurance.

Money & Finance in South America

Two credit cards from different banks (one Visa, one Mastercard) — as a backup in case one gets blocked or swallowed by an ATM. My combination is the DKB Visa and the Wise debit card: both charge little to no fees abroad (depending on the account type; Wise charges a low, transparent conversion fee), and both work at ATMs throughout South America. I also always carry $100-200 USD in cash as an emergency reserve — dollars are accepted or exchanged almost everywhere, especially in Colombia and Peru.

In Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, cash is king. Small restaurants, colectivos (shared taxis), and markets don't accept cards. Always withdraw more than you think you'll need—the next town with an ATM could be a six-hour bus ride away.

What you should NOT pack

Things I keep seeing in other people's backpacks when I travel, and which are unnecessary:

• Extra-large travel towel — Every hostel has towels (sometimes for a €1 rental fee). A small microfiber towel is sufficient for beach days.
• Travel detergent — laundromats cost 1-3 euros per kilo throughout South America. Cheaper and better than handwashing in a hostel sink.
• Hostels provide bedding. For treks (Salkantay, Inca Trail), sleeping bags are either included in the tour price or available for rent.
• More than two pairs of shoes — hiking boots + flip-flops. That's it. Sneakers are just dead weight.
• Paper books — Kindle. A physical book weighs 300g, a Kindle 180g and contains thousands of books. Plus: Many hostels have book exchange shelves.
• — Heavy, slow-drying, and uncomfortable in the heat. Lightweight trekking trousers are superior in every respect.

Packing list as a table — Weight & Cost

My 5 most important lessons after 6 months in South America

It sounds like a cliché, but it's absolutely true. Every kilo less on your back means more spontaneity. You can simply hop on the next bus, stroll through the market, or hike up the steep streets of Valparaíso—without feeling like you're lugging around a boulder. The best investment isn't more expensive gear, but less gear.

I was skeptical about the prices (50-70 euros per T-shirt), but after a month I was completely convinced. The shirts still smell fresh after three days, dry in an hour, and regulate temperature perfectly—cool in the heat of Cartagena, warm in the Andes at 4,000 meters. It works so well that I now wear almost exclusively merino wool at home, too.

3. Your smartphone is your most important tool. Not the camera, not the drone. Your smartphone replaces guidebooks, maps, translators, banks, taxi apps, hostel bookings, and communication with home. Invest in a good smartphone with a decent battery and a usable camera. And: Download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me) for all the countries you're visiting beforehand. Many areas of South America don't have mobile internet.

Having diarrhea on a night bus from Lima to Cusco (22 hours) without Imodium is an experience you definitely don't want to repeat. Electrolytes, anti-diarrheal tablets, and painkillers together cost around €20 and can save you days of misery. Get antibiotics from your doctor as a backup—you probably won't need them, but if you do, you'll be glad you did. Pharmacies in South America sell almost everything without a prescription, but you don't want to have to explain what's wrong in Spanish while you're feeling absolutely miserable.

5. Backups for everything. Two credit cards from different banks. A digital and printed copy of your passport. Emergency cash (100 USD) hidden in your backpack, separate from your wallet. Backup photos in the cloud. This will save you if a card gets swallowed by an ATM—without a second card, you could be stranded in Cusco, for example, and the nearest embassy is in Lima, many hours away by bus.

Camera and technology comparison: What's worth packing in your backpack?

For most travelers, an iPhone is sufficient; a full camera setup is primarily worthwhile for professional content. Further guidance is provided by... Travel camera comparison and the Detailed Sony camera test.

More details about power supply on the go can be found in the overview of the best travel gadgets.

Packing list according to trip duration: 4 weeks or 3 to 6 months

Whether for four weeks or several months: The basic equipment remains compact because regular washing is more important than additional clothing.

• Five pairs of socks, five pairs of underwear and three T-shirts will last for four weeks if you wash every 3-4 days.
• The same clothing choices remain practical for three to six months, as laundromats can be found in every city and tourist resort.
• A 40-liter backpack offers enough space for several months.
• A weight of around 8 kg without any technical equipment keeps the luggage manageable on bus journeys, stairs and cobblestones.

Travel insurance for South America

In major cities, there are modern hospitals, but outside of major cities, medical care is less readily available, and tourists must pay for treatment privately. For extended trips, the insurance should cover more than just a few weeks and include medical expenses and repatriation. When choosing a policy, also check whether repatriation is permitted if medically necessary and whether any planned activities are excluded. (Comparison to...) Travel health insurance for long-term trips explains these criteria in more detail.

As of October 2026.

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FAQ — South America Packing List

Backpack or suitcase for South America.

Definitely a backpack. In South America, you'll be walking on cobblestones, through sand, and up and down stairs, boarding colectivos (minibuses) where luggage is limited to a roof rack, and rushing through airports without baggage carousels. A suitcase is a nightmare here. Plus, many budget airlines (JetSmart, Sky) restrict carry-on luggage to 8–10 kg or charge extra for it—check your airline's policies beforehand.

Do I need a sleeping bag?

No. Hostels have bedding, and hotels do too. For treks (Salkantay, Inca Trail, or Quilotoa Loop), a sleeping bag is included in the tour price or can be rented locally for 5-10 euros. The only exception is if you're camping a lot in the highlands. In that case, you'll need an ultralight sleeping bag that's comfortable down to 0°C.

How often can I do laundry in South America?

Laundromats (lavanderías) can be found in every city and tourist resort. Washing and drying one kilo of laundry costs between €1 and €3. Drop it off in the evening and pick it up in the morning. In six months, I didn't do a single load of laundry myself. With five pairs of underwear and five pairs of socks, you can go four to five days without doing laundry—then it's off to the laundromat.

Which vaccinations do I need for South America?

Yellow fever (recommended for parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil; whether proof is required depends on the route of entry and destination within the country—Bolivia: mandatory for yellow fever areas in the lowlands, Colombia: proof required for some national parks; check with your country's foreign office beforehand), Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid. Optional: Rabies (if you will be traveling extensively in rural areas). Consult a tropical medicine specialist well in advance—some vaccinations require multiple doses over several weeks. Always carry your vaccination certificate—proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required at some borders.

How can I protect myself from theft?

Always keep valuables on your person (in a hip bag under your shirt). Never leave your backpack unattended, not even "for a moment." On buses: place your backpack between your legs, not in the overhead compartment. Use hotel safes for your passport and a second credit card. Avoid wearing conspicuous watches or jewelry (especially in Bogotá, Lima, and Guayaquil). And the most important tip: most thefts happen when you're drunk. Reduce alcohol consumption = increase safety.

What shoes do I need for South America?

Two pairs of shoes are enough for any route: lightweight, ankle-high hiking boots (Columbia Newton Ridge or Merrell Moab, €100–140) for Rainbow Mountain, Salkantay, the Quilotoa Loop, and day trips, plus a pair of sturdy flip-flops for hostel showers and beach days. You can leave your sneakers at home—the hiking boots will be soft enough for city strolls after 1–2 weeks. No heavy mountaineering boots: you don't need them, and they'll add 800–1,000 g to your pack.

Which travel adapter do I need in South America?

A universal adapter that covers types A, B, C, and I will work in almost all South American countries. Peru and Bolivia use type A/C, Colombia and Ecuador type A/B, Argentina type I; Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay have their own variants (including C, N, and L). Recommended: Skross World Adapter Pro+ (approx. €30) with 2x USB-A and 1x USB-C—charges phone, power bank, and camera simultaneously. Cheap, no-name adapters from Amazon bundles often break after only a few uses.

Is a 40-liter backpack really enough for 3–6 months?

Yes — 40 liters is enough for several months. 40 liters fits within cabin baggage dimensions for many airlines (check conditions with budget carriers like JetSmart and Sky), you save €40–80 in checked baggage fees per flight, and you never have to wait at the baggage carousel. Weight is important: anything over 10 kg will eventually ruin your back — especially in Cusco at 3,400 m or in Valparaíso with its endless stairs. 50+ liters is only necessary if you're also taking a tent and sleeping bag for trekking.

How much does a complete backpacking outfit for South America cost?

A basic backpacking set will cost around €800 (backpack €160, merino shirts €150, hiking boots €100, clothing €100, rain jacket + fleece €120, first-aid kit €50, power bank €130). Adding Creator equipment (drone €1,100, Sony A7V + lens €4,350, action cam €450) brings the total to approximately €5,900, or about €6,710. Don't skimp on merino wool, hiking boots, and your backpack—quality will pay off over six months of daily use. You can buy inexpensive basics like underwear, T-shirts, and a rain jacket at Decathlon for €30–40 less than at premium brands.

Is a smartphone sufficient instead of a camera?

For the vast majority of travelers, yes: The iPhone handles navigation, translation, and bookings, and is sufficient for most Stories and Reels. The Sony with travel zoom is primarily useful if you produce professional photos and videos.

How can I keep my packing list small on longer trips?

Plan on doing laundry every 3-4 days instead of packing enough clothes for the entire trip. Laundry facilities in cities and tourist areas allow you to use the same compact selection for several months.

Does all the equipment have to go in the backpack?

No. Those who don't edit or produce professionally can leave out the camera, drone, and laptop and work with an iPhone; this makes the 40-liter backpack significantly lighter.

What should I pay attention to when choosing travel insurance?

Check the maximum trip duration, medical cost coverage, repatriation clause, and any exclusions for your activities. Also, save your insurance certificate and emergency contact information digitally and as a hard copy.

About the author

Max Haase

Travel Content Creator · Drone Photographer · Visual Storyteller

A professional travel creator for over 10 years with over 4 million followers. Specializing in high-end tourism board collaborations and visual travel storytelling.

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