I wanted to see traditional Peruvian culture and communities, Inca ruins, and the Nazca lines. That meant I was going to Nazca (a desert) and Cusco (highlands). Thats almost a stark contrast.
So that meant instead of packing a number of sweaters, I packed 1, and I could layer up on tshirts and pants if I need to. To pack very little, I had to give up a diversity of looks for my photos, and stick to maybe just two or three tshirts.
I'm not going in rainy season, but I did bring a windbreaker as a jacket and in case it rains.
My suitcase is the kind where if you packed it to the brim with your everyday clothes, the most it'll weigh is maybe 35lbs.
Here's how mine looks so far, excluding a hoodie, and a few summer tee's, charges and batteries.
How to Pack a Lot in a Small Suitcase:
1. You can line the suitcase with thin clothes. In my case, I'm taking material/textile to a rural community so they can sew clothes for the children. You will see the black and white material I lined the suitcase with in the above photo.
2. ROLL everything nice and tight. Maintain the tight rolling with an elastic band (as you can see with the grey sweat pants)
3. Take all food out of the boxes (i.e. granola bars, crackers, tea bags etc.)
4. Place flat items like underwear and bras in the top/outside pockets. Make good use of those external pockets. Most of the time they don't search your suitcase, so your packing will be maintained. They just x-ray the suitcase.
5. Most suitcases have a lining that will allow you to unzip a thin lining that reveals the skeleton of the suitcase that might have some free space. Pack items there, as the photo below will show.
3. Take all food out of the boxes (i.e. granola bars, crackers, tea bags etc.)
4. Place flat items like underwear and bras in the top/outside pockets. Make good use of those external pockets. Most of the time they don't search your suitcase, so your packing will be maintained. They just x-ray the suitcase.
5. Most suitcases have a lining that will allow you to unzip a thin lining that reveals the skeleton of the suitcase that might have some free space. Pack items there, as the photo below will show.
How to Pack as Little As Possible:
-sacrafice variety: 5 tops for everyday of the week, maybe take just 3. -stick to necessity: dont take a lot of fancy clothes. You're mainly in Southern Peru to rough it. You'll be on a lot of 'Earthy terrain'. People go to restaurants and clubs in regular clothes anyways
-wear the same running shoes you did for trekking to go to the market, or to the restaurant. In other words, wear one pair of shoes. If your shoes get damaged, you'll just buy a cheap pair there, no biggie.
-wear the same running shoes you did for trekking to go to the market, or to the restaurant. In other words, wear one pair of shoes. If your shoes get damaged, you'll just buy a cheap pair there, no biggie.
-two pants: one to sleep in, one to hike and go out with, and maybe wear a nice one on the plane. You can use the nice one for when you go to the restaurants n stuff.
-wear some of the thicker clothes on the plane ride; I'll be wearing my thickest item - my hoodie
-pack some of the bulkier items in a carry-on
-go to the Dollar Store or discount store and buy mini empty travel containers; they're a real diamond in the rough. So perfect! Instead of buying some crappy travel shampoos and soaps and face washes, you can squeeze your favourite items from home in these containers:
So what have I managed to pack in this little suitcase so far??!
(the first bit are for the rural communities living in the mountains)
-12 abrasive sponges
-20 girls hair ties
-2 packs of pencils
-a pack of 6 knives
-2 packs of crayola crayons
-1 pack of smiley face balloons
-2 bottles of bubble soap (to blow bubbles)
-ziploc bags
-7 toothbrushes
-1 light cargo pants (that can be shortened to shorts) - helps with the contrast in climates
-1 thing sweatpants to sleep in
-1 windbreaker
-2 sports bras
-8 underwears
-5 pairs of white socks, 1 pair of black socks
-2 sweaters
-crackers
-6 granola bars
-6 fibre bars
-packet to potato flakes for mashed potatoes (carbs help you to counter mountain sickness)
-12 Tetley Tea bags
-1 can of insect repellant
-1 tube of sunblock
-1 full bottle of bath soap and scrub sponge
-1 toothbrush and carrying case
-8 hair ties
-gloves (for a cold night staying with a community in the mountains)
-1 water bottle with spout
-reactine, sudafed and pain killers (some in my suitcase, some in my bag for emergencies)
-plastic bags for dirty laundry or wet clothes that didn't get a chance to dry
-toilet tissue
-orthotics
(the first bit are for the rural communities living in the mountains)
-12 abrasive sponges
-20 girls hair ties
-2 packs of pencils
-a pack of 6 knives
-2 packs of crayola crayons
-1 pack of smiley face balloons
-2 bottles of bubble soap (to blow bubbles)
-ziploc bags
-7 toothbrushes
-1 light cargo pants (that can be shortened to shorts) - helps with the contrast in climates
-1 thing sweatpants to sleep in
-1 windbreaker
-2 sports bras
-8 underwears
-5 pairs of white socks, 1 pair of black socks
-2 sweaters
-crackers
-6 granola bars
-6 fibre bars
-packet to potato flakes for mashed potatoes (carbs help you to counter mountain sickness)
-12 Tetley Tea bags
-1 can of insect repellant
-1 tube of sunblock
-1 full bottle of bath soap and scrub sponge
-1 toothbrush and carrying case
-8 hair ties
-gloves (for a cold night staying with a community in the mountains)
-1 water bottle with spout
-reactine, sudafed and pain killers (some in my suitcase, some in my bag for emergencies)
-plastic bags for dirty laundry or wet clothes that didn't get a chance to dry
-toilet tissue
-orthotics
