You are probably excited about your trip to the southern hemisphere, and you want to make sure nothing is left out. There are a few things to keep in mind when you pack, and the following guide is meant to help you.
Think About the Weather
In places like Colombia, experiences all sorts of temperatures, from strong rain to plenty of sunshine. Some days are hot while other days are chilly. This is the reason it is recommended that you bring raincoats, warm scarfs, long pants, shorts, airy blouses, light clothes, jackets, boots, and sandals. In essence, you’ll want to prepare for several types of weather conditions. Make sure you bring a hat with you because the sun can get pretty strong in Colombia.
A Way to Fit In
It’s important to make the effort to fit into the culture as much as possible but refrain from going overboard. One way to do this is to bring jewelry with colored gemstones for your trip or make sure you get some while there. The reason you are doing this is that many people in this region love color and infuse it in their jewelry, clothes, pottery, and even in their architecture.
Vital Documents
You are going to have to bring along a few documents with you while you are traveling through this vast and exciting country, like your passport. Now, it is impractical and a little unsafe to lug around your passport everywhere you go, so you should also consider having a copy of your passport that you can carry with you.
It may be a good idea not only to print a copy out but to have one stored in your smartphone’s memory, just in case you need to show it to someone. If you plan on traveling into the jungles of Peru, you will need your yellow fever vaccination confirmation that must be at least 10 days old by the time you are ready to go into the Amazon.
You may be able to get a vaccination in a major city for free but only if you decide to stay longer and want to go back into the Amazon. If you are considering some deep-sea diving to explore the ocean’s mysteries, don’t forget you will need a dive certification.
Gear You Will Need
It’s important to bring along the right gear for your trip. This could start by shopping for one of any new men’s backpacks, one that can hold your high-quality DSLR so that you can take pictures of everything that makes this country special.
You also want to make sure you bring along an electric blanket or a thin wool blanket, because of many of the buses and other forms of public transportation in South America blast the AC, making it pretty cold. Or, if you had the honor of being gifted with a custom photo blanket from your loved ones that has one of your favorite photographs on, then you may decide to take that instead, as it will feel like part of home is in South America traveling with you. Whichever one you decide to take though, it is so important that you take something that you can cover yourself up with in case you get too cold. You are also going to need a water filter. There are water filter straws that make virtually any water you drink safe, including some of the water you might find on your trip into the Amazon.
Hopefully, these tips help you have a wonderful time in South America. You will be ready to take in everything the country has to offer without forgetting something. If you can, ask someone who has traveled to the region for additional tips.
