Packing list

Well, we are about to depart for several weeks in Peru. We'll visit Lima, Cusco, Ollantaytambo, and Aguas Calientes. It is currently autumn in Peru and will become winter while we're there, but the Peruvian winter is mild.

In Lima it is very humid and most days will be overcast. The highs will be in the low 70s and the lows will be in the low 60s. I have found that 68 can become uncomfortably warm if the sun peaks out but can also give one a damp chill if there is a cool breeze.

In the highlands it will likely be very sunny and dry. Any exposed skin can easily burn so I recommend long sleeves, long pants, and a hat. The highs will again be in the low 70s but the lows will dip into the low 30s. If I plan to be out after the sun sets, I am sure to bring along a jacket as the temperature drops rapidly.

Since we will be abroad for nearly a month, we will do laundry several times, but because of our travel dates I am planning to bring clothes for at least a week. We probably won't have time to do laundry in Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes, and we probably won't want to do laundry on our last days in Lima, so I am planning to have clothes to get me through June 18-25, when we return home. With this and the climate in mind here is a rough list of what I am planning to pack.

Generally speaking my wife and I dress in layers and the outermost layer is usually a muted color. We don't really want to stand out as tourists.

Shoes
We will walk a lot, so make sure you have comfortable shoes. I am only taking one pair of shoes, a pair of Vasque light hiking shoes. They are light enough for walking on sidewalks and pavement but the sole is durable enough for light trails and cobblestone streets. My wife, Ardith, is taking a pair of light hikers, too, and she is taking a pair of casual shoes for travel days and knocking around. She's also taking small black ballet flats for hotels and whatnot. Her shoes are small and easy to pack. I would also bring my Chacos but I don't think it will be warm enough for me to wear them much, and I don't want to pack for as little as I would likely wear them.

Socks (7-8 pairs)
Most of our socks are wool or a wool blend, e.g. Smartwool or the like. These have a little cushion and wick moisture. They are pretty comfortable and I want to have at least a week's worth.

Underwear (7-8 pairs)
I want to have at least enough to go a week without doing laundry.

Pants 
I'll have a couple of pairs of dark chinos and a pair of corduroy casual pants. These are pretty comfortable and formal enough for everything we'll be doing. I'm also bringing one pair of easily packable shorts in case it gets really warm one day and we're out doing something active around Lima.

Ardith is bringing a pair of dark jeans, a pair of brown jeans, and one or two other dark pants. She travels in a travel skirt, Mountain Hardware or something equivalent, and she will also have a pair of black loose fitting capris. She chills easily so she's also bringing a pair of capilene long underwear bottoms, but I find that I don't need the extra layer.

Someone also asked about wearing yoga or dance pants. These are probably fine with a long shirt or tunic worn over them. Clothes like leggings that are very tight fitting may attract unwanted attention. Very high cut skirts and dresses or very low cut tops will have a similar effect.

Shirts
I'm bringing 3-4 button down shirts and 1-2 light sweaters. Most days I wear a button down shirt, solid blue or striped brown, etc. These are comfortable and I like to have a breast pocket to carry a little journal and a pen. I can also easily roll up the sleeves if I start to get a little warm. It is typical for men in Peru to wear shirts with collars. Sweaters are nice for evenings in the highlands or in the hotel if it's a little chilly. Wool and alpaca sweaters are particularly nice since they help regulate heat well. Leave space in your bag as you may want to buy an alpaca sweater while we're there.

I'm also bringing 2-3 cotton undershirts, two technical shirts (North Face or something similar), and a wool base layer. I'll probably also bring a t-shirt for a possible warm day in Lima. The wool and technical shirts are good for layering and they wick moisture.

Ardith also wears more layers than I do. She's bringing a couple of technical shirts and a wool base for layering. She also has three long sleeve cotton t-shirts that fold small for packing. For her outer layers, she has thin and thick fleece pullovers. She also has a thin, but warm, alpaca sweater, and a thin long sleeved black sweater.

Jackets
I like to wear a fleece vest. These are warm enough for nearly anything, especially if I have layers underneath. I'll also have a light rain jacket/windbreaker. I do not think it will rain enough while we're there to warrant an umbrella, but especially in Lima, it can mist so much that it's nice to have something slightly water repellant on those days so I'm not slogging around in wet fleece or cotton. Ardith wears a wool vest and/or a light jacket.

Hat
I wear a hat on most days in the highlands, especially at ruins. The only criteria are that it is easy to pack, durable, and more or less sun resistant. It can get pretty windy, so a strap is useful.

PJs
Don't forget to bring something to sleep in. It can get cool at night, so think autumn in Milledgeville.

Bags and Purses
I have traveled with a backpacker's backpack and this is a fine way to go, but this time we're bringing regular luggage. We'll have a couple of suitcases and I will have a small backpack. When we go from Cusco to Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, I'll only take the daypack with a few days of clothes and my laptop. I also take my backpack out during the day sometimes if I need my laptop, but I am careful not to have valuables in outer pockets.

Ardith wears a small purse. She wears it across her body under her vest or jacket.

Toiletries
Don't forget to bring toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. If you have an electric toothbrush, see below.

Medicines
We're bringing some ibuprofen, tylenol, and pepto bismol tablets. It's also good to have a few bandaids, q-tips, and some neosporin. We typically have a small bottle of hand sanitizer, too. Keep any prescription medicines in the original container, which should be clearly labeled. If we need it, we'll pick up some sunscreen and/or bug spray at a local store.

Before we go to Cusco, I'll get a bunch of hard candies. These seem to help with the rapid ascent to 11,000 feet from sea level. The hotel in Cusco will give us a bunch of coca tea, too.

Electronics
The outlets in Peru are 220 volts compared to our 110 volts. If you plug a US hairdryer into a Peruvian socket it will pop and stop working forever. Now, most laptops, ipads, cell phones, and the like have power adapters that work with either 110 or 220. Read the small print on the block on your power cord to see. If you have a hairdryer, electric razor, electric toothbrush, etc., you will need to get an outlet adapter.

Don't forget your laptop.

Cell Phones
You can rent a cell phone in the Lima airport when we arrive. I'm going to buy a cheap prepaid phone here and take it with me. You need a GSM phone that is unlocked, and unfortunately, my Verizon phone won't work. The frequency bands in Peru are 850/1900. I'm taking a quad-band phone from AT&T. Once we arrive I'll pick up either a Movistar or Claro SIM card and prepaid phone card. Incoming calls and texts are free but outgoing calls are very expensive. Outgoing texts are less expensive.

The cheapest and easiest way to talk to your friends and family here is to use Skype. The wireless networks may not be fast enough for the video calls but you can easily do voice only calls.

Miscellaneous Items
If you have glasses, bring a case, and a spare pair. Also don't forget your contact case and solution. Ardith and I will have our sunglasses. The only jewelry we'll wear are our wedding rings and maybe a cheap watch. Bring your camera,  some extra batteries, and the cable that allows you to transfer photos from your camera to your laptop; you may want to upload photos to this blog or to a Facebook page.

You may want to bring a book to read or your Kindle. I'm bring several books relevant to the class that you can borrow for a day if you are doing some research. You might want an ipod or ipad. Don't forget your earphones.

I will have my little moleskin journal and a pen. This is handy for noting things when we're out. It is also good to have a little paper on you to write down things like addresses for taxi drivers.

Bring your passport or everything above is moot, and make three copies: one for me, one to leave at home, and one to use as your id. When we get to the airport I will give you each your ISIC card. You can use this to get discounts on many things. Also, be sure to print the health insurance card that you received in an email a few weeks ago.

Finally, leave space in your luggage to bring some stuff back.  If you think of other things or have some ideas, leave a comment.


RB