South America Backpacking Checklist – Trekking & Camping

I was a novice hiker when I arrived in South America, but I had big goals of completing some epic treks before I left. After reading countless gear review guides, I finally settled on the equipment that I would take with me to South America. In this post I outline my complete South America Backpacking Checklist for trekking, camping and traveling throughout South America.

I spent a year in South America and I completed the 3 day Villarrica Traverse, 4 Day Santa Cruz Trek, 4 day Cerro Castillo Trek, 5 Day Condor Circuit, 4 day Salkantay Trek and 2 day El Chalten loop. In all the treks I stayed dry and comfortable the whole time, and I always felt like I had adequate gear. I had a strict budget to follow and could not spend thousands of dollars on my South America backpacking gear.

Below is a complete South America backpacking checklist of all the gear I used during my year of backpacking through South America. This list is designed for travelers who want to get out into nature and complete multi-day treks on their own. Having confidence in your gear is super important and I only recommend products that I have tried and tested. This backpacking checklist should cover all different terrains and weather conditions that you will face in Patagonia and the rest of South America.

Cerro Castillo

South America Camping & Trekking Gear:

Every product I have listed below is something that I have used (unless noted). I have explained products that I really loved and others that worked but could have been better. Most of the product links below are connected to Amazon. I like Amazon because you can compare products easily and read a lot of reviews to find the best fit (and 2 day shipping!). I also really love REI (if you’re in the USA) because you can go try on gear and get the right sizes. REI also has an incredible return policy if something does not work out for you. There are affiliate links in this post, and at no additional cost to you, I receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated!

South America Backpacking Gear Checklist

Camping on the border of Argentina

Camping Gear Essentials:

Alps Mountaineering Tent – Having a quality tent is essential. My Alps Mountaineering tent has been through a lot and holds up great. It managed well through rain, wind, heat and below 0 temperatures. It’s very light weight for its price point and the customer service is great!
Sleeping Pad – I haven’t used this particular sleeping pad but I have used a similar one in the past. I used an inflatable one in Patagonia but it popped, then I tried another brand and that one popped as well. I won’t be buying another inflatable pad – it’s not worth it.
North Face ONE BAG – I really love my sleeping bag. It’s heavier and bigger than some of the most lightweight bags but I love that it is versatile for all climates. Being able to remove layers in warmer climates is so clutch and now I will never need to own another sleeping bag. I stayed nice and warm even at 15,000 + feet and -10 degrees.
Osprey Ariel AG 65 Women’s Backpacking Backpack – I really love Osprey backpacks and they offer some of the best products in the industry. I love that my Osprey backpack is really light weight, customizable to my body and comfortable on long days. It is easy to access all my gear and 65 Liters gives me plenty of space. Make sure your bag comes with a waterproof cover!

Santa Cruz Trek Huaraz Peru

Backpacking Cooking Accessories –

Ultralight Portable Stove – This is a super cheap and reliable stove attachment. I like that it automatically lights and is so compact. I used my stove over 100 times and it still functioned great!
Pots and Pans – I really liked these pots and pans. There are lighter options out there but these were cheap and did not weigh much. Having the two pans was perfect for cooking up a whole meal quickly. I usually ate out of the pot.
Utensils – This is a 4 in 1 utensil. It’s honestly a little heavy (if you’re really counting weight). I will probably buy something lighter next time like a fork spoon combo.
Swiss Army Knife – The most handy tool! It is great to have a sharp knife on hand, as well as a wine opener and can opener.
Head Light – Having a headlight is helpful for pre-dawn hiking and cooking in the dark.
Isobutane Fuel Canister – You can’t bring these on an airplane but you will find them at any outdoors shop in South America.

Laguna 69 – Peru

Water & Hydration Gear

Sawyer Mini Water Filter – I really liked my little water filter. Thankfully most of the water in Patagonia is drinkable but if you are in other parts of South America or you are unsure then this is a great tool!
Water Bladder – Having a water bladder is critical. They make staying hydrated on hikes super easy and can hold a lot of water.
Nalgene Water Bottle – I like this water bottle because it is lightweight and holds a lot of water. It’s perfect for shorter hikes and for carrying extra water.

The Villarrica Traverse

Emergency & First-Aid

Garmin Mini GPS Satellite – I did not have one of these on my travels but it would be valuable. It could definitely give family some peace of mind knowing that you can get help when you are out in the middle of nowhere and potentially save a life.
First Aid Kit – TBH I also did not carry a proper first aid kit but it is a smart idea. They are a cheap lightweight addition. We always had bandaids, antiseptic/antibiotic cream, tweezers and nail clippers.

San Sebastian Trek Pucon Chile

Clothes & Backpacking Gear:

Footwear:

Salomon – X Ultra 3 Mid Gore- Tex – I loved these boots and I was so sad to say goodbye to them when they finally got destroyed. They were waterproof and super comfy from day one. My first hike was the 2 day Mt. Whitney climb and I did not even get a blister! They got me all across Southeast Asia, Australia and South America and I will definitely be buying another pair.
Lightweight sandals – The waterproof, lightweight Birkenstocks are the best sandals! Super light-weight, durable and comfy. They are great for walking around town and escaping your boots while camping. I like that they are cuter than just cheap shower sandals because I love wearing them when I’m in the cities too.
Trekking Poles – I highly recommend trekking poles in South America. A lot of the trails have difficult rocky inclines and the descents are steep and tough on the knees!

Beautiful Ice Lagoon Cerro Castillo

Cold Weather Gear:

Patagonia Down Jacket – It took me a while to own one of these but I absolutely love it! I used a random synthetic down jacket on my trip in South America, but I am so happy I own this one now. It’s an expensive investment but it will last a long time.
Rain Jacket – Definitely essential in Patagonia! I used an Adidas waterproof jacket that I bought at TJ Maxx and it worked well. You can also spend the money to get a really nice one too!
The North Face Waterproof Pants – I love my North Face Waterproof pants. They have zippers half way up the legs which makes them super easy to take on and off with your boots on. I stayed really dry and they also kept the wind off on chilling nights.
Fleece sweater – I used a North Face ¼ zip jacket and it was good for the extra cold nights. There are places that you will be freezing and having this additional layer is key.
2-3 pairs of workout leggings – I used Lululemon leggings and CottonOn Leggings. I love my CottonOn leggings because they have a fleece lining. Amazon also has a huge variety of workout leggings. Whatever workout leggings you like the best should work great.
Compact Day Hike Bag – I used my Hike Pro Day Hike bag a lot in South America. It is perfect for exploring cities or going on day hikes. It folds up into itself and is super compact.

Lunch Break at Laguna El Blanquillo

Clothing Basics:

2-4 shirts – combo of long sleeve, short sleeve, tank top
2-3 hiking socks – I really like Stance Socks.
2-5 “cute” lightweight outfits for cities etc. I love rompers/playsuits.
1-2 bathing suits – I am always prepared to take a dip in the ocean, river, glacier lagoon etc.
2 sports bras
10 -14 pairs of underwear (Cotton is best for staying fresh)

Cerro Castillo National Park

Toiletries

Mini toothpaste and light weight toothbrush
Light weight hair brush
Mini deodorant (I prefer to have some on my hikes)
Baby wipes – I love a good baby wipe shower. Helps keep everything fresh and clean. Biodegradable ones are a plus, but I always pack out my trash waste.
Sunscreen – My favorite is Sunbum
Shampoo & Conditioner – I don’t bring this on multi day treks but I have it in my backpack as I travel from place to place.

Hitchhiking the Carretera Austral

Electronics:

- Kindle – Having a Kindle is essential! It saves so much weight and allows you to have access to every book. It is really difficult to find good books in English when you are traveling in South America.
- Portable Charger – It is essential to have a charger on multi-day treks. I used my iPhone for navigation and photography so the battery would die after a day or two. Having the charger is key to staying juiced up.
- iPhone – I took all my photos on an iPhone XR – make sure to download maps.me and iOverlander
- Camera – I didn’t travel with a camera but you should definitely bring one if you are passionate about photography.

Argentina Border

Making Adjustments to your South America Backpacking Checklist

The gear that you take on each multi-day trek will likely vary depending on the location and length of the trek. Thankfully, most hostels will let you store your extra gear until you return from the trek. This was super helpful and we only had to bring the essentials. You won’t always be hiking in the mountains so it is nice to have some normal clothes to go to restaurants, hang around the hostels and explore the cities. You should be able to find a place to store these items so don’t worry too much about their weight. The only time we had to carry EVERYTHING was on the hike from Villa O’Higgins, Chile to the border Crossing of Argentina.

Tent Views

Balancing Quality and Price for your South America Backpacking Checklist:

Camping and trekking gear can get VERY expensive. As a long term backpacker, I did not have tons of money to spend on all the gear I would need in South America. I found a lot of cheap, but quality products on Amazon which really helped! However, there are a few items that I would not try to cut costs on. These include: Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and hiking boots. It is worth it to spend a bit more on these gear items because they will make or break your trip.

If you have a huge budget, you can buy even better gear than I have listed here. Head to your nearest REI and buy all the best quality gear!

Hiking to Laguna 69

Tips on Saving Money on backpacking gear:

REI Member Garage Sales are a great way to get high quality gear for a cheap price. They only happen a few times a year so make sure you become an REI member and keep an eye out for events.
Amazon is a great way to get cheap, quality hiking accessories. You can find great electronics, clothes, and trekking gadgets on Amazon for a fraction of the price of brand names
Backcountry.com is another place that always has great deals on top brand gear. They always have sales going on and I’ve managed to find some amazing discounts here.
Find the Sales! Black Friday is another great time to purchase all your backpacking gear. There are heaps of price cuts and deals to be found on all sorts of gear.

Hiking the Villarrica Traverse

Did I Miss Anything in my South America Backpacking Checklist?

Comment below if you think I missed something! Also, make sure to check out all my free hiking guides and resources for adventuring around South America.