Packing List for Peru (in pictures!)

By Meg S.


I just finalized my packing list for the trip so here it is!

1 oz face wash, Argan oil (will use as my daily/night moisturizer), MAC concealer, Sugar tinted lip balm, 2 oz Hawaiian Tropic spf 50 sunscreen, Milani black eyeliner, Tarte travel size mascara, Scope mouth wash, Colgate travel toothpaste, Neosporin, 6 Antihistamine allergy tablets, 5 Imodium tablets, Band-aids, Hand sanitizing spray, 4 Pepto tablets, Cleansing towelettes, Mini mirror, Antiperspirant/Deodorant, J.R. Liggett's Shampoo Bar, Chunk of Giovanni soap bar, Comb, Brush, Toothbrush, Hair clip, headband, pony tail holder, bobbie pins, Azithromycin tablets (antibiotic for stomach issues), Acetazolamide tablets (to prevent altitude sickness)

Vasque Breeze Lite GTX boots, Havaianas flip flops, Toms, infinity scarf, hat, Olympus Stylus Tough camera and charger, neoprene camera case, iPhone charger, headphones with mic, waterproof iPhone case, Big Buddha sunglasses, emergency poncho (will use as a pack cover if needed), Adidas headband, electrolyte water tablets, Petzl headlamp, L.L. Bean Polartec gloves

Jeans, cargo pants, hiking convertible pants, cropped leggings, mesh shorts, pajama shorts, pajama pants, 1 LS t-shirt, button down denim shirt, 2 LS shirts, 3 ribbed tanks, 1 athletic tank top, 3 t-shirts, zip up hoodie, fleece top, sweater, fleece jacket, rain coat shell, bathing suit, 2 sports bras, 3 hiking socks, 4 regular socks

The North Face Cat's Meow sleeping bag, Gregory Jade 50, cross body bag, laundry bag 

Additional items (not photographed)
- iPhone
- Razor
- Bronzer/Blush?
- Quick dry towel
- Platypus water bottle
- Black knit maxi skirt (getting hemmed!)
- 7 pairs of underwear
- 2 bras
- padlock

I'm planning on buying an alpaca sweater and hat if it gets cold. Any suggestions for packing my sleeping bag?? I may have to bring a small duffle bag to store it...

Organization at its finest!

Bags of goodies organized to a T! And so the packing BEGINS! Stay tuned...let's see how many times we'll have to pack and re-pack to make all our stuff fit in our backpacks! 

5 Days!!!

xo MC

Getting Into Gear

By Meg S.

Less than two weeks until our departure I panicked upon realizing that my backpack, a Marmot Diva 36, would be too small to fit my clothing and my sleeping bag. A few days I purchased a Gregory Women's Jade 50 on www.theclymb.com for $100. This backpack retails for $230 so I was pumped to find such a great deal!  As you can see from the pictures below, the Jade is significantly larger and has more structured harness system. Another feature that I like about this pack is the expandable front pocket for storing extra gear. Comment below with any questions about either backpack. 

Visit https://www.theclymb.com/invite-from/MeganSchafer to sign up for The Clymb. 

Marmot Diva 36 size Small (no longer available online), Gregory Jade 50 size XS (available at http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3800500)

Health First!

The last thing we want is a terrible illness to ruin our amazing trip, so we aren't messing around!

Last week, I booked an appointment at MGH’s Travel Clinic. They were fantastic! For a girl who doesn’t have much time, they squeezed me in on my lunch break and I was in and out in a half hour!

I had a 20 minute consultation with Dr. Ryan, who went over everything. He was so wonderful and put all my concerns to rest. Then a quick 3 shots from the nurse and a few prescriptions later, BAM!! Dunzo. So easy!....except about an hour after my shots I had dead arm in both arms for the rest of the day. Owwwwww.

So here’s the dealio with vaccinations when traveling to Peru:

• Routine vaccines are a must. You will most likely have had these shots already, but it is good to just confirm. I thought I was good with my tetanus shot, but needed another one! Every 10 years, you’re due! Then your other ones: flu shot, chickenpox, polio and measles/mumps and rubella (MMR). 
• Hepatitis A-Highly recommended by the CDC and the travel clinic. It is recommended you get your second shot 6 months after the first.
• Hepatitis B- You most likely had these before you went to middle school. Series of three. I remember those bad boys killed. 
• Yellow Fever-This was recommended because we will be traveling to northern Puno. Check!
• Malaria is prevalent in areas we aren't traveling to, so no go on that.

Other then those vaccinations, the doc prescribed me some altitude sickness pills and a another medication that I won’t go into detail about for your own sake. Trust me. 

Another precaution we’re taking is purchasing a bunch of water purifying tablets. Those are a must! No food and water born illnesses please and thank you.  

Disclaimer: This gal is no Doctor! Go see your primary! 

xo-MC

Flying High

By Meg S. 

We had two options for travel from Cuzco to Lima:

hop on a 23hr, bumpy overnight bus for about $40

OR

take a 1hr plane ride directly into the Jorge Chavez Airport in Lima for $100

We unanimously agreed on the plane ride option and booked tickets through StarPeru (http://www.starperu.com/). If everything goes according to plan (easier said than done in a foreign country) our group will arrive in Lima around 10:30am the morning of our departure back to the States. We will have plenty of time to hang out in the airport or do some last minute sightseeing before we leave that evening.

Fearing Altitude Sickness a Little Less...

by Colleen

Altitude sickness has recently been on my mind.  This past weekend I was reminiscing with some friends about my cross country trip to Colorado two summers ago.  One of my old teammates had decided to move to Boulder for the summer and asked if I would join her on the road trip.  We were staying with some of her friends on the Colorado soccer team and being our competitive selves, deciding to join them for a run the second day there.  For those of you who aren't aware, there is a severe altitude difference from Boulder and Boston.  Needless to say, we underestimated the power of altitude sickness and weren't even able to run a mile before keeling over.  This is where my fear of altitude sickness stems from.  Luckily, with the help of these quick articles and plenty of cocoa leaves, I'm hoping to reduce the risk of altitude sickness and enjoy some runs in Cusco before our trek up Machu Picchu. Check 'em out...Article from Runnersworld.com
Altitude Sickness Specifically related to Machu Picchu

Wait, you mean I can't pack a blowdryer or heals?!

So, for those of you who know me, you know I'm obsessed with two things. Hair and Heals. On any other trip, I tend to pack like 5 pairs of heals (exceeding the weight limit of my suitcase...yes it has happened before), my blowdryer (refuse to use hotel blowdryers), flat iron, curling iron, a cornucopia of product, you name it.

So, for this trip, I'm completely letting down my guard, and succumbing to the backpacking gods. I will leave my beloved heals and blowdryer behind. (gasp)

Tonight, while lounging around watching the Bachelor (why did he pick Courtney?! ), little Meg and I were discussing our options for taming our wild manes on this trip. While on the mountain, a baseball hat, our fantastic lululemon headbands/work out headbands and head scarves are going to be the equivalent to like water (well, at least for me). As for just traveling around on our other adventures, we both unknowingly have decided we are purchasing fedora's for this trip! So cute and so casual!

As for the heals, well obviously I'm not bringing them. Hiking boots, sneakers and sandals it is!