The vacation you have dreamed of is finally here. You are ready to head out for an adventure holiday. Get the backpack and sleeping bag out, throw away the razor, it is time to head to South America.
If you want a vacation that is full of physical activities, South America is a great choice. Airfare may not be cheap, but everything else can be if you choose a country like Peru. You can eat well for pennies a day.
Hiking, white water rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and horseback riding can all be found in Peru. Even surfing is available on the coast. It is a perfect place for backpacking from one town to another. Just cast an eye on your leather watch for the next bus departure and you are off.
Even the cities are fairly casual in Peru. People will dress up more in Lima but no one will look at you too strangely for heading into a fancy restaurant in hiking clothes. Keep your brown boots off the coffee tables and you will be fine. You can pack nice and light as it is easy to get laundry done cheaply.
You may not have been planning on a trip to the beach but do not forget to pack your swimsuit. Many hot springs are scattered throughout the country. Thermal baths are a great way to let your muscles relax after working them so hard.
While you are packing, it is smart to think about layers. Peru is a big country that includes several different climates. If you are hiking around Cusco, it tends to be cold in mornings and at nighttime but you will get hot fast during the day. It is best to have layers that can be taken off as needed.
If you like your gadgets, a men’s sport watch with altimeter is a very cool thing to have when trekking. You can watch how the altitude changes as you hike to Machu Picchu. The trails tend to go up and down quite a bit.
It is hard to find a better place to go for an outdoors trip than Peru. Check that you still have time on your passport, get yourself a guidebook and make your plans. You only have to worry that you will never want to go home.
