Other Items Not On the Above Packing Lists::
- Personal toiletry articles, soap, shampoo, disposable razors, personal hygiene items, hand sanitizer, etc.
- Prescription medicines - sufficient for your trip plus a few days.
- Malaria prophylaxis - to be fully effective, you will need to begin treatment prior to your trip, and continue for a short period after - consult your physician.
- Other medications such as Tylenol/Aspirin or similar, antihistamine lotion (for insect bites), antiseptic ointment (Neosporin or similar), Pepto-Bismol or other similar medication for upset stomach and diarrhea, antibiotics, etc.
- Tennis shoes or other canvas-topped shoes which dry quickly, with rubber soles. These should be broken in already, you don't want to get blisters on your Amazon trip! These are for wearing in town, on board boats, or on the plane home. An old pair that you don't plan on taking home can be useful for wading in water (for fishermen), or for slogging through mud on forest trails.
- Hiking boots, jungle boots, or gum-rubber boots. Again, be sure these are well broken in! Be aware that if you are hiking on jungle trails, visiting villages, and having a real Amazon experience, your footwear will get wet and muddy. Gum-rubber boots (farmer boots, wellies, etc.), are popular with experienced jungle travelers, they are cheap, easy to put on and take off (no muddy laces), dry quickly, easy to clean, and provide excellent protection against snakes, insects and thorns, to say nothing of mud. They also have excellent tread for walking on slippery trails. Whatever you select, be sure that your footwear is comfortable and broken in. If you have relatively small feet, gum-rubber boots can be readily purchased in Peru. If you have large feet (size 10 and above), get your boots before you come!
- Photographic equipment.
- Hat with wide brim or bill (essential for the tropical sun, useful also for rain).
- Fannypack or small backpack, weather proof.
- Light poncho or rain jacket (essential for trips in small boats). This can be supplemented with a collapsible umbrella in town.
- Swimsuit.
- Lightweight jacket or windbreaker - in the dry season (northern summer), it can feel quite cool while traveling by boat at night. If you are going to be visiting other parts of Peru as well as the Amazon, you will need to add extra items of clothing - the highlands of Peru can be very cold!
- Polarized sunglasses - great for river travel, the glare off the surface of the water can be intense.
- Granola bars (you can get snacks in Iquitos, but the selection is limited).
- Baby wipes- In case a public restroom has no toilet paper, also for wiping DEET off your hands in places with no running water.
- A lightweight refillable bottle, big enough to hold a day’s water supply.
- Ziplocs in assorted sizes (always good to protect your stuff such as toothbrush, and even an equipment such as a laptop or camera while not using it).
- A Vet essential item: Headlamp for surgeries!
- Books to read at night.
- Extra scrub shirts (we can only give 1 scrub shirt to each volunteer. The shirt is yours to keep as a souvenier).
