Inca trail - What to take

Hi

I dont want to carry my full rucksack on the inca trail, (4 day, 3 night) but am not sure if i'll be able to fit everything i need into my day pack. my tour company has listed the essentials, but im still not sure. My questions are...how many changes of clothes are necessary? And will they, as well as water and everything else (feel free to mention everything else you brought with you!) fit into an average sized daypack?

On a separate note, does anyone have any advice on decent...travel proff camera cases (for an SLR)?

Thanks alot,

Will

Hi will,

The inca trail is my best memory of the south american trip. Really isnot a fashion show, dont expect to have shower. A dry tee shirt and sock and a jumper for the evening. Get some nuts or cereales, water, few cubes a sugar in your pocket. off course thousands of films. Enjoy it

Am not worried about fashion, or smelling, so packing minimaly sounds good
Am a bit worried now though becuase ive looked through lots of other threads and it seems the best thing to do (to keep inconspicuous)would be keep my camera in my daypack - the amount of room i have is decreasing!

about a decent camera case for your slr... check out a pelican 1400. Google it, it'll have the demensions. You can get one shipped for under 100usd on ebay, they're amazing, indestructable, and you can tuck them in a big pack. They're not too big, I find mine is absolutly perfect for my camcorder.

Hello Will:
Most of the people take big backpacks but half full, few people manage to fit everything in a day-pack.

Some tips to fit everything in a day-pack:
1) Bring a small sleeping bag that you can tie to your day-pack.

2) Bring some straps to tie things to your day-pack as your sleeping bag and sleeping pad or foam-mattress.

3) Be awared that even your tour provides a foam-pad, you have to carry it.

4) You have to carry a personal bottle of water, so I suggest to buy at the beginning of the trail a cheap bottle carrier.

5) Your camera will have to go outside of your day-pack, something else around your neck.

Certainly you can fit everything in your day-pack, but you will end up with other things hanging from your neck and shoulders.

In regard to clothing, you can make it with one pair of trousers, one shorts, 2 t-shirts, a polar fleece, a wind-breaker and enough underwear and socks for 4 days. I suggest to bring also sandals, gloves and a woolly-hut. Beside clothing you will need a small towel, personal items, sun-block and bug repellent.

Have a great trip,
Ivan

[ Edit: Sorry, no promos please... ]

Bring as little as possible! You dont need half of what you think you do. I talk from bitter experience Lots of clean socks in case your feet get wet and something warm for the nights (e.g. thermals). One guy in our group wore the same clothes for the 4 days which sounds terrible but he was absolutely right! Everyone is a bit smelly anyway so you dont notice.

At the 3rd camp you can have a shower if you want.

The Inca Trail was absolutely amazing! Youre going to have an amazing time!!