Having ridden 15,000 miles along the Pan-American Highway from the Arctic Ocean down to the Tip of South America by bus since 2007, I have my packing down to a science. The key is to carry only one backpack. This minimizes the chances of your belongings being stolen or lost.
So what do I bring? Let’s start with food.
You will need food. If you are taking the bus in the United States, buses tend to stop at fast food restaurants or unsanitary diners and cafeterias. Once, at the Portland Greyhound station, my server was preparing my hot dog with gloves on (good) but angrily scratched her scalp with her gloves on beforehand (not good).
If you are taking the bus in Latin America, the local food can be hit or miss. But, because you’ll be on a bus for hours on end, and because the bus is unlikely to have a toilet onboard, you cannot afford food poisoning. Trust me.
With that in mind, bring:
- Luna Bars. Note that I did not say generic granola or energy bars. Bring Luna Bars. I have tried virtually every brand and Luna Bars are the perfect combination of flavor, consistency, and nutrition. And don’t worry, they’re not just for women. Men can enjoy them too.
- Dried fruit. Pretend like you’re being healthy.
- Beef jerky. For the most part, border crossings don’t care about packaged foods. Not knowing the Spanish word for “jerky”, I once had to mime it to a group of befuddled Chilean border agents in the Atacama Desert. They let me keep it.
- Fig Newtons. There’s no particular reason to bring Fig Newtons. I just like them.
Toiletries:
- Toilet paper, toilet paper, toilet paper. Bring as many rolls as you can stuff in your bag. It’s always better to bring too many than too few.
- Kleenex.
- Anti-diarrheal medicine.
- Wet naps. I use these on overnight bus trips to wipe my greasy face in the morning. It can also be used for what I call a “bus station shower”.
- Motion sickness pills.
- Pepto-Bismol.
- Aspirin.
- Soap in soap box. Use this if you get lucky and there’s actual running water at the bus station restroom.
- Toothpaste and toothbrush. Just remember to brush your teeth with bottled water.
- Hand sanitizer. I used so much, whenever I smell it now, I have flashbacks of long bus trips.
- Mosquito repellent. The deeper in the jungle you go, the stronger the repellent you should get. Don’t forget to check with the State Department to find out if you need any vaccinations. I used Jungle Juice in the Darien Gap.
- If you’re going to be at high altitudes, altitude sickness medication or coca leaves.
For entertainment, I bring books and a short wave radio. It’s fun to bring a dozen or so books and leave them for other travelers as you finish reading them. A short wave radio is also entertaining. You can listen to local stations or a faraway station in your native language when you get homesick. But the most fun thing to do is to simply sit on the bus and take it all in– the other passengers, the bus driver, and the scenery. Nothing beats riding the bus.
Images source: Maxichamp
