Preparing for the trip is expensive too

I knew this trip was going to be expensive, but I didn't realize how much it would cost before I even left. Travelling the places we went involved not just flights and hostals and food, but shots and visas and special gear - stuff so special it cost over $1,300. For example:

• Student ID Card (to get discounts on airfares): $22
• Brazil Visa and fee for expedited service: $165
• Vaccinations and medications for Yellow Fever, Hep A, Malaria and Tetanus: $390
• Gear and clothing (I almost bought-out REI): $656

I knew I would need a backpack (~$180), but there were a lot of other little things Ana found people on-line recommended which I ended up getting. This included a super absorbent, quick drying, shammy-like towel for about $30, a silk sleep sheet (like a super light sleeping bag) for about $40, and a waterproof backpack cover for about $20.

Although at the time I worried a lot of this stuff was a waste, all of it was well worth the money. Most of the hostals we stayed at didn't provide towels, so it was great to have my own that would be dry when it came time to pack and therefore not get smelly. Most of the hostals we stayed at also didn't provide the greatest bed linens (surprise), so having a cool and comfy sleep sheet next to my skin was much better than some scratchy, bed-bug filled sheets. And went it started to pour during our initial hike into the rainforest, I was able to whip our that backpack cover and keep everything inside nice and dry.

Ironically, the one item that I wish I didn't buy was my waistbelt security travel wallet. This seemed like a necessity given some of the shady places we were traveling, but my REI pants had a hidden pocket perfect for credit cards and cash, and on our sketchy overnight bus and train rides I used a binder clip to clip my valuables to the waist of my boxers. After the first few days, I don't think I pulled that wallet out again.