Peru clothes question

anonymousegirl · Jul 4, 2015

Hi everyone! First ABD coming up in 28 days--Peru. Just checked the temps for Cuzco and it will only be in the mid 60s, so nights will be much colder. My usual summertime travel plan of a maxi sundress and sandals for evening is probably not going to work! But I hate the idea of wearing the same sporty hiking clothes I am taking for day use.

What did most people wear in the evening at the Sol y Luna hotel (which I hear is pretty nice)?

Thanks,
Lori

tufbuf · Jul 4, 2015

Sol y Luna is nice but it gets cold. You will stay in cottages meaning to go to the dining area, you need to walk to the dining area early in the morning. I don't know how cold tolerant you are but I don't think a sundress is a good idea. You will also will be dealing with the altitude and each one responds differently. The cottages are also heated with a portable heater but they provide fleece blankets. Layering is the key since it is warm when you are under the sun but gets cool in the shade. Have a great time! This is a wonderful trip!!

anonymousegirl · Jul 4, 2015

tufbuf said:
Sol y Luna is nice but it gets cold. You will stay in cottages meaning to go to the dining area, you need to walk to the dining area early in the morning. I don't know how cold tolerant you are but I don't think a sundress is a good idea. You will also will be dealing with the altitude and each one responds differently. The cottages are also heated with a portable heater but they provide fleece blankets. Layering is the key since it is warm when you are under the sun but gets cool in the shade. Have a great time! This is a wonderful trip!!

Yes I have already jettisoned the idea of the sundresses. Pity because they pack and wear well. Now I need to come up with some outfits that can be layered, and still look nice. It will probably be boring black trousers and a warm sweater (and people will be tired of that sweater by the end of the trip because I pack light and sweaters are too bulky to bring a nice variety)

Rapunzellover · Jul 4, 2015

Can you go with a cardigan over the sundress? I do that a lot.

Bobo912 · Jul 5, 2015

When I took this trip, I don't believe anyone wore a dress at any time. There were a lot of jeans, shorts and trail pants. At Sol y Luna, two of the meals we had as a group (the Pachamancha and Pizza making) were at night, in a covered outdoor area, and most people were wearing windbreakers or fleece jackets or hoodies over jeans or some other casual pants. And one lunch we had together at Sol y Luna was normally on the lawn, although we had to move indoors because just as were sitting down to lunch, it started raining. A lot of people wore the same clothes multiple times too. This is a casual trip. I wouldn't worry too much about clothes, other than having things you can layer, because it may be cool in the morning, but quite warm later in the day.

anonymousegirl · Jul 6, 2015

I only worry about clothes because I am pooh sized and if I don't take the trouble to dress in clothes that flatter me, I end up looking like I don't care. This type of clothing (safari, hiking etc) is REALLY not my friend.

Oh well, jeans, hiking pants, and fleeces--here I come!

Thanks for the advice!

kristilew · Jul 6, 2015

anonymousegirl - on most ABDs by day 3 everyone looks like they don't care! It's just hard to look too cute when you're going as much as these trips require.

Having said that, there are "adventure clothes" that can be flattering on any figure. REI and Columbia both make some good plus size women's clothes that can stand up to a day of touring and still look good at dinner. (Look at Columbia's Anytime Outdoor Bootcut pant, and their Arch Cape III vest, and look at REI's Sahara Shirt in short and long sleeved versions)

On the Peru trip, we did not have much transition time anyway - we came back to Sol y Luna, maybe had time for a potty stop and a face wash, then it was on to dinner, which as mentioned in other posts, was outside anyway. And mostly in the dark. So it really doesn't pay to change!

The big thing I'd focus on is good supportive shoes. My family actually wore hiking boots for a lot of this trip, but we all have weak ankles. Good walking shoes, sneakers, or trail runners are a must for all the time you are on your feet!

After 4 ABDs, this is still one of our favorites. You are going to have a marvelous time!

H Sims · Jul 6, 2015

I leave on Wednesday and have quick question about clothes. What did you wear rafting? Is it cold? Water shoes? Did you get really wet? Thanks. One more question. Was there an option to wash clothes at any of the hotels? We are going to come several days before the ABD starts so trying to see if can do laundry along the way or pay if reasonable.

kristilew · Jul 6, 2015

For rafting, we wore swimsuits and tevas. They gave us neoprene suits and waterproof jackets to put over this so we were not cold at all. We brought a change of clothes with us that morning, and the guides had those ready for us in tents at the end of the rafting, along with hot chocolate and tea. A quick change, drink and snack, and we were on to the next thing that day.

I don't recall laundry facilities, but that was probably because I never looked for them. Probably you could check the resort websites to see if they offer a service.

Have a great trip!

H Sims · Jul 6, 2015

kristilew said:
For rafting, we wore swimsuits and tevas. They gave us neoprene suits and waterproof jackets to put over this so we were not cold at all. We brought a change of clothes with us that morning, and the guides had those ready for us in tents at the end of the rafting, along with hot chocolate and tea. A quick change, drink and snack, and we were on to the next thing that day.

I don't recall laundry facilities, but that was probably because I never looked for them. Probably you could check the resort websites to see if they offer a service.

Have a great trip!

Thanks so much for the quick answer. I am about to hit panic mode.

kristilew · Jul 6, 2015

H Sims said:
Thanks so much for the quick answer. I am about to hit panic mode.

No Panic! You will have So. Much. Fun on this trip! I just went and looked at our album and this is what we looked like all suited up:

anonymousegirl · Jul 6, 2015

kristilew said:
anonymousegirl - on most ABDs by day 3 everyone looks like they don't care! It's just hard to look too cute when you're going as much as these trips require.

Having said that, there are "adventure clothes" that can be flattering on any figure. REI and Columbia both make some good plus size women's clothes that can stand up to a day of touring and still look good at dinner. (Look at Columbia's Anytime Outdoor Bootcut pant, and their Arch Cape III vest, and look at REI's Sahara Shirt in short and long sleeved versions)

On the Peru trip, we did not have much transition time anyway - we came back to Sol y Luna, maybe had time for a potty stop and a face wash, then it was on to dinner, which as mentioned in other posts, was outside anyway. And mostly in the dark. So it really doesn't pay to change!

The big thing I'd focus on is good supportive shoes. My family actually wore hiking boots for a lot of this trip, but we all have weak ankles. Good walking shoes, sneakers, or trail runners are a must for all the time you are on your feet!

After 4 ABDs, this is still one of our favorites. You are going to have a marvelous time!

Thanks for the tips! We already have good walking shoes (waterproofed) from various trips this year and last. I did buy some trousers from Columbia-they seem a bit thin for the cooler nights, so I may bring jeans to wear at night (I do feel the cold a bit more than others). I am definitely bringing a warm nightie--if the beds don't have duvets that I can snuggle up underneath, I need warmer nightclothes.

anonymousegirl · Jul 6, 2015

it looks like Sol y Luna has laundry facilities but I don't see any prices.

H Sims · Jul 6, 2015

anonymousegirl said:
it looks like Sol y Luna has laundry facilities but I don't see any prices.

I sent them an email asking for an estimate to do one load. If prices are like US hotels that you must send to front desk, I will just pack more stuff! If I hear back I will post on here.

lost*in*cyberspace · Jul 6, 2015

You're traveling, not putting on a fashion show! Bring comfortable, appropriate clothing. No one will give you a second glance.

anonymousegirl · Jul 6, 2015

lost*in*cyberspace said:
You're traveling, not putting on a fashion show! Bring comfortable, appropriate clothing. No one will give you a second glance.

Oh know it isn't a fashion show. I was planning on leaving my high heels and silk dresses at home. It is just that appropriate clothes in this situation make me look like a fat slob. And there will be plenty of people back home taking a second look at me when I share my wonderful ABD Peru trip on Facebook, and in my personal photos.
So forgive me for trying to look good.

morgan98 · Jul 7, 2015

anonymousegirl said:
Oh know it isn't a fashion show. I was planning on leaving my high heels and silk dresses at home. It is just that appropriate clothes in this situation make me look like a fat slob. And there will be plenty of people back home taking a second look at me when I share my wonderful ABD Peru trip on Facebook, and in my personal photos.
So forgive me for trying to look good.

I am not responding from an ABD perspective, but we travel to Europe at least twice a year in various seasons. It maybe hard to look fashionable while engaging in an outdoor activity such as rafting or something like that, but I understand still wanting to look like you care in pictures, etc.

I find things like a couple of cute scarves for dinner work or even maybe a fashionable cross body bag for when you are out and about. Just a couple of things like this can help you look more "put together" so to speak.

anonymousegirl · Jul 7, 2015

morgan98 said:
I am not responding from an ABD perspective, but we travel to Europe at least twice a year in various seasons. It maybe hard to look fashionable while engaging in an outdoor activity such as rafting or something like that, but I understand still wanting to look like you care in pictures, etc.

I find things like a couple of cute scarves for dinner work or even maybe a fashionable cross body bag for when you are out and about. Just a couple of things like this can help you look more "put together" so to speak.

I am an expert at Europe, even in rainy Amsterdam in March, or super hot Greece last year! It is adventure style travel that bogs me down. I am going for flattering colors and necklines. It will be weird not changing for dinner every night. My first big trip to Europe in 1990, I took one carry-on bag and after a shower every evening, I wore the same dress every night for 21 days! Super flattering print and I could wear cute flat sandals-so comfortable. This is a habit I got into over the last 25 years, only broken for our big African Safari in 2008 (see avatar).

tufbuf · Jul 7, 2015

H Sims said:
Was there an option to wash clothes at any of the hotels? We are going to come several days before the ABD starts so trying to see if can do laundry along the way or pay if reasonable.

When we went way back when (2011), our local ABD guide (ABD guide from Peru) offered laundry services to those who wanted some clothes washed. She knew a lady who would do it for us. I didn't use the service but a number of fellow travelers did and if I'm not mistaken, the laundry woman was in Cuzco.

sayhello · Jul 7, 2015

anonymousegirl said:
I am an expert at Europe, even in rainy Amsterdam in March, or super hot Greece last year! It is adventure style travel that bogs me down. I am going for flattering colors and necklines. It will be weird not changing for dinner every night. My first big trip to Europe in 1990, I took one carry-on bag and after a shower every evening, I wore the same dress every night for 21 days! Super flattering print and I could wear cute flat sandals-so comfortable. This is a habit I got into over the last 25 years, only broken for our big African Safari in 2008 (see avatar).

Personally, I think the key is to wear what you'll be comfortable in! If you'll feel more comfortable getting a bit dressed up for dinner, go for it. You'll see the whole gamut on an ABD. I'd just recommend getting a cute cardigan to wear over it, as otherwise you may get really chilled at night.

Sayhello

Peru clothes question

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