Sometimes you watch old movies about travel and see people getting on a train or something with a mountain of bags and suitcases. These people have obviously never had to flag down a chicken bus on the side of the road. That’s something important to consider when deciding what to pack for Central America.
When I was on my recent six-month backpacking trip from Guatemala to Panama, I learned how few material possessions I actually need. It was an almost Zen-like epiphany. If you can’t fit it into a 40-liter or smaller carry-on size backpack, then it’s probably not all that important.
I now feel bad for those people in old movies who overpack. They’ll never enjoy the freedom of going wherever you want without feeling weighed down by stuff. I also wonder, what the hell do they have in all those suitcases, anyway?
So, in this post, I’m going to try to spread the gospel of packing light. I’ve included my packing list of the bare essentials for Central America. You may even find you can get by on less.
General Packing Tips for Backpacking Central America
First of all, pack for comfort. Moisture-wicking athletic clothing is usually best, especially for the steamy lowlands and rainforests. That being said, be yourself. I once packed nothing but khakis and dress shirts, because I’d read that’s what the locals wore. Not only did I find locals wearing shorts and T-shirts, but I felt like a dork the entire trip. Sometimes comfort means dressing how you want to dress.
Secondly, don’t pack anything you can’t replace. Although I feel Central America is quite safe for travel, robberies and theft can happen. You also might just forget something on a bench in a bus station. If you can’t replace it, then leave it at home.
Thirdly, don’t stress too much about packing for Central America. While the countries of the Central American isthmus are generally poorer than the U.S. or Europe, they’re still well connected to the global network of trade and commerce. With a few exceptions that I’ll mention later, you can buy almost anything you might need in small shops or mercados once you’re on the ground.
Fourthly and finally, remember to pack light. Yes, I said it before, but I’ll say it again. The less crap you bring, the happier you’ll be. You can do laundry in hotel sinks or lavanderias. I know overpacking can sometimes help ease anxiety. Like, you want to be prepared for any scenario. I can tell you from experience, you don’t need to worry about it. Most problems you might run into while backpacking in Central America probably aren’t going to be solved by three suitcases worth of clothes.
Central America Packing List
Essential Money and Documents
- Debit card or credit card. ATMs are readily available, so you’ll be using your card to withdraw cash. Don’t forget to call the bank and tell them you’re traveling!
- Passport. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your trip. It’s a good idea to have a paper copy and a picture on your phone just in case.
- Some backup U.S. dollars. $100 to $200 should be plenty. Try and keep dollars in denominations of $20 or smaller bills so you can actually spend them if you need to.
- Money belt and fanny Pack. The money belt is useful for hiding your passport and large amounts of cash under your clothes. A fanny pack (or bum bag for those of you in the U.K.) will keep your phone and daily spending money reasonably safe from pickpockets when you’re out and about.
Speaking of money… be sure to check out our guide to budgeting for a Central America trip.
Bags
- Travel backpack. I used an Osprey Farpoint 40L bag and loved it, but any carry-on size backpack will do.
- Packing cubes. Get the kind that compress things a little bit. They really help keep things organized within your larger bag.
- Day bag. Any smaller sized backpack will do. Ideally, it’ll be something you can roll up and shove in your larger backpack on travel days, or at least comfortably carry in front.
- Toiletry bag. Nice for those times you opt for a shared bathroom.
- Rain covers. A must-have for when you get stuck in a downpour during Central America’s rainy season. You can probably skip this if you’re going during the dry season.
Clothing
- Moisture-wicking underwear. I started wearing moisture wicking underwear for travel, and now wear it exclusively. Good underwear is one of the few things in life I think is 100% worth the cost. They keep sweat away from your nether regions and dry in a jiffy. I like ExOfficio, but get whatever works for you.
- Bras and whatnot for women. I’m not a woman, but I’m sure these would come in handy if I was. My wife brought one sports bra and one regular bra during our six-month Central America backpacking trip. She mostly wore the sports bra.
- Swimsuit. You don’t want to miss out on the swimming! One pair is fine, unless you plan on spending weeks at the beach.
- 5 t-shirts. Five might even be too many. You can wash some out in the sink. Moisture wicking shirts are good, but focus on comfort.
- 3 pairs of socks. You can get away with fewer socks when you’re in warm places and wearing sandals. Lightweight and quick-drying socks are key.
- Shorts. You’ll be mostly wearing shorts on hot days. Bring another pair if you can fit it, otherwise one is fine.
- Lightweight pants. It’s important to pack long pants (or trousers) for exploring the cool highlands, and also protecting against mosquitos. Avoid jeans since they take forever to dry. I actually bought a pair of cheap pants from Wal-Mart that worked amazing.
- Lightweight long-sleeve shirt. Again, great for mosquito protection.
- Athletic/pajama shorts or other sleeping gear. I like having separate shorts to sleep in, sue me.
- Hoodie or light jacket. Things can get chilly in the mountains. Or on overly airconditioned buses.
- Rain coat. Again, only really important if you’re traveling in the rainy season.
- A couple light skirts or dresses. A lightweight, flowy skirt or dress seems like it would be very comfortable on a hot day.
- Bike shorts. My wife swears by bike shorts under a skirt to stop chafing and whatnot. She says yoga pants aren’t nearly breathable enough for Central America’s tropical heat.
Footwear
- Hiking shoes. Hiking boots are too heavy, and normal shoes don’t really do well on rough trails. Hiking shoes are a great middle-ground. You can wear them climbing a volcano and wandering around town.
- Or… Hiking boots and shoes. If you have extra room in your bag, a separate pair of hiking boots and walking around shoes might be nice to give your feet some options. Go for comfort over style.
- Sandals. Decent sandals are an essential item for steamy Central American lowlands. Again, get more durable, hiking-style sandals that emphasize comfort over looks.
- Flip flops. I bought a $5 pair of flip flops at a market in Antigua that’ve lasted me for over a year of travel that I still wear today.
Accessories
- Sunglasses. For sun.
- Hat. Get either a wide brim sun hat or a baseball hat to help give you some shade.
- Glasses. If you have prescription glasses, don’t forget them. Bring a good glasses case along, too.
- Lightweight scarf or bandana. We packed the lightweight Cambodian scarves (or Krama) we got from a friend in Cambodia to wipe sweat and tie around our necks on hot days. A bandana does the trick as well.
Electronics
- Cell phone. I can’t imagine anyone forgetting to pack their cell phone in this day and age, but I’ve put it on the list anyway.
- Charger. If you forget, you can always find a cheap replacement at the local Central American mercado.
- USB charging cables. Again, you can also buy these in Central America, but they’re good to remember anyway.
- International travel adapter. Central America mostly uses U.S. style A or B plugs. The voltage is the same, too. We packed our travel adapter just because it also functions as a USB charging hub.
- Kindle or other e-reader. I love paper books, but the Kindle might be the best invention for travelers who like to read. You can fit hundreds of books in a device that barely takes up any space.
- Earbuds. Earbuds pack up smaller than headphones and are less expensive than AirPods.
Medicine and Health Related
- Sunscreen. Sunscreen is readily available in Central America, but way overpriced in beach areas. Bring some from home, though you may end up needing to buy more.
- Aloe. For those times when you forget to put on sunscreen.
- Insect repellent. Insect repellent is a Central America packing essential. Get the kind with either DEET or picaridin.
- Any prescription medications you might need. Central American pharmacies are generally well supplied, but you don’t want to take any chances with any important medications.
- Imodium. Diarrhea is a frustrating but inevitable part of backpacking in Central America. Be sure to pack plenty of Imodium.
- Pepto Bismol. See above.
- Band-Aids. Band-Aids, or any generic bandage strips, are great for minor cuts as well as blisters.
- Tampons for the ladies. Unless you can get used to pads or a DivaCup.
- Hand sanitizer. Essential for public restrooms that aren’t always equipped with the essentials.
- One roll of toilet paper. See above. Take the cardboard tube out to pack it easier.
Toiletries
- Toothbrush. Dental care is important. Also, throw in some floss while you’re at it.
- Toothpaste. You can buy toothpaste easily in Central America, so just bring a travel-size tube to get you started.
- Microfiber towel. Microfiber towels dry quickly and are great for hostel showers and the beach. Don’t forget to wash them from time to time or they start to stink.
- Deodorant. For when things get sweaty.
- Dr. Bronner’s bar soap. There may be other brands that do the same thing, but we found Dr. Bronner’s bar soap https://www.drbronner.com/collections/homepage-bar-soap to be excellent for both washing our bodies and our clothes.
- Any other personal beauty or hair care products you can’t do without. Some people have nightly skin or hair routines. Again, I’m not here to judge. Do what you need to do to feel comfortable.
Miscellaneous Stuff
- A small dry bag. Dry bags are nice to have to store your phone at the beach or on boat rides.
- Earplugs. Earplugs turned out to be a Central America must-pack for me. I was so happy I had them when someone started launching fireworks at midnight in Antigua, Guatemala.
- Sleep eye mask. I didn’t pack this on my Central American trip, but after some rough nights with awkwardly placed streetlights, it’s something I won’t forget in the future.
- A notebook and pen. I like keeping a journal of my travels. It’s helpful for organizing my thoughts and memories, and very necessary for writing blog posts after the fact.
- A small flashlight. Either a flashlight or headlamp is great when the power goes out, as sometimes happens in Central America.
- Playing cards. A deck of cards can be great for killing time and making friends in the hostel common rooms.
- A small combination lock. Mandatory if you’re staying in hostel dorms. Optional, but nice to have, if you’re old like me and mostly in private rooms.
Things that are Difficult or Impossible to Buy in Central America
As I mentioned above, you can buy almost anything you might need in Central America. The region has plenty of wonderful mercados where you might actually find stuff for cheaper than you can get it back home. You might not be able to get the exact brand you want, but you can usually come pretty close.
However, there are a few things we found difficult or impossible to find in Central America, beyond the obvious like your passport, debit card and prescription medication. (Although, you may be able to even find some medication at a local farmacia.) Here are the things you should definitely bring from home:
- Imodium
- Ear plugs
- Tampons
- Insect repellent
- Kindles or e-readers
- Moisture wicking underwear
I may have forgotten one or two other items, but those are the essentials. Let me know in the comments if you can think of more.
Final Thoughts on Packing for Central America
As you can probably tell, I am a convert and an evangelist for the lightweight style of backpacking. I will die on this hill.
I only repeat this so much because I’ve seen so many people overdo it. I’m not just talking about the people in old movies, but also my friend who met us in Costa Rica with a suitcase that was larger than she was. I’ve also read numerous other blog posts with Central American travel packing lists that include more clothes than are in my dresser at home.
Of course, you are your own person and you might want to bring more. For example, if you’re an avid photographer who wants to shoot photos beyond just using your phone. Maybe you draw and want your sketch pad and some nice pencils. That’s fair.
But, when you’re deciding what to pack for Central America, just ask yourself: “how much do I really need this?” with each item. Pack your bag, and then imagine walking for a mile in 90-degree (32°C) heat, or having to lift it up onto the roof of an old school bus. You may find you don’t need it at all.
After all, we’ve all got more than enough emotional baggage to deal with – we don’t need to be struggling with our actual baggage, too.
