What to pack for trip to Central America
Are you ready to explore Central America? Whether you plan on visiting for one week or three months, packing the right items for your journey is essential so that your experience can be as exciting and comfortable as possible.
I’m no stranger to backpacking in Central America; in my travels I’ve made a few mistakes and plenty of good decisions when it comes to what to bring, giving me some valuable insight into how best to prepare for an off-the-beaten-path adventure.
In this blog post, I want share my advice with you on what clothing essentials you should pack, gadgets that will make things easier along the way, plus some tips designed with the eco-conscious traveler in mind. So get ready – let’s take off!
Things to know when packing for Central America
Temperature
Central America is warm all year round with an average temperature range from 74-78°F. Depending on your activities and the height you are planning on reaching (volcanos, forests, etc) you will need to bring proper wind breakers. The nights can get chilly so I always bring at least one comfy hoddie.
Fashion
Catholicism is a big thing in Central America and especially in the city, people dress modestly. Nightlife is a big thing and you’ll want to bring at least one outfit to feel comfortable dancing the night away amongst Central Americas fashionistas!
AcTivities
When backpacking Central America, the world is at your feet! You can climb a volcano one day and relax at the beach at the next day. From deepest jungle adventures to big city life: there are plenty of activities to pack for!
Culture and Religion
Central America is heavily influenced by Catholicism and its ingenious cultures. Locals are dressed modestly, especially in the cities and in the countryside. Make sure to pack a more modest outfit (cover shoulder to knee), especially if you plan on visiting churches or indigenous villages.
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Items to pack in your carry-on
Even though I fly regularly, I still get a little anxious and uncomfortable on intercontinental flights. So I try to bring everything I need on the plane to make traveling as comfortable as possible.
Clothing to pack for Central America
Things to know when packing:
1. Central America’s cities are exciting places to go shopping. However, fairly produced or eco-friendly clothing is pretty hard to come by.
2. Laundry facilities are frequent and pretty cheap.
3. Speaking from experience: shopping for souvenirs is more fun than for cloths.
4. There are many beautiful cities and villages to explore during your trip to Central America. To feel comfortable and appropriately dressed, consider that most Central American countries are slightly more conservative. To avoid standing out and also being able to enter churches, we suggest covering your knee and bringing a cover for your shoulders.
5. Central America is the destination for an active traveler. Volcanos, cloud forests, and wild trails are waiting to be explored. Consider wind and different temperatures on top of mountains or volcanos.
Toiletries and travel pharmacy
When traveling Central America you will most likely great locally produced self-care products such as shampoos, lotions, etc. at some point. I love bringing them back home as souvenirs but always start my trip out fully prepared to be comfortable.
Travel gadgets that make a difference
From Africa to South America, from dorms to hotel rooms: those are my favorite travel gadgets to bring along. They bring me so much comfort that I bring them on any trip lasting more than a week!
Reading light
Travel reading light – what a game-changer! As I love reading and many places lack comfortable reading light, it’s fantastic. I also use it as a flashlight or low light. The battery life is fantastic!
Clothesline
No matter how expensive or rustic the place is, drying space is often limited! Bring my own clothesline as saved my clothes from staying wet and becoming smelly countless times
Hammock
Your hammock is worth bringing if you stay in places for a while. Relaxing in it brings me the ultimate vacation feeling! NatureFun’s hammock weighs just over two pounds and packs up small enough to fit comfortably into my bag. It’s also easy to install, so I can have it set up almost anywhere in minutes. I especially enjoy that the hammock comes with mosquito netting around the border.
Extendable Laptop monitor
Unfortunately, there is no sustainable option up to date. I love bringing a portable laptop monitor simply because it allows me to work a lot faster and spend more time experiencing a country.
Packing tips from the Pros
After traveling 40+ destinations around the world: I have gathered some experiences in packing.
