General Packing Tips
- Soft luggage is preferred over hard-shelled suitcases. Hard suitcases generally don't travel well on boats, van transfers, and small planes.
- Carry essentials and a change of clothes in your carry-on luggage, in case your checked bag gets delayed.
- While on tour our staff will instruct you on how to prepare for travel between locations, and for certain weather conditions.
- We provide storage for extra bags when necessary and depending on what trip you're on.
- Having at least one small (10-20L) durable waterproof bag for essentials is important.
- Be aware electronics like cameras, computers, phones must be fully waterproofed especially on boat rides.
- Wrapping sensitive items in garbage bags inside your luggage for boat rides is a great way to add some extra waterproofing to your packing system.
Everybody packs for a vacation differently, so please ensure you have enough clothes for the duration of your trip. Here is a general checklist of essential & suggested items you can reference to when packing for your Island Expeditions vacation.
Essential Items
- Cell phone + chargers
- Passport + copy of passport (paper or digital)
- Families traveling with minors, see important information on consent letters and birth certificates
- Credit / Bank cards
- Cash
- List of medications
- Emergency Contact Lists
- Travel Insurance cards
Miscellaneous Items
- Laptop / Tablet / E-reader / Books
- Portable power bank
- Headphones
- Travel Pillow
- Eye Mask
- Ear plugs
- Glasses/ Contacts + lens solution
- Sunglasses with band (Chums, Croakies, etc.)
- Disinfecting wipes
- 1 liter refillable water bottle
- Extra snacks
- Waterproof Camera (GoPro, etc.) + memory cards & chargers
- Luggage lock (optional)
General Clothing
- Underwear
- Socks
- Sleepwear
- T-shirts / Blouse/ Tank tops
- Belt
- Quick-dry long sleeve shirt (for sun + bug protection)
- Quick-dry long pants (for sun + bug protection)
- Quick-dry shorts
- Dresses / Skorts / Sarongs
- Watersport sandals or water shoes (Teva’s or Keens are a good choice)
- Lightweight fleece jacket (this will keep you warm even when wet)
- Swimwear (at least 2)
- Breathable rain jacket (doubles as a windbreaker)
- Wide brimmed sunhat or baseball hat (to keep the sun off your face and neck)
Suggested Toiletries
- Reef safe sunscreen - Please click here for more information on biodegradable reef-friendly sunblock & soap.
- Biodegradable liquid soap, shampoo & conditioner
- Toothbrush / Toothpaste / Dental floss
- Deodorant
- Shaving kit
- Hair brush & hair ties
- Vaseline (essential for snorkeling with facial hair!) , Aloe Vera lotion, or skin care cream
- Insect repellent (20-80% Deet)
- Caladryl/After Bite/Benadryl Cream/ / Antihistamines, or lotion to ease itching from bug bites
- Menstrual products
- Medicine for traveler's diarrhea /rehydration drink packs
- Motion Sickness medication (for boat rides - if applicable)
- Small first aid kit with band-aids, bandages, blister kit, etc.
- Medications
- Hand sanitizer
- Tweezer
- Nail clippers
- Lip balm
Basecamp & Reef Essentials
In addition to the items you normally pack on a vacation, we highly recommend you incorporate the following items for you time on the reef/ beach
- Sport sandals or water shoes (thick sole + closed heel)
- Sandals/ flip-flops (for around camp)
- Long sleeve sun shirts
- Long sleeve rash guard (for sun protection when in the water)
- Light gloves/bike gloves (for protection from the sun/blisters when paddling)
- Headlamp and spare batteries / charger
- Small dry bag for camera, wallet, phone, snacks, etc.
- Beach towel (you may consider travel size quick-dry towel or sarong)
- Shower towel (you may consider travel size quick-dry towel)
- Reef safe sunscreen
- 2 to 3 garbage bags - serves as extra waterproofing protection and keeps wet gear separate
- Bandana/ buff or neck gaiter ( for sun protection)
Optional
- Lycra skin suit (great for sun protection & adds warmth)
- Vaseline (essential for snorkeling with facial hair!)
- Socks (great if renting snorkeling fins)
- Fishing rod and tackle - Please click here for more information on fishing gear
- Shortie wet suit, especially for kids (not essential but water temperatures from Dec-Feb. can be cooler)
- Mask, fins, snorkel *IMPORTANT*. Please click here for more information on snorkel gear
- Capilene or other synthetic long underwear (great for snorkeling)
The clothing that works best for the marine, rainforest & tropical environment is lightweight & quick drying synthetic materials. Cotton is great for the evenings, but not during the day, or when in & out of the water.
The objective of packing for a sea kayak trip is to have all equipment in small, narrow, waterproof bags. THE SMALLER YOUR BAGS THE EASIER IT WILL PACK IN YOUR KAYAK. With this in mind it is best to keep your personal gear to a minimum. All your clothing and personal gear should fit into your dry bags with the exception of perhaps your sleeping pad and sleeping bag/blanket. You may want to consider bringing a small 5 liter waterproof bag to put items in that you want close at hand while on the water such as a camera or snacks.
Packing List For Your Self Guided Journey
Rent from us or Bring Your Own
- Lightweight camping tent
- Dry bags (10L & 20L are best)
- Sleeping pad
- Cooking gear: camp stove, pots, pans, plates, bowls, cups, cooking & eating utensils. (Our stoves are either MSR Whisperlites or Trangia Cooksets.)
- 20 liter waterproof bags/person for each rental kayak
- Mask, fins, snorkel. Please click here for more information on snorkel gear
Personal Camp Gear
- extra duffel and/or storage bags to pack your food and gear in for transport out to Cayes
- light weight blanket & cotton sheet or a light weight sleeping bag (preferably not down). 55F (12C) at worst, upper 60’s and 70’s (20-25C) more often.
- marine charts or map that shows the positions of the Cayes. This is important!
- Compass
- 1 headlamp and spare batteries
- 1 nylon sleeping bag size stuff sac (don't need if you already have one with your sleeping bag)
- tarp & rope/bungee cords
- lighter(s), waterproof matches
Personal Equipment
- 1 Liter water bottle
- 1-2 Beach/Bath TOWELS
- Personal toiletries
- Sunscreen - Please click here for more information on biodegradable reef-friendly sunblock & soap. We do highly recommend the use of environmental products if you are certain the product does work for you
- Biodegradable soap - Please click here for more information on biodegradable products
- Small personal First Aid Kit: i.e. Band-Aids, aspirin/Tylenol, scissors, tweezers, safety pins
- Vaseline, Aloe Vera lotion, or skin care cream
- Caladryl/After Bite/Benadryl Cream or lotion to ease itching from bug bites
- Insect repellent (20 - 100% Deet)
- toilet paper
- 2 to 3 large plastic bags - serves as extra waterproofing protection, keeps wet gear separate and to pack out trash.
Clothing
- Wide brimmed sunhat or lightweight baseball cap
- Sunglasses with band (chums, croakies, etc)
- Bandanas, buffs or other facial sun protection
- 3 short sleeved shirts, quick dry preferable
- 1-2 long sleeved shirts (collared shirts provide even more sun/bug protection)
- Good quality rain jacket
- Fleece jacket or warm sweater
- Polypropylene or other thermal long sleeves (tops & bottoms) for insulation while snorkeling
- 1-2 pair lightweight quick dry long pants
- 2 pairs nylon (or other quick dry) shorts
- Sarong
- 1-2 bathing suits
- Underwear
- Socks
- Wetsuit (not necessary for everyone, but water temperatures can be cold.
- Water Shoes – Teva’s, Keens are a few brands to consider.
- Optional Packing List
- Handy Wipe moist tissues for hands and face and/or waterless bacterial cleanser
- Fishing rod and tackle
- 1 pair light cotton gloves/bike gloves (for protection from the sun/blisters when paddling)
- Waterproof watch
- Anti-Nausea medication if susceptible to motion sickness
PLEASE NOTE
Island Expeditions cannot be deemed responsible for people’s personal property while travelling. There are a variety of luggage and personal property insurance policies available.