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Packing For Inland Trips
Rainforest & Inland packing guide
General Packing Tips for all Belize Trips
This guide includes tips on packing for any Island Expeditions trip, a general packing checklist, and packing specifics for Inland trips.
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Luggage
-Soft sided luggage works best — especially for motor boat, small plane and van transfers. Try to avoid large hard-shell suitcases with roller wheels.
-Travelling with 1-2 days of essentials in your carry-on bag is helpful in the event your checked bag gets delayed.
-For multi-destination itineraries, our staff in Belize will direct you on how to pack for the next leg of your journey.
-We can provide storage for extra bags when necessary and on certain trips
Waterproofing
-We recommend packing 1 or 2 waterproof dry bags for essentials.
-Approximate capacity of a 20-litre dry bag:
- Change of clothes, light jacket, regular beach towel, phone, wallet, keys, sunscreen, sunglasses, snacks, 1L water bottle
-Approximate capacity of a 10-litre dry bag:
- Light change of clothes, compact travel towel, phone, wallet, keys, sunscreen, sunglasses, small snacks
-Extra precaution should be given to essential electronics that are not waterproof: cameras, laptops, tablets, phones, etc
Essentials
-Essential medications should be stored in multiple bags in the event you get separated from a piece of your luggage
-Protect your personal documents. Keep digital copies and store paper backups separately.
-Other important documents: Travel insurance policy, Island Expeditions contact numbers, personal emergency contact information
-It is good practice to carry emergency cash (USD$200-$400) separate from money budgeted for meals, gratuities, etc.
Luggage
-Soft sided luggage works best — especially for motor boat, small plane and van transfers. Try to avoid large hard-shell suitcases with roller wheels.
-Travelling with 1-2 days of essentials in your carry-on bag is helpful in the event your checked bag gets delayed.
-For multi-destination itineraries, our staff in Belize will direct you on how to pack for the next leg of your journey.
-We can provide storage for extra bags when necessary and on certain trips
Waterproofing
-We recommend packing 1 or 2 waterproof dry bags for essentials.
-Approximate capacity of a 20-litre dry bag:
- Change of clothes, light jacket, regular beach towel, phone, wallet, keys, sunscreen, sunglasses, snacks, 1L water bottle
-Approximate capacity of a 10-litre dry bag:
- Light change of clothes, compact travel towel, phone, wallet, keys, sunscreen, sunglasses, small snacks
-Extra precaution should be given to essential electronics that are not waterproof: cameras, laptops, tablets, phones, etc
Essentials
-Essential medications should be stored in multiple bags in the event you get separated from a piece of your luggage
-Protect your personal documents. Keep digital copies and store paper backups separately.
-Other important documents: Travel insurance policy, Island Expeditions contact numbers, personal emergency contact information
-It is good practice to carry emergency cash (USD$200-$400) separate from money budgeted for meals, gratuities, etc.
General Packing List for all Belize Trips
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 and optional items. Reference this list when packing for any tropical vacation!
Essential Items
– Cell Phone
– Chargers
– Passport
– Photo Copy of Passport
– Credit / Bank Cards
– Cash
– Emergency Contacts List
– Travel Insurance Policy & Emergency Assistance Details
– Drivers License (if renting a vehicle)
– Flight/Accommodation Details
– Refillable Water Bottle
– Child Travel Consent Letter (notarized letter of consent for single parents travelling with a minor(s)
General Clothing
– Underwear (Sports-Bras)
– Socks
– Sleepwear
– T-shirts / Blouse /Tanktops
– Belt (if needed)
– Quickdry Long Sleeve Shirt (for sun protection / bugs)
– Quickdry Long Pants (for sun protection / bugs)
– Quickdry Shorts
– Cotton / Casual Shorts (for the evening)
– Dresses / Skirts / Sarongs
– Lightweight Sweater/Fleece
– Swimwear (at least 2)
– Breathable Rainjacket (doubles as a windbreaker)
– Wide-Brimmed Sun Hat or Baseball Cap
– Hiking / Comfortable Walking Shoes
Miscellaneous Items
– Tablet / E-Reader / Books
– Portable Power Bank / Charging Cables
– Headphones
– Travel Pillow
– Small Day Pack
– Bag for Wet Clothing / Laundry
– Eye Mask
– Ear Plugs
– Disinfecting Wipes
– Sunglasses / Croakies (eyewear retainers)
– Small First-Aid Kit (bandaids/bandages)
– Snacks
– Waterproof Camera (GoPro, etc) / Memory Cards
– Luggage Lock
Toiletries & Personal
– Reef Safe Sunscreen
– Aloe Vera, Skincare Creams / Lotions
– AfterBite / Benadryl Cream (to ease itching from bug bites)
– Toothbrush / Toothpaste / Dental Floss
– Deodorant
– Biodegradable Shampoo / Conditioner / Soap
– Hair Brush
– Shaving Kit
– Menstrual Products
– Hair Ties
– Hand Sanitizer
– Tweezers
– Nail Clippers
– Insect Repellent
– Lip Balm with SPF
– Prescription Glasses/Contacts & Lens Solution
– Prescription Medications
– Over-the-Counter Medications
– Oral Rehydration Solution (for dehydration)
– Medication for Travellers Diarrhea – as advised by your healthcare provider
– Epi Pen (if applicable)
– Motion Sickness Medication (for boat rides – if applicable)
Essential Items
-Cell Phone
-Chargers
-Passport
-Photo Copy of Passport
-Credit / Bank Cards
-Cash
-Emergency Contacts List
-Travel Insurance Policy & Emergency Assistance Details
-Drivers License (if renting a vehicle)
-Flight/Accommodation Details
-Refillable Water Bottle
-Child Travel Consent Letter (notarized letter of consent for single parents travelling with a minor(s)
General Clothing
-Underwear (Sports-Bras)
-Socks
-Sleepwear
-T-shirts / Blouse /Tanktops
-Belt (if needed)
-Quickdry Long Sleeve Shirt (for sun protection / bugs)
-Quickdry Long Pants (for sun protection / bugs)
-Quickdry Shorts
-Cotton / Casual Shorts (for the evening)
-Dresses / Skirts / Sarongs
-Lightweight Sweater/Fleece
-Swimwear (at least 2)
-Breathable Rainjacket (doubles as a windbreaker)
-Wide-Brimmed Sun Hat or Baseball Cap
-Hiking / Comfortable Walking Shoes
Miscellaneous Items
-Tablet / E-Reader / Books
-Portable Power Bank / Charging Cables
-Headphones
-Travel Pillow
-Small Day Pack
-Bag for Wet Clothing / Laundry
-Eye Mask
-Ear Plugs
-Disinfecting Wipes
-Sunglasses / Croakies (eyewear retainers)
-Small First-Aid Kit (bandaids/bandages)
-Snacks
-Waterproof Camera (GoPro, etc) / Memory Cards
-Luggage Lock
Toiletries & Personal
-Reef Safe Sunscreen
-Aloe Vera, Skincare Creams / Lotions
-AfterBite / Benadryl Cream (to ease itching from bug bites)
-Toothbrush / Toothpaste / Dental Floss
-Deodorant
-Biodegradable Shampoo / Conditioner / Soap
-Hair Brush
-Shaving Kit
-Menstrual Products
-Hair Ties
-Hand Sanitizer
-Tweezers
-Nail Clippers
-Insect Repellent
-Lip Balm with SPF
-Prescription Glasses/Contacts & Lens Solution
-Prescription Medications
-Over-the-Counter Medications
-Oral Rehydration Solution (for dehydration)
-Medication for Travellers Diarrhea – as advised by your healthcare provider
-Epi Pen (if applicable)
-Motion Sickness Medication (for boat rides – if applicable)
Inland & Rainforest Packing List
In addition to the items listed in the general packing list, we highly recommend you incorporate the following items for the Inland portion of your trip
Essentials
-Sturdy Hiking / Walking Shoes (with good grip for muddy or uneven trails)
– Sport Sandals / Water Shoes (for swimming, waterfall rappel, caving, cave tubing, etc)
– Small Day-Pack with Rain Cover
– Lightweight Long Pants & Long Sleeve Shirt – Moisture Wicking (exposed skin is more susceptible to insect bites)
– Moisture-Wicking Hiking Socks (an extra pare is also nice)
– Headlamp with Spare Batteries
– Small / Medium Dry Bag (one or two, for essentials)
– Swimwear & Lightweight Towel
– Buff or Neck Gaiters (keeps you cool when wet / protects from insect bites)
– Re-fillable Water Bottle
Guests doing the ATM Cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal) need closed toe footwear that they don’t mind getting wet. Some tour guides may require guests to wear socks and/or cover exposed skin in the sacred areas of the cave.
Recommended attire for women: leggings or loose fitting shorts, loose fitting shirt, water shoes with socks.
Recommended attire for men: loose fitting shorts & shirt, water shoes with socks.
Optional
– Camera gear and waterproofing
– Binoculars / Monocular / Spotting Scope
– Drybag(s)
– “Insect Shield” Clothing (for those particularly susceptible to insect bites)
– Bag for Muddy Shoes / Wet Clothing
– Spare Pair of Hiking / Walking Shoes (in case one pair gets wet)
– Small Cloth / Bandana for Wiping Away Sweat (not needed if using a neck gaiter/buff)
– Lightweight/ Packable Hiking Poles
– Secure Strap for Sunglasses / Prescription Glasses
– Waterproof Phone Pouch
– Field Guide for Bird Identification
Essentials
-Sturdy Hiking / Walking Shoes (with good grip for muddy or uneven trails)
– Sport Sandals / Water Shoes (for swimming, waterfall rappel, caving, cave tubing, etc)
– Small Day-Pack with Rain Cover
– Lightweight Long Pants & Long Sleeve Shirt – Moisture Wicking (exposed skin is more susceptible to insect bites)
– Moisture-Wicking Hiking Socks (an extra pare is also nice)
– Headlamp with Spare Batteries
– Small / Medium Dry Bag (one or two, for essentials)
– Swimwear & Lightweight Towel
– Buff or Neck Gaiters (keeps you cool when wet / protects from insect bites)
– Re-fillable Water Bottle
Guests doing the ATM Cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal) need closed toe footwear that they don’t mind getting wet. Some tour guides may require guests to wear socks and/or cover exposed skin in the sacred areas of the cave.
Recommended attire for women: leggings or loose fitting shorts, loose fitting shirt, water shoes with socks.
Recommended attire for men: loose fitting shorts & shirt, water shoes with socks.
Optional
– Camera gear and waterproofing
– Binoculars / Monocular / Spotting Scope
– Drybag(s)
– “Insect Shield” Clothing (for those particularly susceptible to insect bites)
– Bag for Muddy Shoes / Wet Clothing
– Spare Pair of Hiking / Walking Shoes (in case one pair gets wet)
– Small Cloth / Bandana for Wiping Away Sweat (not needed if using a neck gaiter/buff)
– Lightweight/ Packable Hiking Poles
– Secure Strap for Sunglasses / Prescription Glasses
– Waterproof Phone Pouch
– Field Guide for Bird Identification