Before hitting Central America, you may have visions of lush rainforests, Caribbean beaches and snorkelling amongst colourful fish off the Mesoamerican barrier reef.
This is an adventurous part of the world. But, it is also incredibly diverse.
We just got back from a glorious four month trip through the Central American region, so allow us to help you pack for your trip!
So, be sure that you pack prepared for any boat party, beach day or volcano hike that may come your way!
First, Consider the Climate
Central America has distinct wet and dry seasons. It is true that much of the year, the weather is HOT.
However, do not forget that the mountainous regions exist, and you’ll suffer if you forget to bring some colder clothing options.
Do a quick check of the exact region you are heading to here before you go.
Should I Pack That?
Let’s go a decision checklist people
Use this to determine whether you should pack an item of clothing 🙂
This is the exact process I go through (in my own head) when I am deciding what to bring.
The Golden Rules
- Comfortable
- Light, breathable fabric: cotton, silk, linen, bamboo, merino (cold climate)
- Versatile: mix & matchable – can be worn with other items and may have multiple uses
- Quick drying
- Easy to wash (no dry clean items!)
- Not sentimental: okay if lost, broken or stolen, laundry services may lose a thing or two, white items may turn a funny shade of yellow by the end of it …
A quick note on comfort vs. fashion …
If you are like me, you will have a couple of things you want to bring because they are so pretty!!
You may dream of bringing your favourite corset top or vintage jacket along.
But realistically, you can only wear them out for a quick dinner in the evening, as they are difficult to walk in, hot, bulky, uncomfortable or made of stiff/itchy/hot material. Central America gets HOT y’all – I swear most days in Nicaragua were a minimum of 39ºC!!
These difficult-to-wear items are going to take up valuable space in your luggage. Trust me, after the first week you’ll be wanting to fling them out of your bag to make room for all the new cute stuff you find anyway!
So, let’s jump right into it.
This list is perfect for a trip of 3 months or more in length.
For a shorter trip, you absolutely will not need this much stuff, and can easily adapt by cutting down.
Bags 🎒
Luggage 🔖
- Main backpack (40-60 litres)
- Carry on small backpack (to wear on the front)
- Bumbag / day bag
- Wallet (+ IDs & bank cards)
- Passport & case
- Waterproof bag or phone pocket (for boat trips)
Compartments 🗄
- Packing cubes (essential!)
- First aid bag
- Shoe cover or just a plastic bag (keep your shoes away from your clothes)
- Toiletries bag
- Makeup bag
- Laptop case
- Bikini/underwear/socks & jocks organiser
- Tote bag for groceries
- Jewellery roll or insert
- Dirty laundry bag
Equipment 🗜️
Tools ⚓️
- Carabiners (always handy)
- 2 – 3 x combination padlocks (wire rather than solid)
- Rain cover for backpack
- Portable clothesline
- Steripen
The steripen is our personal choice to safely treat water. I don’t feel comfortable buying loads of single use plastic water bottles, but I’m also not taking any chances after I contracted giardia from a dodgy water source in South East Asia a few years ago. Trust me – you want to be safe with your water.
Gym 🥋
- Gym band / wooden rings / skipping rope / light exercise aid of your choosing (only if you wish)
Women’s Clothing Packing List
Colder Weather 🗻
- 1 x rain/wind shell jacket
- 2 x long sleeve tops
- 1 x long trousers
- 1 x hoodie/sweatshirt
- 1 x beanie
Tops 🥼
- 6 x tank top/crop top/bandeau
- 2 x baby tee
- 1 x loose tee
- 1 x nicer top
- 2 x scarf tops (so versatile and take no room!)
Bottoms 🥡
- 1 x loose beachy pants e.g. linen trousers
- 4 x shorts
- 1 x bike shorts
- 1 x skirt or skort
- 1 x maxi skirt
Dresses 🫧
- 2 x dresses
- OR 2 x playsuits if you prefer these
Underwear 🧦
- 14 x cotton underwear* (maybe overkill, but then you only have to do laundry once a week MAX)
- 2 x wire-free bra
- 1 x bralette
- 4 x socks
Shoes 👟
- 1 x Thongs (flip flops), Crocs or waterproof shoes for the beach
- 1 x Birkenstocks
- 1 x hiking shoes
Crocs are awesome as they are ultralight and you can clip them onto the outside of your backpack! Wear them in the communal showers so you don’t catch any ratchet foot disease. Thongs do the job as well.
Sleepwear 💤
- 1 x Loose thin t-shirt or cami
- 1 x Light PJ shorts
- 1 x Sleep mask
- 1 x Soft light leggings for a cooler night
- Ear plugs
Beach 🪸
- 3 x bikinis
- 1 x one-piece swimsuit (doubles as a top)
- Light sarong
- Turkish towel (thin, dries quickly)
Gym 🏸
- 1 x gym shorts
- 1 x gym leggings
- 1 x sports bra
Glasses 🥽
- 1 x sunglasses
- 1 x case & lens wipe
Hats 🌬
- 1 x cap
Accessories 🪞
This is really up to you and your own personal style. Here are some of my suggestions for cute things that take up little room. Don’t pack them all!
You will pick up local trinkets along your travels
- Hoop earrings
- Rings (inexpensive)
- Small necklace or shell choker
- Fabric headband
- Tiny bows/ribbons for plaits
- Watch or Fitbit
- Anklets
- Thin belt
- Headscarf
- Phone strap
Men’s Clothing Packing List
Colder Weather 🗻
- 1 x rain/wind shell jacket
- 1 x hoodie/sweatshirt
- 2 x long sleeve shirt
- 1 x cargo pant or trousers
- 1 x beanie
Tops 👕
- 3 x linen or beachy shirt
- 3 x basic t-shirt
- 3 x basic tank/singlet
- 1 x fun button up
Bottoms 👖
- 2 x linen or light comfy pants
- 3 x shorts
- 1 x belt
Underwear 🩲
- 10 – 14 pairs (personal preference, the more you bring the less often laundry day is!)
- 4 x socks
Shoes 🥾
- 1 x hiking shoe
- 1 x Birkenstock or sandal
- 1 x Crocs or thongs (flip flops)
Sport 🥋
- 2 x gym shorts
- 1-2 x active tee or tank
Sleep 🛌
- Sleep mask
- 1 x PJ top
- 1 x PJ bottoms
- Earplugs
Beach 🏝️
- Turkish towel (quick drying and super light)
- 2 – 3 x board shorts
Glasses 🥽
- Sunglasses
- Case & lens wipe
Hats 🧢
- Cap
- Bucket hat
Toiletries 🛁
Products 🚿
- Moisturiser
- Face wash
- Body wash
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Hair oil
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Deodorant (we use cream roll-on)
- Makeup remover
- Cotton pads
- Q-tips (ear buds)
- Mini perfume
- Baby wipes
For the ladies:
- Tampons & liners; OR
- Diva cup – this is a perfect option and so many women swear by this now. If you feel like this could work for you, test it out before you leave. I love because less single-use waste, never get stuck without products or without a bin!!, and you can swim and feel comfortable on a multi-day boat trip if needed
Gadgets 🧷
- Razor
- Spare razor blades
- Hair brush
- Wide-tooth comb
- Hair elastics & scrunchie
- Bobby pins
- Claw clip
- Nail file
- Nail clippers
- Tweezers
- Travel mirror
- Quick dry (microfibre) bath towel!
Extra Items
- Eyebrow Dye (my little high-maintenance routine away from home)
- Sunscreen OFC! (Can be very expensive in some spots, so bring it with you)
- Bug spray (we use Australian DEET)
Makeup 🪩
Any makeup you choose to bring is completely your choice! I love makeup and this is just my standard makeup kit contents that I take with me everywhere 🥰
- Lip balm
- Lip liner
- Lip stick
- Beauty blender
- Sunscreen
- Foundation or BB cream
- Concealer
- Cream bronzer
- Cream highlighter
- Setting powder
- Mascara
- Black liquid eyeliner or kohl pencil eyeliner
- Tinted eyebrow gel
- Lash curler
- Brushes (angled, brow, and powder)
Electronics & Technology
Devices 🎧
- Phone
- Laptop
- Camera
- Airpods/headphones
- Powerbank with multi USB & USB-C ports (we swear by this Lencent model)
- Spare SD card (for camera)
- Go pro or action camera (if you want)
- Mini speaker (if you choose, we use JBL Go)
- Apple Air Tags – put these fellas in your checked luggage in case of any airline screw ups
Medication
First Aid 🩹
- Bandages & bandaids
- Iodine
- Tiger balm
- Bug Spray
- Bite cream
- Antiseptic wipe
- Lighter
- Bug bite zapper (stop scratching!)
You can purchase a pre-made first aid kit. Hopefully, you won’t need to use it! But be sure that you have the above items in it as there is a good chance you or someone else will need at least one item from this list.
Medicine 💉
- Malaria
- Allergy (if needed)
- Paracetamol
- Anti-nausea
- Anti-cold sore (if needed)
- Gastro-stop
- Hydralite
Optional Extras 🃏
Leisure 🎲
- Playing cards
- Pen
- Note/sketch book
Daily Items 🫖
- Hand sanitiser
- Permanent marker
- Neck travel pillow (if you wish)
- Spice bag
- Fake wallet: old cards and old cash
- Pocket-sized tissue pack
- Spare snap lock bags
- Sewing repair kit (tiny, just enough to fix a button)
- Water bottle (with a loop to clip to the outside of bag if possible)
- Reusable straw/cutlery set
You don’t need to pack ALL these things and we certainly didn’t, but hopefully this list provides some inspiration for what you might like to take with you on your trip!
You may have noticed that we are not exactly ultralight packers.
BUT – you will be surprised how this list fits super well with the right organisation.
So, use those different compartments and packing cubes!
Remember:
- A good quality backpack and day bag are a great investment.
- Sometimes it is better to take certain items with you (sunscreen, medications) and be prepared, rather than try to pick them up along the way.
- DEFINITELY leave room to buy cute things when you are there!! (clothing, jewellery, accessories etc.)
Central America Packing Tips
Health
Some regions of Central America do have risks of mosquito-borne disease, including Zika Virus, Dengue Fever, Malaria and others.
I mentioned DEET in the list – this kept me safe and was recommended to me by a travel doctor with decades of experience.
It would be a smart move to check-in with a travel doctor before you go away too.
You might want to check if you need to take any extra medications with you, and ensure you are up to date with your shots (rabies, tetanus etc).
If you are located in Brisbane, this clinic is incredible.
Safety & Security
Central America is still a developing region.
In some countries that you may visit, displaying expensive electronics, jewellery or fashion may make you a target. Be vigilant and hyper-aware of your presence in public.
Having something stolen from you is a surefire way to destroy the vibe of your trip.
Trust me, my laptop was stolen on a trip years ago, and I was absolutely beside myself.
So that being said, pickpocketing and theft are likely the biggest issues you will come up against here.
When selecting your day bag, be sure to choose something that can be held close to your body, zips or closes completely (no open tote bag), and preferably is anti-slash.
Dressing casually and adapting to local dress can also help you avoid becoming an obvious target.
Dress Code Etiquette
A note for my girlies!
This region is very culturally diverse.
You will be absolutely fine to wear a bikini or mini skirts/shorts in a beachy area, a resort, or in most backpacker hostels, hubs and hotspots.
However, it would be wise to ensure you have some options that will keep you more covered. This is both to ensure that you do not receive unwanted attention and also to respect the culture of the hosts.
Of course we should be able to dress the way that we want to dress! But it is both smart and a fundamental aspect of being a respectful traveller that we must adapt to the ways of the region that we are visitors in.
So, be sure to have some light flowy options and a couple of tees or shirts that can cover shoulders and chest if needed.
PS: The sarong! If you’re an avid travel blog reader, you are probably sick of hearing about it.
Every blog I’ve ever seen recommends a sarong. But, there is a reason for this. I alwaysss travel with a cute little thrifted vintage scarf that is incredibly light, stashes into almost nothing in my day bag and can be used as a modesty cover-up if you are feeling a bit uncomfortable on public transport or certain areas.
Remember – many religious sites (all over the world, not just Central America) will require knees, shoulders, and maybe even hair to be covered.
For men, the rule is more often than not: no singlet, no shorts, no thongs (flip flops). Sandals may be allowed depending on where you are.
What Not To Pack for Central America?
- A drone: it might not be an issue, but some Central American countries have actually banned drones now. It will be 100% be taken from you at the Nicaraguan border if you try to bring it in (RIP to the two Germans’ drone that was lost during our border crossing)
- A bulky coat: multiple thinner layers are better
- High heels: you will likely regret it due to the uneven trails, cobbled streets and generally chilled out vibe in this region. People dress more casually here
- Hair tools: see above point – it is a more chilled region than somewhere like the Mediterranean, where you may want to be styling your hair. It is hot and humid and just not worth bringing heat tools in my opinion. This is up to personal choice though.
- Expensive jewellery or clothing: don’t try to attract unwanted attention!
- Hiking boots: you just don’t need them! The hiking trainers I take are versatile enough to keep you covered for any outdoor or active situation, and light enough that you can use them for gymming, training etc. They are also cute and chunky so look great with high socks and short shorts!
A final tip?
You won’t use everything that you have packed.
Lay out everything that you have gathered, and remove a couple of items. We do it every time! You always need a bit less than you think.
Well – there you have it!
An incredibly long, but hopefully incredibly helpful guide to your complete Central America packing list.
We hope this packing list helps you prepare for your next trip!
Visiting Central America soon? Let us know your questions in the comments below!
