Going or planning to backpack on a trip to Guatemala and unsure of what to bring for all your planned activities there? Well, I have come up with a detailed Guatemala packing list with everything you need including a list for a volcano tour if you decide to do one (highly recommended!) on what to pack for Guatemala.
Guatemala Packing List
This Guatemala packing list gives you a breakdown of what to bring when traveling to places in Guatemala such as Guatemala City, Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and Semuc Champy.
✅Backpack
Instead of luggage like a carry-on or suitcase, bring a backpack (you will thank me later!). In Guatemala, you will most likely be traveling on buses, and shuttles and moving around to different areas, in this case, a backpack will serve you better than hauling a suitcase everywhere.
✅ Camera
Bring your camera along as there are plenty of sights to photograph including volcanoes, lake Atitlan, waterfalls, food, and culture. I like to clip my camera to my backpack with the Peak Design Camera clip so that I have easy access to it for hikes and walking around.
✅ Tripod
A tripod can come in handy for night shots of the volcano you are hiking or if you are a solo traveler and want to take some portraits. Bring a travel-size one so that it fits in your backpack like this one!
✅ Electronics
Take your phone and laptop, chargers, extra batteries, and other electronics you may want to bring. For me, I left my laptop at home, but if you need it to work and are staying longer you can take it. You do not want to show any electronics off in Guatemala, to reduce the risk of theft. You can take them out once you are at your hotel or hostel.
✅ Portable Charger
You always want to stay connected and have a charge on your phone so it makes sense to get a portable charger and have it with you. You can get a travel-friendly one like this one to keep all your electronics charged!
✅ Combination Lock
It is safe to take a combination lock to lock up any valuables and cash you may have with you in your hotel. A lock will prevent theft and keep your items secure.
✅ Shoes
You want to be able to comfortably walk around the places you will visit in Guatemala so bring a comfy pair of shoes. You can also take sandals with you for the beach or to walk around as well, like my Tevas! You can also bring a pair of shoes for a night out such as heels or another pair of cute sandals.
✅ Sunglasses
Bring your sunglasses as you will be in for some sunny weather. I like these as they are perfect for adventures and to wear with cute outfits.
✅ Sunscreen
The UV index is high in Guatemala so make sure to buy or pack sunscreen like this one, when you are there. You want to apply every 2-3 hours or right after you go swimming. It would suck to come back home being sunburnt. Protect your face and lips with this natural sunscreen!
✅ Hat
Protect your head from the sun by wearing a hat. You can get one like this one so that it is lightweight and easily packable.
✅ Microfiber Travel Towel
Taking a travel towel that easily packs down in your bag will save you some money and space as some hotels may charge to use towels. You can get one like this two-pack one, and also bring it to the beach or use it as a mat.
✅ Clothing
Guatemala’s weather is spring-like year-round. If you are traveling during April like me, the days will be hot and humid. The evenings then tend to get much cooler. For clothing, you want to pack lightweight layers that are moisture-wicking and breathable during the day. Articles such as lightweight flowy pants, cargo shorts, leggings, hiking pans, and t-shirts all are good for during the day.
A lightweight sweater would be good to wear over your light clothes in case it gets chilly. You can even bring a shawl to cover up in the evenings. And bring some comfy pajamas to sleep in at night.
A light jacket is also good to bring for the cooler weather. If you visit from May to October you would need to pack a rain jacket as you will be travelling during the rainy season. You never know when it may start to drizzle!
Take your swimsuit, and swim coverup for the lake and resort pools!
✅ Small Crossbody Bag
Having a crossbody bag or small purse will help reduce theft as it will be around your body and hard to steal. You can carry all the essentials in it that you need for the day.
✅ Identification
Don’t forget your passport! Make sure it is 6 months before the expiry date – this is important. If you plan to rent a car, bring your driver’s license. You may also want to carry your health insurance documents and a list of hospitals near where you are going, trip details such as addresses and phone numbers in case of an emergency.
✅ Money
Before your trip, you may want to exchange for GTQ (Guatemala’s currency) and only for what you need or start with. I exchanged around CAD 300 which was 1600 GTQ at the time and took that with me for about 8-10 days. We also paid for some of our hotel stays online by credit card or PayPal before our trip, so you don’t have to worry about paying in cash there. (You can ask your hotel about this).
Only carry the daily amount you need for the day and lock up the rest with your valuables in your hotel. We also suggest carrying cash in different areas of your body or keeping an old wallet with a small amount to prevent theft.
Taking a mix of cards and cash will be safer for travel to Guatemala. Take your debit and credit cards as most places now accept cards, it’s only when you visit the less touristy areas or some small shops and street food vendors that you will need cash.
✅ Wallet
Take your wallet to hold all your identification, cards, and cash. As mentioned above you can also bring an old wallet in addition to a small amount of cash to reduce theft.
✅ Medications
You may want to take motion sickness medication for the plane ride as well as medications if you get sick such as traveler’s diarrhea or food poisoning. Take any of your prescription and allergy medications that you need, including your prescription glasses, and contact lenses.
✅ Ear Plugs
Some areas in Guatemala can be nosy, so depending on where you stay or if you are just sensitive to noises when you sleep, earbuds are good to have. You can even use them on the plane ride for some peace.
✅ Face Mask
You may be required to wear a face mask in some public places or stores, it’s good to keep one handy in case you need it.
✅ Toiletries
Packing toiletries will save you time and money as they can be expensive in Guatemala. As it depends on your personal preferences and gender, some good things to pack are toothpaste tabs, a toothbrush, hair brush, shaving supplies, lip balm, body soap, hair shampoo, lotion, hair bands, feminine products, and deodorant.
Volcano Tour Packing List
If you plan to do a volcano hike or camping trip with a tour then you will need to bring some additional things for the activity. While some tour companies will provide extra gear you would still need to bring items listed in this volcano tour packing list (note some items are carried over from above!)
✅ Hiking Backpack
Taking an additional hiking backpack with you will give you more space for your things, a backpack to hike with and to use as a carry-on-the-plane, while your small backpack can be a personal item. I use my Osprey Kyte 46 backpack for hiking and travel. It has tons of space and can be used as a daypack and backpacking pack. This will be more than efficient for your overnight volcano hike.
✅ Hiking Boots
Take a pair of lightweight hiking boots or light trail runners for your volcano hike. These should be comfortable and already broken in so you are ready for some hours of hiking.
✅ Light Layers
As you ascend and hike volcanoes in Guatemala, it can be colder at the top, so it is advisable to take layers that you can put on or take off if you get hot or cold. A fleece sweater can be nice as well for warmth and it being blight, it is easy to take on and off and dry quickly. This will prevent you from getting cold from sweaty and damp skin. Take a pair of warm socks with you if it gets chilly at the top or to wear at night to sleep.
✅ Wind/Rain Jacket
A windbreaker or light rain jacket is nice to have especially during the rainy season as it will prevent you from getting wet and wear over your layers if you sweat to block the wind.
✅ Puffy Jacket
You can get a packable puffy jacket that is lightweight, so it does not take up too much space in your bag. I always take my puffy jacket on hikes and travel as it packs down easily!
✅ Water Bottle
Carry your water bottle or buy bottled water to take on your trip. I like the Nalgene one as it is lightweight and the lid is wide for drinking and filtering water in. You can fill your bottle with bottled water or take a water filter with you. You can filter water beforehand to drink. The tap water in Guatemala is not safe to drink directly without boiling or filtering first.
✅ Sunglasses
As it may get sunny during the day, make sure you don’t forget to wear your sunglasses!
✅ Hat
Bring a baseball cap or sun hat to protect your head and face from the sun while hiking.
✅ Sunscreen
As you will be at a higher altitude when hiking, you want to make sure you wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn on your exposed area.
✅ Bug Spray
Carry bug spray as you will encounter bugs during your hike. You want to make sure you spray your exposed areas wear long sleeves and cover up when you can. You can also take mosquito nets to sleep with or hike in. There is a risk of Dengue and Malaria in some areas of Guatemala, check with your doctor before if you need to carry medication with you.
✅ After Bite
Take an afterbite or anti-itch ointment with you for those pesky bug bites. It will be handy to have with you if you get any bug bites.
✅ First Aid Kit
In addition, you always want to be prepared with a first aid kit. It should include bandages, alcohol wipes, moleskin, blister tape, and any other general items you would need for hiking or general injuries.
If you are new to backpacking, you can read my backpacking checklist to give you an idea of what to bring for overnight hikes or your Guatemala packing list for hiking a volcano overnight.
Travel Insurance for Guatemala
You should always travel with some travel insurance, you never know when you may need it. Make your trip more comfortable with travel insurance in case you get injured or your trip gets delayed or interrupted. Without insurance, if you end up getting sick or injured, private hospital bills can be quite expensive in a foreign country and you may not be able to afford it. The one I recommend is to go with World Nomads, and highly recommend adding it to your Guatemala packing list!
Vaccines for Guatemala
Don’t take advice from online blogs, always speak with your doctor or pharmacist regarding what kind of vaccines you need for the country you are traveling to. For Guatemala, you want to make sure you are updated on your routine vaccines. Some vaccines you may need are yellow fever, hepatitis A & B, rabies, and Typhoid. And lastly, the Covid-19 vaccine is recommended but not required to travel to Guatemala at this time. You can read more on vaccines and health notices here.
What You Should You NOT Bring to Guatemala
Guatemala is a conservative country so leave the short shorts at home. Most tourists can still wear shorts but the locals may stare. But most locals will know you are tourists and it won’t be a problem. In high tourist areas such as Panajachel at Lake Atitlan this would not be an issue either, so stay aware if you travel to less touristy places.
You also do not want to carry high amounts of cash with you. You can always take out cash using the ATMs there or use a mix of your debit and credit cards. Some places now accept Mastercard and Visa. Note if you are purchasing street food and go out of the tourist areas, like convenience shops, you will need to pay with cash.
Conclusion: Guatemala Packing List
And there you have it! With this detailed Guatemala packing list and volcano tour packing list, you will be more prepared and comfortable for your trip. Safe travels!