Updated: April 5th, 2019
This is not my first day as a post-pubescent adult, despite what my Hello Kitty T-shirt and collection of medicated face washes might tell you! So why are you reminding me to pack toothpaste and deodorant?
This is why I’m not a fan of packing posts. Every traveler knows they must maintain some sort of hygienic existence on the road; this is not advice. This is common sense. You’re wasting my time and my cache.
On the other hand, every traveler is different. What you travel with and what I travel with are rarely the same. I don’t carry a water filter. I don’t wear sarongs or “multi functional scarves.” And you’ll never, ever, find ballet flats and practical skirts in my suitcase. Who are these travelers? And how do they climb mountains in ballet flats? Doesn’t sound very practical to me…
I do believe packing posts are necessary but best used as an afterthought. “What should I have packed? What should I have left at home? What should I bring next time to better smuggle giant slabs of slate out of the country?” You buy keychains; I bring home heavy metamorphic rock. Please don’t arrest me.
However, there is one item I believe ALL travelers take with them regardless of their destination and plans: a crapload of denial. It comes in many forms: “Can’t forget my makeup! I’m going to look so pretty in the jungle. I’m definitely going to wear all of this jewelry. Of course I’m going to work out on my vacation!” Ha! You’re so stupid.
My recent trip to Belize was no exception, except maybe to the rules of hygiene. Oh, the space I could have saved for bottles of rum and hot sauce. Here’s what to pack for Belize based on lessons learned…
WHAT TO PACK FOR BELIZE // APPAREL
First of all, it’s HOT in Belize. Like, eating habanero peppers on the surface of the sun while watching Jared Leto front a rock band. I know, you’d never think the surface of the sun could harbor 90% humidity but there I was, accidentally drinking my own salty sweat as it ran from my face into my mouth. I knew heat would be a thing because I looked at the forecast beforehand that showed 86°F every day I’d be there.
THIS IS SO HILARIOUSLY INACCURATE. I don’t know where on Earth (literally) the weather people get their information because I’m certain the temperature in the Belizean jungle never dipped below 110°F. Luckily, when deciding what to pack for Belize, I planned for hot. I just wish I’d planned for OMG I think I might die… yup, this is it. This is the end. OMG Jared Leto has a pink mohawk. hot.
During my six days in Belize (+1 in Guatemala), I wore 20 of the 29 pieces of clothing pictured here. Not bad! That’s definitely a better ratio than the fried chicken to fitness comparison. Those results I’m keeping to myself.
NICE THINGS NONSENSE:
I packed a few dresses and a few “nice” tops thinking maybe there’d be a night or two I’d want to look not like a howler monkey for dinner. Nuh-uh. NOPE. There is no looking nice when you’re in the jungle during a drought. Oddly enough, too, because I’m sure I could have filled the river basin with back sweat. I did, however, wear the tank top dress three whole days in a row because it was the only thing that allowed adequate air flow to my nether regions.
BOTTOMS:
⇢ Denim overalls: Fuggedaboutit.
⇢ White shorts: that I only wore after wearing the grey dress so many days in a row became weird. Also, they’re no longer white.
⇢ White linen pants: only worn for salvation after sitting in (and sticking to) chairs became too painful for my severely sunburned ass cheeks. These pants actually saved me. Except when they almost got stuck in my bike chain. Also, no longer white.
WHAT I ACTUALLY WORE:
The photo above illustrates my standard *what to pack for Belize* look for the trip and also why I’ll never be a fashion icon. That and my love for beer and deep-fried things, and, while we’re at it, deep-fried beer.
Cheerleading shorts, a sports bra, and a loose-fitting tank top were all I could bear to wear in the 100°F+ Central American heat. I look reasonably clean in this picture but if only you could understand the level of sweaty I was when this photo was taken. I came home three pounds lighter if that tells you anything. (My suitcase, eight pounds heavier.)
Fashion – 0, Survival – 7
WHAT I SHOULD HAVE LEFT BEHIND
⇢ DENIM
⇢ Anything I wouldn’t mind destroying with road dirt, sweat, bike rust, hot sauce splatter, sunburn tears
⇢ All white things (see above)
⇢ All tops that require the use of a strapless bra – TOO DAMN HOT
⇢ The stupid romper I bought last year. I wore it once and it shrunk at some point. It’s basically just a pair of underwear with a shirt attached now. Hell, let’s just call it was it is – a onesie.
WHAT TO PACK FOR BELIZE // SHOES
I WORE ALL THE SHOES I BROUGHT! That maybe has never happened before. Everything you see in this picture is now covered in a thick layer of road dust plastered on with sweat that dripped from my body. A couple pairs of flip-flops, a “nicer” pair of sandals that I wore once then realized I was so, so stupid, and the two that I wore the most:
⇢ My North Face hiking shoes
⇢ Keen H2 hiking sandals
⇢ pssst! Zappos has free shipping and free returns, just FYI.
Also available on Amazon if you’ve also got some paper towels and dog treats to buy:
In my three full days in the jungle I:
⇢ hiked through a cave (that involved river crossings, a lot of swimming, rock climbing, some ladder action, a jungle hike, and eating some live termites – irrelevant but still notable)
⇢ explored the ancient Mayan complex of Tikal and climbed many of the towers (as seen earlier)
⇢ hiked to the summit of a mountain
⇢ mountain biked through the jungle
⇢ hiked to and swam in a jungle river
⇢ rode a packed, old, beat up American school bus across the country standing up in the aisle
To say these two pairs of shoes were invaluable is an understatement. To say air conditioning and handrails are fundamental is also one. I’ve had the North Face hiking shoes for years but the Keens I bought specifically for this trip and our adventure through Belize’s famed ATM Cave (in which we also had to remove our shoes and wear only socks for part of the hike – this is a real thing).
They’re basically hiking boots made for hikes that involve water. We saw everyone else wore Keens too so fifty points to Gryffindor! Surprising though because they’re quite ugly but still the most comfortable shoes I own. Can I wear these to your wedding? WHY I AM NOT A FASHION ICON.
WHAT TO PACK FOR BELIZE // SWIMWEAR
When deciding what to pack for Belize, anyone who’s been to a Caribbean island knows they’re going to need many swimsuits, the region’s official dress code. Yellow for snorkeling, teal for just about anything, sequins for my bachelorette party in Las Vegas… even though we were at a topless pool party… it’s whatev. Ya don’t show up topless… geez.
WHAT I SHOULD HAVE LEFT BEHIND
Nothing. I brought all three of these as I should have but I actually should have worn all three of these, which I didn’t. I wore the teal one spelunking on day one. Forgot about my snorkel suit and wore the teal one again. Then, due to the sunburn I acquired in the exact shape of the teal suit, I was forced to wear it for the rest of the trip.
WHAT TO PACK FOR BELIZE // ADVENTURES
So, Belize is full of adventures. I squeezed in as many as I could but still only scratched the surface. And my shins. So much. As I mentioned, we toured the ATM Cave, Tikal, climbed a mountain, biked through the jungle, snorkeled the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and the most daring of all, took the public bus across the country. We made good use of ALL THE THINGS (but one, not our fault) we brought for these occasions.
For snorkeling:
⇢ Aqualung fins, mask, and snorkel. Yes, they have snorkeling gear there but I prefer my own because I’m a snorkel snob.
⇢ Spit antifog gel for my mask which I use every time I’m in the water.
⇢ My Deep See dive booties. I love these things for wearing inside my fins and on the boat.
For miscellaneous jungle activities:
⇢ Binoculars for the wildlife obsession
⇢ Water bottle fanny pack for hiking because I need both hands when I fall. It also has a little pocket for chapstick and your ID for identifying you when you pass out from heat exhaustion. Belize really is the best!
⇢ My insulated Camelbak water bottle that never leaves my side (⇡ literally, har har)
⇢ Sunglasses – cheap, polarized
⇢ Strappy backpack thing I got for free somewhere that you probably also have somewhere
⇢ Clif Bars – in coconut chocolate chip, if you must know.
⇢ Ziplock bags in a variety of sizes for the many times my hiking equipment and I were submerged under water
⇢ OFF! Deep Woods bug repellent for all those Zika-carrying mosquitos we were warned about. Oh, but guess what? WE DIDN’T ENCOUNTER A SINGLE MOSQUITO. The jungle just isn’t what it used to be. Thanks, Obama.
WHAT I SHOULD HAVE LEFT BEHIND
Nothing! I brought all the right stuff and nothing I didn’t need. OK, technically I didn’t use the bug spray but I would’ve been stressed had I not brought it… Peace of mind, y’all. The most important thing to have on your travels.
WHAT TO PACK FOR BELIZE // BEACH
Well….. we didn’t spend much time at the “beach” so much as we did the bar near the water but most of this did get used.
⇢ Beach bag – As you’ll see, I carried a lot of my denial in here.
⇢ Beach towels from Hawaii but I’m pretty sure you can find these at Wal-Mart
⇢ An Aerobie because the thought of “laying around” on the beach gives me anxiety and I need physical activity at all times (the round, yellow thing that screams “Denial!” as it whizzes by your head only you’ll never hear it because it didn’t leave the bag)
⇢ ALL THE SUNSCREEN.
⇢ Some awesome SPF 30 lip balm I got in Italy that turns my lips white but I don’t even care. What goes better with a red ass and black and blue shins anyway?
⇢ Magazines (again, Wal-Mart, or steal them from your local bar like I did)
⇢ Actually really good sunglasses which on Amazon are a lot cheaper than what I paid for them at Sunglass Hut. The bastards!
WHAT I SHOULD HAVE LEFT BEHIND
⇢ The beach towels. Both places we stayed provided us with all the beach towels we could ever need. These take up a lot of space and SMELL AWFUL the entire week you drag them around.
⇢ Magazines. WHO WAS I KIDDING?
⇢ The Ralph Laurens. I wore the cheap freebies the whole week and they were perfect. Ladies! My hair was in a bun the entire week. Now, you know what happens when you wear metal sunglasses with nosepieces when your hair is up. Those sum’bitches get STUCK and rip all your hair out. The plastic frames you can slide on top of your head and off with ease, something I do a lot for taking pictures and using my shirt to wipe the sweat off my face. You will too.
⇢ The Coppertone. SPF 8? Tanning lotion? Psshhhh! I’ve never been darker than I am right now from this Belize trip and this is all from TRYING TO AVOID THE SUN. You definitely won’t have trouble getting some color in Belize so the more SPF the better.
WHAT TO PACK FOR BELIZE // ELECTRONICS
Yes, IT’S ALL NECESSARY! I could have done without all the clothing and beach towels and, psshh, reading material, but I CANNOT do without my gear.
MY TRAVEL GEAR MUST-HAVES:
⇢ My new obsession, my baby, my Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II (whatever the hell all that means. It’s a camera, people.) + 12-40mm lens (sun shield came with) + 40-150mm lens + charger. This photo was taken with an old camera if that’s something that’s been bothering you.
⇢ One 64GB SD card and one 16GB SD card + whatever micro SD is in my GoPro, I don’t even know
⇢ Joby GorillaPod, Zoom model – the weird looking tripod that’s flexible and weighs practically nothing
⇢ My cell phone – a Samsung Galaxy S5 + charger. Soo out of date, I know. OMG I’m such an old fogey. (Update: I now have a Google Pixel XL and it’s the best. phone. ever.)
⇢ A curling iron that I’ve had since my literal first day as a post-pubescent adult.
⇢ Fujifilm FinePix waterproof digital camera + battery charger + floaty wrist thing. This one was for my husband. This is the camera I used in Iceland and Hawaii before I got my GoPro.
⇢ GoPro Hero 4 Silver + charging cord
⇢ GoPro floating hand grip for sturdier underwater shooting plus it floats and has an adjustable strap so… idiot-proof.
⇢ GoPro chest strap + head strap for miscellaneous adventures
⇢ The extremely necessary Polar Pro GoPro red snorkel filter for shallow water. (Mine is for the GoPro Hero 4, but they now have them for newer models.) The red filter balances out the blues and greens you get when filming in the ocean to give you colors closer to what you actually see. I show you:
On the left is the picture of the sea turtle I took with my GoPro + red filter. On the right is the picture my husband took of me taking the picture of the sea turtle (no red filter). On the left is how I saw it when I was down there in between being head-butted by sharks and bitch-slapped by turtles – vibrant colors and crystal clear water. And that’s how I’d like to remember it.
WHAT I SHOULD HAVE LEFT BEHIND
⇢ I didn’t use the GoPro chest or head strap but I’m glad I brought them. Peace of mind, remember? They weigh almost nothing and pack up real tight.
⇢ The curling iron. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I laugh hysterically at how naïve I was to pack A CURLING IRON. It’s something I always pack, regardless of what I have planned or where I am going. I have long, straight hair that I usually curl into big waves… when I care. Caring about my hair was utterly impossible in Belize. Wearing my hair down was also impossible.
Every day was the same: shower, apply Moroccan oil (a non-negotiable), stand naked in front of the wind machine to air dry and pretend I’m a fashion model. Wrap hair into a bun on top of my head before leaving the cabin/cabana. Do not remove until next shower. It was TOO DAMN HOT and sweaty and sticky for anything else. Every time I saw the curling iron in my suitcase I LOL’ed. IDIOT. Now I know.
HOW TO PACK FOR BELIZE
I may be late to the game but I now a lot of you who still haven’t jumped on the packing cube bandwagon. YOU NEED TO USE PACKING CUBES. I use the TravelWise Packing Cube System and I’m OBSESSED. These things have seriously changed my travel game.
And of course my bra travel case. I wrote about these things in my Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers and I got a lot of response about this! In the case shown I have three bras, three swimsuits (tops and bottoms), and five pairs of socks.
WHAT I SHOULD HAVE PACKED FOR BELIZE
⇢ I meant to bring a hat of the baseball sort for hiking, or any other reason I’d need it buuuut I forgot. The sun of the islands is inescapable and sometimes you just have to create your own shade so…. I bought one there. I’m also a freaking champ at throwing shade BTW.
⇢ A T-shirt. I concentrated so hard on the Belize is hot thing and refused to pack anything besides tank tops. This became a problem after the snorkel sunburn of 2016 and the need for something to cover my shoulders. I bought one there.
⇢ Some kind of after sun lotion. By the grace of God I ended up finding some Ocean Potion burn relief at the gift shop in Caye Caulker BUT it was kind of funny having my husband chop off some stalks of the aloe plant outside our cabana and apply it to my burnt butt cheeks. *Sigh* The memories that will stay with us forever…
⇢ Ibuprofen. Luckily, Belize has pharmacies and you can purchase drugs, Ibuprofen among them, by the pill, the way I wish you could in the U.S. I’m throwing shade at you, Big Pharma.
⇢ Neosporin and bandaids. Because rock climbing inside a cave, underwater, is hard and coral is sharp.
⇢ A dry bag. It was on my trip to the ATM Cave that I learned about these for the first time. I attempted to put everything I wanted to keep dry into a series of Ziplock bags but ended up eating a wet granola bar. You had ONE JOB, Ziplock! I have a dry bag NOW and it’s the best possible way to keep things dry, even while submerged in water. More on my dry bag in this post.
⇢ A headlamp. Yes, we have some of these at home and could have used them on our jungle night hike and in our summit hike’s dark cave. Our guide provided some but I couldn’t figure out how to wear it so I just carried it around. (Leave me alone…) It was really annoying dealing with the lamp while trying to keep the feisty tarantula from crawling up my arms and pants leg:
NOT PICTURED:
You’re not an idiot. You don’t need someone telling you what hygiene products to bring or what undergarments to pack. However, if you’d like to know my preferences, I’d be glad to share those with you.
⇢ Toiletries. I think you can handle this one and I’m sure you have a pretty good idea of what products I took with me. I’m not completely uncivilized, you know. I tried to remain as clean as possible, given the circumstances.
⇢ Underwear and socks. Yeah, I brought them. At certain times it was all I wore. Think wind machine.
⇢ Fodor’s Belize guidebook (+ a side trip to Guatemala)
⇢ Various medicines / vitamins – whatever it is you like to bring / need desperately for survival – I ALWAYS FORGET THESE ARGGGGH
⇢ Cosmetics – another big dumb-dumb moment. I think I put on mascara a couple of days but that was the extent of it. I’d work up such a sweat putting makeup on that it would be completely null and void by the end of it. Don’t get caught in the vicious cycle like I did. Seriously, NO ONE CARES.
Now, if I could only learn to unpack…
MORE INFO
Heading to Belize? (Jealous.) Find great places to stay in the jungle and on the islands.
But where do I recommend? Black Rock Lodge and Colinda Cabanas, respectively.
What else have I covered in Belize? Check out these posts.
Like this post? Have questions? Hit me up on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
LIKE THIS POST?
Sign up here to get fresh posts + the MWL monthly newsletter full of behind the scenes travel and blogging updates ⇢ straight to your inbox!
WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS FORGET TO PACK?
LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS!
PIN THIS ⇣
Blog Life // MWL’s Funniest, Strangest, & Most Confusing Search Terms
I am so happy to have found this blog. We booked a last minute trip to Belize and I have been frantically trying to plan what to do. Since we leave in 5 days, no time to buy the Keen’s but luckily I am able to borrow a pair from a friend. I think that may be the most valuable advise ever! I’ll check back and tell you how ATM was! After your post I am terrified and excited at the same time.
Thank you so much Kari!! Trust me, you’ll see how valuable those Keens are! I am so happy to have found them.
I can’t wait to hear how you like the ATM Cave – I’d say you’re in the right frame of mind. Have a great trip!
We love your blog! We found you when planning a trip to Belize for ourselves and our two young kids, and you had us cracking up (and packing well!). Belize was amazing, in part because we were prepared! Thank you!!!! We weren’t able to do Black Rock, but we did a similar jungle lodge, Sleeping Giant, and then Tikal and a few days at the beach (including snorkeling). Such an amazing experience and wonderful people.
We are heading to Nicaragua next. I keep checking back to see if you’ve been there. I’m not sure how to pack without your guide!! 😀
Thank you so much Julie – your comment means the world to me! I’m so glad y’all had an amazing time and that I was able to help. (Is Belize freaking fantastic or what!?) I haven’t been to Nicaragua yet but I was talking about it the other day so hopefully some time in the near future!
Were you able to pack all of this as a carry on? I don’t want to check a bag but I’m worried I won’t be able to bring enough sunscreen in a carry on for my 7 day trip. I am very concerned about getting sunburnt!
Hi Sydni! Since I brought my own snorkel gear I had to check a bag (those fins are bigger than you think lol). If I hadn’t brought those I would’ve carried on. Also, YES you need a ton of sunscreen but that’s something you can buy there to be honest. If you’re going to any of the Cayes they have plenty of places to buy sunscreen. In the jungle you can probably find some at the pharmacy. Either way you can always pick a bottle of it up at the airport when you land.
Ok thank you for the advice. I am really wanting to only bring a carry on – and buying sunscreen in BZ versus paying $50 for a checked bag round trip would probably be more economical. I’m staying in Caye Caulker for 7 days at the end of May. I can’t wait!!! Also your post cracks me up esp the part about the curling iron hahaha
Oh perfect! Yeah, when you think of that sunscreen in terms of cost for checking a bag, the decision is made for you haha! And yeah, go ahead and leave your curling iron at home LOL. Have fun in Caye Caulker! I’m so jealous, it’s amazing!
Great post, thank you!
Im assuming you had a suitcase since you checked it. Did you have to take a water taxi to your beach destination and if so, was a suitcase tricky to get on?
I was thinking to pack my large backpack for my trip next week. I was thinking along the Thailand lines and how many times I had to walk to shore and the relief of not having a suitcase. However, I also was advised to bring my own snorkel gear so now I’m torn. The catch is, I don’t own snorkel gear so for the sake of ease did you notice that being something to acquire there for purchase easily or long term rental? I don’t want to bother checking gear in/out all the time and also wouldn’t mind having a set for future travel.
Thanks Sheli! I checked a regular sized suitcase (with my snorkeling gear) and it was totally manageable! The place I stayed in Caye Caulker had snorkel gear they could lend you, but I prefer my own too.
Getting the suitcase to the island wasn’t a big deal, but read about my experience in this article: https://www.mywanderlustylife.com/3-days-in-caye-caulker-belize/
It was easy and painless, but the process was a little confusing at the time, haha!
Then when you get to the island, you can take a golf cart cab to your place so you don’t have to drag it around. All in all, not a big deal! Have fun in Belize!
Great information and a laugh as well. What about places to stay. Your suggestions?
Thanks Susan! Yes, I have those too! Check out my post on the Black Rock Lodge, where I stayed in the jungle, here: https://www.mywanderlustylife.com/black-rock-lodge-belize-welcome-jungle/
and my post on Caye Caulker and where I stayed on the island, here: https://www.mywanderlustylife.com/3-days-in-caye-caulker-belize/
Hope those help! You can’t go wrong with either!
Definitely the best packing list post I’ve ever ready! haha
Thank you!! That means a lot to me. :):)
Literally my fav post. YOU GOT IT ALL RIGHT!! I loved the honest truth in all of this 😀 No travel fashionistas ever! LOL I alllllwaaaayyysss wish and try but NOPE! lol Thanks for the good laugh!
Haha thank you so much!! No matter how hard I try… I guess they’re just born with it! lol.
We have been to Belize 3 times with the 4th trip about 2 weeks away. The only packing nightmare we had was when my husband forgot to pack underware. We arrived in X-Mas Eve. Not sure if you noticed or not but there are lots of very small and very large people in Belize. We had the hardest time finding average US male size undies. But the cute little Asian size/style bikini undies are still in his drawer to this day! Lol
Hahah – this is so funny! Regardless of size, I wouldn’t have a clue as to wear you could buy underwear in Belize in the first place! Good job finding SOMETHING! Congrats on another trip to Belize – I can’t wait to make my return!
lol you don’t even need underwear in Belize just swim wear. We wore ours EVERYDAY, EVERYWHERE. No kidding.
You’re absolutely right about that. A bathing suit works for just about any activity you plan to do there LOL!
How many suitcases did you bring? what size suitcases
Hi Michelle! I just brought one medium-sized suitcase. I could have done a carry-on if I hadn’t brought the snorkel equipment though! 🙂
This was really helpful and quite funny! I was wondering what time of the year did you go? Might be going in the next few months and want it to be in the dry season.
Thank you Brittany! I was there at the end of May/beginning of June. It was right at the start of the “wet season” but there was a drought so we didn’t see a drop of water the whole time. And since we were there JUST after the high season, the prices of everything dropped significantly.
Love love love this post! It’s EXACTLY the packing post I was looking for. And the reassurance that my packing style wasn’t insane! I do like my packing cubes too, but never went whole hog. Might try it this time.
I had a couple of questions… hope you can answer them, it’s my first trip to Belize and I can’t wait. We’re from Canada and usually go to Hawaii around Thanksgiving, but… well, you know.
1 – You didn’t mention which actual suitcase & size you packed those cubes in? And 2 – I also have a question about declaring stuff – I was bringing tea and some medical supplies for the animal rescues in Hopkins, do you know if I declare used goods and tea? Even if it’s for personal use or donation? Appreciate it! Thanks again for sharing all this great info!
Hi Monica — that’s awesome! I’m so glad this post helped you so much!
For your first question, I used the middle size of my 3-piece luggage set. I just measured it and the dimensions are 27in tall, 18in wide, and 10in thick. And yes, I pack EVERYTHING in my packing cubes. The set shown (and linked to) above actually has a 5th piece but I didn’t even need it.
For your second question, I’m definitely no customs expert (as evident in the 4th paragraph of this post, haha). But my thoughts are that if you are just bringing tea for your own consumption (and not massive amounts to sell in Belize) than you should be fine bringing. But whether or not to declare? Keep reading for my answer on that…
As for the medical supplies, that may be a little bit different. My advice would be to check out the twitter account https://twitter.com/AskTSA … it’s a support line to ask questions like this directly to the TSA. I’d ask them about both the tea and the medical supplies.
Hope that helped! Have an amazing time in Belize–it’s an AWESOME place.
Thanks for all these tips. We will be heading to Belize in a few months and I can’t wait. I will definitely take your tips and apply many of them as I start planning/packing!
You’re welcome! So glad you found this post useful — you’re going to love Belize! Where all are you going?
sorry for the lack of response. We ended up in Placencia for 7 nights! It was amazing.
Awesome, I hope you had a phenomenal time!!
Yes, I never read packing posts either, they’re so stupid. That’s why I was hesitant to write one! But for real on the hair tools. And you’re right–a straightener would just be useless weight in the jungle!! 🙂
I might’ve missed it in the post but when did you travel to Belize?
Hi Ashley! I was there at the end of May / beginning of June. 🙂
Useful tips to get to Belize! I would like to go there one day, maybe during a big trip to Central America (Guatemala, Costa Rica too). I will bookmark this post ’cause I will need it! thanks 😀
That would be a great trip. I definitely want to spend more time in Guatemala and I’ve heard nothing but great things about Costa Rica!
Wow some really useful tips here. Thanks for sharing. It was quite helpful.
I like the way you have not just put up a list but actually related how you wore what and when. But I do am intrigued how you managed to pack that many pair of shoes 🙂
Thank you!! Well, I always wear the biggest pair on the plane (so in this case, the hiking shoes) and you can see I managed to fit the other four pairs as well as my scuba booties into a small packing cube 🙂
Such a cool post and I agree 100% that a post like this should be written AFTER experiencing the place in totality to give an informed and detailed list, like you did. No denim, I survive on jeans so like that is such a cool point to make and keep in mind. Oh! – and a topless pool party, hmmmm.
Thanks for such a detailed postbwith photos and why and why nots about everything. Very handy and useful.
Thanks so much! Yes–definitely no denim in Central America haha.
This post cracks me up. It brought back so many memories of sweating my rear off in Belize… We also brought the bug spray but didn’t need it in the jungle, but got eaten alive at the beach (go figure). The receptionist at our jungle lodge told us the bats eat all the mosquitoes which is why there aren’t any… – Fun fact for the day. 🙂
Oooh–good to know! We were told it was the unusual drought that kept all ours away. We did see plenty of bats though!
Wow what an in depth list. You hilarious style of writing kept me entertained throughout thanks.
I had such a great time in Belize and the only time I kept at a reasonable temperature was when I was snorkelling! I agree it is so hot!!
Haha yes — another great reason to hit the ocean! Although that backside sunburn is no joke!
Great tips! This could probably apply to any Central American country. When we were in Belize, it wasn’t quite as hot, but we were still sweaty once we started walking uphill or moving fast. Glad you were able to have such a fun trip!
Yeah you’re totally right! When were you there?
I need to get me those adorable overall shorts!! Where did you get those? I also really want that Joby Gorillapod…. here’s hoping for Christmas 😀 Great packing list!
I got the overalls at Zumiez (here’s the link: http://www.zumiez.com/empyre-haylee-potassium-blue-overall-shorts.html) I hope you get the Gorillapod too! I love that thing!
Yup! Scorching but so worth it. Glad you had fun in my old stomping ground. I did warn you about the sun!
Haha! Yes–that sun!! I love it though. Much better than the New England cold.
Bahaha, I was laughing my head off at the whole beauty and curling iron “necessities” bit. I just went to Belize in August and I found out the same as you that looking pretty just stops being a priority when that heat exists xD
Fantastic list and I love that you went through everything with us. But damn, I need to step up my tech gear for the next trip!
Thank you! And now you understand! Utterly pointless! But that’s something I love about Belize. You get to forget all that “looking good” and “smelling good” and “being clean” nonsense and just have a freaking great time! Did it rain a lot in August?
These are good things to know! I’m going to Colombia in August and feel like I might run into some similar heat issues there, however, I’m really bad at packing sensibly. I always seem to forget my toothbrush (which is no big deal; you can buy that anywhere!) or worse, I’ve had some (3 to be exact) close calls with forgetting my passport…luckily I never actually left it behind!
Haha! Yes Colombia is even closer to the equator! I’ve been to Venezuela many times and it’s HOT HOT HOT. And I was there in November/Dec/January. Good luck, girl! And I’ve never forgotten my passport but always have that fear. I did, however, forget my passport on the road to Canada once and had to turn around and go back home to get it. It was like an hour out so it wasn’t TOO devastating.
Hey Ashley,
Going to Belize in November. Do you have any kind of shorts you’d recommend? Brand, material, type of shorts etc. I know you mentioned you wore your cheerleading shorts. Would you recommend buying a few pairs of those? If so, where do you find those?
Hey Amber! When I was in Belize I just brought along some simple Soffe shorts (the brand name) and you can get them for about $5 each at places like Dick’s Sporting Goods, etc. Now I have a pair of Nike shorts that I love – I really think you can’t go wrong!