It depends what you are going to be doing in Belize, but most likely it is going to be hot, sunny, with a chance of mosquitos. Because of heat, you are likely going to be doing some fun water activities, like cave river tubing, or snorkeling. Prep for the heat, by ensuring you have these top 5 items and make sure to peruse the extra items that came in handy when packing for a tropical adventure.
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packing for tropical adventure 5 things you must have
Sunscreen spf 50+
I am serious about the spf 50 or more. The sun is intense in Belize and I saw other people (especially on Caye Caulker) underestimate the sun and get deeply burned. Also get spf 50 for your face.
Mosquito Repellant
Our timing was not too bad for mosquitos, but they got us in Tikal. I also recommend bite relief, to relieve the itching and allow you to sleep at night.
Swimsuits
More than one! Because one might be drying out when you’re already ready to get back in the water.
Flowy, cool clothes: The heat was not unbearable, but it was on the verge of uncomfortable. Make sure your sweatiest parts can breath in flowy, light-fabric clothes.
Waterproof iPhone Case
Protect your phone/camera when doing all the amazing water activities!
Pack this for your belize Trip
5 More Things that Came in Extremely Handy
Travel Towel
Designed to be lightweight, these travel towels dry quickly and are compact when folded up. These are great when you don’t want to wait to be air dried.
Dry Bag
Protect your other things when doing the water activities.
Packing Cubes
Have you heard of these? They are incredible for keeping things organized. I separate out my tops in one bag, bottoms in another, and etc. This way I can find everything super quickly.
Scarf
The mornings in San Ignacio and Tikal were very overcast and even chilly. This was a perfect little layer for our sunrise tour at Tikal.
Water Sandals: For if you are doing any kind of cave activity (like Cave River Tubing!). They might look a little nerdy, but I love my simple Teva sandals.
Overall Thoughts
Try not to overthink or over-pack for Belize. It is a very laid-back country, so no need for anything too fancy. Focus on your prep for your outside activities and make sure to keep applying sunscreen. On our snorkeling day from Caye Caulker, I reapplied after each of our three times in the water. I only got a tiny bit pink on the shoulders and still got a nice tan. That’s how intense the sun is. For our transportation days, I was most comfortable in loose, flowy clothing that also looked cute.
What is one thing you cannot go without on a beach vacation? Let me know in the comments so I can try it out on our next warm destination.
Happy Travels,
Hanna
