The Ultimate Guatemala Packing List (with downloadable list!)

And if you’re unsure what to bring to Guatemala, we’re here to help! This Guatemala packing list covers all of the essentials, plus activity specific items, to ensure your suitcase is filled with everything you need to explore Guatemala.

Before we dive into the specifics of what to pack for Guatemala, here are a handful of things to consider before you start packing your bag!

Weather and seasons in Guatemala

Guatemala has two seasons: the rainy season (May-October) and the dry season (November-April). During the rainy season, it may just rain in the afternoon, or in the summer months it can rain quite a bit more. Especially if there are any hurricanes or storms that bring extra rain to the area.

Regardless of when you visit, you should be prepared for all types of weather. We visited in mid-March, during the dry season, which for the most part was very sunny. But we still had a little bit of rain in Semuc Champey, plus fog at Acatenango.

Rent gear if needed

If you plan on doing any treks in Guatemala, like Acatenango, there are specific items you will need to bring, like hiking poles. But if you don’t own these items, don’t worry! You can rent gear from tour providers instead.

Laundry

If you’re visiting Guatemala for a couple weeks you’ll likely want to have your clothes washed. Unlike the US, where you can find laundromats and do your own laundry, you will likely need to pay someone to wash your clothes for you. Antigua will be your best bet for laundry services. We saw quite a few around town!

Or you can do it the lazy way, like we did, and buy some detergent at a convenience store and wash clothes in your hostel sink. 😅

Bag size

If you plan to take tourist shuttles around the country, keep in mind that your larger bag will go on the roof of the shuttle, while your smaller bag will stay with you inside. Depending on how busy the shuttle is, this smaller bag may have to be on your lap. So make sure the bag you bring won’t be too uncomfortable for that!

Guatemala has a very temperate climate, with lows between 50-60ºF (10-15ºC) and highs reaching around 80ºF (26ºC), or even higher if heading to Semuc Champey. The mornings are typically cooler, while the afternoons are warmer and very sunny (and the sun is pretty intense here!).

Because of this, packing layers is key! We often wore jackets in the morning and then were sweating a bit in the afternoon. Since many activities in Guatemala are pretty active, we highly suggest casual, comfortable, and breathable clothing. For the most part, casual attire and athleisure is very acceptable in Guatemala. 

Shirts

A good basic shirt is a must on your Guatemala packing list! We love our Vuori Strato Tech T-shirts and Vuori Lux Performance Tank Tops, as they are light, don’t smell too bad after one wear, and do well with sweat. This is what we almost always wore under our other layers.

Pullover and sun hoodie

It’s important to have a few different layers with you for variable temperatures throughout the day. Wearing a pullover over your tank top or shirt will help keep you warmer during cool mornings or at higher altitude. 

But for the hotter days, where a pullover may be too warm, we opted for a sun hoodie to protect ourselves from the sun, without making us sweat a lot.

Puffy jacket

If you’re hiking Acatenango, having a puffy jacket is a MUST! We both wear an L.L. Bean Ultralight 850 Down jacket and love it. Even if you’re not doing this hike, both Lake Atitlán and Antigua can be chillier in the early mornings or after the sun goes down. So it would be nice to have one if you get cold easily!

Rain jacket

Even if visiting during the dry season, always be prepared by carrying a rain jacket. We ended up needing ours for our Acatenango hike, despite visiting in mid-March.

Pants

Not only will you want a pair of casual pants, jeans, or shorts for exploring town, but if you’re planning to hike in Guatemala, you will want workout shorts or pants as well. Adam wears these light Patagonia pants and these shorts, while Kathryn wears Nike leggings and Patagonia shorts. We also love our Vuori joggers (men’s and women’s)!

Pajamas

Make sure to have something comfy to wear at night! We personally just keep it simple and rock a random shirt and shorts.

Swimsuit

If you plan to visit Lake Atitlán, Semuc Champey, any hot springs, or do other water activities, make sure to bring a swimsuit! 

Buff, gloves, and beanie

Hiking Acatenango? A buff, gloves, and beanie are a MUST on your Guatemala packing list! We cannot stress this enough–it gets COLD and windy up there. And having these will help a ton with keeping you warmer. We’d also suggest some handwarmers too!

Footwear

Hiking shoes

If you plan to do one of Guatemala’s epic hikes, like Acatenango or Indian Nose, make sure to bring good hiking shoes. These trails both have a variety of terrain and you will want solid grip. We love our Altra Lone Peaks!

Casual shoes

Our hiking shoes are the only shoes we wore on the entire trip, as we pack as light as possible. But for those who have more space, pack a pair of casual shoes as well. These would come in handy for walking around town or going to dinner.

Flip flops 

Anytime we stay in hostels, hotels, or camp we bring along flip flops. It’s nice to get out of your shoes at the end of the day and let your feet breathe. Plus, we aren’t a fan of having our bare feet in public showers.

Hiking sandals

If you’re visiting Semuc Champey we highly recommend wearing hiking sandals, like Chacos. These will not only have good grip for the slick terrain, but also be really helpful in the pools (they are slippery!) and in the cave.

Socks

Besides regular, everyday socks, make sure to bring some good hiking socks. Not all socks are created equal, though! Wool socks are the best for hiking as they breathe well, don’t smell as bad, and do well with moisture and sweat.

Daily toiletry items

Make sure to pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, contact solution, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, and any other daily toiletry items you need. While you can find pharmacies and small stores that sell items you may have left at home, they may not have your preferred brand and type.

Medicine

Besides any daily medication, make sure to have Advil, Benadryl, and Imodium, just in case some food doesn’t agree with you. We also suggest bringing antibiotic cream and anti-itch cream! This will be especially helpful if you get any cuts or bug bites.

Prescription medicine for altitude  

If hiking Acatenango, you may want to bring altitude sickness medication. A popular prescription medication for high altitude is Diamox. We didn’t personally take it, as we tend to fare well in higher altitudes, but we have had doctors recommend it to us in the past. So check with your doctor before heading to Guatemala to see if it’s a good fit for you.

Sun protection

Guatemala can be very sunny and when at a higher altitude, the sun is extra powerful. Make sure to pack sunscreen (or buy some when you arrive) and reapply sunscreen often to avoid getting burned. In addition to sunscreen, we suggest packing a sun hoodie, hat, and sunglasses. Adam wears KALIYADI sunglasses and Kathryn wears Ray-Bans.

Bug Spray

While most of our time in Guatemala was bug bite free, we did get some bites in Semuc Champey. If you plan to visit that area, make sure to pack bug spray, or buy some there.

Chapstick

With so much sun and wind exposure, chapstick is a must!

Shampoo and conditioner 

While many accommodations will likely provide shampoo and conditioner, hostels typically do not. So make sure to bring at least one travel size bottle of each just in case! Or you can buy this once you arrive in Guatemala.

Toilet paper

One important thing to know about visiting Guatemala is that you will typically have to pay to use public toilets. These are usually Q5 and while they typically include toilet paper, we suggest packing some of your own so you don’t have an issue. We just took a bunch off a roll and put it into a ziploc bag before flying to Guatemala.

And remember, you cannot flush toilet paper in Guatemala, so please throw it in the trash can next to the toilet.

For the ladies, Kathryn LOVES her Kula cloth. This is an antimicrobial pee cloth that can strap onto your pack and is very handy if nature calls while hiking. Or if you just don’t want to use toilet paper!

Hand Sanitizer

Most of the paid toilets have some sort of hand washing station, but we suggest bringing hand sanitizer just in case.

Ear plugs

Some of the places we stayed at in Guatemala were a bit loud at night. Whether it was from cars on the street, people hanging out at the hostel bar, or roosters in the jungle. Packing some ear plugs could make a big difference for a quiet night’s sleep!

If you plan on doing any hikes in Guatemala, like Acatenango, there are a handful of extra items you will want to bring. Guided hikes will provide most of what you need for any overnight hikes, but make sure to check in advance, as gear may vary by company.

Note: Some of these items are rentable from most tour companies, which we will denote with an asterisk. 

The 10 essentials

We always carry the 10 essentials on any hike and we highly suggest you do the same!

One of the 10 essentials we want to especially highlight is a first aid kit, with bandaids and antibiotic cream. You’ll be miles away from medical help, so make sure you have ways to take care of minor bites, cuts, scrapes, etc. 

Backpack* and pack cover

For the Acatenango hike you will need a backpack to carry your items. We both carry an REI Co-op Trail 40 L Pack, which is great for both exploring cities and trekking. And even with carrying lots of camera equipment, we both had enough room for everything we needed for our hike. 

This backpack comes with a pack cover for rain, but if you don’t have one, make sure you find one that fits your bag.

Hiking poles*

Hiking poles are a must for hiking Acatenango. The trail is very steep and full of loose dirt, so having poles helped a lot with feeling secure on the terrain. And it made the descent slightly easier on the knees. 

Water storage 

For the Acatenango hike, it’s recommended to pack 3L of water, as there are zero water sources on the hike. So we suggest bringing a 3L Camelbak. We use this on just about every hike we go on and it makes it super easy to drink while on the move!

Even if you’re not hiking in Guatemala, we recommend packing a reusable water bottle to reduce plastic. Most lodging will have purified water for you to fill up with!

Electrolytes

On our particularly strenuous adventures, especially in the heat or altitude, we like to carry electrolytes. LMNT is our absolute favorite! We use our reusable water bottle to put LMNT in, as it’s not something we want to put in our CamelBak.

If you use this link, you get a free sample pack (8 packets!) with any order! 

Headlamps (with batteries)

For both the Acatenango hike and Indian Nose sunrise hike you will need a headlamp. Don’t forget to pack some extra batteries, if yours require batteries, or a battery charger.

Snacks

While Acatenango hikes include meals and Indian Nose sunrise hikes include bread and a hot drink, you may need more food than provided. So make sure to pack snacks! You can either bring snacks from home or pick up items in Guatemala. 

If you need snack ideas, you can see a list of our favorite hiking snacks here!

Camera 

The scenery in Guatemala is incredible and you’ll want to capture it! For most, a phone camera will be enough, but if you want to truly capture the country’s epic terrain, you may want to bring an actual camera.

You can see all of our camera gear here, but for cameras, we have both a Sony FX3 (mostly for filming) and Sony a7 III  (for photos). We also brought our zoom lens to be able to zoom in on the volcanoes!

If you bring a camera, don’t forget extra camera batteries.

Camera strap or clip

In our opinion, the best way to carry a camera is clipped to our chest using the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip. It gives us easy access to the camera and keeps our hands free when we aren’t filming/taking photos.

Not carrying a backpack to attach a camera clip to? We also love our camera strap from Peak Design! 

Tripod

We’ve used this tripod for a few years now and like how light and compact it is. It made it easy to get photos together across Guatemala!

Drone

We love getting epic shots with our drone! The DJI Mini 3 Pro is our go-to drone for our international trips because it’s lightweight and meets international flight rules. 

GoPro

If you plan to do water activities, having a GoPro (or another waterproof action camera) may be helpful. 

Portable charger

If you plan to use your phone and camera during the day, consider bringing a portable battery charger. This has saved us many times when our phones have gotten low on battery during hikes or long days out and about.

Don’t forget to pack all of your charger cords as well!

Google Translate

No Guatemala packing list is complete without Google Translate! If you’re like us and not fluent in Spanish, make sure to download Spanish for offline use. English is spoken some, but many people only speak Spanish.

Dry bag

For those visiting Semuc Champey (or kayaking on Lake Atitlán), a dry bag is a great item to add to your Guatemala packing list. This will help keep your belongings safe from the water! And if you plan to do the caves and tubing at Semuc Champey, a waterproof phone pouch may be useful as well.

Lock

A lock is a necessary item to have with you if staying in bunk rooms at hostels or if you visit Semuc Champey, where they have free lockers to store your belongings.

Fanny Pack

A fanny pack is great to wear when exploring different cities and towns. You can keep your items on your chest or at your waist and have easy access to important things, like your phone, credit card, etc. Plus, it zips, which is a good deterrent for theft.

Towel

While you could use a towel from your lodging, it may get dirty. So we’d suggest bringing a small travel towel for any water activities.

Packing cubes

We use Tripped compressible packing cubes and it helps us fit lots of clothes into a smaller space, plus keep it organized.

Passport

You will need a valid passport to visit Guatemala. Make sure to check your passport expiration date before booking your trip to ensure you have enough time to get a new one, if needed.

Visa

As US citizens we did not need to apply for a visa before our visit. Be sure to check Guatemala’s visa requirements for your specific country well ahead of time. 

Cash + Debit card

The Guatemalan currency is the Quetzal (denoted as Q or GTQ). And it’s pretty hit or miss whether or not a place accepts credit cards in Guatemala. Many restaurants in Antigua did, but some destinations, like Semuc Chempey, are basically cash only. 

You don’t necessarily need to bring cash to Guatemala, but we suggest getting cash out as soon as you arrive, as you may need it quickly. Try to use bank ATMs when you can for the best rates!

Want to avoid ATM fees? We have a Charles Schwab checking account specifically for international travel. They refund ATM fees from ANY ATM worldwide! This gave us lots of freedom to use whichever ATM was most convenient.

When we could use a credit card in Guatemala, we used one of our travel credit cards to earn points and miles for future trips. Curious which ones we use? Learn more about our favorite travel credit cards.

Travel insurance

One big travel tip not just for Guatemala, but any international destination, is to get travel insurance. 

We are big fans of SafetyWing! SafetyWing is travel medical insurance that will cover you outside of your home country for however long you need it. We purchase their Nomad Insurance plan before any international trip, which not only gives us travel medical insurance, but also provides coverage for lost baggage and travel delays. 

After always purchasing it for many trips over the years and never needing it, we actually had to use it during a trip to Peru. Kathryn was bitten by some bugs on the Salkantay Trek and she had to go to urgent care. The treatment cost several hundred US dollars and SafetyWing covered all of it! And we got reimbursed within just a few days. 

eSIM

You have a few options for cell service while in Guatemala: Pay for an expensive international plan with your home provider, only use Wi-Fi (not recommended), get a physical SIM, or what we have started to do, get an eSIM from Airalo! 

This is a SIM that you can download to your phone. It saves the hassle of having to get a physical SIM. Plus, you can get an eSIM for a specific country or for an entire region, making it extra easy to use if you plan to hop between countries in Latin America.

If you prefer to get a physical SIM, you can get these at the airport or at any cell phone provider in the different towns and cities.

Vaccinations

Depending on where you’re visiting from and which vaccinations you have had, you may need (or want) to get additional vaccinations for Guatemala. This did not apply to us, but it’s worth looking into!

AirTag

Whether you’re checking a bag or just want extra safety for your bag, we highly recommend getting an AirTag (iPhone users only). This small little device can be placed in any bag and then tracked on your iPhone. While we didn’t run into any lost bags in Guatemala, we did lose a bag on a previous trip and the AirTag helped us track it down!