Wondering what to wear in Guatemala? Creating a packing list for Guatemala can be tricky, especially if you are traveling during the rainy season or plan on hiking Acatenango with of the best sling backpack or doing any other adventurous things that you might need specific gear for.
In this Guatemala packing list, I’ve covered everything that you will need for your Guatemala backpacking adventure. I’ve even included some ‘what to wear in Guatemala’ tips for the different places you might be visiting.
Pin For Later
What to wear in Guatemala
I’m not one of those travel bloggers who is going to tell you how you should and shouldn’t dress in any country. All I want to do is offer you some first-hand advice and knowledge of what to wear in Guatemala if you want to avoid extra attention.
As a non-Guatemalan backpacking in Guatemala, you are going to get local people starring at you a bit. Get used to it. Especially if you are tall and blonde with blue eyes haha.
Most of the time it’s hot in Guatemala during the day. In the mornings and evenings when the sun goes down it can get chilly, so I often found my self putting on a jumper or a coat at night and needing and extra blanket for bed.
The exception to this is, of course, El Paradon, Rio Dulce, Semuc Champe and of course Tikal. Or pretty much anywhere at a lower elevation.
Then there is Guatemala rainy season. The rainy season in Guatemala starts in May and continues until September or October normally. December it gets a little chilly and by January it’s back to normal.
I wrote a whole to help you pack for the rainy season in Central America you can read here. But all you really need to know is, it’s still hot, and there are more mosquitos. So bring waterproof things and extra mosquito repellent!
When deciding what to pack for Guatemala it’s important to know that you are going to want to stay cool, as it can get hot, but probably without showing too much flesh. Guatemala is a very conservative mostly catholic country.
The local Mayan women will normally wear traditional dress (long skirts and blouses), other Guatemalans tend to just wear jeans or light trousers. In spite of the heat, you won’t often see Guatemalans wearing denim hotpants.
When I first moved to Guatemala I wasn’t used to the heat and found it more comfortable to wear short shorts and vest tops. But I couldn’t deal with the stairs I got. it made me feel so uncomfortable. So I chose to adapt the way I dressed to try and blend in a bit more.
I bought some denim shorts that weren’t so revealing and stocked up on knee-length dresses and wide-leg trousers. That was I was still cool, but I didn’t look quite so much like a backpacker. But most importantly I didn’t feel like everyone was starring at me every time I left the house.
The only place I personally felt comfortable being less covered up was El Paradon as it’s a beach town, and also Semuc Champe as you are in and out of the water a lot.
That said at the end of the day, dress how YOU feel comfortable, just because I choose not to wear hotpants and a crop top in Guatemala doesn’t mean you shouldn’t if you are comfortable doing so.
What to Pack for Hiking Acatenango
I wanted to add in a little extra info for you if you are planning to hike Acatenango while in Guatemala.
The one thing I would urge you to pack if you know you want to do this hike is some good hiking boots or quick-dry shoes like these. I have a friend who did the hike in hiking sandals, true story, but I really wouldn’t advise this! Both times I’ve hiked Acatenango I’ve lost my big toenails (sob), so do make sure your boots fit.
The issue with wearing sneakers rather than proper hiking boots is that all of the volcanic ash will get inside. If you are wearing boots you can avoid this more than sneakers. Also, don’t plan on buying hiking boots in Guatemala. They will be hard to find and expensive. Hard to find as the average foot size of a Guatemalan woman is a lot smaller than in the US or Europe.
Other things I would advise packing for Acatenango are:
- Hiking backpack – make sure it has a waistband and a place to hold your water bottle for easy access
- Synthetic clothing – You are going to sweat, cotton takes a lot longer to dry and will make you cold with the winds up there. I wore shorts and a top to go up, I put on long leggings for Fuego and then long hiking trousers the following morning.
- Warm clothes – fleece top and bottoms/ thermals/ a down jacket/ jogging bottoms are all good choices. Also, make sure you have extra socks!
- A cap, woolly hat, gloves and a head wrap/ mask/ neck warmer will keep you warm and also keep you from inhaling all of the dust
- Walking poles – only if you have them. Otherwise, you can borrow a wooden stick for a small fee.
- Electrolyte powder – I’m so glad I brought these, and they taste really good!
- Baby wipes and tissues
- A bin bag – I always wrap my stuff in a bin bag to waterproof. Then you can use the bag to collect rubbish on the way back down.
- Blister pads– just in case
- Headlamp – trust me you will need this so much in Guatemala!
What to Pack for Other Guatemalan Adventures
Some other cool things to do in Guatemala include Surfing, scuba diving in Lake Atitlan, ziplining, and yoga. So if you know you want to do some adventurous activities in Guatemala then be sure to pack accordingly.
I have a surfing packing list, a yoga packing list, and a scuba diving packing list to help you out.
Guatemala Travel essentials
Sunglasses
Does anyone actually leave home without sunglasses? I personally always travel with 2 pairs. One for day to day use that I normally just throw in my bag. Then a second pair that are a bit nicer which I wear when I want to take some nice pics for the gram. I always get my sunglasses from Blenders, Glassesshop, or Knockaround as they are good quality, have UV protection, and are really reasonably priced.
Reusable Water Bottle
Having a good reusable water bottle is essential. If you are still a little worried then get a water bottle with a filter like this for peace of mind. For a bottle with extra tech this one is self-cleaning via UVC light, is USB rechargeable, and turns any water into drinkable freshwater. It is also vacuum-insulated to keep your water cold for up to 12 hours.
Hand Sanitizer
Let’s face it, 2020 changed the way we travel, and there is no going back. Hand sanitizer is something you can no longer travel without and I’m obsessed with this hand sanitizer holder my friend designed. You can buy them in a pack of 2 and the bottles come with it so you can top them up. Not only are they super practical so they clip on your purse or luggage but you can also clip your mask on there too, save throwing it into your backpack! It’s vegan leather and you can choose the cute florals (which I have) or a brown and black combo.
Bug Spray
I suggest getting an eco-friendly one for your body and then getting something a little more aggressive like this to spray on your clothing.
Vaccines
You may need to prove you have had any specific vaccines and for some places, you may need malaria pills. There are many vaccines that are strongly advised for travel depending on your location. So a few months before you travel to speak to a medical professional and make sure you were immunized with all of the suggested vaccines.
Please never take medical advice like this from a blogger! Go see a medical professional…
Luggage for Guatemala
It is really up to you what luggage to pack for Guatemala but I would strongly recommend a good backpack if you are planning on traveling across Guatemala to different places.
If you plan on covering a lot of ground then I would personally suggest a 60L backpack and a small daypack that can easily be packed when traveling.
I’ve added images and links for the luggage I have tried and tested in Europe below.
If security is a concern for you then I highly recommend getting in Pacsafe backpack for added security and peace of mind. I also wrote this blog post on the best digital nomad backpacks and this one about carry on luggage, just in case they are useful to you. The KnackPack is great for digital nomads with specific space for your tech and all your essentials.
If backpacks are not your thing, this suitcase with a 20″ laptop pocket will do wonders for you, and with this coupon LEVEL8Claire10 you get a 10% discount!
You are also going to need some packing cubes to help keep all of your things organized (and squeeze in a few extra items of clothing). Plus a good laundry bag, toiletry bag, and of course a shopping bag. Alternatively, get a backpack with built-in packing sections. It hangs like a mini wardrobe too which can be helpful instead of using hotel storage. It’s what I’m personally traveling with these days.
Last but not least, this travel pillow with memory foam will be your best friend for long periods of traveling.
Other Useful Things to Pack for Guatemala
Over the years backpacking the world I’ve got packing down to a fine art and I have some essential items in my backpack that you might not think of. So here are some things you are going to need that you might not think of!
Laundry Soap and a Nail Brush – Unless you want to be doing laundry every few days, it’s best to just wash out your underwater in the shower each night. To do this I always travel with a bar of laundry soap and a nail brush. It also comes in handy to clean off marks and stains from clothes you are washing.
A Travel Washing Line – I love mine, it’s so handy and takes up no room at all.
A Sewing Kit – When you are traveling sometimes you need to make-do-and-mend.
Mini First Aid Kit – Goes without saying really! I also add in some extras like activated charcoal and other useful pharmaceuticals.
Carabiner clips – So useful for attaching things to your backpack!
Head torch – Equally as useful for camping as it is for reading in bed, or trying to find your way home in the dark.
Ear Plugs – If you are planning on staying in hostels you are going to need these!
A Whistle – I know many people worry about safety and want to protect themselves. I like to carry a whistle just in case I need to pull attention. It might not be as effective as pepper spray, but as that is illegal to fly with too many countries, this is a good alternative.
A Door Stop – Worried about safety in your room at night? Use the doorstop to block the door from the inside and make it harder for someone to enter the room.
Silk Sleeping Bag Liner – Another thing that doesn’t take up so much room, but will give you a lot of peace of mind if you need it. Sometimes you might either find yourself chilly or just not wanting to sleep in the bedsheets. So hopping inside a sleeping bag liner helps you get a good night’s sleep, wherever you are…
Umbrella – If you are traveling somewhere tropical it’s likely to rain, but still be hot. Having an umbrella in your bag will keep you dry without making you feel like you will collapse from heat exhaustion!
A padlock – I recommend getting one of these locks so you don’t need to worry about keys. They are TSA approved so you can use them to lock your luggage when flying as well as using it to lock your locker at the hostel.
USD – I always keep an emergency $50 USD hidden somewhere, just in case. USD is the most widely accepted currency, but you will need to ensure the notes are clean and crisp. Many places won’t accept them if they are marked at all.
Quick-dry towel – I have 2, a large one and a small hand size one that I keep clipped to my backpack.
A sarong – I never travel anywhere without at lease 2 sarongs. I use them to replace my towel, hang over my bed in a hostel for privacy. Wrap around my hair when it’s wet, sunbathe on… I could go on and on. I even make a dress out of mine when I’m at the beach.
A scarf – Another multi-use item that doesn’t take up much room. Scarfs are great for covering shoulders from the sun, or when entering churches. It will also help keep you warm, and they look cute!
Yoga Mat – I never travel without my yoga mat. I wrote a whole post to help you choose the best travel yoga mat here.
Spice Bag – If you are planning to do some cooking then I recommend making a spice bag so you don’t end up wasting lots of money or herbs and spices, or eating bland food for the whole of your trip. I put my spices into ziplock bags and then keep them in one of these clear bags.
Ziplock Bags – I know, I know, more plastic. But they do come in really handy when traveling and you can wash and reuse them so you aren’t throwing them away.
Coffee Flask – Great for keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. It also saves you having to use disposable cups when you buy a takeaway coffee.
Aeropress – I do love my coffee, so traveling without my Aeropress is not an option haha. This is also another great portable coffeemaker/ mug if you aren’t a fan of the Aeropress.
Clothing to Pack for Guatemala
You can see my full Guatemala packing list here on Amazon, and you can also download my free Guatemala packing list here. So I’m going to try and keep this section brief.
For Antigua – Jeans or lightweight pants and comfy shoes. Layers for the evening and hiking clothing if you want to do ziplining, hiking, cycling, or any other fun activity available in Antigua.
For Lake Atitlan, you will need cool clothes during the day and warm layers for the evenings. As there is a lot of hiking and other activities you will need clothing suitable for hiking like these leggings and this t-shirt. Hiking boots are great but I got by with these travel shoes (which I’m obsessed with). You will need a coat here, something like this one as the temperature drops at night.
For the hotter areas – When you come down from the mountains Guatemala is HOT and humid, so you will need to pack accordingly. Longer shorts, lightweight dresses, sandals, etc. Oh and don’t forget your swimwear!
For the Acatenango Hike – I included a packing list in this post so you know exactly what to pack.
The minimum you will need is some good hiking boots. If you do the hike with OX Expeditions (the only company I recommend hiking with) then they will be able to lend you warm clothing and all of the gear you will need for the hike.
However, if you prefer to bring your own then you are going to need quick-drying clothing that you can layer. You will need gloves and a hat, as it does get cold at night. A camelback is also a good investment and you will 100% need a headtorch with spare batteries.
A favorite for me in terms of staying nice and cozy is the Gamma – Graphene Heated Jacket that works in both warm and cold weather. Use the code CLAIRE10 to get a 10% discount! Though, if you are hiking a volcano, it is best that you layer up with more clothing.
If you are planning on doing some scuba diving then check out this essential diving gear to pack list.
If you plan on surfing then check out this packing list.
For salsa dancing in Guatemala, I recommend these shoes as they are lightweight, go with everything, and they look cute.
- 1 or 2 nice dresses
- 1 pair of hiking pants or leggings
- 2 pairs of lightweight pants
- 1 pair of jeans
- a pair of denim shorts
- a pair of quick-dry sports shorts
- Quick-dry sports top
- 5 casual t-shirts
- 2 nice tops to wear out
- Nice shorts
- 2 bikinis/ swimsuits
- 7 pairs of underwear
- 4 pairs of socks
- Yoga Bra
Toiletries to Pack for Guatemala
You can very all of the travel toiletries I recommend here on this Amazon list. Many things you can actually buy in Guatemala easily, so I wouldn’t stress too much about buying a lot of toiletries to travel with.
But there are some things that are harder to get hold of and more expensive in Guatemala that they would be at home. If you prefer to use natural products there is an amazing natural health shop in San Pedro Lake Atitlan. They sell everything you could ever need!
Also, be sure to grab one of the vegan peanut butter chocolate things out of the fridge… OMG heaven!
Technology to take to Guatemala
If you are stressing about taking your smartphone to Guatemala, don’t. Most Guatemalans also have smartphones, so you aren’t going to stand out having one too. You will need to be careful about flashing your expensive digital gear around Guatemala though and take extra care to lock things away in hostels and never leave thing out of sight on buses.
The last time I visited Guatemala I took my DSLR camera, my drone, GoPro, AND my smartphone.
Here are some digital things I’d recommend packing for Guatemala.
Smart Phone – If you don’t want to take your fancy iPhone traveling, then this is a great phone with a very good camera for under $300. It’s what I personally have and shoot a lot of my vlogs on.
Kindle – Save space by investing in a kindle and kindle unlimited. You will find most of the lonely planet travel guides are available to read for free with the plan.
Lightweight laptop and external hard drive – I have a MacAir which is perfect for traveling. After losing all of my photos a few years ago I also always travel with a heavy-duty external harddrive.
Camera and Tripod – I travel with this DSLR but I also have this mirrorless camera which I often take if I want to use something more discreet. I also love this tripod as I can use it with all of my cameras (even my phone), plus it’s small and light enough to fit in my daypack.
Backup charger – I have these two and always keep one in my bag.
Travel adaptor – Get a worldwide one like this so you can use it wherever you travel to.
Portable WiFi – I never travel without my TEP wireless device. If you can’t live without WiFi I recommend buying or renting one. Or another of my favorites is the GlocalMe G4 because of its versatility.
Guatemala Travel Guide Planning
🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Guatemala?
Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to Guatemala which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for Guatemala on Amazon here.
🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in Guatemala?
I strongly recommend using GottoGo. You can book almost all transport in the major tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.
🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Guatemala?
I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. They have a lot of options!
👩⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?
I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.
I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here
✈️ Any flight recommendations?
WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.
📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?
I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.
With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.
🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?
The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.
🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?
I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack.
What to Read in Guatemala
I couldn’t not include this Lonely Planet Guide to Guatemala in the reading list.
I’m not always a fan of these kind of travel guides as they are oftern out of date. I learned this more than once the hard way! But they do serve a purpose and it’s always nice to have one actual book that you can use to plan before your trip as well as having something to read when the battery dies on your kindle!
Although you can also get most of these Lonely Planet Guidebooks free as part of a kindle unlimited subscription.
Rigoberta Menchú is quite possibly the most internationally well known Guatemalan. She is a indigenous feminist and human rights activist who won a Nobel Peace Prize.
Her book I, Rigoberta Menchú is now a global bestseller and she has dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of the Indigenous people in Guatemala both during and after the civil war.
This book is a reflection on her personal experiences during the civil war in Guatemala when her mother, father, and brother were murdered by the Guatemalan military.
If you have an interest in the history of Guatemala then read this book. It’s both heartbreaking and inspiring in equal measures.
Memoirs from the Living Heart of a Mayan Village
I was given this book to read while I was dog sitting in Lake Atitlan and I can’t even tell you how much I loved it. I knew the Lake well by then so reading this book really brought those places to life for me.
The book is based on the life of the author Martin Prechtel who somehow found himself on an incredible journey from New Mexico in the USA to a small Mayan Village in Guatemala where he became a shaman.
Read this book. You won’t regret it!
Ok so maybe A Short History of Guatemala isn’t the most riveting read. But it really is interesting, especially for all of you history buffs out there.
It’s easy to read and gives you a good overview on the good, the bad, and the ugly of Guatemalas history.
The book mostly focuses on the ninetieth and twentieth centuries. It is a little dates now, but it still does the job!
