I know one of the things that stressed me out the most before leaving for Peace Corps was what to pack, how to pack it, and what luggage to use. Hopefully, this helps while you’re packing.

What Did I Pack In?

This is what I packed my stuff in:

Checked Bags:

One large rolling suitcase (28″) and had 4 wheels I liked the 4 wheels because it made it a lot easier to roll through the airport with other checked bag since this could roll by my side and my other one rolled behind me I also liked this bag because it had a built-in lock

One large rolling duffel bag (I’ve had this bag for 5 years and am okay if it doesn’t make it back to the US with me at the end) I liked this bag because it’s light and it folds flat for storage



Carry-On Bags:

This Eagle Creek backpack that is 60L total which was my carry-on item Main pack is 45L, day pack is 15L I really liked how it had the detachable daypack – I used this little backpack every day in training and almost every day in site I also like the size of the main pack because I can fit a week’s worth of clothing, accessories, etc. in it and this is perfect for when you go back to the main PC office for trainings

My Swiss Gear backpack that I used all throughout college and is still going strong which I used as my personal item I like this backpack because it has a padded laptop compartment, is the perfect size for overnight/shorter trips, and has good organization



What Did I Pack?

The “Official” Peace Corps Guatemala Packing List Broken Down

This is the “official” Peace Corps Guatemala packing list but here’s my break down of what I brought/would I bring it again.

One thing to note is that I ended up in one of the warmest sites in Guatemala (you will most likely be in a more temperate site that has the “eternal spring” weather Guatemala is known for) so take the suggestions below with a grain of salt. Note that where the PC office is located can lean more towards cooler temps even during the day – think low 70s.

General Clothing

One or two pairs of nice pants (lightweight material that dries quickly is helpful) I brought 2 pairs of dress pants and 1 pair of casual colored pants and found this to be sufficient I have not worn the regular dress pants in site since I finished PST, I do however wear them at trainings I would lean more towards 1 pair unless you are someone who likes to wear dress pants

Two to four pairs of work pants or jeans I brought 3 pairs of regular jeans and 1 pair of black jeans I wear jeans almost every day in site – most people (Guatemalans and PCVs) wear jeans to their place of work Good quality jeans that aren’t super expensive are a little hard to find here

Four T-shirts or short-sleeve polo shirts I went the t-shirt route and brought some plain colored v-neck shirts that I layer underneath cardigans I also brought regular t-shirts which are nice to wear around the house/on days when I’m not working

Two or three blouses or dress shirts I would lean more towards bringing 2 – I don’t really wear these outside of trainings and departmental level meetings however they are nice to dress up a pair of jeans when necessary

Two-week supply of underwear and socks This I actually packed extra of – socks, underwear, and undergarments, in general, are expensive and not that great of quality here

One pair of long underwear I did not pack this but have heard it can be nice in the colder sites

One pair of wool socks So nice for the cold nights!

One or two medium-weight sweaters/sweatshirts I packed a quarter-zip Nike pullover, this quarter-zip pullover, and a hoodie I’m glad I packed three different styles/weights, however, I have not worn the hoodie since training

One medium-weight jacket or fleece I packed this Patagonia fleece that has been really nice for the early mornings and nights during the really cold months (November – January) when I am not in site

One raincoat I cannot stress enough the importance of having a good raincoat. The rainy season (June-September/October) is no joke and having a raincoat has saved me from being soaked many times.

Belt You will most likely lose weight while you are here, either through illness or change in diet

Handkerchiefs I did not pack these

Running or athletic gear (if you are into sports) Even if you are not into sports I recommend packing 1 dry-fit/athletic shirt and 1 pair of leggings (either capri or full length) because you will most likely end up going on hikes, playing sports, etc. Leggings are also nice for hanging around the house in

Swimsuit Super glad I brought this! Hot springs, Lago Atitlán, pools, and waterfalls are all places you will most likely go during your time here in Guatemala I brought 1 bikini, 1 tankini, and 1 one-piece suit because I am an over packer, but am glad to have options

Two hats (sun hats, visors, or caps with bill) Also glad I brought these I brought 1 casual baseball cap and 1 athletic, wicking hat

One cold-weather cap Haven’t taken this out of my suitcase, ever

One pair of lightweight gloves Didn’t pack

Sunglasses Glad I brought these, but sunglasses can be found cheap in the markets here if you don’t pack these



For Men

A tie, one or two nice dress shirts, and a sport coat (optional) for formal occasions like the swearing-in ceremony

For Women

Two casual dresses I suggest that the dresses fall at least at your knees, or below your knees due to the culture

One “dress-up” dress Nice to have for the swear-in ceremony

One or two “going-out” outfits These are nice to have when you go out with friends in the tourist areas

One or two knee-length skirts I brought a knee-length stretchy pencil skirt and a maxi skirt (both black) I would suggest only bringing 1

Pajama pants or comfy sweats for the house Super glad I packed leggings and pajama pants because they are nice to have for cooler nights and just lounging around

Scarf I am a person who loves scarves, so I brought multiple I brought ~3 lightweight scarves and 1 blanket scarf. I am super glad I brought the blanket scarf



Shoes

One or two pairs of sturdy walking, tennis, or cross-training shoes (waterproof tennis shoes are preferable) I brought 1 pair of “athleisure” tennis shoes and 1 pair of running shoes and have found this perfect Tennis shoes can be found here but are significantly more expensive to buy here

One pair of hiking boots or waterproof shoes I brought a pair of hiking boots and have worn them once, but know others who wear theirs a lot

One to two pairs of comfortable casual/dress shoes (closed-toed) I have 1 pair of flats and 1 pair of Sperry boat shoes and more often than not wear the Sperry boat shoes when I need a pair of nice, closed-toed shoes

One pair of shower flip-flops An absolute must

One pair of farm/mud boots or rain boots I brought a pair of Hunter rain boots and am glad I did even though I haven’t worn them a whole lot.



Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items

Three-month supply of any medications, to last through pre-service training; copy of prescriptions

If you wear glasses, bring two pairs with current prescription lenses (contact lens use is not recommended due to elevated rates of eye infections and contact solution is hard to find) I brought 3 pairs of glasses that all are from Zenni Optical and have had no problems with them. Zenni is a great option if you need another pair of glasses because there are glasses on the website for as low as $7. I also brought 1 pair of prescription sunglasses from Warby Parker, however, I haven’t worn them because if I know I will want to wear sunglasses, I will wear my contacts Contact solution can be found in bigger cities (Antigua and Xela) but is expensive

Your regular hygiene items (e.g., soap, shampoo, shaving cream, feminine hygiene products, etc.) to get you started (you can purchase replacements here)

Refillable travel-size shampoo/soap containers If you forget these they are available in the bigger cities if you need them

One bath towel and quick-dry towel for traveling I cannot stress enough how nice a quick-dry towel is! This is the one that I bought and I really like it because it comes with a little bag, and is just as big as my normal towel which means I can wrap it around myself



Electronics

Laptop computer (if you can’t live without one in the U.S., then you probably won’t want to live without one here) This has been so nice to have! I use it for blogging, keeping up with friends at home, submitting reports, watching Netflix, etc.

Music (MP3 players and travel-size speakers are a good idea) I am so glad I brought my Bluetooth speaker I have music downloaded on my phone

USB storage stick This is really nice to have because you end up putting things on here to share with work partners, to print, etc. I even keep mine on my keys so I always have it

Digital camera Not necessary unless you are really into photography I bought a nicer point and shoot and have used it a total of maybe 3 times since being here

Watch (fairly cheap and water-resistant/proof) I brought my Fitbit Alta with me and have liked having it to not only track my steps, but also to use it as a watch



Kitchen

Pocketknife (basic knife, corkscrew, screwdriver model is very handy) Small, basic cookbook or favorite recipes I didn’t bring a pocketknife but have heard it’s nice to have

Comfort foods (favorite snack foods) A lot of comfort foods are imported from the US and can be found in the bigger cities at supermarkets Peanut butter can also be found here



Miscellaneous:

If you plan to travel to other countries for vacation, you may want to bring extra money to suit your travel plans; credit cards or traveler’s checks are preferable to cash. There are ATMs in larger cities, and most towns so you may want to bring an ATM card to access a bank account in the U.S.

Small gifts for host family and friends (not required); knickknacks for the house; pictures, books, or calendars of American scenes; souvenirs from your area; hard candies that will not melt or spoil; photos to give away I brought postcards from Minnesota to write thank you notes on, a deck of cards that have different scenes of Minnesota, and a Minnesota Wild hockey puck Some things that also are fun to give host families are coffee mugs with your state on them as well as magnets for the refrigerator

Sturdy backpack/duffel bag for three- or four-day trips This is why I love my bigger backpack

Day pack/small backpack The smaller daypack that detaches from the bigger pack for when I’m just running around town for the day, or the Swiss Gear backpack for overnight trips

Flashlight (headlamps are popular) I brought a hand-powered flashlight and it has been nice for when the power goes out

Money belt or pouch that fits under your clothes for your passport, money, and/or a wallet or change purse to carry small amounts of money I brought a fanny pack and haven’t used it yet I also brought this because I like the two separate pockets and the attached key ring

One sturdy water bottle I brought 2 1L Nalgene water bottles The 1L size is nice for when you need to measure out water for oral rehydration salts I’m glad I have 2 because you can have 1 clean when the other one is dirty.

Sleeping bag I did not bring this but have heard it’s nice as an extra blanket when necessary

Sleeping pad Also did not bring this

Waterproof cases for electronic devices I have my iPhone in a LifeProof case and it has been nice to protect against the elements

Earplugs for sleeping (Guatemala can be a very loud country and although Peace Corps does have earplugs to distribute, they are not very comfortable to wear while sleeping) Did not bring these

Decks of cards and a travel-sized version of your favorite board game I brought a deck of cards and am glad I did

Small sewing kit Did not bring this, but it is easy to find needles and thread in stores

Duct tape Did not bring

Instrument (if you play one) Did not bring

Start-up supply of stationery, pens, journal, etc. I brought quite a few notebooks, pens, pencils, marker, colored pencils, etc. with me because I am particular about the products I use and wasn’t sure what I would be able to find down here

One set of flat sheets and pillow cases for a full bed I brought these but ended up with a queen size bed in site. Almost all the beds are full sized beds though.



Things Not On the List That Should Be On the List

2-3 long sleeve shirts I brought a flannel, a jean shirt, and a dry-fit long sleeve shirt

Dress sandals Because I am in a warmer site, I wear these almost every day I’m working You can’t wear them in the PC office, but they are also nice to have for site and when you dress up out of site

1 pair of sturdy sandals I brought my Birkenstocks and my Chacos and have used both of them quite a bit in site

Small purse You really only need room for your phone and a wallet

Shorts I brought 2 pairs of athletic shorts and 2 pairs of jean shorts I only wear shorts in my site when I’m in my house – I never wear them outside even though I’m in a warm site These are nice to have when you go to Antigua and the lake because the weather is a little warmer there and they are also tourist areas where shorts are more common

Optional: an unlocked cell phone from the US You get a phone and SIM card from Peace Corps, but the majority of us either bought a smartphone in country or brought one with us from the US Having a smartphone is nice because we get 2 gigabytes of data each month and WhatsApp is the main form of communication here

External hard drive

Tablet or e-reader

Things I’m Glad Brought

The things listed below are things I’m glad I brought, as well as what my fellow PCVs are glad they brought

A raincoat

Rain boots

Quick-dry towel

Clothes steamer

Business casual waterproof boots

Comfortable shoes A note on shoes: they can be found here, but they are expensive!

Hobby items Paints, art supplies, etc. Cooking supplies Certain spices/seasonings that remind you of home

French press or Aeropress If you’re into coffee, bring one of these. French presses can be found here though if you decide not to bring one! A friend of mine recommends the Aeropress because it’s plastic which means it’s lighter to pack and less likely to break

Any specific toiletry items that you cannot live without PC supplies sunscreen in the medical kits and you can get refills, but bring your own if you like a specific brand Hair products – some brands you can’t find down here Specific skin care items like moisturizers, face wash, etc. can be found here but are again, expensive Cosmetics

Underwear and bras Can be found here but not good quality and expensive

Good umbrella

Reusable water bottles Can be found here but a little difficult to find sometimes

Cute knick-knacks to put in your room to remind you of home One of my co-workers gave me this cute sign for my desk with the coordinates of St. Paul on it to always remind me of home



Final Thoughts

Pacas (think thrift stores) are abundant here and you can find anything and everything you need at prices that fit in the volunteer budget.

Climate diversity is huge here and it helps to think in layers. During the morning and evening it is cooler but during the day it is warmer.

When packing remember that people live in Guatemala and are doing just fine. Don’t go out and buy new things because you think you need them. On the flip side of this though, think about the things you use every day and the things you don’t want to go 2 years without. One thing that I wish I would’ve done while packing was not to pack as many clothes and instead pack more things like toiletry items (shampoo, conditioner, face wash, moisturizer, etc.), things that reminded me of home, etc.

If you have any questions about specific things to pack or not pack, what can or cannot be found here, or any general questions feel free to reach out to me through my contact page or Instagram. I can’t wait to meet you all and welcome you to the Peace Corps Guatemala family.