The Best Guatemala Packing List for Light Packers

I visited Guatemala on a solo trip last November and absolutely fell in love with this beautiful country. I love traveling through Latin America and have done most of South America, some of Central America, and a bit of the Caribbean as well. If Guatemala isn’t on your list, I highly recommend adding it right now (go ahead, I’ll wait). While there aren’t many things I’d change about my trip to Guatemala, I would change how I packed because I definitely didn’t pack the right way. The good news for you is that I am putting all of my lessons learned into the ultimate Guatemala packing list.

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Overview of my trip to Guatemala

I spent 10 days traveling solo in Guatemala. I landed in Guatemala City and then went straight to Antigua and spent 5 days there and then the rest of my time in Lake Atitlan. In Antigua I also did a day trip to Volcano Pacaya (much easier than the popular Acatenango Volcano hike). While I know there is much more to see in different areas of Guatemala, I think this split was perfect for a first timer’s trip. Plus, I plan on returning!

By the way Guatemala (especially Antigua) is a great place for foodie’s. If you’re interested in reading about the top restaurants in Antigua (veggie friendly!) + some of the best things to do there, check out this Antigua, Guatemala travel guide.

A note about my packing and travel style

This blog is all about an elevated adventure (unique foodie experiences, lesser explored destinations, etc). Over the years (and trust me, I’ve been traveling for a longgg time) I’ve refined my travel style to prioritize the aspects of travel that really matter to me. One of those key areas is the freedom and flexibility to move around with ease.

How does this relate to packing? It means I don’t want to lug around a suitcase or a ton of luggage around. I never ever check a bag. By traveling with just a backpack, I can easily take any type of transportation I want and move from place to place with ease. Plus, it cuts down on spending time on my trip worrying about what I’m going to wear so I can focus on what really matters to me.

Over the last year, since I’ve made this shift, I’ve really honed in on my travel capsule wardrobe and I feel like I’ve found a great balance between packing light and looking good on my trips.

By the way, if you don’t vibe with this style and you’re someone who identifies as an over packer, that’s totally okay! It just may mean that this isn’t the blog post for you.

What is the weather like in Guatemala?

Of course, before we can talk about a packing list we have to talk about weather. Guatemala is basically split into two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The best time to travel is during the dry season which is November – April. I personally went in November. During this time of year, I experienced cold nights and the days ranged from slightly chilly to very hot aka the whole spectrum. Layers are key in Guatemala as the country has many different climates, each with distinct weather patterns and varying average temperatures.

Headed to Guatemala? Check out this post for the ultimate Guatemala packing list. This packing list is perfect for those looking to pack light!

Lesson learned from my trip to Guatemala + general packing tips

Let’s break this down into 5 key points:

First and foremost, the temperature in Antigua and Lake Atitlan was way cooler than I thought it would be (though there were some hot days in Lake Atitlan). I was fairly cold at night and definitely wished I had packed more layers. That was a huge lesson learned
Everyone I encountered was dressed fairly casually and none of the restaurants I went to had any type of dress code so no need to pack anything fancy (unless you really want to)
It’s always a good idea to bring a great pair of comfortable walking shoes. This is going to be one of the most important things you pack
I highly recommend using packing cubes. It makes it a lot easier to fit everything into your bag and it’s easier to find what you’re looking for. I personally travel with a larger one for my clothes and then a smaller one for my undergarments
Pack articles of clothing that go together. You want to be able to get a few wears out of each piece which will help you pack lighter. For example, a top should be able to go with multiple bottoms

Guatemala Packing List – What to Pack

Let’s dive into what exactly to pack for your trip to Guatemala. This section will be broken down by category and then at the end of this post you’ll find an easy to use packing list.

I tried my best to link my exact clothing however, some items were bought secondhand / a long time ago and I couldn’t find them. In those cases, I did my best to find comparable alternates.

Tops

For tops I recommend doing a mix of tank tops, short-sleeved shirts, and one longer sleeve option in case it’s a particularly chilly day / night. I have these tank crop tops that I love because they’re a great layering piece and they look great on their own as well. I usually pack both the black and the white ones. You could also throw in a fun color like this one.

For short-sleeved shirts, I recommend doing a basic t-shirt (I have one similar to this from Everlane) and maybe a fun top as well.

Lastly, throw in a long sleeved shirt. I like to do a white button up (can do a cropped one like this or a longer one like this) because I can easily use that as a layering piece or wear on its own. You can wear it so many different ways! I also love to tie it into a knot like the photo below.

Bottoms

I usually stick to three bottoms when I am traveling. A pair of everyday wear black leggings, lightweight trousers like these, and a pair of blue jeans.

If it’s really hot, you can also throw in a pair of shorts (or replace the jeans with shorts). I’m personally not a huge fan of shorts so I don’t typically pack them unless I’m going somewhere really hot.

Dresses

I packed a dress for Guatemala and didn’t end up using it because the weather would get fairly chilly by nightfall. That being said, if it’s a warmer day, you could throw on a casual dress. I personally would just stick to bringing one dress. I have this one from Old Navy that I like because it’s a sports dress and has built-in shorts and a bra. I would go for a simple dress that you could dress up or down.

Layers

As I mentioned, you’ll need some warm clothes for the cool nights and mornings. I would pack a lightweight rain jacket. You never know when you’ll need one. I also recommend bringing a warm sweater/sweatshirt or even a jacket. I really regretted not having a warm layer I could just throw on when it was cold in the evenings. I also love to bring a black blazer or a jean jacket as another layer when I’m traveling.

Shoes

The first pair of shoes you need to have are some sturdy walking shoes. Even if you don’t end up walking a ton, it never hurts to have a good pair of shoes plus they can double as the shoes you use for hikes (less strenuous ones that is). I personally packed my pair of Hokas.

I also love a pair of white sneakers because they really go with everything, including dresses and look a lot nicer than my Hokas. These are the ones I have and love.

I really think you can get away with just these two shoes if you want but if you’d like a third option, I’d bring a pair of flat comfortable sandals. I’d personally skip high heels given the cobblestoned streets of Antigua.

Bathing Suits + Activewear:

I always pack one black bathing suit when I travel, no matter where I’m going. If it’s somewhere I know I’ll be in the water a lot, I’ll pack a second bathing suit. I used to be a serial over packer and would bring at least 4-5 swimsuit options on trips. Trust me when I tell you that you really don’t need more than 2 bathing suits wherever you go. In Guatemala you probably only need one.

If you plan on going on any hikes, be sure to pack either a pair of athletic shorts or leggings and a sports bra. Think about what you can throw on top in case it gets chilly.

Electronics

Converter

The good news is, if you are traveling from the United States, you won’t need a converter or adapter. Guatemala uses 110 volt, 60 cycle electricity which is the same as the US. Plugs are typically the 2 pronged flat type.

Cell phone coverage

I think it’s incredibly important to to have cell phone coverage whenever you travel, especially if you’re traveling solo. It’s helpful to be able to make local calls, call your loved ones and family members, etc. I have T-Mobile so I have international coverage. If you don’t have a cell phone provider that allows you to use your phone internationally, you can also look into a sim card or an eSim.

Of course, other electronics you should pack are your chargers, iPad, etc.

Medication

Don’t forget to pack any medication that you are currently on or might need. I have this little pill case from Amazon that I love because it’s so compact. I always pack motion sickness medicine, Ibuprofen (or any painkiller), allergy medicine, Imodium, etc. I also always pack a little mini bottle of hand sanitizer

Miscellaneous

Reusable water bottle

I never travel anywhere without my reusable water bottle. I have a hydro flask because I love how it keeps my water cold for long periods of time.

Packable day pack

A small day pack always comes in handy especially if you’re going hiking, to the beach, or on any other day trips. I have one from REI that I like that is no longer available (it’s super old) but this one looks similar.

Money

Don’t forget to pack your credit cards (be sure it’s a credit card without an international fee) and your debit card so that you can get local currency at the ATM. I highly recommend a Charles Schwab debit card so that you get any ATM fees reimbursed. You’ll need cash for tuk tuks and the boats (called lanchas) in Lake Atitlan and some of the stores / restaurants so be sure you have a way of getting cash out.

What to wear on the plane

I always wear my bulkiest and comfiest items on the plane. For example, I would recommend wearing your walking shoes, leggings, t-shirt, and your heaviest layer on the plane. This will help you save space in your bag and ensure that you’re nice and comfy and warm on the plane.

Should I pack more if I’m traveling for a long time?

I don’t think that just because you’re traveling for a longer time means that you have to pack a lot more. Sure, I would pack more undergarments if you have the space but you can get a lot of wear out of your clothes (especially if you mix and match) and then, if you need to, you can find a spot that has laundry service.

That being said, if you have the space and you’d like to bring more clothes, by all means do so!

I’m new to packing light, this doesn’t feel like enough clothes

I get it. It took me a while to pare down my clothes because I had trust issues. If I’m traveling for 10 days that must mean that I need at least 10 shirts, right? Wrong. You should be able to get 2 wears out of each top, bringing that down to 5 (and even less if you’re willing to wear a shirt a few times).

How many times have you come back from a trip and realized you didn’t wear half of what’s in your suitcase? The key to packing light is ensuring that everything goes together and you can mix and match. For example, if you have a tank top you could wear it with jeans or with your trousers or your leggings. You could throw on the white button up on top or the black blazer and make it a completely different outfit.

If you’re going somewhere really hot / you tend to sweat a lot then you have my permission to pack a bit more. The great thing about packing for hot climates is that you’re generally packing lighter clothes so you have room to grab a few additional options.

Ultimately, it’s whatever you’re comfortable with. When it comes to packing light it’s still quite a spectrum. You’ll find some people who basically only bring one outfit. It took me a while to get to the point I’m at now not just because of my aforementioned trust issues and disbelief that I could actually do this but also because I had to figure out what worked for me.

The Ultimate Light Packing List for Guatemala

This packing list is perfect for someone who is looking to pack light. That being said, feel free to add more items to it to suit your needs / amount of time you’re traveling for. For example, instead of just one basic t-shirt, bring 2 or 3.

Tops

Basic t-shirt
Fun top
2 Tank tops (other option here)
White button up (other option here)

Bottoms

Bathing Suits + Activewear:

Black bathing suit
Athletic shorts or leggings for hikes
Active top / sports bra for hikes

Dresses:

Casual dress (optional)

Outwear:

Shoes:

Personal items:

Enough bras, underwear, and socks for the trip

Electronics:

iPad
Phone charger
Camera
Phone – figure out sim option

Medication:

Ibuprofen
Bug spray
Imodium
Allergy medicine
Motion sickness medicine
Hand sanitizer
Lip balm
Sunscreen

Miscellaneous

Reusable water bottle
Sunglasses
Credit cards
Debit card
Important documents (passport, driver’s license, etc)
Packable day pack

Bottom Line

With this packing list for Guatemala you can easily pack for 10+ days. Having a packing list is the best way to ensure you are packing effectively and not forgetting anything you may need for your trip. I’m so excited that you’re headed to Guatemala and I’d love to hear if this post helped you!

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