Guatemala is one of the most popular destinations for travelers around the world. With awesome volcanoes, stunning lakes, gorgeous towns, and amazing culture, you really can’t go wrong with this small but packed country. If you’ve recently booked your ticket to Guatemala, you might want to start preparing for your trip by making sure you’ve got everything you need to make the most of your trip to this Central American country. We recently spent an entire month in Guatemala, so without further ado, here is our ultimate Guatemala packing list that includes literally everything you’ll need, from your passport and luggage to clothes and toiletries.
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What to Pack: Guatemala Packing List for 2025
Luggage
We’ll start with what you’ll need in order to pack everything you need for Guatemala.
Backpack
While there is a lot of debate about the advantages of taking a suitcase over a backpack and vice versa, in terms of Guatemala, we highly recommend bringing a backpack. Many of the roads are not paved or covered in cobblestones, which are not ideal when you’re dragging a heavy suitcase across the floor. Instead, opt for a lightweight but durable backpack that you can strap onto your waist for convenience.
We’ve both used the Osprey Fairview 55L and Farpoint 55L for the past 2 or so years and swear by it. It’s the perfect size, as it is small enough to carry on to an airplane but large enough to hold everything included in this packing list. It is made up of a 40L main pack and a detachable 15L day pack, which comes in handy.
Check out our Osprey Farpoint/Fairview 55L review for more details on this bag!
But, of course, there are plenty of other backpacks on the market to choose from. Here are the 14 best backpacks for digital nomads and travelers.
Backpack Rain Cover
Even if you visit Guatemala dry season, it is always a good idea to travel with a backpack rain cover. Any old backpack rain cover will do, but we’ve used the Joy Walker rain cover since we started using our Osprey Fairpoint/Fairview 55Ls, and you can’t go wrong with them. Plus, they’re super affordable and come in all different sizes, fitting backpacks as small as 15L to as big as a whopping 90L!
Daypack
Beyond your bigger backpack, you will also want a smaller backpack that you can pack extra stuff in as well as use as a day-to-day bag for your outings. If you get the Osprey Farpoint or Fairview 55L, this already comes with a 15L daypack, so you’re already sorted here. But if you’re looking for another one, here are a few solid options:
Crossbody Bag
One last type of bag you’ll need for your travels around Guatemala, or any destination, is a crossbody bag. A crossbody bag is likely where you’ll keep a lot of your essentials, passport, and money. We’ve used many crossbody bags over the years, but a couple we recommend are:
Packing Cubes
One thing that will make packing a lot easier, and something we cannot travel without anymore, is packing cubes. Packing cubes make it easier to keep track of all of your clothes by keeping everything organized.
We’ve used the BAGAIL packing cubes for the past few years, and they’ve held up super well at a very easy price point.
However, compression packing cubes have become pretty big over the years, so these BAGSMART compression cubes are a great option too.
Toiletries Bag
You don’t want to keep toiletries loose in your backpack. That would be a huge mess! Instead, keep it all neat and tidy inside a toiletries bag. You don’t need anything too big, but something transparent like this one can make security at airports slightly easier.
Clothes and Shoes
In terms of clothes, you can obviously pack whatever you feel like, barring the weather. But here’s a standard list to get you started. And you can be creative if you want.
Rain Jacket
Whether you go to Guatemala in the dry or wet season, it’s always a smart idea to bring a rain jacket, if only to give you an extra layer to keep you warm when the temperature inevitably drops at night. We personally are huge fans of the New Zealand brand Kathmandu, but Columbia is an awesome alternative as well.
Hiking Boots
You’ll inevitably be doing some hiking in Guatemala, so a pair of hiking boots will be your savior and prevent you from rolling your ankle as you slide down the slippery volcanoes. Even if you have hiked plenty before, the hiking here is pretty difficult, so a pair of good hiking boots will make a huge difference. Just make sure to break them in before you wear them in Guatemala!
Here are our recommended hiking boots for men and women:
Fleece or Sweater
While Guatemala is warm, it can get cold at night, and it will be practically freezing if you attempt to climb Acatenango (don’t worry; most companies will provide warm weather gear). But even while hanging out in Lake Atitlan or Antigua, you may welcome having a sweater or two in your backpack to throw on when you’re feeling a bit cold.
Swimsuit
Beyond hiking, there are plenty of spots around Guatemala to swim. Whether you go to El Paredon or Lake Atitlan, we recommend bringing at least two swimsuits of your choice.
Basic Clothes
Beyond the clothing items you may not think to pack above, here are the basic clothes that will make up the base of your clothing, organized neatly into your packing cubes:
- T-shirts/Tops: 7+
- Long sleeves: 3
- Shorts/Skirts: 3
- Jeans/Pants: 2
- Workout/Hiking Outfits: 2+
- Quickdry Underwear: 7 or 8 pairs
- Cotton Socks: 7 or 8 pairs
- Sneakers: 1
- Sandals/Flip flops: 1
- Sunglasses: 1
Other Clothing Items You Might Need
If you plan to hike Acatenango, here are some other packing items you may need:
- Light jacket
- Waterproof winter jacket
- Mask or bandana
- Beanie
- Gloves
Toiletries
Once you have all your basics packed, it’s time to tackle the toiletries. Toiletries can be difficult to pack and tend to be last-minute for many travelers. But you’ll be surprised by just how much toiletries can weigh and take up space in your bag, so it’s important to be strategic about what exactly you take to Guatemala. You really won’t need as much as you think!
But don’t worry… worst comes to worst, if you are unable to fit everything you want into your backpack, you can purchase things like toothpaste, shampoo, and body wash in Guatemala when you arrive.
Sunscreen
Don’t forget your sunscreen! We ALWAYS travel with both face and body sunscreen to protect ourselves from those harsh UV rays. When in Guatemala, you’ll be a bit closer to the equator, and your skin will need some extra protection from the rays.
We swear by the Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick, which we use for our faces. For body sunscreen, we’re definitely not as picky, opting for options like La Roche-Posay Melt-In Milk Sunscreen or a more budget-friendly Sun Bum Sunscreen.
Moisturizer
You can’t forget to pack some moisturizer. Bring whatever moisturizer best fits your face, so feel free to bring whatever’s at home. But if you’re looking for something new or simply need a smaller product that will fit into your carry-on, here are a couple of our recommendations:
While we’ve kept the skincare pretty minimal on this list, feel free to pack more skincare products as you deem necessary. For example, beyond what is on this list, we also packed retinol and vitamin C.
Face Wash
After hiking, eating, and spending all day out in the sun, you’re going to want to wash your face with a good face wash, like this Clinique Foaming Facial Cleanser, which fits underneath the strict 100 ml (3.4 oz) liquids limit.
Lip Balm
With the help of this Guatemala packing list, you won’t even forget the smallest items, such as lip balm. We’ve accidentally traveled to places without lip balm and have cursed ourselves for doing so. So, make sure you pack at least one in your handy toiletries bag or crossbody bag.
Insect Repellent
One thing you absolutely cannot forget to pack is some insect repellent. Whether you end up surrounded by mosquitoes on the beach or in the jungle, bug spray or insect-repellent bracelets will be your best friend, especially in the evenings.
However, keep in mind that you can easily buy this in Guatemala as well if you don’t have space or forget to pack it, so no need to panic!
Deodorant
Another toiletry item you must pack for Guatemala is deodorant. Guatemala is a pretty active travel destination, so even on those colder days, you may be sweating more than you think. So, pack your preferred deodorant!
Toothbrush, Toothpaste, and Floss
Oral health is important even when you travel! So, grab your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss for Guatemala. Just make sure your toothpaste is small enough to go through security. If your toothpaste is too big, buy this one.
Or you can easily buy a random one in Guatemala when you arrive.
Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash
We don’t generally travel with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash (we just buy local products when we arrive), but we know plenty of travelers who prefer to bring their own products. So, squeeze some of your favorite shower products into these travel-friendly bottles to use while in Guatemala.
Other Toiletry Items
Besides everything else listed above, here are some other toiletry items that may be non-negotiable for you.
- Makeup and makeup remover
- Period products
- Beard trimmer/razor
- Tweezers
- Nail clippers
- Eyebrow scissors
Medication
It’s always useful to pack a mini pharmacy when you travel around. While most medications are easy to get over the counter in Guatemala, we recommend bringing the following so that you don’t have to worry about finding this when you are already sick:
- Pain reliever
- Anti-diarrheal medication
- Antacid
- Antihistamine
- Bandage
- Motion sickness
- Any prescribed medication
Electronics
As digital nomads, we don’t travel anywhere without our electronics. But in today’s day and age, most people can’t travel without some tech by their side! Here’s what you’ll need.
Smartphone
If there’s one thing you absolutely cannot forget to bring to Guatemala is your smartphone. A smartphone acts as your map, translator, payment method, camera, and so much more. Just this one tiny device will play a huge part in your trip. We generally keep our phones in our crossbody bags for easy access.
Phone Charger
Of course, you’ll need a way to charge your phone during your trip! Bring a phone charger. But don’t worry if the adapter is not the same as what you need for Guatemala, as you’ll also bring a travel adapter. But good news if you’re coming from the US: a standard 2-prong US plug is the same as what you’ll need to charge your phone in Guatemala.
Universal Travel Adapter
If you don’t have a US charger with two flat parallel pins, you’ll need a travel adapter. Even better if you bring a universal travel adapter so that you can plug whatever you bring into the adapter to charge, no matter where you are in the world.
Laptop
While not a necessity for some travelers, a laptop can come in handy if you want to book travel on the go (and you, like us, refuse to make big purchases on a tiny phone), watch some Netflix, or get some work done.
Psst! If you’re a digital nomad like us, you might want to take a look at our top laptops for digital nomads and digital nomad packing list.
Power Bank
You’ll likely be spending a lot of days out and about all day, which will undoubtedly drain your phone battery. To charge your phone on the go, bring a power bank. We’ve used this Anker power bank for the past few years and swear by it!
Noise-Canceling Headphones
Whether you want to listen to music, watch a show, or simply drown out a loud snorer in your hostel dorm, a pair of noise-canceling headphones (like these Sony WH1000XM4 or Apple AirPods Pro) will be your best friend.
Documents
You can’t forget your documents when traveling to Guatemala! The exact list of documents you’ll need will differ depending on your passport country, but you may need:
- Passport
- Return or onward ticket
- Visa (if applicable)
Travel Essentials
Here are some other essential items you’ve got to add to your Guatemala packing list.
Water Bottle
Don’t forget to hydrate during your time in Guatemala! Bring your emotional support water bottle with you on your trip, and keep it topped up with water at all times.
Don’t have a water bottle already? A Hydro Flask is a good choice.
Water Filter
You cannot drink the tap water in Guatemala. While you can buy water at supermarkets, we HIGHLY recommend bringing a water filter to filter the water you drink. There are many different water filter options out there, but we’ve used the Sawyer Squeeze for years. Another good alternative is the famous LifeStraw.
eSIM
More often than not, we recommend getting a local SIM card when traveling, especially if you want to stay in a specific country for more than a couple of weeks. However, if you will be spending less than 2 weeks in Guatemala (check out our Guatemala itinerary!), we recommend getting an eSIM.
There are many amazing eSIM options out there, but one we’ve used for over a year and continue to do so is Airalo. We love it since it’s customizable and cheap! Plus, it’s reliable, which is super important. An awesome alternative that gives you UNLIMITED data is Holafly, which is another one of our long-time favorites. You can get 5% off by using our discount coupon NOMADALMANAC.
Even if you plan to stay in Guatemala for a couple of weeks or more, an eSIM can help you get connected from day one. This way, you can get yourself to your accommodation without too much worry and think about getting your local SIM after getting yourself settled.
Travel Health Insurance
No matter how healthy you are, you never know what may happen. For those “what ifs”, you’ve got to get yourself some travel health insurance. Travel health insurance covers both your travel needs and health needs while on the go.
We’ve used SafetyWing over the past few years and continue to recommend it as one of the best budget-friendly options for more long-term travelers.
But don’t worry; there are other options out there that may be better suited to you, depending on your situation. Head over to the best travel insurance options for nomads for more.
VPN
We don’t think a VPN is necessary for many travelers, but get one if:
- You are a digital nomad
- You want to access specific shows on streaming sites
- You want to access specific sites that may not be available in Guatemala
- You want to protect your data when on public wi-fi
If any of the above apply to you, get a VPN! VPNs are really not too expensive and can go a long way in helping to protect you and getting you access to more TV shows, movies, and sites.
Not sure which VPN to get? Get Surfshark! It’s affordable, efficient, and easy to use.
Travel Credit/Debit Cards
Travel credit cards have changed the game for us over the past couple of years. If you’re intrigued by their benefits and want to know which cards we recommend, check these out:
- Capital One Venture X: A credit card with an annual fee of $395 but gives you a $300 travel credit, 10x points on hotels and rental cars, 5x points on flights, and 2x points on all other purchases.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: A credit card with an annual fee of $95 and includes a $50 hotel credit, 5x points on travel booked through Chase, 3x points on dining, 2x points on non-Chase travel, and 1x points on everything else.
- Charles Schwab Investor Checking: A must-have free checking account with no foreign transaction fees and an ATM rebate that refunds you any and all ATM fees. This card has literally saved us hundreds of dollars in just ATM fees!
So, What Are You Waiting for? Get Packing for Guatemala!
Guatemala is a bucket list destination for so many travelers around the world, and if you’ve gotten to the point of packing for your trip, we’re so excited for you! Packing for any trip can be stressful at times, so we hope this Guatemala packing list comes in handy. Of course, you can take liberties with this list and add and subtract items according to your own needs to curate the ultimate Guatemala packing list for you.
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