Over these past few years of travel, since my trip to Peru in the summer of 2006, I've traveled with a backpack and I've traveled light. I still travel light but now the backpack comes with wheels as well so I can roll my luggage in places that allow for that.
Clothing wise, I've accumulated a small collection of lightweight travel clothes and until they become threadbare, I will continue to wear them. Everything scrunches down so clothing takes up little space. In fact, I can probably fit in all my shirts in the same amount of space that my shoes take up!
For Mexico, there will be some cool nights in Mexico City and maybe Puebla but I expect warm weather everywhere else so hot weather wear is in order - tank tops, capris, shorts.
The Spanish colonial towns that we will be visiting are still fairly conservative in culture so I will bring along a pair of long pants and appropriate tops to *cover* up as well as a lightweight scarf in case I need to cover my head.
With mosquitoes and sun bearing down hard on us, especially in the Yucatán, insect repellent. sun block, sunglasses and a hat are mandatory *bring-alongs*. Of course, we'll be at the beach for a few days so the swimsuit will get packed in.
I'm planning to not bring a lot of stuff along - especially shirts as I hope to pick up a Mexican cotton shirt while I'm there. The embroidered ones are so pretty.
The only thing that I am leaving behind on this trip, which I usually do bring with me, is my pocket knife. On this trip, I do want to bring my bag on board so I have to leave the sharp stuff at home. If we find we need a knife (e.g., to cut up fruit with), we can always buy one there.
The List
- Passport, airline tickets and travel documents (all with photocopies)
- Tour and hotel vouchers/confirmations
- Mexican pesos and well as $US, credit and debit card
- Rain jacket
- 6 shirts/t-shirts/tank tops
- 2 pairs of capri pants
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 1 pair of long pants
- Swimsuit
- Underwear and one pair of socks
- Towel
- Sunhat and sunglasses
- 1 pair walking shoes
- 1 pair sports sandals
- 1 pair rubber slippers
- Toiletries and first aid kit (including Tylenol, Band Aids, Neosporin, lip balm, Immodium AD, Pepto Bismol, Zithromax, Cipro)
- Sunblock, lotion, and insect repellent
- Toilet paper, handiwipes, feminine napkins/tampons
- Binoculars and flashlight
- Plastic hanger for drying clothes
- Nikon dSLR camera & my Panasonic video camera, spare batteries, chargers and outlet adapters, SD card, USB SD reader
- Pen and notebook
- MP3 player
- Drain plug, laundry detergent, and plastic hangers for drying clothes
- Candies for the kids. I took Tootsie Roll pops with me to Guatemala and they went over well. I think I will do the same for this trip.
- 1 collapsible tote to bring back all those things that I buy along the way but have no space in my backpack for.
