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The packing list below contains suggestions to assist with your tour preparation. A helpful on-line source for fast-drying clothing is www.cabelas.com. All items should fit in a single bag with total dimensions (sum of the three sides) measuring no more than 45 linear inches plus a small daypack or camera bag. A few of our tours have a 25 lb. weight limit because of in-country airline or boat transfers. In those cases, you may need to cull down the below list. We suggest buying clothes pre-treated with permethrin (see link above) or treating clothes with it yourself before departure to help fend off insects. One treatment is good for 5 washings.
RECOMMENDED ITEMS
Suitcase. The ideal suitcase has outside pockets, built-in wheels, and pull-out handle. Dimensions should be no more than 45 linear inches.
Small Daypack or Camera Bag. A daypack is great for carrying a sweater, field guides, camera etc. If bringing a camera bag, use one large enough to carry other items. Do not carry both daypack and camera bag unless the latter is small and fits inside your daypack or luggage.
Shirts. 2-5 fast drying long-sleeved, light-colored shirts.
Pants. 2-5 pairs lightweight, light-colored, fast drying nylon pants, optionally with zip off legs (ie. convertible to shorts).
Warmer Clothes. Bring 1-2 warm sweaters for layering, especially on tours visiting higher elevations. Evenings can cool down in the tropics. Boat trips can sometimes be chilly. On tours visiting higher elevations such as the Andes Mountains of Ecuador, you should also bring a warm jacket, warmer pants, and warm gloves, as temperatures in the Andes can drop into the 20's (Fahrenheit).
Underwear and Socks. 3-5 sets made of lightweight, fast drying synthetic fabric.
Shoes. Preferably 1 pair lightweight, water-resistant hiking shoes or boots plus 1 pair lightweight flip flops or sandals. Treat shoes or boots with water repelling sealer according to manufacturer's specifications.
Raincoat or Poncho. Lightweight, good quality, waterproof windbreaker with hood or rain poncho. We prefer a poncho, which will cover a day pack and protect legs down to calves or ankles. Water-resistant fabrics are generally inadequate in tropical rain showers.
Scarf/Bandana. 1 lightweight scarf (women) and one cotton bandana you can dip in water to cool yourself off.
Hat(s). Light-colored breathable hat is indispensable in the tropics. You may want one with a skirt that shields your neck and ears from the sun. A warmer wool hat may also be desirable on tours visiting higher elevations, especially in Ecuador.
Vest. Lightweight vest with many pockets is extremely useful. A pocket large enough to carry birding field guide is invaluable. A pocket in the back for carrying raingear is preferable.
Money Belt. Bring one! Safest type is one worn around waist. Money belt should be lightweight and wide enough for your passport, travelers checks, extra credit card/debit card and cash. Secure money belt under clothing with a couple safety pins. NEVER access your money belt in public.
Money Pouch and Dummy Wallet. A money pouch that hangs under clothes from neck is a great way to carry small amounts of expense money for the day, along with passport and credit card. Dummy wallet with a nominal amount of cash is a good way to divert a robber from getting your money pouch and money belt.
Money. Bring enough cash for airport departure taxes, tips for maids, guides, and drivers (call us for guidelines on tipping), incidental expenses, souvenirs, personal items, and emergencies. Carry small denominations, as getting change may be difficult. Do not rely on ATM machines, debit cards, credit cards, or traveler's checks, which are often unavailable or not accepted. The latter are fine as a backup but should not be relied upon. There is usually no need to exchange currency in advance of travel as US currency is accepted in most countries we tour.
Credit Cards. Two credit cards kept in different places are recommended in case of loss or damage. Visa cards are most widely accepted in Central America. Mastercard is also acceptable. American Express cards are not widely accepted. Advise your credit card companies of your travel plans before departure or they may disable your card as part of their fraud protection policies. Placing credit cards near a cellular/satellite phone may damage the magnetic strip. You may wish to carry some brand-name travelers checks (e.g. American Express) and a couple of personal checks for use in case of emergency.
Documents and Photocopies. Bring your passport, international certificate of vaccinations (yellow card) or other proof of required vaccinations, airline ticket, driver's license etc. Make 2 sets of photocopies of all documents, credit cards/ATM cards, and checks. Carry original documents in your money belt, keep one set of photocopies on your person, and leave one set of photocopies at home with a relative or friend. Make a note of the telephone number of your bank and credit card companies, especially for their fraud departments. Carrying 2 extra passport photos can aid in getting replacements quickly if your originals are lost. Some countries (e.g. Brazil) require visas for entry, which are not always obtainable upon arrival. Inquire well in advance in case you need to mail away for visas before departure.
Itinerary, Field Guides, Checklists, Small Notebook and Pen. Store in zip-lock bags in daypack. Some people arrange for a print shop to bind color plates of field guide separately from text so they can carry the color plates into the field without the text. If this is done, having the color plates laminated to protect them from the elements is a good idea.
Binoculars. The best binoculars are light-weight with high light-gathering capacity. Binoculars sealed against moisture are essential in the tropics. Binoculars should be at least 7x35 but higher magnification (e.g. 10x42) is often preferable as long as they are lightweight. Note that higher magnification results in narrower field of vision, making it harder to get the birds into view. Note also that higher quality (more expensive) binoculars are often better at capturing color in poor lighting conditions.
Alarm Clock/Wristwatch. Use a compact, lightweight travel alarm or a wristwatch with alarm. Essential on our tours.
Flashlight or Penlight. Bring one for night walks or walking about in poorly lighted areas after dark. Small lightweight flashlights are best. Also, bring spare batteries.
Toiletries. A good choice is a kit that can hang on a hook or towel bar. Put squeeze bottles in zip-lock bags. Pack small bars of soap, shampoo and liquid laundry soap. If you use an electic toothbrush, you may want to bring a small manual toothbrush as backup. Be aware of restrictions regarding carry-on luggage allowable on flights to and from the US.
Portable Hair Dryer. Very useful for drying clothes if not hair. Be careful not to burn out heating element if used for drying clothes.
Sunglasses and Prescription Glasses (if needed). Use sunglasses with 100% UV coating. If you wear prescription glasses, bring a copy of your vision prescription. A glasses repair kit is very handy if a screw comes loose or falls out.
Sunscreen. Use UVA/UVB 30 or above in the tropics. Make sure you bring some!
Medications and Vitamins. Keep in original containers if possible to go through airport security and customs.
First-Aid Kit. Bring band-aids, moleskin, antiseptic wipes, Neosporin, eye drops/wash, tweezers, surgical tape, scissors, thermometer, pain reliever (Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofin, etc), anti-motion sickness medication, anti-fungal cream, cold medication, anti-diarrheal medication, and sunburn remedies.
Insect Repellent. Over 30% Deet. Do not use stronger than 80%. Note that sunscreen greatly reduces the effectiveness of Deet, so don't use them together. If you spray clothes with Deet, they should be washed before next usage to avoid skin irritations. Do not apply Deet on skin that will be covered with clothing.
Zip-Lock Bags. Bring different sizes. Jumbo size is handy for various items.
Luggage Tags. It's a good idea to use your business address, not your home address, on luggage tags. There have been reports of individuals obtaining addresses from luggage tags and then breaking into those homes. Also, affix a label to the inside of your suitcase and in garments and carry-on bags with your name, flight itinerary and contact phone numbers.
OPTIONAL ITEMS
International Calling Card. International calling cards that will work from a foreign phone system are difficult to obtain in the US. Your best bet is to purchase one at the airport upon arrival in the country you are touring. You may be able to purchase one while we are on tour, but travelling with a group on a scheduled itinerary can make this very difficult. Highly useful in the event of an emergency or to contact family while on tour. Be sure you know how to dial the US from your destination country before your departure.
Premethrin. - It's a good idea to treat socks and pants with premetrhin before departing for the tropics. Premethrin is effective for 5-6 washings in fending off chiggers. Use especially on socks, lower pants legs, and around waist-band.
Rubber Boots or Pullovers. Rubber boots are handy in very muddy areas such as some parts of the Darien in Panama and in Ecuador. They're not needed on most tours but are sometimes indispensable on tours to rainy areas. When in doubt, give us a call regarding specific tours.
Swimsuit. - Some lodges have swimming pools or spas which you may wish to use, although time for such use is generally limited. You may also want a swimming suit if you plan on going snorkeling on the Galapagos tours. If you have zip-off pants legs, your pants may suffice (men only).
Camera & Batteries. Put a new battery in camera equipment and test to ensure your equipment is in proper working condition. Bring spare batteries, memory cards, lens tissue or anti-static cloth, silica desiccant for binoculars and camera cases. For those using conventional cameras bring film.Do not place film in checked baggage. Pack film in a leaded bag and place in your carry-on bag. Note: many airports will allow hand-checking of film if taken out of cannisters in advance.
Camera Lens. Bring your long lenses if you're a photographer. 75-200 mm or 100-400 mm zoom lenses are typically sufficient, as most photo ops on our tours require hand-holding your camera. Tripods are useful at hummingbird feeders and occasionally at other times. Also bring flash attachments, filters, memory cards, and storage for your images. Give us a call regarding in questions you may have about suitable camera equipment.
Spotting Scope. We do not recommend bringing a spotting scope, as one is provided on tour and can be shared by all. Nevertheless, some people like to bring a scope so they don't have to wait for access to the guide's scope.
Voltage Converter. - outlets in some countries have 220V current instead of 110V. In these cases, a converter from 220 to 110 is recommended if you have any batteries to charge (e.g. camera batteries, electric razor or toothbrush, etc). If you need multiple outlets, a powerstrip is also useful.
Outlet Adaptor. - some outlets in countries we visit are 2-prong. If you need 3-prong outlets, you may need an adaptor.
Clothesline and/or Clothes Pins. Clothesline that is lightweight can be very handy. Clotheslines that rely on suction cups don't work. Clothespins aren't really needed if hanging a clothesline in your room, though clothes pins with hooks are useful in lieu of a clothesline.
Umbrella. A compact umbrella may be desirable if we encounter heavy rains. These are not especially practical on trails but useful in open areas.
Walking Stick. Telescoping walking stick may be useful for rough terrain.
Extra Pair of Prescription Glasses or Contact Lenses.
Avon Skin-So-Soft. Only thing that keeps no-seeums away. Hidden Valley Inn in Belize provides this product to guests. We have not had a need for the product elsewhere on our tours. Ineffective if worn with Deet insect repellent.
Sewing Kit. Needle and thread, selection of different sized safety pins, and spare buttons can come in handy.
Pocket Knife. A small one can come in handy, but don't bring one unless you're checking baggage! Same is true for nail clippers of all types.
Slippers. Best to use flip-flops and do without slippers.
Flat Sink Stopper. Comes in handy when washing out clothes in a hotel room that lacks drain plugs in the sink. An alternative is to use a dirty sock to plug drain while washing remaining clothes.
Wash Cloth and Towel. We've never had a use for either on our tours.
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