You’re planning a trip and are wondering what to pack for Belize. Here are 13 essential items you need to have on your Belize Packing List. Each of these items will have a significant impact on your trip. Bringing them will make your experience traveling in Belize that much better.
Once you have made a note to pack these 13 essential items for Belize, you will find everything you need including a functional (and printable) packing list in this article “The Ultimate Belize Packing list”. Combined, these two posts should help you decide exactly what you need to take with you, and what to wear in Belize.
So here we go. Here are the important things, the essential items you need to pack for Belize
Planning a trip to Belize? Here are some articles that will help make your trip successful!
Complete Belize Travel Guide-Everything you need to know about traveling in Belize
Belize Travel Itinerary
Belize Packing List (Printable)
1. Reef Friendly Sunscreen
Belize is a tropical destination in Central America. You are going to want sunscreen. There is nothing more relentless than the hot sun reflecting on Belize’s crystal clear water. We already know skin care is important and that sunscreen plays a crucial role in keeping us healthy, however, it is also important to use sunscreen that doesn’t damage the things around us.
The Mesoamerican Reef, the Belize Barrier Reef and the Blue Hole are all part of the magic of Belize we aim to protect. When you are looking for sunscreen for your trip, make sure you get yourself reef friendly sunscreen. These are sunscreen products that don’t use reef-harming chemicals or micro-sized minerals. Avoid nanoparticles in sunscreen which are toxic in high concentrations.
My go-to reef friendly sunscreen is All Good Sunscreen. Not only does it feel good on the skin, but it protects both my skin and the environment I have traveled so far to see.
2. Bug Spray
The sand flies in Belize have a reputation. They can be absolutely relentless. You might leave Belize slightly polka-dotted as a result of sand flies and mosquitoes, so do yourself a favour and pack insect repellent. If you are on the beach, expect sand flies, and if you are in the jungle, expect mosquitoes. Welcome to the tropics!
If you think you’re too cool for bug spray, Belize will humble you. Personally I don’t like the smell or feeling of most insect repellent. However, I have found a quality product that works well for me. This Insect repellent from Care Plus works well and doesn’t smell! Grab some for your Belize packing list, you won’t regret it.
2. Packable Hat
There are two things that are guaranteed when on your vacation in Belize…it will be sunny, and it will be rainy. A reliable hat should top your list of what to pack for Belize. Belize is an outdoors oriented destination, and you will be out all day. When the hot sun is beating down on you, the hat will keep you cool and when it starts raining, the hat will keep you dry.
My go to travel hat is this Tilley Air-flo. It is water repellent, it floats, you can crumple it up and it springs back to life, and you can machine wash it! A tilley Hat is what to wear in Belize
Alternatively, I never leave the house without my Lululemon Both Ways reversible hat. This hat takes up barely any room in your bag, is functional and looks great.
3. Sunglasses
The key to properly packing for any trip is to focus on the functional items that protect us. In Belize you will be spending tons of time on the water and on the beach. As you will have plenty of opportunities to soak up the sun, sunglasses are a must on any list of what to pack for Belize.
Knockaround Sunglasses are perfect for an adventure trip to Belize! They are quality for a lower budget. They come in all kinds of styles and colours and have been my go to travel sunglasses for the past 2 years.
4. Waterproof shoes
Belize is an adventure oriented destination. Waterproof shoes need to be on your packing list for Belize. It’s likely you will partake in a few adventures on your Belize Itinerary. Whether this means hiking through the jungle, climbing over ruins, waterfall rappelling, horseback riding, ATVing, or even caving, waterproof shoes are incredibly useful. Considering the high chance of rain (tropical climate) and adventure, it is great to have proper footwear that will keep your feet dry throughout your adventure. Waterproof shoes also tend to have great support and treads, and these things just make the adventure that much better.
I am obsessed with my Lowa hiking shoes for these adventures. Honestly, they are super waterproof and last for ever. These are a great investment I promise.
5. Rain coat
You might think that because Belize is located in a warm tropical climate that you don’t need a rain coat. This is not true. The correct answer is, you always need a rain coat. If you’re out on the water and it starts raining, you can throw it on and keep your clothes dry. This way you can comfortably park it at a restaurant or bar when you reach land. If you are hiking through the jungle having your Indiana Jones moment and it starts raining, you will want to throw it on because trips to see ruins last an entire day. Absolutely no one wants to be damp for an entire day.
The reality is, it rains a little everyday in Belize so a raincoat should never be too far away. My personal favourite rain coats are this Marmot Jacket and this Teca Calido Cotopaxi Jacket.
6. Day pack
Day packs should be on every packing list, but especially on a trip to Belize. It is such an activity based destination. Chances are you will be heading out for the day on an adventure or two while in Belize. Whether this means visiting some ruins in the jungle, or taking a cooking class near the beach, you will be busy and away from your hotel/hostel/resort.
Day packs are great for bringing the essentials. This might be a travel towel, a rain coat, a change of clothes, your camera, battery packs or a bathing suit. Basically anything you could need throughout the day.
My go-to day packs are either the Osprey Sirrus 24L (Stratos for men), or this Bogota 20L from Cotopaxi. An alternative to the day pack is of course bringing a hip pack like this Kapai 3L Del Dia Hip Pack by Cotopaxi. Cotopaxi is a brand with sustainable initiatives, so they are a great company to support.
7. Tote Bag/Beach Bag
If you are heading out for a day on the beach, or even on an Island Hopping Tour in Placencia, an over the shoulder beach bag is ideal. For when you need the space to jam a few towels, sunscreen, hats, water bottles and a change of clothes into a bag, the beach bag is key. They also don’t take up that much room in your backpack/suitcase. A beach bag can also double for a grocery or day bag.
*This is the product you never knew you needed but definitely do*
These Aloha Collection bags are made from Tyvek. Tyvek is what we wrap houses with when we are building them. This material is too tough to rip and seriously water resistant. Because they are made from a type of paper, Tyvek bags fold flat and are easy to bring with you. Honestly, I never call a travel product perfect, but these Tyvek Bags from the Aloha Collection are as close as it gets.
8. Dry Bag, a Belize packing list essential
With pristine beaches, clear blue water, abundant sea life and picturesque cayes and islands, there’s no doubt you will be spending time in and around the water. Bringing a dry bag to Belize, if even a small one to hold important documents and electronics, is a solid addition to a Belize packing list. Something that you can throw in your bag that will confidently keep your things dry. I am talking about cameras, wallets, phones, chargers, and passports.
It’s probably not necessary to bring a giant dry bag, but a little one like this Sea to Sumit 5L Dry Bag is ideal. You can keep the important things dry. Throw it into your beach bag for those beach days, and into your backpack for those adventure days. I also like to bring a Sea to Summit Compression Dry Bag like this if my intent is to keep my clothes dry. You can throw in a change of clothes or a travel towel, compress them, and keep that bag in your day pack as well.
Honestly, a water resistant day bag or beach bag, plus a compression dry bag for clothes and a small dry bag for electronics is the ideal combo for a day out on an adventure in a country like Belize.
9. Sandals
Belize is a beach destination in a warm tropical climate, Sandals are key. You will want them for walking on the beach, for hot days, and to kick on and off when you’re swimming. There are a ton of different types of sandals, these are my favourites.
Teva Original Universal for adventuring and walking through towns
Salt Water Sandal for beach days/going out
Haviana’s for pool days
10. Travel Towel
They are compact, packable, and do the job. I would never go anywhere without a quick drying travel towel. You can throw one in your day pack or beach bag and have something to conveniently dry yourself with. Whether you’ve just jumped into the water, or if its recently rained, or if you are hosteling, you need to have a travel towel on your list of what to pack for Belize.
My favourite travel towel is my Pack Towl. The classic, it’s reliable
11. Water Bottle with filter
Belize does not have potable water. It is important that you add a water bottle with a filter to your Belize packing list. You don’t want to be the person who drinks out of fresh plastic water bottles all day, adding to general waste in a country whose infrastructure simply doesn’t support it yet. In order to responsibly have access to water all day long, bring a water bottle with a filter system.
The Lifestraw brand has a number of systems for filtered water bottles, and is probably your go-to choice. The LARQ brand is also an option. It uses an in-bottle UV system to filter water, however, while cool, LARQ bottles are slightly more expensive. Aqua tabs are also an option, but I don’t suggest them based on how they change the flavour of your water. There are quite a few different filtration brands to choose from, it depends on your budget and interest.
12. Electronics/Electronic Organizer
These are essential for anyone traveling in this day and age. I couldn’t live without all my electronics. There are quite a few things to add to your electronic pack, let’s go through the options…
Camera, cell phone, memory cards, computer, ipad, external hard drive, gimbal, phone chargers, mini USB charger, USB C charger, blue tooth speaker, iPod, headphones etc..
To keep myself organized, I rely on my Bags Smart Electronic Organizer, which is SUCH a game changer. It keeps everything in its place, and you’ve heard the saying “everything has a place, everything in its place”. This rings true with a Bags Smart organizer. Get one, it’s life changing.
13.Toiletries/Flat Pack
Toiletries are an essential item for any trip. Hygiene is important. My toiletries pack for a trip to Belize included things like:
Soap, Bar shampoo and conditioner, face wash, moisturizer, nail clippers, diva cup, tweezers, razor, tooth brush, tooth paste, hairbrush, hair accessories, and deodorant. That’s all folks.
Similar to the electronics, it’s not what you bring, but how you pack them. I swear by my Matador Flat Pak. This simple travel toiletries case, with no zippers or compartments, is made from a material that dries from the inside out. They also have a soap case which I use in conjunction with the toiletries case. This toiletries case fits everything I need, has a hook to hang in showers, dries, and folds perfectly flat.
What to Pack for Belize, the List.
Now that you have a better understanding of the types of things, or rather, the essential things you need to pack for Belize and why, you can check out this Belize Packing List. This article has a usable and printable packing list specifically geared towards a trip to Belize, for both men and women.
Packing for traveling is strategic. The reality is, you have limited space and what you do bring, you need to carry around with you. Therefore, its important to strategically pack your bags so that you have the essentials, everything you need, as well as room for some extras. One plus to being a long term traveller is that I have spent the last few years perfecting packing. Experience has taught me what I need and what I do not need. So when you are packing for Belize, seriously consider these 13 essential items for your Belize packing list.
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