If you're planning a week-long trip to Guatemala and want to travel light, you might be wondering how to pack everything you need in just a personal item. As someone who recently embarked on such a journey, I can tell you that it's definitely doable! In this post, I'll share what I packed for my 7-day adventure in Central America, including my clothing, toiletries, electronics, and travel essentials. So whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-timer, read on for tips on how to pack efficiently for a week in Guatemala with just a personal item.

You might be wondering why I would put myself through such a challenge. The answer is simple: I’m cheap. I typically travel carry-on only but I purchased an XS fare on Avianca and this only allows you one personal item. I looked into purchasing a carry-on allowance for my trip and it was going to be nearly $70 USD for journey. I couldn’t justify spending $140 in luggage fees, especially when the flight was only $199! I decided to face the challenge and just travel with my one personal item.

Picking the Right Bag

According to Avianca’s baggage restrictions, all of my favorite carry-on backpacks were going to be too large. The Avianca website states that the maximum dimensions for personal items are 25 x 35 x 45 cm (9.8 x 13.78 x 17.72 inches) and it must fit under the seat in front of you.

After some searching, I came across the ITSHINY backpack on Amazon. The selling points for me were the separator that creates another compartment for shoes or other bulky items, the roll-top feature, the dimensions (11.02 x 17.72 x 5.51 inches), and - most importantly - the $30 price tag. After reading some reviews praising the durability, I decided to go for it.

Actually Packing the Bag

I knew packing for this trip was going to be difficult because I needed clothes that were suitable for the very sunny and warm Lake Atitlán AND proper clothes for hiking Volcan de Acatenango — an active volcano with an elevation of 13,000 ft and very cold temperatures at night. Thankfully, I selected Wicho & Charlie’s as my hiking company and they provide and rent out all of the necessary hiking gear (e.g., trekking poles, hiking pack, headlamp, etc.) so I did not have to bring those items with me.

Once the bag arrived, I made a strategic packing list and practiced packing with many different packing cube configurations until everything fit just the way I needed to.

Here is everything I ended up bringing with me on my 7-day trip to Guatemala:

Backpack & related items:

Clothing:

As a general rule of thumb, I try to bring clothes that I already own and enjoy wearing. If I need something specific for a trip, I visit my favorite online thrift store: thredUP. I genuinely love this website because I can search by brand, size, color, etc. If you’re new to thredUP, sign up with this link and get 40% off plus + free shipping your first order.

Tops

1 blank tank top
1 gray tee
1 black tee
1 sweater
1 chambray button down
1 short-sleeve button down shirt
2 dresses

Bottoms

1 pair of lightweight chino pants — I love these so much and I want them in every color.
1 pair of cargo joggers — These joggers are so comfy and I usually end up wearing these on the plane.
1 pair of bike shorts — I received a pair of lululemon 6” shorts for Christmas and they were great, but any athletic shorts with decent coverage will work.

Hiking

1 Uniqlo HeatTech turtleneck — I’m a big fan of Uniqlo’s HeatTech line. They have shirts, leggings, socks, and more. You can find a lot of the items on thredUP as well.
1 half-zip fleece — I brought this Columbia fleece from my closet and it was a great layer to have on the hike.
1 pair of lululemon align leggings — Any durable lined leggings will work, but these were great to have for the hike.
1 beanie — I normally wouldn’t bring a beanie but I knew it would come in handy when I was camping on top of a volcano.

Everything else

1 swimsuit — I bought this j. crew swimsuit top that was new with tags for $20 on thredUP. They have so many great NWT swimsuits.
1 rain jacket — I’ve had this one from Columbia for years and it packs up very nicely.
Undies/bras/socks — Bring only what you need … or more … whatever makes you comfortable. 🤪

Shoes:

1 pair of tennis shoes — I wore an old pair of Eddie Bauer sneakers I got for Christmas several years ago and that was a mistake. The tread was nearly nonexistent. For my next trip, I’m planning on investing in these hiking sneakers or something similar.
1 pair of water-friendly sandals — I brought Chacos because I needed a pair of shoes that could be worn around Lake Atitlán and worn in the hostel shower. I don’t always bring my Chacos, but they served me well on this trip.

Toiletries:

Refillable toiletries bottles — so you can bring your favorite shampoo, body wash, skincare product, etc.
Toothbrush and toothpaste tablets
Plastic-free deodorant
Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Makeup (if desired) — I usually just bring a tinted chapstick, waterproof mascara, and a tinted moisturizer with SPF
Lush 7 to 3 Face Cleansing Pad — I like this small reusable cleansing pad because it doesn’t take up precious space in my liquids bag.
JVN Air Dry Cream — My favorite low maintenance hair product in a convenient 1 oz tube.
Hairbrush
Basic first aid kit supplies & medications — I always bring bandaids, pepto capsules, imodium, dramamine, and ibuprofen.[!] I also brought my diamox prescription for altitude sickness. If you’re prone to altitude sickness, I recommend setting up a telehealth appointment and discussing the possibility of getting this medication.

Travel Essentials:

Valid passport — Let this also serve as a reminder to go check the expiration date of your passport. Many countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip.
Money — I bring my SoFi debit card (with no foreign transaction fees and reimbursable ATM fees) and a no-fee travel credit card.
- Sign up here and receive $25 when you create a free SoFi Checking & Savings account.I get cash at the ATM in the airport and then more cash when I get to my destination. Research your destination to make sure you’re bringing enough cash! I recently found myself in a town with one ATM. Some ATMs have a limited amount of cash.
Copy of important travel documents (passport, ID, etc.) — I keep photocopies in different locations from my actual passport. When I’m out and about, I keep the photocopy in my wallet/bag and keep my passport locked away in my backpack.

Electronics:

iPhone (+phone charger) — My phone also serves as my camera.
Portable power bank — I usually get 3 full charges out of this and it is such a life saver when you’re on an overnight bus or hiking on top of a volcano.
Universal travel adapter — If you’re traveling to Central America from the U.S., you shouldn’t need this because we use the same outlets.

Miscellaneous:

Sunglasses
Travel locks — I like the 2-pack for securing your backpack main compartment and for securing your belongings in the hostel locker.
Packable microfiber towel — I brought this with me to Lake Atitlán and used it in the hostel as well. It packs up super well and does not take up much space.

Believe it or not, all of those items fit into my one allowable personal item. Aside from the fact that I definitely wore my fanny pack under my rain jacket onto the plane, everything else fit perfectly and the $30 bag held up surprisingly well - I will always recommend it as a budget friendly option. This trip to Guatemala was in April 2022 and I’ve used the backpack several times since then and it is still incredibly durable and functional.

--

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases if/when you make a purchase through my links in this post. I am not a proponent of over-consumerism, but I know it is helpful to share products that are helpful and useful. Therefore, I only recommend products I have tried myself or products that I would personally invest it.

0 comments

The Ultimate Guide to Carry-On Packing: Pack Less, Go Farther

See all posts from Economic Expeditions