Packing List & Clothing
Basic Equipment
- Layers: The highlands have "eternal spring" during the day (18–25°C), but cool nights (10–15°C). Light clothing + warm jacket/fleece for the evening. In Petén: only light, breathable clothing.
- Rain jacket: Useful year-round, essential in the rainy season (May–October).
- Hiking boots: A must for volcano climbs and Tikal — waterproof, ankle-high, broken in.
- Sandals/Flip-Flops: For the lake, the beach, and hostels.
- Sun protection: Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen SPF 50 (the highland sun is aggressive!).
- Insect repellent: DEET spray (30%+), especially for Petén and the Caribbean coast. Hardly needed in the highlands.
For the Acatenango
- Warm clothing: Thermal underwear, fleece, windproof jacket. At night at 3,700 m, it drops below 0°C!
- Gloves & Hat: Seriously — many travelers underestimate the cold.
- Headlamp: For the night ascent.
- 3+ liters of water: Nothing is available for purchase at the top.
Miscellaneous
- Power adapter: Guatemala uses Type A/B (US plug, flat, two-prong). You need an adapter! Voltage: 120V — chargers for laptops and phones usually work universally (100–240V), but hairdryers and other 230V devices need a voltage converter.
- Travel pharmacy: Imodium (diarrhea is likely!), electrolytes, paracetamol, band-aids, disinfectant, mosquito spray.
- Copies: Keep a copy of your passport and important documents separately + digitally (Cloud/Email).
- Water bottle with filter: LifeStraw Go or Grayl — saves plastic and money.
💡 Tipp
Pack less than you think — in Guatemala, you can get everything you need cheaply at the markets. The handwoven textiles are excellent as a light blanket, scarf, or beach towel. And if you forget something: Antigua's shops and markets have everything.