We recommend packing as light as possible to make travel easier and to enable you to escape the luxuries of home and better immerse yourself in the experience.
Essentials
- PASSPORT and photocopies! Triple check to make sure you have it, and that it is valid for AT LEAST 6 months
- Cash (small, crisp bills)
- ATM cards for souvenirs and snacks during the week. ATMs are available in the city, participants are encouraged to bring ATM cards as exchanging cash can sometimes prove a challenge.
- Sunblock (you may need two bottles of sunscreen and remember that the sun is stronger here so the more spf the better)
- Bug spray (you may need two bottles worth and many people find that the higher concentrations of deet are necessary)
Worksite Attire
Note: These are mandatory to work on the worksite.
- Long pants covering the ankle
- Shoulder covering t-shirts
- Closed toed shoes
- Work gloves
Clothing
- Bring 6 days worth of work clothes! There is laundry at the hotel, so pack light.
- Sneakers and/or work boots
- Bathing suit
- Raincoat and rain boots
- Flip flops for showers and walking
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sweatshirt/light jacket for cool nights (winter only)
- Semi-dressy outfit (for meetings with officials, going out, etc)
- Shorts/lightweight pants
- T-shirts/tank tops – exposure to the sun is actually the biggest problem so consider light materials that cover you up
- Socks and underwear
Other Items
- Backpack or something to carry items daily
- Malaria pills
- Needed medication
- Towel
- Toiletries (Shampoos, soaps, lotions, razors, deodorants, toothbrush, toothpaste, contacts, glasses, etc)
- Water bottle/Nalgene
- After burn aloe
- Camera and batteries
- Journal and something to write with
- Flashlight
- English/Spanish dictionary
- Snacks that you might want to bring
- Travel alarm clock
- First aid kit – (Pepto/Immodium, Tylenol, and other pain killers, Benadryl, Cortizone/anti itch cream, Neosporin, Dayquil, Nyquil)
- Visine
- Hand sanitizer
- Wet wipes