Packing List: Costa Rica- Nicaragua 2012

One of the things I find most helpful about reading other travel blogs is information on budgets and what to bring.  Here I'll post the packing list for our 16 days in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. While this might seem like a long list, most of the stuff we only need one between the three of us. Many of the things are also very small and will fit easily in our pack

We will each need to bring:

• 1 swimsuit
• 1 long sleeve shirt
• 1 sweatshirt/ thin jacket
• 1 rain poncho
• 1 travel towel
• 1 sleep sack
• 1 pair of pants (travel pants)
• 4 shirts
• 2-3 tank tops (for me, not for the boys)
• 1-2 dresses or skirts (again, not for the boys)
• 3 pairs of socks
• 1 pair of flip flops
• 1 pair of walking shoes
• 3 pairs of shorts
• enough underwear for the whole trip
• a toothbrush
• razors
• deodorant
• makeup (for me: foundation, eyeliner, mascara, blush/compact with a mirror)

Collectively we will have to bring:

• toothpaste
• floss
• chapstick
• hair brush/ comb
• lotion
• sunscreen
• bug spray
• shampoo
• body wash
• conditioner
• face wash
• ear plugs
• duct tape (wrapped around a pen)
• camping silverware set
• clothes line
• drain plug
• malaria medication
• anti-diarrheals 
• cipro (antibiotic in case of bad case of stomach bug)
• motion sickness meds
• hand sanitizer
• sewing kit
• guidebooks
• pack of cards
• daypack (to hold valuables during bus trips or water, snacks, books, etc. for day trips)
• band aids
• cortisone cream
• Advil
• antibiotic ointment
• tweezers
• wet wipes
• paper copies of prescriptions
• sunglasses
• camera + case + charger
• phone + charger
• journal + pen
• book
• flashlight
• headlamps
• travel pillows
• passports
• US dollars in small bills (keep some in moneybelt with passport and some in another location)
• moneybelts
• luggage locks
• credit cards (be sure to notify companies of travel)
• copies of passport (stored separately from originals)
• insurance cards and ids (including student id)
• toilet paper

Optional items:

• allergy medicine
• mosquito coils
• water sterlizer

We will keep toiletries and things that can leak in plastic ziplock bags.  We have a toiletry case for the small items/ medicines/ first aid stuff so that it won't get lost in our bags. 

GoPro

For Christmas I got an awesome present from my mom: A GoPro HD Hero2 video camera.

This tiny little camera takes amazing HD footage and can be mounted on your head, your chest, your wrist and every piece of sporting equipment you can imagine.  Hopefully videos will help make our blog more dynamic in the future and we hope to capture some pretty cool stuff while travelling.

Here's the GoPro promo video to give you an idea of how great this thing is:

Gear, gear and more gear

One of the fun things for us about traveling is buying all the cool gadgets that make it that much more enjoyable.  Here is a list of gear we have amassed for our upcoming trips.

• Packs (REI Crestrail 70 for Solomon, Gregory Jade 65 for Megan, and a sweet 70s backpacking pack for Nick)
• Sleeping pads (Thermarest Z-Lites)
• Tiny inflatable travel pillows (Cocoon Ultralight Air-Core and Cocoon Hyperlite Air-Core)
• Travel towel (Sea to Summit DryLite)
• A universal sink stopper for doing laundry in sinks
• A clothesline
• A first aid kit
• A camp stove (MSR Simmerlite)
• Rain ponchos
• Anti-bacterial hand wipes
• Mosquito netting
• Duffel bags to cover packs for checking at airport (REI Airporter)
• GoPro video camera
• Money belts
• Power adapters/converters
• Sleep sacks for hostel beds (sleeping bag liners)

What we still need:

• Water purifier
• Travel locks for our baggage

Now, not all of this will be dragged along to Central America and some of it is for use exclusively in the US (like the stove).  When we pack for our trip I will make sure to give you an updated packing list of what we are bringing along to help anyone else prepare for a similar 16 day excursion.