Packing Lessons Relearned on Our Most Recent Trip to Guatemala
Hanna and I travel a fair bit, and we spend lots of time trying to figure out packing and planning hacks, but despite all of that effort we still make mistakes or overlook some necessary items. Even on a trip like those to Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala, where they take care of everything (you could literally show up with a couple of pairs of clothes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen and be covered) it’s always possible to wish you had packed more. Yes, they have world class tackle, daily laundry service, and a “tiendita” to cover any toiletries you might’ve missed, but that doesn’t mean you’re 100 percent covered.
I was reminded of this when we visited in February. Hanna and I both checked a suitcase and brought a carry-on (she had a personal item) as well, but I still ended up missing some things. Here are some suggestions to make sure you don’t forget, in no particular order:
Earplugs – On our first night at CVL there was some sort of loud revivalist meeting on the lot behind the compound. I’d estimate 300 people, a preacher, and a full amplified band. Every time the band seemed to reach a thrilling conclusion to their performance, they’d pivot into another song. We went to bed around 9:20, and we were told the show was to stop at 10. It lasted until about 10:30. Your noise canceling headphones might be good on the plane, but they’re hard to sleep in. A simple pair of foam ear plugs would’ve let me sleep and take up barely any room. They’re cheap, too, so they should always be in your bag.
Seasickness Cure – Hanna and I take the “scop” patch every time we’re headed offshore, and so far it has been a near-universal preventative for seasickness. We highly recommend it. If you’re a “Rambo” type who thinks that you don’t need it, think again. Being seasick sucks. On this trip, one of our traveling partners could not use the patch because of a preexisting condition. He felt ill on our first day on the water, when it was a little bit choppy. If you’re going to go without a medicinal cure, at least indulge in some sort of over-the-counter remedy. It would suck to go all that way and then end up not enjoying the time on the water.
Proper Currency – On past trips we’d had no issue with currency because we’d spent all of our time on Casa Vieja’s property. This time, we spent 48 hours in and around Antigua. We were told that most places in Guatemala accept either dollars or credit cards. That proved to generally be true, but not entirely. There were several places where we might’ve needed Quetzals (the national currency) including various stores and concessions. We were not told that the Pacaya Volcano park had an entrance fee (in addition to the tour guide fee, which we charged to our room). Fortunately they took dollars but the snack stands on the mountain did not.
Second Credit Card – If you’re like us, you put plenty of things on your credit card, and you may have a points- or cashback-related strategy for the way you spend. In addition to confirming with the card issuer/s before departure that you will be in a foreign country, it pays to have a second card. This is especially true if you have AmEx or Discover, which don’t seem to be as widely-accepted as Visa and MasterCard. Furthermore, if your card is lost or compromised and you were depending on it, you may be completely out of luck in terms of promptly getting a replacement while abroad.
Finally, those are the tangible things which you should remember to bring, and none of them take up much space in your luggage. In fact, they can all fit in your pockets for the flight down. I also recommend that you haul two more things that take up even less space: Patience and humility. Patience because things go wrong in everyday life, and also because not all cultures operate at the breakneck speed of American life. Humility because especially when fishing for a new species you’re going to realize how much there is to learn. After three trips to Guatemala I thought I had a decent understanding of the sailfish game and the techniques used to tempt and land them – but after watching our mates Daniel and Alex at work on deck of the Finest Kind, I realized that we’d paid to learn from them, and that they’d been impeccably trained. There’s no shame in asking questions and occasionally staring in awe at a master working his or her craft.
