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February is a great time to travel to Guatemala. The weather is fantastic during the day (around 75 °F / 24 °C) and even its low temperatures (around 58 °F / 14 °C) in the mornings and evenings are not too bad. I visited Lake Atitlan in the middle of February for 5 days on a personal yoga retreat and was able to pack everything I needed in my carry-on luggage. Here are my recommendations on what to pack while visiting this gorgeous lake.

LUGGAGE GEAR

Away Bigger Carry-On Suitcase

I love my Away smart suitcase and take it on all of my travels. Away has two carry-on sizes – the regular size that has a capacity of 39.8L and the bigger size that has a capacity of 47.9L. I have the Bigger Carry-On and have no problem taking it on board with me on most flights. I’ve taken it with me on Delta, United, Southwest and American Airlines and they all have no problems with my luggage. I did have to check-in my Bigger Carry-On on Turkish Airlines and TAP Air Portugal since they are more strict with their carry-on guidelines.

Pacsafe Citysafe CX 17L Backpack

Candy and I always rave about this backpack because it is so handy on our travels. The anti-theft features are outstanding, there is plenty of room to fit your personal items (even my DSLR camera) and it has a sleeve in the back to place on top of your suitcase. These are just a few of the features why we love this backpack so much. Bonus that it fits nicely underneath the seat on all airplanes.

my handy luggage gear i take on all of my travels

TripDock Packing Cubes

I recently invested in these new packing cubes and am glad I did. It helped me stay more organized and it was much easier to find my things once I arrived in Guatemala. The TripDock Packing Cubes comes in a pack of 6 and I like that it comes in different colors and includes slim sizes as well.

Hanging Makeup Toiletry Bag

This has been a travel essential of mine for many years. It comes in handy when you’re limited on room in the bathroom - especially if you’re sharing a bathroom with someone. Instead of laying out everything on the counter, you can hang your makeup and toiletry bag on one of the bathroom hooks or rods.

Packing cubes are great for organizing your luggage

TSA-Approved Toiletry Bag

Having a TSA-Approved Toiletry Bag will get you through the security check more smoothly. You can fit a lot more in this bag than a tiny Ziploc bag. Plus, it’s more durable.

Baggu Tote

I like to have this lightweight nylon tote with me for the pool or lake. It’s water resistant and can carry my sunscreen, books, magazines, etc. while relaxing at the pool.

SHOES

Sporty Flats

I regularly wear the Skechers Sport Mary Jane Flats because it’s very comfortable to walk in wherever I go with its memory foam cushioning. It’s great for traveling and walking for long periods of time.

Sneakers

If you plan on hiking one of the volcanoes in Guatemala, you’ll definitely need a good pair of sneakers with some traction. The adidas Outdoor Terrex worked out great for my hikes in Yosemite.

Flip Flops

Havaianas flip flops are awesome for lounging and relaxing at the pool or lake.

CLOTHING

I mostly packed athleisure wear, yoga outfits and casual clothes for this trip since it was mainly a yoga retreat. Athleta is my go-to when it comes to fitness wear because they use the most comfortable, soft fabrics that fit nicely for every body type. Their Powervita leggings are the best as the fabric is amazingly buttery soft! Here is the complete list of clothes I packed for this trip:

Some of the clothes I took with me to the yoga retreat at Lake Atitlan

2 Yoga Fitness Bras
2 Yoga Fitness Leggings
2 Yoga Fitness Tops
1 Pair of Shorts or Light Pants
3 Casual Tops
1-2 Dresses
1 Light Sweater
1 Jacket
1-2 Bathing Suits
1 Swimsuit Cover Up
1 Pair of Pajamas
6 Pairs of Underwear
4 Pairs of Socks
1 Hat

Sun dress by Margaret O’Leary — Sun dress by **Margaret O’Leary**

Enjoying breakfast in my morning yoga outfit by Athleta — Enjoying breakfast in my morning yoga outfit by **Athleta**

TOILETRIES

Dental Care
Shampoo and Conditioner
Deodorant
Perfume
Minimal Makeup
Lotion
Contact Lens Solution
Prescriptions
Medications

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Sunscreen

Sunscreen will be essential in Guatemala. Even on days when you don’t feel like it’s too hot, make sure to wear sunscreen. The sun is extremely harsh in Guatemala since it’s near the equator. I recommend Sun Bum or Amavara.

Bug Repellent

I didn’t get bit by bugs too much while I was there in February, but the mosquitos did get me a few times. If you can’t stand bug bites, make sure to bring some bug repellent.

Snacks

Munching on some trail mix, granola bars or crackers will be helpful on your journey to and from Lake Atitlan. If you are coming from Guatemala City, it will be a 3-hour journey (or more if there’s traffic) to Lake Atitlan via van and boat. Driving through the mountains with multiple twists and turns at a high altitude might lead to motion sickness, which happened to me. Having snacks will definitely come in handy.

Curling Iron and/or Straightener

This won’t a necessity if you have gorgeous, straight hair or beautiful curls, but I’m not so lucky and always need to bring a straightener with me. One thing to note is that Guatemala uses the same voltage as the United States and Canada, so if you are traveling from the U.S., you don’t need to worry about bring converters. Guatemala uses the same voltage.

Sunglasses

Every single day in Guatemala was full of sunshine.

CAMERA GEAR

DSLR Camera
Extra Lens
Compact Camera
GoPro
Lightweight Tripod
Selfie Stick Tripod
Memory Cards
Chargers

TIPS

• Consider purchasing travel insurance. The resort I stayed at, Villa Sumaya, suggested I get travel insurance. I always use World Nomads, but Safety Wing is another great option too.

• Download an offline Spanish translator app or Spanish phrasebook. Spanish is the official language of Guatemala and English is not widely spoken. Learning some words and phrases will be very helpful.

• Take a WiFi hotspot with you like Skyroam or Travelwifi so you can stay connected at all times.

• Make a photocopy of your passport. I started doing this recently after I read an article that it would be a good idea to do this just in case you lose your passport or it gets stolen. Having a photocopy will help to obtain a passport replacement much easier.