What To Pack for Your Vacation To Belize

If you have never visited the jewel that is Belize, you may not know what to pack - and what to leave behind.

Before we moved here, we vacationed every year, each trip learning of something new and handy to have on our next trip.

Here are my suggestions:

10 MUST HAVES:

1. Reef-safe sunscreen. Even if you only plan to lounge poolside and not dip in the breathtaking waters…your shower water eventually ends up back in the sea. Be kind to the delicate reef and look for reef-friendly sunscreen.

Amazon’s Solimo Sport Sunscreen Brand rubs in completely and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, we live by this brand for those two reasons! Even better, it is typically under $8 per bottle for an 8oz tube. Expect to pay 2x or more for other brands. It is listed as, “reef friendly”. I am not an expert on this, so if you prefer to use something “Certified by Friend of the Sea Organization”, opt for Safe Sea Mineral Sunscreen — I am going to try this soon since it also protects from jellyfish AND sea lice!

If you loathe checking a bag like me, purchase some refillable 3.4oz (TSA-Approved size) bottles and transfer the sunscreen into them.

2. Waterproof Wallet — Between the ocean, pools and unexpected tropical showers, your valuables have a high chance of meeting up with moisture. No bartender wants your soggy dollars, either. This waterproof wallet is large enough to hold your ID and cash, and a physical key if needed. We have field-tested this one and it does, indeed, float. The carabiner easily clips to shorts, or wear it around your neck with the included lanyard.

3. Inexpensive Polarized Sunglasses — Polarization is superior eye protection with the added benefit of clearer vision, particularly when you look into the water! The difference is staggering.

I suggest cheap sunglasses as the sand and salt can wreak havoc on lenses. As can too many drinks with umbrellas in them.

4. Refillable Water Bottle — I hope this is already a part of your daily routine instead of single-use plastic water bottles. It’s even more important at the beach, as many locations do not have an efficient recycling program, Ambergris Caye included.

This 64oz Stainless jug has 3 different lids for versatility and a wide neck to get ice cubes in with ease.
Civago Insulated 64oz bottle

5. Fabric Shopping Bags — As more countries ban single-use plastic bags (including Belize!), it’s smart to travel with fabric shopping bags. From souvenir shopping to picking up snacks at the store, these bags take up virtually no room in your luggage and can be used for a dozen different tasks.
Nereiva 4 Pack 55lb Capacity Fabric Bags

6. Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellant — I am like candy to mosquitoes — if they are in an eight-mile radius, they will find me! I tried other brands with minimal success. This brand was referred to me by a local, protects better than DEET against biting flies, and lasts up to 14 hours in repelling mosquitoes and ticks. Non-greasy and won’t damage plastics or synthetics. I have never seen it for sale on the island, so buy it here and bring it down.
Picaridin Insect Repellant

7. Sunscreen for your lips — Yes, even your lips can burn. Once you have scorched them in the tropics, you will never again forget SPF chapstick! I prefer the Panama Jack brand as the flavors are fantastic. You will look forward to applying them, they aren’t waxy and bland. After your trip, you can be whisked back to the beach with the scent and flavor!
Panama Jack Sunscreen Lip Balm

8. Shampoo and Conditioner bars — I like these for 2 reasons:
1. I refuse to check luggage. Sunscreen is going to take up most of my 1L plastic bag for liquids, so going with a bar shampoo and conditioner frees up valuable space.
2. It is much more eco-friendly than tiny, single-use bottles.
Garnier Whole Blends Softening Shampoo gives excellent lather, I feel it is equal in cleaning power to liquid shampoo.
B.O.B Natural Conditioner Bar provides moisture and detangles after a day at the beach!

9. Wide-Brimmed Travel Hat — Reduce the glare and protect your face from extra UV rays with a wide-brimmed hat. This one is fabulous for travel as it rolls up — so you aren’t the obnoxious tourist wearing a Sombrero on the plane.
HDE Sun Visor for Women, Roll-Up Ponytail Hat

10. Locking Beach Bag — This was an absolute trip-changer! How many times has someone in your group stayed behind to watch the bags, while everyone else wandered the beach, went for drinks, or took a dip in the water? No longer does someone have to be on “bag duty” — this combination-lock bag can secure your phones, keys, and other valuables and easily attaches to a beach chair, tree, or post! The goal here is to make it inconvenient enough that a potential thief will skip your bag to find one that is easier to snatch.
Buy it here: WaterSeals Backpack

17 “NICE TO HAVES”:

1. Backpack Cooler — Much more eco-friendly than a disposable or Styrofoam cooler, we used it as a carry-on bag for the flight, and then as a cooler for the trip. We freeze tap water in Tupperware to make large ice blocks that keep our drinks cold all day! Being a backpack, it is so much easier to lug over distances than a traditional cooler.
Maelstrom Backpack Cooler

2. Fabric Headband — Anyone with even medium-length hair will appreciate a fabric headband to manage their tresses in the sea breeze, or while cruising in your golf cart. Here is an 8-pack in a variety of colors for under $10.
8-Pack Sport Headbands

3. SPF Hoodies — The versatility of these hoodies makes them travel GOLD! Wear them on the plane to stay warm, or if the nights get cool. Wear them on the beach when you’ve had too much sun, or to avoid it altogether. They are breathable, lightweight, and come in a variety of colors.
Women’s SPF 50 Hoodie
Men’s SPF 50 Hoodie
Childrens’ SPF Hoodies — SO much easier than fighting them to apply sunscreen.

4. A Dry Bag — Going out on a boat? Cave-tubing on the mainland? Beachcombing in the surf? All of these activities and more pose the possibility of getting your goods wet. Protect them with a “Dry Bag”. They aren’t designed to be fully submerged for long durations but will save the day if you take a spill, fumble your bag, or otherwise accidentally expose the bag to water. If you have butterfingers like me, I highly suggest a dry bag.

A 10L Bag works great for our family of 4, and it’s under $20!
HEETA Waterproof Dry Bag

5. Reusable drinking cups with lids — Most bars have 12oz plastic cups, so a 20-ouncer will reduce your trips for refills while saving the planet. The lid will keep sand, pool, and sea water out of your beverage.
BJPKPK 20oz Stainless Steel Skinny Tumbler

6. Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker — If you are going to be near water, err on the side of caution and take a waterproof speaker with you. This JBL Speaker is a very portable size, and the handy clip can attach to your beach bag, bike, or golf cart.
JBL Clip 3 Waterproof Speaker

7. Sand-Free Beach Mat — Nothing is worse than getting out of the water and laying on a soggy towel. Dry off with a towel, then lounge on these sand-free beach mats! Crafted of thin, quick-drying polyester, they won’t trap sand — plus it is oversized, so your whole party can enjoy one! It compacts down for easy packing, too.
Sand-Free Beach Mat

We used one for a blanket and one for shade at Secret Beach, Belize.

8. Water Shoes — Walk confidently in sand, water, and brush without fear of stepping on anything dangerous! These shoes dry out fast and keep your feet protected from glass, hot sand, rocks, pointy shells, and other hazards.
Unisex Water Shoes by Athmile

9. Utility Sandals — Ugly as sin? Yes. Protective as hell? Also, yes. We sported these on a mainland tour to the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins and Cave Tubing, and they were indispensable. You will want something sturdier than water shoes, and ones that can get wet.
Women’s Utility Sandals
Men’s Utility Sandals
Children’s Utility Sandals

10. Dramamine Ginger Chews — If travel upsets your stomach, these ginger chews taste great and work better! Even my ginger-hating husband enjoys them. They’ll also help with acid reflux. I won’t get on a boat without them!
Dramamine Ginger Chews. Keep these in your fridge in Belize; the humidity seems to slightly disintegrate them. Take them out 10–20 minutes before you consume them to make unwrapping easier.

11. Beer Bottle Insulators — Belikin Beer (the Beer of Belize) primarily comes in bottles. Beer in the tropics gets warm fast. Fend off skunky beer with these insulated bottle holders WITH AN OPENER, because no bottles in Belize are screwtops.

12. Twang Beer Salt — It comes in a variety of flavors, but the OG Lime is your best match for Belikin.

13. SwimWays Spring Float — This guy is super-compact, doesn’t require a generator or iron lung to inflate, and is a must-have for Secret Beach!

SwimWays Spring Floats inflate in about a minute!

14. GoPro Waterproof Case — Waterproof down to 196 feet, do not skimp with an off-brand for your GoPro housing! You’ll cherish the underwater moments you can capture with this accessory. The Floating Hand Grip is incredibly handy, too!

15. Snorkel Gear — Yes, you can rent it on a snorkel trip, but if COVID taught us anything…best not to swap spit with strangers. Having your own set grants you the freedom to walk in the water at any point and view the amazing sea life, no tour guide required.

16. Bug Bite Thing — An ingenious suction tool that removes stingers and venom from bug attacks. Not just mosquitoes, either — a list of pests including the dreaded Secret Beach sea lice! Knocks out the itch all-naturally. Nathan used one to remove a splinter from his finger; they should add that to their marketing.

17. Bungee Straps — If you plan on renting a golf cart (which I suggest you do! Get out and discover the island!) this item is a MUST-HAVE! A few times per week, I see posts on Facebook — “backpack lost”, “suitcase fell off cart”, or my personal favorite, “Bag with important papers and CPAP machine fell off cart…”! Even our paved roads have speed bumps and potholes — it’s common to see tourists hanging onto their luggage for dear life, trying to limp back to the airport. Don’t dislocate your shoulder — strap all bags into your cart every time!

PACKING TIPS

As previously mentioned, checking bags is a pain. We would go for 12–13 days at a time, with snorkel and beach gear, and didn’t check bags thanks to vacuum packing bags.

I take a regular overhead bin roller bag, and then either a backpack or beach bag as my “personal item”. In it, I have money, ID, passport….flight entertainment/AirPods, pair of socks (it gets cold on the plane) gum…the stuff you’ll want easily accessible on the flights. Pack a pen in there, too, for filling out immigration forms, in case the app crashes.

I left both of our passports on a plane to DFW in 2020, then had to sprint over 2 terminals on the 50-minute layover to beg a gate attendant to go on the plane and find them. Learn from me and bring a color copy of your passport — just the page with your photo. Leave a copy behind at home, as well.

Plastic bag — could be a grocery bag, zip lock, etc. — in case you have wet shoes or a swimsuit on the day of your departure.

Clothes-wise, I always end up over-packing. Most days I wear a swimsuit and cover-up until dinner. No need to get fancy on clothes; we have never been to a restaurant where shorts and a tee shirt weren’t acceptable, or “worst case”, a polo shirt for men, and that’s pretty fancy.

Shoe-wise — 1 trusty pair of flip flops, and water shoes. You need not wear shoes once outside the airport, until you return to the airport.

WHAT NOT TO BRING:

Anything designer. You’re going to the beach.

Leave valuable jewelry at home — there’s no reason to wear it down there. Like any international travel, don’t draw attention to yourself.

Makeup — seriously. Face makeup is impossible with the humidity. I rely on reef-safe Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Sunscreen.

Same for blow dryers, curling irons…..it’s humid, you are wasting your time. Bring hair rubber bands, headbands, etc.

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That concludes my packing tips and tricks for Ambergris Caye, Belize — although the items are universally handy for any tropical beach trip!

-Sharon Lord, Owner, BelizeIt Vacation Management Services Ltd.