What to Pack for Traveling with a Baby, Carry-on Only | Our list of baby essentials for 2 Weeks in Guatemala
Planning for a trip to Guatemala and wondering what to pack for a two-week adventure? Look no further! I’ve put together a comprehensive list of essentials for traveling light with just a carry-on. If you’re bringing a baby with you like we did, keep reading for a baby packing list as well! Whether you’re hiking up volcanoes at sunrise, paragliding over Panajachel, getting your steps in around Antigua and Guatemala City, exploring ancient Mayan ruins, or unwinding on pristine beaches, this packing list has got you covered down to the smallest details like toothbrush and socks!
So, let’s make sure you have everything you need for an amazing and hassle-free journey, no checked bag needed! I’m fed up with the $60+ fee to check a bag with airlines these days, so I hope this list helps you skip the hefty price tag and take carry-on only.
Bags
- Two 42L Backpacks
- One 35L Backpack
- Baby in front pack
- Two small cinch bags for personal items
These are the backpacks we like: Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Packs
For the Adults
Shoes: 1 pair of shoes, 1 pair of sandals
I wear these Reef Slides almost everywhere. They’re SO comfortable and I can walk all day in them with no issues. For the plane, hikes, and paragliding, I wore my Dr. Scholl’s Sneakers. My husband wore his Teva sandals every day, and Vans sneakers for the plan and hikes.
For the Plane/Travel Day
My best advice for what to wear on travel days: wear layers that give you the option to be comfortable in 80° and 50°, because more than likely that will be the reality. We’ve had travel days where we sat in the plane on the tarmac for 2 hours SWEATING in stuffy hot air, and then landed and walked out of the plane into snow and wind! Be prepared for it all!
- comfortable athletic pants/joggers
- crew socks
- T-shirt
- sweatshirt
- optional: light jacket
- closed toed shoes in case the plane gets chilly
Small cinch bag
We like to use a small cinch bag as our “personal item” to keep under the seat. Remember, you get one carry-on and one personal item for most flights. Since the personal item will be in your leg room, I like to keep it small.
Water bottle
I always bring a Hydroflask water bottle. Very American Mom of me. I just really love being able to stuff it full of ice and have freezing cold water even on the hottest days. I’ve been to very few places in the world that didn’t have options for refilling my bottle with filtered water.
Fanny pack stuffed with the essentials
Technically, this would be one additional bag so be sure to leave space in your cinch bag to put your fanny pack away when boarding the plane!
- headphones
- phone charging cord
- apple watch charger
- 4-in-1 charging cable
- power bank
- Kindle or book
- hand sanitizer
- eyedrops
- gum
- wallet
- sanitizing wipes
- comb, concealer, and powder for a midday refresh
- Passport
- credit cards, ATM cards, and a bit of cash (about $200-500USD is plenty)
Sunglasses
Pack these in your carry-on for the overhead bin, but put it in a place that will be easy to pull out when you land at your destination. I hate having to dig through my bag when we land at our destination, and I always want sunglasses for our first car ride away from the airport so I can watch the scenery!
I always bring two pairs because I’ve lost sunglasses in the middle of a trip before, and you don’t want to have to shop for a new pair while you’re on vacation. They’re so small, I always pack a backup.
Toiletries
- SPF 30+ daily face lotion (I like CeraVe SPF 30)
- toothbrush
- toothpaste
- nightguard/retainer
- hair ties
- mini hair straightener (I didn’t end up using this at all, but mine is tiny and fits in my toiletry bag!)
- toner
- cotton rounds
- Q-tips
- face cleanser
- razor
- travel size bar soap (taken from past hotel and Air BnB stays!)
- travel size shampoo or shampoo bar
- body lotion
- evening face moisturizer
- lip balm
- contacts (I wear dailies. Bring a couple extra pairs, just in case)
- sunscreen (we like the Alba Botanica SPF 50, Babo Botanicals SPF 50 stick, and Sun Bum baby SPF 50 mineral spray)
- aloe vera (do yourself a favor and get the 99% aloe version, not the kind with alcohol and green dye)
- makeup
Note: make sure all of your liquids are in containers 3.4oz or less, and they all have to fit into a quart sized bag for TSA.
Ziploc bags
You’ll need quart size bags to get liquids through TSA, but I also like to bring a few extra just in case.
Carabiners, Money Belt, Air Tags
Bring at least a few carabiners to secure your zippers, fanny pack buckle, etc. to avoid theft. Not necessary most of the time, but it’s a good idea when you’re in large crowds. It doesn’t completely prevent theft, but it’s a good deterrent. Also consider bringing a money belt for market days or big cities to keep your valuables safe! I always put Apple Airtags in each of my bags to keep track of things in the event of lost or stolen items.
Vitamins and Medicines
Bring your daily vitamins, pre-sorted into a daily pill organizer, as well as a few medicines in case you need them. Here’s what we brought, and we needed everything!
- AlkaSeltzer: cold medicine
- Dramamine: motion sickness
- Ibuprofen: headaches
- Magnesium Citrate: constipation
- Imodium: Anti-Diarrheal
Bug Repellent
The mosquitoes are not bad in and around Antigua, Chichicastenango, and Lake Atitlan, but it is a good idea to have bug repellent just in case. If you’re planning to stay near the ocean, you should definitely plan for mosquitoes.
- Mosquito repellent stickers work great when you don’t want to wear greasy bug spray
- Lemongrass Oil or a natural Lemon Eucalyptus bug spray always work great for us
- If/When you do get bit, this Bug Bite Thing works great for itching, and we also bring benadryl cream to stop the itch.
Clothes
Besides what I listed for airplane clothes, here’s what else I packed for 2 weeks in Guatemala. We did laundry on day 8 to refresh some of the essentials.
- 1-2 bathing suits/swimsuits
- 5 sundresses
- 3 short sleeve tops
- 2 tank tops
- 2 pairs of shorts (bring a pair of active shorts for hiking)
- 4 pairs of socks
- 8 pairs of underwear
- 4 bras
- 4 hair scarves for accessorizing
- 1-2 hats
- 2 long sleeve UPF shirts (I like UV Skinz)
- 1 long sleeve muslin button up shirt
- something to sleep in
Packing For Kids (one baby, 11 months old)
- Baby carrier – we have the Ergo 360
- Leak-proof water bottle
- Just-in-case baby medicine: Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Teething gel, Diaper cream, Thermometer, Lotion
- Diapers (enough for a couple days)
- Chux pads
- Wipes (1 full pack)
- Bib
- Baby chair strap
- Baby toothpaste and toothbrush
- Beanie
- Sweatshirt
- 2 pairs of socks
- 2 pairs of pants
- 8-10 outfits (dresses, shirts, shorts)
- 3 UPF sun hoodies
- Long sleeve UPF romper
- 2 Swimsuits
- 4 zip up PJs
- Sleep sack
- Sound machine
- Baby monitor
- Jacket
- Towel
- 1 baby blanket
- Hair brush
- Cooling towel
- A few small toys
- Busy board book
- Airplane hammock seat extender
- 2 baby wash cloths
- Zip up tent for sleeping
- 1 baby book
The tips shared in this post, from versatile clothing choices to compact toiletries and efficient packing techniques, are not only applicable for a two-week trip but can also be extended to longer stays in Guatemala, as long as you have access to a laundromat. Whether it’s a week, two weeks, or even several months, prioritizing essentials and embracing the concept of minimalism in packing can greatly enhance your travel experience, allowing you to focus more on enjoying the beauty and adventures Guatemala has to offer.
Not to mention, this was already a lot for us to carry, so packing any more than this would be too much!
