Compas de Nicaragua

Service Trip Packing List

1.Prepare for the unexpected! And the following anticipated inconveniences:

Lost bags
No hot water; temporary loss of water and electricity
In country transportation delays, crowded buses
same food over and over (rice, beans, and tortillas)
Soft beds, spartan accommodations
Noise and light streaming into your bedroom “window” early in the a.m. (windows will not have glass, nor screen)
Lots of bugs (cockroaches, scorpions, spiders, flies, mosquitoes)
Not getting to do everything in one trip
Crafty petty thieves

2.Pro-active measures

Come rested if you can—we won’t be catching up on sleep!
Bring a small lock for your bag
Pack all essentials in carry-on bag (especially medicines)
Bring stuff that doesn’t wrinkle
Try to keep personal business and errands to a minimum
Don’t bank on calling home (hard to find phones, get intrn’l line
Bring all the tampons, film, batteries, special things you’ll want
Bring ear plugs and/or night shades if noise or light bothers you
Bring comfortable, broken in walking shoes
Try to find non-gunky bug repellent and sunscreen
If you don’t want dirty toes, bring close-toed shoes
Bring a flashlight
Carry money, passport, plane tickets in a safe place (money belt)
Don’t carry anything of value in your back pocket
In markets and other unsafe places, carry packs and bags on your front, not on your back or dangling luxuriantly down your side!
Leave valuable jewelry and keepsakes at home.

Compas de Nicaragua:

Suggested Packing List for Nicaragua Travel

“*” Indicates the essential items—all other items optional (many things like soap, shampoo, shaving stuff can be bought in Nicaragua. Let us know if you should pack these items)

Documents and Money:

* Passport

* Spending money in US dollars—not traveler’s checks

* Money belt (for carrying money, passport, plane ticket)

Clothes:

For men: shorts, t-shirts, summer slacks, shirts.
For women: shorts, t-shirts, lightweight skirts, cotton dresses.
Change of underclothes for a week or more
Comfortable shoes for meetings and walking
Shower thongs, flip-flops for shower
Sun hat
Rain jacket (if traveling during rainy season—May-October
Windbreaker
Sleep wear

Toiletries:

Toilet paper
Sun screen
Mosquito repellent and cortisone cream
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Tampons
Bath towel and wash cloth
Bath soap
Shampoo
Shaving stuff (razor, cream)
Comb and or Brush
Deodorant
Small Mirror.

Compas de Nicaragua: Suggested Packing List Continued

Medicine:

If you have prescription medicine, be sure it is in your name
Pepto Bismol or other anti-diarrhea medicine
Aspirin/Tylenol or your preferred headache reliever
Band-aids and first aid materials
Cramp meds
Prescription anti-amoebics
Iodine pills to purify water

Comfort Aids:

Small thermos or water container
Wide mouthed water bottle
Comfortable shoulder bag or knapsack
Small flashlight
Sheet or light blanket and small pillow
Packaged energy foods—granola, trail mix, raisins, candy bars
Tea or instant coffee
Lip Balm
Gum
Nightshades
Ear plugs
Watch or travel clock
Leisure reading
Penknife (Swiss Army type is the most useful)

Documentation:

Notebook or journal
Pens or pencils
Camera (extra batteries)
Plenty of film (color, b&w, slides)
Cassette player for recording
Plenty of blank tapes

Compas de Nicaragua: Hints and Helpful Things\n\nTry to travel light. Doing some laundry by hand helps. Host families will often offer to wash your clothes. You can also do your own using the host family’s washboard sink.\n\nUnless you are used to the heat, you’ll find yourself drinking a lot, so a small re-sealable water container is really helpful. To avoid dehydration, drink lots of water even before feeling thirsty.\n\nThe sun is very direct. To avoid sun burning, use sun screen lotion while working and outside the house. Wearing a hat also helps protect the head and face.\n\nFilm and Batteries are expensive in Nicaragua, so bring more than you think you’ll need. Other items like soap, shampoo, and shaving stuff can be bought in Nicaragua. In Managua, anything can be found, including US brand name soaps, shampoos, tampons, and aspirin. Ask Compas about these items and whether or not to pack them.