Preparing your volunteer packing list for Central and South America

Before taking you through the things you’d pack for your chosen destination, let’s go through some basics:

• Universal adapter. Unless you want to be disconnected from your friends and family, you need to bring a universal adapter to charge your mobile phone or laptop. 
• Sunblock, sunglasses and a hat. It’s important to protect yourself from the sun, especially because the UV rays may be stronger than you’re used to!
• Bug spray. This is especially important if you’ll be based close to the beach or vegetation rich areas. 
• Trainers. You’ll spend a lot of time on your feet. You need to be comfy while hiking, climbing Mayan ruins or just exploring the city.
• Reusable bottle water. Instead of buying bottled water over and over again, pack a reusable durable bottle water from home. We provide you with clean drinking water that you can refill it with. It’ll keep you hydrated and protect our oceans at the same time!

And last but not least: bring cash with you. Paying with credit or debit cards abroad will add you extra costs and can be unsafe, as Lucila, our Volunteer Coordinator in Argentina, points out:

“Moving around the city with cards maximizes the risk of loss (in some cases, the ATM was locked and the card was no recovered). It’s just annoying to carry out the necessary procedures to report the loss and receive a new card”. 

- Lucila Bazán, Volunteer Coordinator in Argentina

If you joined a volunteer project during summer, just remember that the seasons might be different from yours in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Keep these seasons in mind when preparing your packing list for Argentina:

• Summer: December to March. Summer is very hot (we’re talking about 40ºC sometimes!), so bring light clothing. 
• Winter: June to September. You need warm clothes: scarf, gloves, long-sleeved shirts and a jacket.  

When preparing your Costa Rica packing list you need to take into account if you’ll travel during the rainy season (May to November). If so, Costa Rica staff member, Jessica Brenes, suggests you pack closed shoes and a raincoat. 

If you join our Conservation Project, Daniel Segura, our Conservation Manager suggests:

• A mosquito net to keep you safe from mosquitoes at night
• A headlamp
• Hiking boots
• A camera and binoculars (these are optional)

And while you'll be working in a tropical dry forest, we assure you that the weather is not dry at all. Don’t forget your deodorant!

Get your inner Charles Darwin ready to explore the Galapagos Islands. Our Country Director, William Puga, suggests you add to your packing list for Ecuador a pair of hiking shoes and work clothes if you’re joining our Conservation Project. In his own words: you will get dirty!

Our Conservation Manager, José Luis, agrees with William on the hard work part. Rubber rain boots (sometimes called wellington boots) and work gloves come in handy while working in the Galapagos National Park. 

About the clothing; bring some light coloured long sleeved tops and trousers and a windbreaker jacket. And if you’re into marine sports, don’t forget your snorkelling equipment!

In your packing list for Jamaica remember to add light and comfortable clothing. Our Country Director, Kay Hendricks, assures you that this’ll be useful for your weekend activities while touring this beautiful island.

While volunteering abroad you’ll be surprised about how many things are different from home. That’s why you should listen to our staff suggestions and bring a pair of flip flops (or thongs) with you:

“In Jamaica, it’s not polite to wear outside shoes in the homes, so you will need a pair of flip flops”.

- Sanikia Powels, Head Office Coordinator for Jamaica

And don’t forget your swimwear, as you’ll definitely love swimming in the warm Caribbean waters!

Do you have your sombrero on your Mexico packing list? This is actually a great idea! Guadalajara is very sunny, so add a hat and some cool sunglasses too. However, the rainy season (June to August) is also a big deal, so you should pack a raincoat and rain boots. 

Leti Cano, our Volunteer Coordinator, has specific advice for interns on our Medicine Project: 

“It’s very important to bring white clothes and a white lab coat. Otherwise, the hospitals won’t let our interns to continue until they are dressed like this. Also, bring your scrubs! Is not hard to pack them and you have to bring them every day to the hospital”.

- Leticia Cano, Volunteer Coordinator in Mexico

If you are joining our Sea Turtle Conservation Project, follow some suggestions from Pablo Lobera, our Conservation Manager, and bring some closed, comfortable, non-slip shoes, some sweaters for the night patrols and binoculars: “these are not essential, but it helps a lot, especially if you are a wildlife lover”.

When preparing your packing list for your project in Peru, you have to consider the city you’ll be based in. Our Volunteer Advisor for Peru, Elvira Rosemberg, points out that while Cusco has dry weather, Puerto Maldonado is hot and humid. 

If you’re heading to Cusco, you’ll need: 

• Closed, comfortable, non-slip shoes
• Lip balm
• Humectant cream to avoid dry, chapped skin on your hands and body
• A warm jacket 

If you’re working on the Amazon Rainforest Conservation Project in the Taricaya Ecological Reserve, you need:

• Light trousers
• A long-sleeve shirt 

Elvira also says you should pack a lantern for the Conservation Project: 

“At night it could be activities like night walks, and electricity is obtained with a generator, which is turned off at 8-8:30 pm”.

- Elvira, Volunteer Advisor

Joining our Archaeology internship? Don’t forget to pack a bucket hat and soft gloves!