Headed to this tropical Central American country for a semester? We have your go-to packing list, right here.
Packing up for your semester abroad can be a little bit daunting — how in the world do you fit everything you could need into a couple of suitcases? If you're looking for a little guidance on the things you should bring with you to Nicaragua specifically, we've got you covered.
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To help keep things organized, we've broken this post down into a few categories and given some context for a few items to help you navigate how much (or how little) to bring of some items.
Oh and just so you know, we have linked a few recommendations from past volunteers to make shopping even easier. We're an Amazon Affiliate so we do receive a small commission if you shop Amazon products from our page. We're only sharing links to products ILP volunteers in Nica have recommended — thanks for the support!
Every ILP volunteer has access to their Go To Guide, which is a good overview of lots and lots of information. In your guide, among details like what happens once you land in Nicaragua or some info about the culture, we have a packing list of suggestions. This blog post is to help you guide what to bring, get more details on what to bring, etc., but if you're looking for a more complete list of items, check out your Go To Guide.
Not sure where to find your Go To Guide? Talk to your ILP Representative.
Packing is a very personal thing — if you're someone who uses something at home all of the time, and it's not included in this blog post, you'll probably miss it when you're in Nicaragua! The same goes with things on this list that you'll probably never, ever, use. If that's the case, probably don't bring it to Nicaragua.
We hope this blog post can help you make decisions on things you bring that you weren't sure about or needed more clarification on, but just know it's open for additions (or subtractions).
The weather in Nicaragua is hot and humid, pretty much all year round. Air conditioning will be a luxury you probably won't see often, so packing up clothes that are cool and lightweight is going to be essential. One volunteer had this to say about what she wished she packed more of: "More swimsuits, workout clothes, more tanktop type clothes because it’s too hot to wear shirts."
Here are a few items volunteers were glad they packed (and why).
You'll be living so close to Apoyo Lagoon, it's something you could do every weekend if you want! Volunteers also like swimming at local hostels and hotels (you just need to pay a couple of dollars for a day pass).
There are also other places nearby, like Island Ometepe, the tumbling San Ramon waterfall, or a vacation to the Corn Islands. Since you'll be swimming during the week, on the weekends, and on vacation, volunteers were glad they brought several swimming suits.
Remember that hot and humid weather? Quite a few volunteers suggest packing up workout clothes to hang out in at the house — think runner shorts, tank tops, etc., to help keep cool and to sleep in.
Nicaragua is a pretty conservative country and culture, so these workout clothes are great for at home, but volunteers tend to wear loose t-shirts, dresses, skirts, flowy pants to stay cool but covered up.
Oh and one more tip — you'll be doing your laundry without a washer, so clothes will be hung to dry. Some suggest not bringing too many outfits you care about (since sometimes clothes can stretch out), but still like bringing a few cute things to wear on vacations when you'll be taking lots of fun pictures.
Remember — Volunteers will need to dress modestly while teaching. Your school is strict about hemlines (shorts for the guys, and dresses/skirts for the ladies) reaching your knee (or longer), pants without holes, and shoulders that need to be covered. Here are a few places volunteers have gotten cute and modest clothes for teaching.
For Nicaragua, most volunteers were those adventure-type sandals pretty much all of the time (brands like Tevas and Chacos are popular, though there are others). They're great for exploring, hiking, beach/pool days, and more — but also recommend a part of closed-toe shoes (tennis shoes) for adventures like volcano boarding or working out.
Most volunteers were good with a pair of tennis shoes and adventure sandals (and maybe a pair of nicer sandals if you'd like to dress up for dinner or church), but that's it.
Nicaragua volunteers have said you can find your general items (things like soap, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc) in some of the larger supermarkets. Just know that American brands and products are going to be more expensive, but there's some selection.
However, if you're particular about a certain brand of deodorant, shampoo, or other hygiene products, volunteers suggest bringing your own (in addition to a few extra items):
While you can mostly find similar items in-country, volunteers suggest bringing the following from home. Some thought items from home worked better, and also comment that's it's nice to just grab what you need out of your suitcase instead of hunting for things at the pharmacy. Here are some suggestions to add to your own list:
At the end of your ILP semester, we sent out a little survey asking if there was a personal supply you wished you brought, but didn't ... one answer we hear a lot? "Favorite treats"! It's a big boost when you're feeling homesick or want something familiar to bring to school or on vacation when you get a little hungry.
In Nicaragua, here are some things in particular volunteers wished they brought from home:
See something we missed?
Let us know! We are all about giving tips and advice to future volunteers heading to Nicaragua — just leave your suggestion in the comments below.
Thinking you need to be an ILP Nicaragua volunteer? We think so! Come check out what a semester here is like by taking a closer look at how you're helping, what teaching is like, where you can vacation, and more.