What to Bring
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Below are some general recommendations on what to bring on your trip, as well as a specific packing list for each activity. Some activities are dictated to some degree by the weather and safety is always a primary concern. If you have any questions about the appropriateness of your gear, please reach out to us anytime. We’ll be happy to assist you with your concerns.
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For trips to the Baja Peninsula (Mexico)
The climate in the Gulf of California is generally temperate with warm days between 27 to 35°C (81 to 95°F). The water temperatures have an average surface temperature between 14 to 20°C (57 to 68°F). Nights are usually mild, but can sometimes get as low as 16°C (61°F) or below in the winter months. Expect much warmer temperatures in the summer months, with days getting as hot as 50°C (122°F). Sunburn and dehydration, in any climate, are not to be taken lightly.
The Pacific side of the Baja Peninsula is usually cooler, with temperatures lower by 10°C (50°F). Prepare for anything is the rule on these trips. On calm days, of which there are many, a T-shirt and shorts are all you need for a walk on the beach.
Clothing
- Shirts
- Long-sleeved cotton shirts
- Shorts
- Swimwear
- Hoodie or sweater
- Windbreaker and/or rain jacket
- Windproof and/or waterproof pants
- Sandals or water shoes
- Trainers or hiking shoes
- Socks and underwear
- Sleepwear
- Cap or sun hat
- Handkerchief or bandana
Personal Items
- Sunscreen
- Moisturizer
- Lip balm
- Basic toiletries
- Personal medication and travel-sized first-aid kit
- Reading glasses
Others
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle or thermos
- Small backpack or day bag
- Camera
- Power bank and charging cable
- Cash in MXN for gratuities and other incidentals (USD is accepted in some establishments, but the exchange is usually not favorable.)
What to bring on snorkeling, paddling, beach excursions
- Swimwear, worn under comfortable clothing
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Cap or sun hat
- Windbreaker
- Towel
- Flip-flops or water shoes
- Waterproof bag for your valuable items
- Camera, preferably waterproof
- Snorkel gear if not included in your booking
Additional items to bring on SCUBA diving activities
On top of the above-mentioned items for snorkeling, your dive gear (rental or your own) should include the following:
- Regulator
- BCD
- Mask
- Snorkel
- Fins
- Exposure protection
- Surface marker buoy
- Whistle
- Dive computer
- Whistle
- Dive light if doing night or penetration dives
- Mirror, optional
- Personal locator beacon, optional
What to bring on whale watching, hiking, and nature excursions
- Long-sleeved cotton shirts
- Hoodie or sweater
- Windbreaker
- Convertible pants, or shorts in the summer
- Trainers or hiking shoes
- Socks
- Small backpack or day bag for your personal items
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Insect repellent
- Sunglasses
- Cap or sun hat
- Handkerchief or bandana
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Water bottle or thermos
Additional items to bring on camping expeditions
In addition to the general packing list above, we also recommend that you bring the following:
Personal Items
- Bath towel and wash cloth
- Insect repellent
Others
- Ear plugs
- Binoculars
- Power bank and charging cable
- Flashlight or headlamp
For trips to the Antioquia region (Colombia)
The location of Antioquia in the equatorial zone of America influences the average temperatures of its sub-regions, from very high temperatures in the lowlands to very low temperatures in its highest peaks. While some areas of Antioquia have a tropical monsoon climate, its capital enjoys a tropical rainforest climate with subtropical highland temperatures. Generally warm and overcast, the temperature rarely goes above 27°C (80°F) or below 16°C (60°F) in Medellín. It rains throughout the year in this region, with the most rainfall happening in May.
Modest Clothing
- Shirts
- Long-sleeved cotton shirts
- Light sweater
- Rain jacket
- Long pants
- Trainers or hiking shoes
- Socks and underwear
- Sleepwear
- Cap or sun hat
- Handkerchief or bandana
Personal Items
- Sunscreen
- Moisturizer
- Lip balm
- Basic toiletries
- Personal medication and travel-sized first-aid kit
- Reading glasses
Others
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle or thermos
- Small backpack or day bag
- Camera
- Power bank and charging cable
- Umbrella
- Cash for gratuities and other incidentals (COP is the local currency.)
Optional items to bring on excursions around Medellín
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Flip-flops or water shoes
- Snorkel or dive gear
- Waterproof bag for your valuable items
- Binoculars
- Insect repellent
For trips to the Gobi and the Reindeer People (Mongolia)
Mongolia has an extremely continental climate due to its distance from any sea. Some provinces are notorious for their harsh weather, with bitterly cold winters and unpleasantly hot summers. Temperatures can go as high as 40°C (104°F) or as low as -50°C (-58°F). While the average temperature in Mongolia is barely 1°C (34°F), summers are warm and pleasant in most parts of the country at 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F). Nevertheless, expect the weather to change from sunny to cloudy, from getting rain, then hail, and back to being sunny again in one day.
Modest Clothing
- Shirts
- Breathable long-sleeved shirts
- Hoodie or sweater
- Windbreaker or rain jacket
- Convertible pants or lightweight long pants
- Windproof or waterproof pants
- Trainers or hiking shoes
- Riding boots, if applicable
- Thermal wear
- Socks and underwear
- Sleepwear
- Cap or sun hat
- Head net if you can’t stand mosquitoes and flies
- Wool hat
- Gloves
- Handkerchief, bandana, and/or shawl
PERSONAL ITEMS
- Sunscreen
- Moisturizer
- Lip balm
- Insect repellent
- Basic toiletries
- Personal medication and travel-sized first-aid kit
- Reading glasses
OTHERS
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad and camping tent, if sleeping outdoors
- Microfiber towel
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle or thermos
- Small backpack or day bag
- Camera
- Power bank and charging cable
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Small packets or containers of your favorite spices if you can’t live without them
- Any special supplements that you may need to ensure nourishment on the trip
- Cash for gratuities and other incidentals (MNT is the local currency.)
Additional items to bring for self-supported camping in Mongolia
- MSR kitchen
- Portable kitchen equipment
- Portable water purifier
- Waterproof bag for your valuable items
- Binoculars
- Physical map
- Compass
- First-aid kit
For trips to Palawan (Philippines)
The Philippines enjoys a humid tropical climate with typhoons forming regularly in the months of June through September. Humidity levels are high, averaging around 82% due to the warm moist trade winds that flow through the archipelago, as well as sea surface temperatures, a rich vegetative cover, and abundant rainfall. Rainfall is governed by the southwest monsoon in the summer months, and by the northeast monsoon and tropical cyclones in the winter.
The mean annual temperature is 27 C (81 F), with a relatively low seasonal temperature variation of approximately 3 C (37 F). In April and May, air temperatures can go as high as 33 C (91 F) and as low as 23 C (73 F). It stays around 27 C (81 F) on the average.
Clothing
- Light, airy clothing —mostly shorts and t-shirts
- Comfortable footwear: Keens/Teva sandals, trainers, and/or flip-flops
- Cap or sun hat
- Handkerchief or bandana
- Long-sleeved shirts
- A light rain jacket
- Sleepwear
PERSONAL ITEMS
- Sunscreen
- Moisturizer
- Lip balm
- Insect repellent
- Basic toiletries
- Personal medication and travel-sized first-aid kit
- Reading glasses
- Ear plugs if you’re sensitive to noise
OTHERS
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle or thermos
- Waterproof bag like the SealLine kind
- Small backpack or day bag
- Camera
- Power bank and charging cable
- Flashlight or head lamp
- Cash for gratuities and other incidentals (PHP is the local currency.)
Additional items to bring on SCUBA diving activities
On top of the above-mentioned items for snorkeling, your dive gear (rental or your own) should include the following:
- Regulator
- BCD
- Mask
- Snorkel
- Fins
- Exposure protection
- Surface marker buoy
- Whistle
- Dive computer
- Whistle
- Dive light if doing night or penetration dives
- Mirror, optional
- Personal locator beacon, optional