If you’ve been following along, you know we’re always planning a trip. Whether it’s to St. Croix or Costa Rica, we love a good tropical adventure! Trip booked and itinerary designed, we’ve reached the packing part of our adventure and have developed this list. Of course, there’s the usual stuff you pack to go on vacation…clothes, bathing suits, hats, toiletries, laptop/tablet (or maybe not)… But our list addresses the items geared towards a tropical adventure!
Snorkeling gear
Depending on your agenda, and budget, this is something that can be rented from a local dive shop (or resort) once you arrive at your destination. Being that we own our own personal sets, we’ll be packing ours. A complete gear set should include a snorkel, fins (and booties if you need them for your fins) and goggles. We haven’t really tried out different brands and have owned ours for quite some time. The one recommendation we can make if you are planning to go out and purchase this gear is to be sure to try it on before you buy. There are enough face shapes, and goggle styles to match, so checking out your local dive shop is a must.
Waterproof Marine Animal ID Cards
These are a fun compliment to your snorkeling gear. They don’t take up much space but can also usually be purchased at local dive spots in the tropics. We purchased ours on Amazon ahead of time so we wouldn’t have to search for them once we arrive. We’ve modified our set with a wristband to be easy to carry along on our expeditions and attached a pencil so we can check off any critter encounters as we go along. When ordering, make sure the species on the card are specific to the area you will be visiting.
Waterproof Camera
We purchased this very reasonably priced waterproof camera a couple years ago for a trip to the Florida Keys. At the time, it was one of the highest rated ‘tough’ cameras on the market. It takes great quality (16.4 megapixel) pictures and 1080p video recording. It is waterproof to 20 meters (65 feet), freeze proof to -10oC (14oF) and shock proof from 1.75 meters (just under 6 feet). We absolutely love it!
We have recently invested in a GoPro Fusion which we will also be taking along. It is waterproof to 16 feet, so we’ll be able to take it a little deeper. AND it captures EVERYTHING in a shot. Yep a full 360° ! We also anticipate the image quality to be much greater, so we are very excited about this purchase.
(Plain Old) Camera
This is one of the top rated DSLR style cameras on the market at the time of this posting. It has all the features, but with a static lens (ie. you don’t have to worry about carrying a bunch of lenses around with you). With it’s 60x zoom, you’re sure to capture all those great wildlife shots! We’ve had ours for about two years now and really love it’s capabilities and the end products that result.
If you are planning to bring along a bunch of techy type items, don’t forget your memory cards, batteries and chargers!
Reusable Containers
It’s always a good idea to take some reusable storage along with you (Tupperware, Ziploc bags, insulated cup). Whether it’s for a beverage to go, or to wrap up some leftovers from that road side meat hut, any of these will be handy to have. We will be taking along some of our favourite reusable containers, LunchSkins! These reusable pouches are Velcro sealed and dishwasher safe! They’re perfect for snacking while on your tropical adventure.
Reusable Straws
There are various models out there now. Some are metal, some silicone, some paper and some are made out of straw (get it?!) We have stainless steel ones, and they come complete with a travel bag and a scrub brush. We make a concerted effort to minimize the use of plastic straws in our day to day lives And being on vacation, is no excuse! When out at restaurants, we request beverages without straws and use our own, reusable in place. Have you made the switch yet?
Binoculars
At 4″ x 2.5″ x 1.5″, this little item packs great and is the perfect option for spying wildlife! The optics are 8 x 21 which are enough to bring something at ~75m into clear view.
Footwear Options
Make sure to pack the appropriate footwear! With our plans to do some hiking, chill on the beach and hit up the night life, we’ll need a couple options. We’ll each pack a pair of sturdy shoes for trail blazing, sandals for the beach, water shoes for coastal exploration and casual shoes for hitting the town.
Anti-Monkey Butt
This is Phil’s go to travel aid. For all the hiking/walking/exploring we do, this anti-chafe has ‘saved his bacon’ many times. If you’re looking for a product to assist with that annoying skin friction, this is one we recommend!
Bag O’Air (Inflatable Lounger)
We’ve had these for about a year now and ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM!! They pack down really well and are easy to set up. We purchased them with the intent of using them as beach chairs (the sand falls right off!) and floaties. They even work well as an inflatable mattress in a pinch. And the pocket on the side if perfect for your food, phone, book, and so many other things.
Day Pack
As we have some hikes planned for this trip, so we’ll need a small backpack to carry essentials including snacks, water and camera(s). Other key items to carry in your day pack include the following:
Reef Safe Sunscreen
We have been searching for a good ‘reef safe’ sunscreen for a while now, and we believe we have found it! Because we will be spending time in the water, and of course, in the sun, we want to ensure we are using the gentlest form of sunscreen, for the oceans’ sake. More and more tropical destinations are banning sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. These chemicals have been shown to have a negative impact on the world’s coral reefs. So we’ll be doing our [small] part and using oxybenzone and octinoxate-less sunblock.
Bluetooth Speaker
This small sound generator is always a great addition to your packing list! Whether you’ll be chilling at the beach or end up indoors on a rainy day, it’s always nice to have the options to listen to your own playlist. And maybe you make some new friends while traveling who want to share theirs with you 🙂
Natural Bug Repellant
Now that the CDC has officially announced that lemon eucalyptus oil has similar repellent effects to a low powered DEET, we’ll be putting it to the test!There are several DIY recipes available online, including these.
First Aid Kit
This little baby fits in the palm of your hand and contains all the basics you could need for any minor injuries. Always a great thing to have on hand because you just never know what might happen on your tropical adventure.
Head Lamp
Nowadays, many folks use the flashlight built into their phones, which are great! But there are times when you just can’t beat the hands free flexibility of a headlamp. You might need both hands to swat all the bugs away!
Swiss Army Card
This has been one of Kat’s favourite bring alongs for almost 20 years now. It is a handy little tool, similar to a Swiss Army knife, but with a credit card like profile. It comes in handy for MANY situations.
Local Guide Book
Whether you are looking for a Portuguese dictionary or a bird identification guide for your tropical adventure, there are so many great book options! Our go to for all things paper back (or hardcover if that’s your jam) is Thrift Books. They sell books in various stages of ‘used’ and generally at a great deal! So if you are the type who still likes to flip pages when exploring, definitely check out their stock.
Nowadays, there are a lot of apps out there to download as well. Offline translators, species identification guides, maps and much more can also be added right to your phone, making it the ultimate travel tool!
What Else…
As nice as it is to be prepared, there are always some items that you can purchase at your destination if you forget it. And if something slipped your mind, don’t stress too much, after all, you’re on vacation! Unless it’s the boarding passes…then maybe you should start to panic 😉
Read more on our tropical adventures to St. Croix or Costa Rica!
WHAT SPECIAL ITEMS WOULD YOU PACK FOR A TROPICAL ADVENTURE?
Portable blue tooth speaker for the beach 🙂
YES! We totally packed it and completely forgot to mention it! Thanks 😉
The inflatable lounger is really nice. Have you used it already?
Hi Strollinggreece! We have! We used them as beach chairs to lounge out by the water. They are very comfortable and have pockets to store small personal items. They are compact and simple in concept. We enjoyed them very much. There’s a direct link associated with the photo in our post.
I would of never even thought of the fish I’d cards. Think you have it all covered have an amazing time x
Thanks so much for your feedback Joanne! Those fish ID cards came in pretty handy on our last trip so we are excited to be using them again. We’ll be posting updates after the trip so you can check in on how effective the list was. Cheers!
We’ve never been to the Caribbean, but we are starting to travel more and as we’ve been discussing places to go to next, it has come up as a possible option. I liked your idea of bringing reusable containers for roadside hut leftovers. I would have never have thought of that.
Hi Vox! We just returned from our vacation and ABSOLUTELY recommend St. Croix! The reusable containers and metal straws came in handy on multiple occasions! What other options are you considering for places to travel?
Great tips and I couldn’t agree more. I love going snorkelling. I probably should invest on some wildlife ID cards.
Thanks Fairuz! They were really handy to have. As a biologist, I love knowing the names of all the flora and fauna that surround me, and it was fun to have a reference available. They are very reasonably priced on Amazon (link in post). We’ve actually seen them in dive shops for twice the price.
It is not obvious what you say and the advice you give, for a tropical vacation I would have already forgotten something!
Glad to be of assistance Cristina! Hope you don’t leave anything behind 😉 Happy travels!
Great packing list! I would never go on a tropical vacation without a waterproof camera.
Thanks for your feedback Cyndi!! And glad you agree with the water proof camera 🙂 We just upgraded ours so we are excited to see what kind of footage we get out of it.
You have a great list here, I travel a lot but not yet to an adventurous trip, planning one and in my bucket list. I love to experience snorkeling in the water and see wildlife.
Thanks so much kumamonjeng! We highly recommend an adventure trip. A lot of the adventures we get into are eco-friendly to boot! Snorkeling is definitely a great way to get out there and see some wildlife! Happy travels!
These are great tips, I will definitely not forget to bring my sunscreen protection, first aid kit and my Swiss card knife. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you liked it Catherine! The items you mentioned are definitely on the higher end as far as priorities go. Happy packing!
This is such a good list. I’m looking for recommendations for my Hawaii trip coming up in December and you’re giving me tons of inspo! Thank you!
Thanks so much Ashley! Always happy to provide inspiration 😉 Hawaii sounds FANTASTIC!! We bet many of these items would come in handy there as well. Happy travels!!
What an amazing experience, the Caribbean is a real blessing.
Should be an interesting trip for sure Arya. Costa Rica actually sits on the Caribbean and the Pacific so we are looking forward to seeing them both within the same week.
These are essentials for a Caribbean trip. I like that you added a first aid kit. I think that is indeed important.
Because you just never know! Thanks for your feedback Sue-Tanya. Happy travels!
GoPro is a must, love getting underwater shots with ours
That’s what we plan to capture as well Kara! Some of the footage floating around the web is SO INCREDIBLE!! So we’re excited to get some underwater footage of our own.
Wow..good to know. Will save this to refer to later for our trip to Hawaii. Thank you.
You bet Jay! Always happy to share. Hawaii sounds FABULOUS!! We haven’t been but plan to get there someday. Enjoy!
great list. love that you include a first aid kit
Thanks Jasmine! Always better to be safe than sorry 😉
Love the straws!! Such a good idea!
Yes! Completely agree Sarah! When we started thinking about the drinks we’d be consuming on vacation, we thought, why not!
This really makes me want to go on a tropical adventure again. This is a great packing list! Thanks for sharing.
Always happy to inspire Shannon! Happy traveling!!
I am glad you put snorkeling gear. I don’t like to rent it. I like to have my own.
Yes Rosey! It is so nice to be able to bring our own along. Purchasing your own gear can save you heaps of money spend on rentals. Happy snorkeling!
Thanks so much for the tip on bug repellent! My kids picked up dengue the very first time I took them overseas and we’ve been using DEET/picaridin ever since. I’m not super keen on anything synthetic so it’s nice to finally find something natural!
Yikes! That’s no fun Gabby. Those mosquitos sure are pesky! Can’t really blame you for taking bug deterrent seriously. Hopefully you find this works. There are a lot of good reviews online. Would love to hear your thoughts if you give it a whirl! Good luck.
I love these kind of posts! Thinking about doing a what to pack myself 😊
That’s a great idea Malin! Are you planning a packing list for a particular type of trip? It’s crazy how much you can actually fit into a suitcase! Happy packing!
Excellent tips and an easy read. Well done.
Thanks so much Georgina! We really enjoyed putting the list together to share with everyone. Thanks for dropping by!
The list is complete. All things essential for the trip are listed. Happy trip for everyone!
So glad you think so Candy! Guess we’ll figure out if we missed anything once the trip is underway :\ Thanks! And happy travels to you as well!
That’s quite the packing list!
Indeed it is Heather! But it all fit 😉 And more importantly, we used it all!! Thanks for dropping in!
This is a very useful post. Thank you for writing!
Always happy to help Suvarna! Happy travels!
I love that you’re encouraging folks to bring reusable materials and reef safe sunscreen!
Denise | theelleaesthetic.com
Always happy to inspire Denise! We really enjoying using the products ourselves and hope other folks will too!
All the yes to these!! I really want to get a GoPro for when I can start to travel more again!
Thanks for your enthusiasm Summer! We had a lot of fun experimenting with all the new angles on the camera. Happy travels!
Those are really great tips! Also, love how sustainable you are! Go green is the best option
Thank you Lina! We try to go green any chance we get!