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Packing for a week
in Belize
First Rule: Pack Light!!
Plan
on carrying everything you need in one carryable bag (back pack, shoulder
bag, etc. plus bring a day pack, a small waist (fanny or belly) pack, and a
small bag worn under clothes around your neck or waist to hold passport, credit
card and money (put these in ziplock plastic bags).
CLOTHING
-
HAT
with brim to shade ears and nose
-
A
pair of light-weight, loose long pants (useful to protect from sun)
-
2
Shorts
-
Swim
suit
-
3
T-shirts (one to wear while snorkeling)
-
underwear
-
sneakers
or running shoes
-
socks
-
thongs;
swim shoes
-
a
long-sleeved shirt
-
a
light windbreaker
-
lightweight
towel
-
headband
-
bandana
for extra protection on neck from sun
TOILETRIES
(think small)
-
MEDICATIONS
(carry these with you in case of luggage delays!)
-
SUNSCREEN
-
ANTIBIOTICS
(a broad spectrum in case of infection)
-
Antihistamine
(for colds, insect bite reactions)
-
MOSQUITO
REPELLENT
-
Anti-Itch
stick
-
Sample
sizes of toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc
-
Comb
(small brush)
-
For
women: minimal makeup; I will bring a small hairdryer to share
OTHER
-
Snacks
-
FLASHLIGHT
-
Snorkel,
mask, swim fins (or these can be rented cheaply in Placencia)
-
notebook
and pens (YOU MUST HAVE THESE FOR YOUR JOURNAL AND FIELD NOTES)
-
(camera
and film) (keep in plastic bags at all times)
-
books
to read (not much entertainment at night)--we take a small light and
extension cord for hotel use: there are no bedside lights in any
rooms!
-
PLASTIC
BAGS: Kitchen size for dirty clothes and to pack clean clothes in; Zip-lock bags for
other things. (We will be traveling in boats and it does rain in the
tropics).
-
A
few clothespins
-
DO
NOT BRING RADIOS AND OTHER MUSIC-PLAYING DEVICES
Travel
to and in Belize
We usually travel on the Thursday or Friday before Spring Break
and come back 8 or 9 days later. We try to locate the least expensive flight
available, so we may fly from Wichita to Belize City either through Dallas or
Houston. From Belize City we take a local small plane directly to Punta
Gorda in the southern part of the country. In Belize, we travel in private
and public buses and many kinds of boats. We walk on sand and dirt roads
and trails. At some places, you may have to
carry your lightweight bag as far as a mile and a half.
 Punta
Gorda
Punta
Gorda is the southernmost town in Belize and is very like the towns where we
bought supplies when doing our own fieldwork in Malaysia and in Ecuador.
This town will be our home base when we are visiting Maya villages,
archaeological sites and the Garifuna in Barranco. People of many cultures live in the town:
Garifuna, Creole, Kekchi, Mopan Maya, Chinese, Lebanese and East Indians.
Primarily a fishing village, the area's high school and hospital are located in
Punta Gorda, as well as the Saturday market attended by Mayans from remote
villages. Accommodations are clean, but somewhat Spartan, the people are
friendly and the food is wonderful!!
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