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Nicaragua final details & pack out

By October 7, 2015 No Comments
To finalize my trip planning ride along I thought I’d invite you along to my packing process and final trip details as I head off to Nicaragua.
Leading up to the trip, I went through and created a throwaway wallet using old credit card offers and an expired Virginia driver’s license. I’ll also put some cash in there to make it look real enough that any potential muggers won’t know the difference until I’m long gone.
Throwaway wallet

Throwaway wallet

Other pre-trip prep:

  • Called the bank to let them know I’d be traveling with a debit and credit card.
  • Finalized and laminated my travel crib sheet then forwarded a copy of it + my passport and TripIt itineraries to someone I trust back home.
  • Put copies of all my travel docs (plus crib sheet) into an encrypted folder on a flash drive with portable apps installed. Read my series on Virtual Safety for more on protecting your tech and data while on the road.
  • Rebooted my phone and went through it to manually delete any personal info from the phone’s SD card/memory card to make sure my old contacts, etc aren’t still on the device.
  • Reconfirmed my shuttle to Leon from Managua (to find that it wasn’t confirmed at all despite being paid for).
  • Double checked the weather and got down to packing.
Travel Safety Pro Tip

Always double check shuttle transfers before you leave home.

Nicaragua packing packout

Everything I packed for Nicaragua

Here is everything I took for one week:

  • Backpack. Everything I wasn’t wearing went in the PacSafe venture safe backpack.
  • 1 pair of pants: The super comfy prAna Zion with built-in belt (which makes TSA screening a breeze)
  • 4 Shirts – three button up and a T-shirt
    • Long sleeve ExOfficio
    • Long sleeve ScotteVest (Read my gear review)
    • Short sleeve Patagonia
    • Merrell T-shirt
  • Shorts: Two pair, one regular, one swim trunks.
  • 3 pair socks; two regular, one short.
  • 2 pair underwear
  • Pack towel
  • Shoes: 1 pair Solomon speedcross and 1 pair flip flops
  • Travel phone and normal phone.
  • Wallet and throwaway wallet.
  • Two handkerchiefs (one for face, one for when there’s no tp in that bathroom with the footprints).
  • Duct tape, para cord and a scarf which, according to the afghan I bought it from, has 72 uses – I subsequently saw locals using three of them to tow a car…
  • Super light day pack Sea to Summit
  • Head lamp and flash light.
  • Hat with sun cover
  • Rain shell (Brooks)
  • Solar charger and backup charger + cord. I’m going to work from my phone, so I’ll need plenty of juice.
  • Sunglasses
  • Money belt
  • PacSafe Travel safe
  • Three locks: One for the safe; one for my bag; and one for the hostel locker.
  • Sea to summit toiletry bag (tooth brush tooth paste and ibuprofen)
  • Compass
  • Guidebook and notebook (pen + pencil)
  • 3 ProBars
  • Nuun electrolyte tabs.
  • Water bottle
  • Flash drive with Portable Apps and encrypted travel docs.

Off to the airport I went… Or am… I’m writing this on the flight from Denver to Houston.

*Post trip update: With the exception of the emergency stuff (electrolyte tabs, Pcord and duct tape) I used most everything I took with.

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