Trip & Packing List
Sea Kayak Expeditions
If you’re paddling a single kayak, the hatch openings you’ll be packing into are 10″ and 8″ across. These are performance kayaks, designed for the joy of paddling. Your joy in packing will be proportional to how “minimalist” you can pack.
Remember that all the food, water, and kitchen equipment also need to fit into the kayaks. Please plan on fitting your personal equipment into 1 or 2 hatches (there are 3: front hatch, day hatch, and rear hatch).
We do have a limited number of tents and Therm-a-Rest pads for rent (see below). Please reserve one if you need it. If you or your group would like more packing space, consider budgeting $150-$200/day per group for motor support, and letting us know early that you’re interested in this service. This is available on Expedition Primers only.
Baggage Limits. Just like the airlines.
- Sleeping pads: diameter 6″ length 20″
- Tent: total diameter 8″ length 20″
- Sleeping bag: diameter 9″ length 11″
If you’re renting kayaks, please see the Rental page for what’s included in your level of service.
Printable packing list
Paddling
- 2 quart water bottle(s) or hydration system
- Sunscreen and lip protection
- Sunglasses with strap
- Strap for regular glasses
- Hat for sun
- Non-cotton long-sleeve shirt for paddling
- Quick-dry shorts/pants
- Paddle jacket
- Water shoes or sandals with heel strap
- Bathing suit
Personal
- Toothpaste & tooth brush
- Shampoo, soap (NOT Dr Bronners soap! It doesn’t work in salt water. Trust me.)
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Spare batteries for everything
- Any clothes you’d like in town
- A few Ziplock bags of various sizes
- Passport
- Medications (2 sets; leave one in hotel)
- *Personal first aid, OTC meds you might want
- *Print-out of medical history and list of medications
- *Copy of health insurance card, travel insurance contacts, passport, emergency contacts
- Ziplock the above * items and keep them with you
- Sense of adventure!
Camping
- Towel
- Camp T-shirt (s)
- Warm camp shirt
- Windbreaker jacket
- Long warm pants
- Socks
- Underwear
- Warm hat for evening
- Beach / light hiking shoes
- PJs
- Head lamp
- Bug repellent (rain this year = bugs)
- Sleeping bag (in compression sack)
- Therm a Rest
- Tent, bivy, or tarp (compression sack)
Optional
- Paddling gloves
- Comb or brush
- Handi-wipes
- Binoculars
- Wetsuit for snorkeling/ rolling a lot
- Snorkel gear
- Fishin’ stuff & lots o’luck
- Favorite snacks
- PFD (life jacket)
- Kayak seat pad
- Tow belt
- Spray skirt
- Paddle
- Solar lantern
- Sarong or wrap
- Journal, book
- Compact beach seat
- 2-3 Strings (24-36″) to retrieve drybags from ends of kayak
- Duffel for carrying everything between kayak & camp
- VHF radio/ satellite messenger
- SMALL drybags 10L or less
- Bug head net
- 15% gratuity for guides
- (10%-15% for rentals)
Available to Rent
Provided
- Kayak
- PFD (life jacket)
- Paddle
- Spray skirt
- 4-5 dry bags of varying sizes
- All kitchenware
- Healthy camping meals
- Purified drinking water
- Poop bags & TP
- Hand sanitizer
- Sand anchors & instruction
- Library of field guides, kayak books
- Compasses, charts
- Wilderness first aid kit
