# I'm leaving to backpack around Mexico and Central America in a week - what do I need?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-to-backpack-around-mexico-and-central-america-in-a-week-what-do-i-need/464149>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 18, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-to-backpack-around-mexico-and-central-america-in-a-week-what-do-i-need/464149 "2008-09-18T14:52:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-to-backpack-around-mexico-and-central-america-in-a-week-what-do-i-need/464149/21 "2008-09-24T14:10:44Z")

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Small bottle of hand sanitizer.

I second, much of what **sven** said, put postcards into your journal of the places you visit. Take a roll of tape so you can tape random stuff into your journal, ticket stubs, leaves of plants, etc. Turns your travel journal into a journal/scrapbook, very cool.

I never go anywhere without a sarong; bedsheet/ beachblanket/sunprotection/beachcoverup/bathrobe/skirt/shawl, etc.

Take a postcard of where you live to show your new friends, if you live in a cold country, take a snow scene.

A collection of; salt and pepper packets from the take out counter at Wendy’s, catsup, vinegar, toothpicks, hand wipes etc. Takes up very little room but can make a big difference when you need some.

Bottle of eye drops, lip balm, both very small and very handy to have when desired.

Hope you have a great time!

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