PARAMETERS: 

• Checked bags should not exceed 100 pounds total & maximum weight allowance of 50 pounds for any one bag.
• Combined linear dimensions of checked baggage may not exceed 107 inches & larger piece of luggage is not to exceed 60 linear inches.
• Carry-on bag may not exceed 45 linear inches. You are allowed one carry-on item and a personal item such as a briefcase

Link to list of all countries packing lists


Here are some pics of what I packed and a detailed list, hopefully it comes in handy for some people. After months of searching for the "perfect" packing list by reading countless blogs I came to the conclusion that I could only use them as suggestions. Even the Peace Corps list. It all comes down to what YOU think is best for your 27 month service. When I first started making a preliminary list, and started getting everything in order, I thought I end up way over the weight limit but I was way under (only about 70lbs total). Happy packing and don't stress too much (I actually quite enjoyed it)


Everything in Red is what I have corrected after being in country for almost 21 months. Hope this helps future PCVs, feel free to contact me with specific questions.

My luggage:

Some of the shoes I am bringing

Clothes

Detailed list of EVERYTHING I BROUGHT to Staging in D.C and Nicaragua: 1. Luggage:

• Hiking Daypack: Gregory 45L (pic above) (This is perfect size for traveling in country anything bigger gets annoying. I use my backpack to travel mostly though, draws less attention)
• Rolling Duffel: Eagle Creek Load Warrior 28 (Pic above)
• Carry On: Backpack and Pillow (pic above) (I pretty much travel with my backpack and not my hiking backpack)

2. Clothes:

• Underwear: 16 (You'll be glad you bring a lot, hand washing destroys EVERYTHING)
• Bras: 4 Sports Bras: 2  (wish I'd brought more sports bras! Since being in country I've had 3 more sent form the states)
• Socks: 11 pairs (I'm glad I only brought black ones, they hide the dirt better)
• Jeans: 2 pants, 1 capri (Wish I'd brought more jeans! Cannot stress how it really is the professional wear for education volunteers, I have since bought 3 in site quite cheap but finding the right size is tough)
• Capri: 4, 1 black, 1 brown, 1 khaki, 1 patterned  
• Athletic shorts: 2 (As a female, I only wear shorts in my house)
• Skirts: 4, 1 pencil, 3 maxi
• Dresses: 4, 1 long, 3 knee length (wish I'd brought more long ones at the beginning. I have since invested in more)
• Tanks: 2 (wish I'd brought more for lounging around in my house, have since invested in more)
• Undershirts: 7
• T-shirts: 7
• Blouses: 7  
• Long sleeved: 2 (there are some pasts of the country that are chilly, glad I brought these)
• Mid-Sleeve:2 
• Fleece Jacket: 1 (BRING A JACKET! No mater your site you will come across parts of this country that get pretty chilly)
• Jacket 2, 1 rain jacket, 1 cotton (Bring a good rain jacket, it rains half of the year...when there isn't a drought)
• Cardigan 2
• Pajamas: 2, 1 pants, 1 capri (Glad I brought a pair of pants for those chilly nights up north)
• Swim suit 1 top 
• Jewelry: lots of earrings/ 2 necklaces
• Hat: 4, 1 baseball, 1 beret, 2 fisherman hats (the baseball cap is the most useful for environment volunteers)
• Scarf: 2 (to be honest I wear mine quite often on trips OUTSIDE my own site but because I used them in the states a lot, I have since added 2 to my collection)
• Leggings: 2 (both mine are pretty much done after so much hand washing and sun drying, wish I'd invested in a good pair)
• Belt: 1 

3. Shoes:

• Flats: 2 (These go quickly, most sites you'll be walking A LOT...in lots of DIRT roads. My shoes don't survive long)
• Shower sandals: 1 (I have since invested in 2 more in country, these are a MUST!!!)
• Sturdy sandals: 1 Tevas (I don't use these as often as other volunteers, but that's up to preference) 
• Nice Sandals: 2 (same with the flats, I go through these REALLY fast. Have since bought another 2 pairs in country)
• Light walking shoes: 1 Vans (These also didn't survive much on the dirt road, I have since had another pair sent form the states)
• Running shoes: 1 

4. Toiletries:

• Toiletries Carry Case for travel (this is a life saver when it comes to traveling in country)
• Shower gel
• Aloe Vera (glad I brought this)
• Toothpaste (2)
• Bobby Pins
• Hair ties
• Travel size Conditioner
• Travel size Sunscreen
• Travel size Lotion 
• Nail Clippers
• Floss
• Q-Tips
• Hand sanitizers (2)
• Deodorant (2)
• Travel size Hairspray
• Packet of razors
• Toothbrush and case
• Face Wipes 
• Loofa (2)
• Feminine products (3 packets) (girls, tampons are pretty much non-existent in Nicaragua)
• Hair Brush 
• Travel size straightner (love this guy)
• Make-up bag (powder, brush, 3 eyeliners, small mirror, tweezers)

 5. Medicine: (small amount before I get my medical kit just in case)

• Small Medicine Bag: 
• Hydrocortisone creams (2)
• Travel size Bug Sprays (3)
• Vitamins
• Chap sticks (4)
• Vapor Rub
• Pain relief packets (3)
• Alka-Seltzer tablets (4)
• Packet of nutra-life
• Some cough drops

6. Electronics

• Laptop, case, charger (originally wasn't going to bring this but SO HAPPY I DID! A computer is a MUST, no questions asked)
• Tablet, charger, case, waterproof pouch (I use my tablet a lot, especially in class)
• Ipod, headphones, charger, usb chord, case
• Camera, case, charger, rechargeable batteries 
• Phone, charger (chip we were given did not end up working in country, so now it's put away) 
• Flashlight 
• Headlamp
• External hard drive (I loved mine while I had it, it was stolen was am so glad I brought it for days I just wanted to stay home and watch a movie)

7. School Supplies

• Small Backpack (Carried the supplies in here but have since given it away)
• Packets of stickers (5) (kids LOVE these! I go through them super quick and this is all I ask for in my car packages)
• Packet of Color pencils 
• Packets of teaching cards (2)
• Duct tape (so many uses, have since had another sent from the states)
• Packets of crayons (2)
• Highlighter packet
• Staples packet
• Small stapler 
• Pencil Lead packets (4)
• Glue sticks (3) (can get these in country)
• Binder clips (4)
• Sticky note packets (3)
• Sturdy Scissors (2)
• Hole Puncher
• Small sharpener 
• Small container of paper clips and safety pins 
• Small container of push pins (Have not used them, don't work on the walls in this county)
• Small whiteboard eraser (PC gave us one so gave this one away)
• Crazy glue
• Packet of Markers

8. Other

• Towel (make sure it's light and will dry quickly, we travel a lot and no one wants to be carrying a wet towel)
• Cotton sheet set (I'm highly allergic to bed bugs so I brought some, training family will provide some but you may have to get your own afterwards)
• Pillow (No regrets in bringing this, I enjoy a good pillow but it's up to preference)
• Metal water bottles (2) (These things are indestructible, so happy I brought both)
• Life-straw (never used it, PC gave me a filter for my permanent site)
• Sunglasses (2) 
• Small umbrella (I have since invested in a much sturdier umbrella, but that small one was good for the first couple of weeks in training)
• Small purse
• Wallet (2) (1 as a dummy wallet)
• Small photo album with pics (Great for shaing) 
• Journal
• Small Agenda
• Travel size lint roller (So glad I have this)
• Life supply of earplugs (I can actually sleep through anything so I have since given them away, if you have trouble sleeping bring them)
• Tajin (favorite seasoning)
• Packet of Chia Seeds (you can find chia seeds in Nicaragua quite cheaply)
• Packet of dried chili mango
• Packet of granola bars
• Reusable bag (1)
• Maps of Monterey, California and of North America (cool for sharing too)
• Small flag of the US
• Medium size airtight bag (put my towel, sheets and sweaters into here)
• Books: 2 (Bible, Wreck this Journal) (This journal is hours of entertainment for long trips)
• Movie: 1 (How to train your dragon) pretty much my all time favorite movie. I brought other digital copies this is the only actual physical movie I brought

9. Gifts for host-family

• Frisbee 
• Crazy Train Puzzle Game
• Calendars (These are GREAT for gifts)

Things I wish I'd brought but didn't:

• pocket knife, this is so incredibly useful 
• Spices from home
• More snacks