Tropical adventure packing list

I grew up in Indonesia, so tropical heat is home for me. These are the things I pack every time I go back to Southeast Asia or somewhere like Hawaii, plus the mistakes I see people make over and over.

What to wear

Here, it’s the opposite of my Arctic list: light cotton clothes are totally fine. I live in sleeveless shirts and swim shorts (tank tops, light summer dresses, and a bikini work just as well). Jeans are fine for dinners out, just not for the day. For time in the water, I wear a Speedo rash guard, which protects your back and shoulders from the sun without needing to reapply sunscreen every hour.

For your feet, any comfortable sandals will do. I use Teva Hydratrek water sandals, because in Hawaii I’d hike around the islands after kayaking, and they handle both. If you’re not planning to hike, you don’t need them. But if you are hiking proper trails, bring real hiking boots, even in the tropics. Muddy, rooty jungle trails are no place for flip-flops.

The sun is stronger than you think

This is the number one thing people get wrong: they don’t use enough sunscreen. Use a lot, and reapply often, especially after swimming.

[Nate’s Note] Even reapplying sunscreen 4 or 5 times a day, I still got severely sunburned under my eyes, and the skin there turned really dark for a while. Now I use the Anua Peach 70 Niacin Serum (the pink one) to counteract it, and the Lumene Nordic-C Glow Renew Night Cream at night. Highly recommend!

The darker patches under my eyes, even after reapplying sunscreen all day.

Use reef-safe (mineral) sunscreen, especially if you’re snorkeling or diving. Regular sunscreen chemicals damage coral, and Hawaii has even banned sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate.

It gets cold at night

People always underestimate how chilly it gets at night, especially up in the mountains. In Bali’s highlands, it gets cold after dark. Bring a light jacket or sweater, even if it feels silly when you’re packing for the tropics.

Always bring rain gear

The weather in tropical countries is temperamental. It can be sunny one minute and pouring the next, and in rainy season you could get stuck in a full-on monsoon. A light rain jacket or poncho takes up almost no space, and a dry bag keeps your phone safe.

Bug spray. Always.

[Nate’s Note] Growing up in Indonesia, this is the one thing I never travel to a tropical country without. Living in the US, you mostly don’t think about it. But in places like Indonesia and Southeast Asia, the mosquitoes and bugs are horrible and will eat you alive.

Mosquitoes in parts of the tropics can also carry diseases like dengue, so it’s worth checking the CDC’s travel page for your destination before you go.