Backpacking in Central America was the best decision of my life. My experiences here moulded me into the man I have become today, and I’m now OBSESSED with inspiring others to visit this magnificent region.
Central America is an enchanting amalgamation of jungles, surf beaches, (tequila), and volcanoes. This part of the world attracts a certain kind of vagrant and broke backpacker – so you’re sure to fit right in. 😉
After exploring for months on end here, I now kinda consider this part of the world to be my second home. You won’t have to spend long here to feel the same, trust me.
There’s something so magical about these lands and the endless array of surprises and opportunities they possess…
Part of it is the unrivalled beauty of the jungles, mountains, volcanos, desert islands and beaches. Part of it is all the relaxing and inward soul searching. But truly, it’s the kindness and open-heartedness of the people that make you fall in love.
If you travel slowly while backpacking Central America (and trust me, you should) you’ll find yourself on all sorts of weird and wild side quests. You know, the kind with people that very quickly become your new friends for life. One minute you’ve stopped for tacos and the next you’re chasing down Rodrigo’s pet chicken or singing karaoke with a Mayan grandmother.
A part of me is desperate to keep this place a secret before it turns into Southeast Asia 2.0, but I just can’t. I gotta spread the love (pura vida style).
So, I’m here spilling the beans: insider tips, ups and downs, and essential information that I wish I had before I went backpacking in Central America.
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Backpacking Central America is a wild romp through both chaos and a long chill-out session. It lends itself to some incredible overland journeys and rounding out your own manifesto through travel. Because if you really get into learning Spanish here, you’ll suddenly find a whole new world of locals and fellow artisan backpackers opens up to you!
There are markets full of amber, beaches to sell your jewellery at (Central America is actually a good place to have a backpacker hustle), and of course, there is so much delicious food. I’m talking fried platanos, tacos, and ceviche whenever you’re on the coast. Plus, a party is never too far away. 😉
Then there’s the fact that Central America is a pretty cheap place to travel in. Backpacking Central America is ideal for those on a grown-up gap year or another type of time-constrained trip. But for the long-term vagabond who knows how to stretch every last dollar and doesn’t mind camping on beaches – man… Central America is a dreamy place for you!
And when you do want to splurge on some once-in-a-lifetime experiences, well the region delivers them in spades! Learning to free dive or SCUBA dive are two of the more popular ones. Take epic trekking trips, sky diving, and paragliding!
Now, not everyone is ready to throw themselves off a cliff in the name of a bucket list experience… and that’s ok! Central America hears you and instead offers up peaceful yoga retreats in the mountains or lazy beach days in the sunshine. Plus, because the countries that comprise this region are small (with the exception of Mexico) you can spend less time physically travelling and more time actually exploring – or chilling!
Honestly, backpacking in Central America is the whole package: the people, the parties, the paradisiacal landscapes. Now let’s take a look at some of your options for exploring this fantastic part of the world.
Table of Contents ShowDepending on your time frame, there is a wide range of places to begin and end your backpacking trip. Choosing a general Central America backpacking route and itinerary that works for you will help in some of the basic planning on your journey.
One of the reasons I love backpacking in Central America is the ability to be spontaneous. The region thrives on a certain degree of chaos! Best of all, the distances in Central America are not as daunting as in other parts of the world, so it’s a good choice for backpackers short on time.
Besides, I don’t see much point in rushing around the countries. You might as well slow down your travels and enjoy the ride!
Whether you are looking for a 2-week Central America itinerary or a 2+ month travel odyssey, I’ve got you covered amigos! Let’s dive in a explore some of the tried and true Central America backpacking routes I have enjoyed.
This 2-week Central America backpacking itinerary starts on the opposite end of the region. The cheapest flights into Central America usually fly into Cancún, Mexico.
Find somewhere to stay in Cancun and leave the next day – it’s no secret I STRONGLY dislike Cancun! But do spend some time exploring those insane white sand beaches and cenotes in Quintana Roo to make memories you’ll never forget.
Now onwards to Chiapas! Chiapas is one of Mexico’s most fascinating regions. The food alone makes it worth the visit, although the mix of cultures and the drop-dead gorgeous landscapes will compete for your attention, too. Explore San Crístobal de las Casas before you head to Guatemala.
Guatemala is a whole other fascinating country. Backpacking Guatemala is truly a special experience. It’s here that I accidentally spent six months falling in love with the country.
Some of the best trekking in Central America can be found in Guatemala. It also boasts steamy lush jungles with the most impressive Mayan ruins in the region. Lake Atitlan has, dare I say, spiritual energy that hasn’t been quashed by the many tourists that call it home.
And rounding out your taste for Central America you can stop in at one of the many awesome places to stay in Antigua – one of the most beautiful cities filled with the most delicious food in the world. Honestly, after two weeks in Central America, you’ll be hungry for more!
Have a month to visit Central America? Perfect.
This route has you starting off in Guatemala. Of course, you could start in Costa Rica as well. In my opinion, it is better to save it for the end!
I recommend spending at least ten days in Guatemala before heading south. Definitely go to the ruins in Tikal – and make sure to stay in Flores, the town I fell in love with!
Check out the incredible pools at Semuc Champey. Now if you bus back across to find things to do in Lake Atitlan, you can get in your yoga fix while learning deeply from the Mayan culture still strongly felt here.
Next up, walk to the cobblestone streets of the beautiful colonial city, Antigua. This is all before you get out of Guatemala – there is truly so much to do in Guate!
El Salvador is a country that is often skipped over entirely – and what a mistake that is! While backpacking El Salvador certainly is a bit lighter on the typical tourist things, the surfing and epic street food make it a worthy stop on your Central American itinerary. You won’t run into the safety problems you might think you would – especially if you stick to the beautiful beaches.
The killer beaches do not stop when you enter Nicaragua via a Honduras detour. But if you’re somewhat limited by time – my dudes, you’ve got to hit those surf beaches in Nicaragua. Playa Popoyo has some of the most consistent surf but less popular beaches on the way down!
Then there is Costa Rica: the cherry on top of your Central American pie. A big beautiful world of adventure backpacking awaits you when you arrive in the land of Pura Vida.
The surfers will want to stick to the Pacific Coast. Mal Pais and Montezuma are classic Costa Rican surf towns that suck you in!
And the Caribbean beaches of Costa Rica are the perfect end to your Central America backpacking trip – nothing but good vibes out here.
If you have 6 weeks or more then you can see the whole damn region. A trip to Honduras for some SCUBA diving is totally worth the effort.
The Bay Islands are one of the cheapest places in the world to get your PADI certification. Annddd, you could also learn to freedive aka underwater meditation!
Look, if you do a bunch of diving on top of exploring the Yucatan and the best beaches in Mexico and even doing some sightseeing in Belize and Guatemala, you’ll quickly run out of time!
This 6-week itinerary is the whole enchilada as they say – it’d ideally be better off done with a lot more time up your sleeve. Still, if you head from Utila and the Bay of Islands through the jungle of Honduras you can have an awesome time trekking and exploring Mayan ruins such as the trails through Parque Nacional Montaña de Comayagua.
From there, you can cross to the Pacific side of Nicaragua and surf your way down the coast into Costa Rica and beyond. You have options in terms of the order of everything to see in this route, but it would work well to duck into Panama and hike in Bouquet, before returning to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.
Settling into the Caribbean vibe, you can carry on back up the Nicaraguan coast and fit in some more snorkelling and diving!
I found a good balance between trekking, diving, visiting ruins, chilling out, and learning a travel language – Spanish. If you do too much of either of those things you can lose appreciation for how special they are. I found it best to settle into a place for at least a few days before heading out on chicken buses.
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There are eight countries that make up the region of Central America; each one is worthy of exploration! Backpacking Central America offers up the opportunity to experience a vast array of landscapes, cultures, food, and activities.
Belize, Costa Rica, and parts of Mexico are more expensive than the other countries. El Salvador and Honduras are probably the least visited countries on the list – and yet have some of the best surfing and hiking in the region respectively!
If you are looking to get off the beaten track and away from the gringo trail, it’s easy in all of the Central American countries. This is especially true in Honduras and the Caribbean side of Nicaragua, where few backpackers go. Depending on the time you have, and more importantly your interests, your options of where to go backpacking in Central America are limitless.
Mexico is Northern America geographically. No, North America is not just the USA and Canada…
But culturally? Central American all the way! Of course I’m including it in backpacking in Central America.
It is a huge country with incredible diversity: ice-capped mountains, steamy jungles, bustling metropolises, great beaches…
The majority of people on a Central American backpacking route tend to stick to the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas regions. That said, there is much, much more to Mexico than those two places.
One could spend a lifetime backpacking Mexico and not see all of it. If you’re short on time, these two regions are some of the richest in landscapes and things to do. If you have longer, you should explore Mexico more deeply!
I highly recommend staying in Oaxaca as long as you can and I’ve got some epic recommendations on where to stay.
Tulum makes a good base to explore natural and historical treasures of the Yucatan. Seriously, get yourself to the mind-boggling cenotes for a swim and learn to snorkel in epic cave systems. There is some excellent SCUBA diving in Mexico too, but it’s more expensive than Honduras.
Chiapas is one of my favourite parts of Mexico. There is plenty of history, incredible people, and natural wonders to keep you busy for as long as you want. Once you’ve had your fill of epic street food, you can ply through the local markets for colourful trinkets, and top it all off hiking through the highlands. Chiapas really has it all!
An alternative to flying into Cancun is to fly to Mexico City. From there, you can easily catch long-distance buses to other parts of the country or Guatemala. Take the opportunity to explore Mexico city a bit while you’re there though.
The longer you have to spend in Mexico, the longer you should spend in Mexico. She’s a special one!
The paradise of Belize is a country I think of as the black sheep of Central America. For one, English is the official language.
Spanish is increasingly spoken as you get closer to the Guatemala border. Belizean Creole is commonly spoken on the coast.
In truth, a well-planned Belize itinerary is a great addition to any Central American backpacking trip. Belize is home to some of the best SCUBA diving opportunities anywhere in the North or South American continents.
The outlying reefs off of the coast are a part of the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world! Yeah eat your heart our Great Barrier Reef – these ones aren’t bleached either!
There are also some terrific Mayan sites inland from the coast. The ruins at Caracol are some of the finest in Central America.
Whilst backpacking Belize, if you are not a vegetarian – and fuck it even if you are – you absolutely must eat lobster on one of the islands. This beautiful, fresh seafood delight will have a little party on your taste buds for less than half the price of the States. Mmmmmm, you delicious little langouste – I miss you!
Guatemala is hands down one of the most dynamic and exciting countries I have ever backpacked. In fact, I loved it so much that I ended up living in Flores (near Tikal) for six months!
The country is so rich in amazing things to experience. You can try artisanal coffee, chow down on the world’s best tamales (shh don’t tell Mexico!), and experience some of the best hikes in the world in their national parks of volcanoes and jungles.
Mayan cultures are still very strong here. The ruins aren’t so much a relic of a culture lost, but reminders of a culture that remains. I remember walking down my street only to find pieces of obsidian embedded in the dirt road.
The land is very much a life with the people that have occupied here for the last 10 000 years. Tikal is particularly impressive at sunrise, but there are many other Mayan sites to check out, too – like El Mirador.
There are a number of great Spanish language schools in Guatemala if you are keen to learn some Spanish and stay with a host family. Spending a few weeks at a Spanish language school was a game-changing experience for me.
The schools in Antigua or Quetzaltenango are the best. Not only do you embed yourself with a local family and get the privilege of experiencing the town, but your Spanish skills improve at light speed! Speaking Spanish opens up a whole new world for you on your travels in Latin America.
Check out Semuc Champey and Lake Atitlan while you’re in Guate. They might be touristy but they’re still beautiful!
For a true change of pace, you could even try out the boat life by volunteering on a sailboat in the Rio Dulce. Oooh boy, the sailors are a funny bunch down there!
You will fall in love with Guatemala, it’s unavoidable. I’m most certainly counting the days until I return…
Straight off the bat, El Salvador has some of Central America’s best and least frequented surf beaches. The Town of El Tunco is a fantastic backpacker hub. La Libertad is another great beach town with excellent surf.
The Montecristo Cloud Forest is a beautiful place to hike. Since El Salvador is not as popular with backpackers, there is ample opportunity to venture off the beaten path.
So bring your bloody surfboard, ok? When you need to leave it behind to go hiking for a few days, the local hostels are more than happy for you to do so.
El Salvador is a country with a troubled history (even by Central American standards) and many problems in the present day. While it is true that El Salvador experiences one of the highest rates of violent crime anywhere on earth, foreigners are rarely targeted.
Basically, if you go looking for trouble, you’ll definitely find it in El Salvador. That being said, the locals look forward to the day when tourism can take off a little better because life is calmer here. They’ll go out of their way to make sure you’re safe and comfortable and enjoying this epic little country.
That said, I wouldn’t venture out into San Salvador at night. However, during the day, San Salvador is pretty dope to explore.
Do you want to get PADI SCUBA certified on your backpacking Central America adventure? Head to the Bay Islands, amigos! This is one of the cheapest places in the world to get certified for SCUBA diving.
The legendary island of Utila is a backpacker’s paradise. There are more than a dozen dive centres to choose from. Roatan is a bigger island that caters more to cruise ships and older tourists. It is more expensive than Utila, but the SCUBA diving is arguably better.
The ruins at Cóban are the most significant in Honduras. Pico Bonito National Park is another major highlight of the country. There is an abundance of wild camping and hiking potential in the park.
Honduras often gets skipped over by backpackers – except for Coban and Utila. No, the rest of Honduras seems to remain off the beaten path!
This is a bit of a shame considering there are some epic jungle hikes, and even a sneaky surf beach or two. It’ll definitely be less touristy so your Spanish better be up to scratch. 😉
In all seriousness, as this whole Central America backpacking thingy is very serious, if connecting with locals and seeing a more local side to a region is up your alley – Honduras is the place for you to explore.
I love Nicaragua because you can get beautiful beaches similar to those in neighbouring Costa Rica, but without the steep prices. Nicaragua is becoming the backpacker capital of Central America, and fast too.
The Pacific Coast is brimming with surf beaches, funky yoga retreat centres, and ex-pats in addition to friendly locals. The colonial cities of Granada and Leon have beautiful architecture, grand plazas, and strong ties to the Sandinista movement that gripped Nicaragua in the 1980s.
Ometepe Island is surprisingly underdeveloped in many areas. You can rent motorbikes and really explore what the island has to offer. If you like waterfalls, motorbikes, swimming, and rum, head to Ometepe for a few days.
The river and jungle areas of Nicaragua’s interior are wild and full of adventure potential. The Corn Islands off of Nicaragua’s Caribbean beaches are the most far-flung destinations in Central America.
It is no easy effort to arrive there (without flying). Once you do, you will be rewarded by the lack of backpacker hordes.
Nicaragua is the cheapest Central American country! So have a blast without breaking the bank, aye!
Costa Rica is the long-standing adventure capital of Central America. Backpackers have been flocking here in search of that pura vida for decades. Costa Rica offers pretty much everything you could ask for: endless wildlife, cloud forests, amazing beaches, huge parties, and an overall easygoing vibe.
The thing is, Costa Rica lives up to the hype. From the capital of San Jose to the Pacific Coast and then back through the jungle to the Caribbean Coast – Costa Rica is really a slice of paradise. Camp out on the beaches as much as possible – trust me, it’s incredible!
Explore the Costa Rican national parks. Learn how to surf. Drink coconut water every damn day.
Make new friends and have the time of your life exploring this special place! I can guarantee that you will come back to Costa Rica for more someday. I sure did.
With so much natural beauty, it’s no surprise that Costa Rica is full of great hikes. The Arenal Volcano area is particularly packed with excellent trails.
Costa Rica has the reputation for being one of Central America’s most expensive countries. Unfortunately, that reputation is true.
That said, exploring this magical country is bound to be a highlight of your backpacking trip. Budget travel in Costa Rica is entirely possible. It just takes a little more effort than backpacking in one of the neighbouring countries.
Ok, straight off the bat: Panama is much more than just a tax haven for rich guys. There are some pretty epic volcanoes and jungles to go romping through and the Caribbean Coast is full of some pretty epic slices of paradise!
In fact, the journey from Bocas Del Toro in Panama takes only a few hours to get to from Costa Rica. If you are there in the right season (dry) there is great scuba diving and fishing.
Like Costa Rica, Panama has some fantastic wild jungles and forests once you escape the numerous banana and palm oil plantations. Baru Volcano National Park is a good place to start exploring.
The San Blas Islands are stunningly beautiful as well. Going through the San Blas Islands is a popular way that backpackers end up getting to Colombia and beginning their backpacking South America journey. Really, if you want to be exploring these low-lying islands by boat – you could try volunteering on a sailboat in the area!
Panama City is a huge sprawling metropolis where one can find some civilization and the associated annoyances. The international airport in Panama City is the main hub for transportation for the region – including flights south to Colombia.
I found it deeply interesting to catch a bus from the outskirts of Panama city and watch as the rural landscape dotted with shanty houses slowly transformed into a city more shiny and full of skyscrapers than anything I’d known back home (bearing in mind I came from a wee Australian town!).
Still, Panama City has some great hostels and interesting sights. I’d recommend climbing the hill to get some epic views of the place.
The so-called gringo trail is definitely a thing here in Central America. There are certain hotspots where backpackers congregate. If you ask me, Costa Rica is the country most heavily populated by people travelling in Central America.
While there are plenty of spots on the gringo trail worth visiting, there are ample opportunities to get out and really explore. Indigenous villages, far-flung jungles, isolated beaches, remote mountains, winding rivers, and plenty of national parks provide an eternity of off-the-beaten path adventure potential.
Honduras and El Salvador are two countries that get almost entirely overlooked! This to me is crazy, as I had some of my best memories surfing in El Salvador and tramping through the Honduran jungle.
Even within relatively popular countries like Nicaragua, far fewer backpackers check out the Caribbean Coast. And what a mistake! Some of the best diving, beaches, and food is here.
I think it’s about travelling slowly, authentically, and mindfully. Sure, some tourist spots will be worth your time – but many won’t. And the rewards of getting out there to explore are just so juicy!
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It’s not finding something to do that’s tricky in Central America – it’s picking what to do first! There are some truly spectacular adventures to be had: above, below, and on the water. Whether you end up a boat bum, sailing the Caribbean Coast of Central America or whether you simply dive from time to time, the water will reward you here!
But the jungles, the Mayan culture, the street food, and the markets are also incredible. The more friends you make with artisans, the more likely you are to suddenly know how to make macrame. This is a bit of an obscure thing to do, but it is a handy backpacker job in a pinch!
Anyway, whatever you end up doing in Central America, you know it’s going to be a good time.
You can SCUBA dive in pretty much every country in Central America and getting your certification will open up a whole new world of travel possibilities. The reef off Cozumel is pretty epic; as are the reefs off Belize. The cheapest place to get your actual certification is in Utila, Honduras.
Diving life is freaking dope! Not only do you get to make friends with the fish, but you also get to indulge in the diving lifestyle. Yeah, there’s a bit of drinking and partying involved let me tell you. 😉
I did two stints of study on two different trips at the Mountain School outside of Xela. The experiences involved a few homestays and truly elevated my Spanish skills to the next level.
You can study Spanish almost anywhere in Central America. The more you sink into a community, the better your language skills get. The better your language skills get, the easier it is to get a richer experience in the country.
One of the coolest places I have stayed EVER in 10 years of travel was atop a 35-meter treehouse in the middle of the jungle just south of Manzanillo (south Caribbean coast). Tell the owner I said hi if you stay there! The place is called the Nature Observatorio, check it out.
There are so many eco-lodges in Central America. Ok, they might not be quite as cool as a treehouse, but they are pretty damn beautiful – and doing just a little good for the planet.
Try These Epic Eco Lodges!This activity speaks for itself: charge at top speed down the side of a volcano! Ok, so it’s little more than for novelty’s sake but you know what? Sometimes you’ve just got to do things and be a bit childish!
It’s a hell of a lot of fun and the scenery is really not too bad either.
One of the best (and cheapest) places to eat lobster anywhere in the world. No, but for reals, there is nothing better than fresh seafood.
It needs little other ingredients and is so damn good for you. As long as you check in with local regulations, you could even try your hand at spearfishing and get yourself some dinner!
Lemme suggest right now that fresh langouste goes very well seared in a lemon butter sauce. Simply, but delicious!
It is actually possible to leave Guatemala by boat, bound for Honduras Bay Island through this jungly river system. I actually delivered sailboats from the Rio Dulce to Honduras a couple of times, but many backpackers can simply volunteer on a sailboat heading in that direction.
If you don’t end up on a sailboat, I’d definitely still recommend a boat ride up the Rio Dulce. Basically, you realise how puny your sailboat is as you come in surrounded by walls of the green jungle… Yeah it’s pretty freaking epic.
Whether you are a party animal or beach lover (or both) – a trip around the San Blas islands is one you’ll never forget (or will never remember, depending on rum consumption).
If you are sailing at your own pace, you’ll be able to get into the swing of island life and see some of the cultures there. Most people simply pass through – which is all well and good and you’ll definitely still have a dope party time! But to really understand how incredibly stunning – but also unique – San Blas is, then you’ll need to slow down and spend some time there.
Nicaragua and Costa Rica in particular are world-class surf destinations and great places to learn, but the entire Pacific Coast of Central America is full of epic surf spots. El Salvador is a surfing hotspot that is overlooked – and that’s a shame!
So all you surf bums need to pack your boards and get on down to Central America. A goddamn delightful trip awaits you! Plus, we all know the rules of surfing life. Dawn surf, beers for lunch, party all night.
Cenotes are a little slice of magic. They’re these clear, blue swimming holes sunken into limestone earth. The best swimming holes on earth are found in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The Maya used to use them for water sources… or dropping dead people…
Today, there is almost something mystical to these locations. And even the popular ones are bloody awesome.
It’s really out of this world to be able to see up to 50 metres deep! Plus, the cold water is such a welcome relief when you’re sweltering through the Yucatan’s humidity.
Here’s a warning. Central America travel goes something like this: you arrive, you fall in love, you don’t want to leave. While it’s good to have a rough idea of which direction you want to go, the worst thing you could do is plan every part of your backpacking trip to a T.
Get chatting with locals and other backpackers about their favourite places. Leave some wiggle room in your itinerary so you can extend your stay in those places that make you feel at home.
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Central America has plenty of budget accommodation options for backpackers. When you are not passing the night from the comfort of your tent or Couchsurfing, you’ll need to book a hostel.
Whether you just need a place to lay your head or a spot to meet fellow travellers, hostels are clearly where it’s at… Once you come around to hostel life, you’ll forever look back on the fond memories you made there!
But you know what? Nothing beats a night camping under the stars or deep within in the jungle. I think one of my favourite nights in all my travels was camping at the Yaxha ruins in Guatemala. Of course, I had a good hiking tent, so my sleep was perfect.
The evening was spent chatting with the custodians of the park and playing cards. I fell asleep to the sounds of howler monkeys and woke to see the sunrise over the lake. So yes, staying in a hostel is an awesome way to connect with other travellers – but sometimes you’ve just got to go bush.
Each country in Central America will affect your budget in a different way. I found Nicaragua to be the cheapest country in Central America, followed closely by El Salvador, and Guatemala.
Honduras can be very cheap as well, though not super cheap in the Bay Islands. Costa Rica and Belize are far more expensive for certain things like transport and accommodation.
Travelling in Central America certainly does not need to be expensive! If you are worried about spending too much money, I recommend allotting more time for yourself to explore the cheaper countries. But honestly, if you stick to the tried and true methods of budget backpacking, your wallet will be quite alright.
Here is a breakdown of what you can expect to pay on a daily basis whilst backpacking Central America…
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When to go to Central America varies with the weather as each country in Central America has its own unique climate. The dry season is generally December, January, February, and March: this is certainly the time when most people visit. You can have some great weather in November and April as well.
The rainy season can be a beautiful time to visit. The rain only complicates things if you want to do heaps of outdoor activities. During Christmas and the New Year, Costa Rican beaches are flat-out slammed with foreigners and locals alike.
Scuba diving is best in the winter or early spring months (Nov-Feb). The water has better visibility and the islands are generally more pleasant when it’s not pissing down rain. Basically, if you’re willing to put up with some rainy days and slightly less crowded beaches then do so: the jungle is certainly beautiful.
Also, the higher in altitude that you get, the more the weather changes. I can’t give a super accurate country breakdown because it truly depends where in the country you are as to what kind of weather you’ll get. Anything by the ocean is going to be more chill and have a less pronounced rainy season.
For such a variety of climates and range of activities to be done while backpacking Central America, you will need the ultimate packing list.
There is no need to be that person who carts around 50 kilos of luggage. But you don’t want to be without the essentials either!
So what do you really need? Here are some essentials that accompany me on every single backpacking trip.
