Suggested packing list

To help you get ready for your expedition, below is a suggested packing list. You may find many of these items in our Gear Store, plus many clothing and accessory items.

CLOTHING

Note: Field clothes are fine at the hotel in Angangueo. The trails can get dusty, so a bandana may be helpful. You may want nicer (casual) clothing for Mexico City and Teotihuacan.

• Clothing in layers, suitable for peeling off as the temperature may warm to 60-70 degrees on each day but become colder at night and early morning (32 degrees at sunrise, typically). Long pants (blue jeans, khakis, women’s slacks), T-shirts, and long-sleeved shirts are all fine for the days on the mountain and while at the hotel in Angangueo. In Mexico City you can wear what you traveled in on the plane or similar attire (no suit, coat or tie needed; no special formal dress needed).

• Long underwear: May be useful at night in Angangueo as the hotel rooms are unheated and could get rather cold

• Parka or other outerwear: The temperature in the Sierra Chincua may be near freezing for the first hour or two. Gloves and a wool hat are recommended. Do at least wear a cap or other hat. Rain is not anticipated, but raingear is a great layer, should there be a slight snowfall. 

• Rain gear: It very rarely rains, but it’s always best to have a backup plan, should a slight drizzle or snow flurry occur. It also makes a great layer for added warmth. Comfortable, well-worn shoes with rubber soles: Shoes should be suitable for walking on cobblestone streets, gravel paths and uneven, damp surfaces.

• Warm pajamas: The rooms in Angangueo are not heated and can get down into the 30-40 °F range during cold snaps.

• Wool hat

• Gloves and hand warmers: Retail stores such as Target or Walmart sell disposable hand-warming pouches that last for hours and are very helpful during the chilly mornings.

• Comfortable, well-worn shoes with rubber soles: Shoes should be suitable for walking on cobblestone streets, gravel paths and uneven, damp surfaces.

• Hiking boots: For dusty forest trails or riding horseback (if desired)

MISCELLANEOUS

• Sunglasses and sunscreen: There is a chance for sunburn when on the mountain, as well as at Teotihuacan, where temperatures may be as high as 80-90 degrees. Please bring sunscreen for your protection.

• Medicines/Toiletries: Bring aspirin or similar in case of altitude headaches. We do not anticipate exposure to dysentery-causing bacteria, but you may wish to bring antibiotics (Cipro works great!) or Lomotil if you are sensitive to food and water changes. Always drink bottled water or bottled drinks, or treat your own water bottle with iodine tablets for drinking water in the field throughout the trip. Soap, shampoo and washcloths are not always found in hotels outside of the U.S., so you may wish to bring these with you.

• Daypack or knapsack: To carry a pack lunch, water, camera gear, rain gear, clothing layers, etc.

• Camera equipment and extra batteries/memory cards. Be prepared to pay an extra park fee for use of a video camera (anything that looks professional-level) while in the parks.

• Personal water bottle: Plan to buy bottled water, but you may wish to bring an extra container for refilling.

• Travel alarm clock

• Pocket calculator or cell phone for currency conversion

• Cash – $100-$300 for souvenirs and all items covered in the “extra costs” section.

• Toilet paper (as it may not be available at all stops)

• Baby wipes

• Wash cloth (as they are not always provided at the hotels)

In addition to your toiletries, it is useful to pack a small medical kit. Helpful items include bandages, mosquito repellent, antihistamine, a pain-reliever, individually wrapped moist towelettes, anti-diarrhea medicine, anti-fungal cream, a small sewing kit, and an extra pair of disposable contact lenses or eyeglasses if you wear them.

Additional Packing Tips

Please make sure to bring warm clothes, as the temperatures at 10,000 feet can be at or below 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning. Layering is encouraged, as the mid-day temperatures may be in the 70’s in late February. At Teotihuacan it will likely be 80-90 degrees. Versatility is key.

You may also wish to pack long underwear, as the hotel rooms in Angangueo will not be heated and temperatures may be in the low 60’s to mid-50’s at night and the early morning. Hotel staff provide heavy blankets, but fleece pajamas (or long underwear) and warm socks will keep you extra cozy.

Hand warmers are small, heated pouches found in outdoor sections of many large retail stores as well as specialty sports and camping stores. When you open their packaging, the oxygen reacts with the powder inside the pouches to create heat, and after about 30 minutes they heat up to 120 degrees, last for about 6-10 hours, and provide considerable warmth. They come in a variety of sizes and are very inexpensive (less than $1 each). These have been very popular with people in the past and are another way to ensure that you are comfortable during the cool mornings and nights. Due to current security regulations at airports, we recommend you pack these in your checked luggage, NOT your hand luggage.