The best clothes for kayaking, river rafting, and generally being active in Belize 2 of 3

When you are planning an active holiday in the tropics, your clothes are incredibly important. Here, we continue tips for active travel in Belize with Island Expeditions, but also for people traveling to Belize on their own.


Gloves

Paddling gloves are a very good idea, even in the tropics. Although the neoprene gloves that are more popular in the northern temperate waters, they aren't necessary in Belize, something to protect your hands while paddling is incredibly important. The high salinity in the water, which evaporates quickly, and the hand position on the paddle make it important to have some sort of hand protection. Often a pair of bicycle gloves will suffice, or a pair of gardening gloves cut short in the fingers. More important than protecting your hands from the paddle is protecting the back of your hands from the sun. So, mesh-backed bike gloves are not as efficient as ones with a Lycra back, or some type of fabric that will protect your knuckles.


Pants
When traveling to Belize having a pair of long-pants is also essential. If the winds die down, or there is a change in the weather, being able to cover up from any potential bugs is essential to your sanity. Quick-dry fabrics are preferred to cotton, canvas, or denim because the humidity of Belize makes it very difficult to to dry them. And, when being active on the Caye's or in the jungle of Belize, getting wet is a distinct possibility. Most outdoor clothing manufacturers have a quick-dry pant with generous room in the legs for mobility. It is important to look for large pockets that can securely close, as well as cargo pockets which can be handy for extra gear. Another consideration is that quick-dry fabrics do not breathe, so some form of ventilation is essential. When looking to purchase these types of pants for Belize look for pockets made of mesh, allowing for some breath ability.

Shorts
Shorts are always important when traveling to the tropics, and are usually the apparel of choice for most people on a day to day basis. Again, much like pants, quick drying fabrics are preferred. Polyester-based fabrics do dry quicker, but they do not breathe well, so again some kind of ventilation is important. A higher cut short is preferable when being active, doing such activities as kayaking and snorkeling, as they give you the maximum mobility. If your shorts tend to double as a swimsuit, make sure pockets have mesh in them to allow water to pass through. This can also act as ventilation when worn on dry land.

Next, we talk of Socks and Shoes