Surf. Travel.: What to bring for a surf trip

Here at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, we get a lot of questions about what is needed for a surf trip to the Central and South America. Right now I am prepping for my second trip to South America: Peru!

Here is my short list of recommendations:

Check with the CDC to see what vaccines are recommend for the country you are traveling to. If you are going to more than one country, make sure you have all vaccines that you need to enter each country. For example, if I want to come back to Costa Rica after visiting Peru, I have to have my Yellow Fever shot, along with the proper documentation.
Make sure all of your regular vaccines are up to date.
First aid kit including:
Band aids - No brainer
Hydrogen peroxide – good for cleaning cuts and your ears! Bring it or get it in country
Imodium, Kaopectatee II, Imodium A-D or some other loperamide based drug – you know why.
Duct tape – cause you only need it when you don’t have it
Copy of your passport – when you arrive, try to get a copy made of the page with the entry stamp.

Ibuprofen cause even a little pain is not fun
If you are ever unsure about the water, drink bottled. If bottled might not be available all the time, bring iodine tablets.
If you take any regular medications, be aware that they are not always available in foreign countries so make sure you bring enough to last.
If you are bringing a surfboard, check with your airline to make sure they allow surfboards and to see if there are any size restrictions. It is also helpful to check the cost of bringing boards. To learn how to pack a board, check out this video: http://www.dailystoke.com/2010/09/how-to-pack-your-surfboard-travel-bag/
Bring the basic surf necessities – correct wax, ding repair kit, leash (if needed)
Above all, pack light and pack cheap. You don’t want to have to carry a heavy bag full of expensive things only to have it stolen.