Tips before packing
Hand baggage
You need to include three days worth of clothes in your carry-on bag just in case your luggage is delayed or stolen (we have never had this happen, but it is better to be safe than sorry).
Please bring a copy of your passport and the emergency contact list we gave you. ALWAYS HAVE THIS ON YOU!
Clothes
- Old work clothes. (FYI: After the build, you may leave your old washed and clean clothes for Habitat Paraguay to sell for a low symbolic price to Habitat families)
- One nice outfit if your group wants to go to church, out at night, etc., nothing formal, nice casual is fine.
- Closed toed shoes, rain bots or walking shoes
- Rain Boots (the site can get wet and muddy)
- Rain jacket
- Work gloves
- Safety goggles
- Dust mask
Extra
- Mosquito repellent Sunglasses
- Sunscreen at least SPF 30
- Required medicines (plus a copy of your prescription) and allergies medicine if apply
- Water bottle (for use on construction site)
- Copy of passport and airline tickets (carry separate from originals)
- Money for personal expenses
The weather in Paraguay is very unpredictable. It can be cold one day but then warm the next. Thus, be sure to bring both some spring clothes and some warm clothes as well.
In Winter season (May, June, July, August) in addition to above list, the following items are recommended:
- Hat that covers ears to keep warm (that can get dirty)
- Long sleeve shirts
- Fleece or jacket (that can get dirty)
In summer season:
- We recommend all team members to be BEWARE OF THE SUN!
- The sun is 4 times stronger in tropical zones than in temperate latitudes, as the region is closer to the equator and more directly exposed to the sun’s rays.
- There are no mountains and/or hills and it will feel like the heat and humidity get stuck in the ground.
- The average temperature would be between 30 and 40 Celsius (90 and 110 F.) some days and maybe there will be some rainy days to cool the air down.
- Please make sure to bring summer clothes as well as winter rainy season clothes.
Build site conditions
Because it rains much during any season, please make sure all team members bring rain boots and rain jackets, as well as warm sweaters and long sleeve shirt.
The construction can get very muddy and it will be very hard to work without appropriate equipments.
Also, if possible, it would be nice to include impermeable clothes, this could prevent to get wet and get sick after that.
Electricity
Electric outlets are 220 Volts. Please make sure that your electric appliances are convertible to a 220 V outlet. If they are not, you will need an outlet adapter.