Packing Guide for a Trip to Cancun

Cancun is the pinnacle of tropical destinations. You won’t be bored there with all the beaches, reefs, hiking, caverns, and shopping!

You’ll need to pack carefully because you have so many things to do. We’ve included some advice for preparing for Cancun, along with a comprehensive packing list and a printable list.

Be ready to enjoy a lot of leisure time at the stunning beaches, fun in the sun and sand, and the ultimate adventure!

The Essentials

To start, we’ll go through the absolute essentials you need for Cancun.

Most of these items are common knowledge, but seeing them written down and having them on hand when you’re packing will ensure you don’t forget anything!

1. Clothing

• Socks
• Bathing suit
• Bathing suit cover-up
• Capri pants
• Dresses
• Jacket or sweater
• Pajamas
• Shorts
• Skirts
• Tank tops (white and black)
• Tops
• Underwear and bras (nude and black)
• White jeans
• Workout gear

2. Shoes

• Evening wear shoes
• Exercise shoes
• Flip flops
• Hiking shoes
• Sandals
• Water shoes

3. Cosmetics And Toiletries

• Body lotion
• Bug spray
• Curling iron
• Conditioner
• Eye cream
• Face lotion
• Face serum
• Face wash
• Hair straighteners
• Hair ties
• Hairbrush
• Lip Balm
• Makeup
• Makeup bag
• Makeup remover
• Sunscreen
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Vitamins

4. Accessories

• Packing cubes
• Swimsuit bag
• Toiletry bag
• Silicone collapsible travel cup
• A book
• Journal
• Scarf
• Sun hat
• Polarized sunglasses
• Evening purse
• A purse that can double as a beach or pool bag
• Cross-body day bag for excursions and shopping.
• Jewelry
• Rain jacket (if you visit in the rainy season)

5. Documents

• Credit/debit card
• Documents for visas if you need them
• Government-issued ID or driver’s license
• Hotel booking information
• Passport
• Pre-booked tour information
• Travel insurance policies

6. Electricals And Other Items

• Binoculars
• Camera
• Charging cords & USB cords
• Electronics/Camera Bag for chargers and cables
• Kindle
• Laptop, mouse & cord
• Phone
• Selfie sticks
• Snorkel and mask
• Tripod

7. First Aid

• Aspirin/painkillers
• First aid kit
• Hangover Cure
• Prescribed medications
• Probiotics
• Seasickness/motion-sickness prevention
• Sunscreen or spray

Important Items For Cancun

Now that you know all of the essentials you’ll need for going on vacation, we’ll tell you some of the most important things you should take to Cancun.

These are specific to the climate and area you’ll be visiting, so let’s go into a little bit more detail.

8. Activated Charcoal

One of the coolest travel items we’ve found is activated charcoal.

It’s a reliable and safe technique to get rid of any toxins that might be to blame for your stomach ache or traveler’s diarrhea, which is regrettably quite frequent in Mexico.

However, these tiny pills can immediately restore normal digestion, allowing you to resume enjoying your trip.

9. Cooling Towel

Although you can’t control the weather in Cancun, you can find solace by using a cooling towel.

With this in your backpack, you can find fast relief and cool down whether you’re out trekking, shopping, sunbathing, or simply feeling a little warm.

You can simply cool down and spend more time outside with this towel if you’re feeling hot and sweaty, which might make you feel drained and lethargic.

10. LifeStraw Water Bottle

It’s crucial to be cautious when drinking water while traveling anywhere in Mexico.

In Cancun’s tourist zones, it’s not too difficult to obtain water that is safe to drink, but drinking water outside of these places can be risky.

The LifeStraw bottle is as simple to use as a standard water bottle and filters water through layers that eliminate germs and other microbes as well as any other impurities.

11. Mosquito Repellent Bracelets

There will be mosquito problems in some regions of Cancun and the surrounding area.

There are wristbands available that make mosquito protection effortless. You can be safe all day long if you just put one on before you head out!

12. Neck Wallet

We prefer to keep our valuables, including credit cards, passports, phones, cash, and airline tickets, safely tucked away in a neck wallet when we travel abroad.

This means you’ll be well-prepared at customs and won’t be a convenient target for thieves.

One type of RFID-blocking material is available to stop e-thieves from remotely collecting your credit card information.

13. Packing Cubes

These luggage organizers are a brilliant idea. They take a disorganized bag to packing paradise.

To keep organized for the course of your trip, simply pack all of your shorts in one cube, all of your shirts in another, and so on.

On the reverse of some, there is even an index card so you can write down exactly what is inside.

Once you’ve tried these cubes, you won’t travel without them again!

14. Portable Charger

In Cancun, you’ll be roaming around for the majority of the day, but if you’re taking pictures and looking up maps, you can’t count on your electronics to last that long.

You won’t have to worry about losing contact with your travel companions or other information because a portable charger will make sure you can recharge your devices while you’re on the go.

15. Quick-Dry Travel Towel

A travel towel is all you need if you want to be active, enjoy life, and soak up some sun.

If you’re in a rush or just want to relax and tan at the beach, this ultra-absorbent microfiber towel is perfect.

When you’re done, simply hang it up to dry nearly immediately, then roll it up so that it can be reused.

16. Reef-Safe Sunscreen

You should wear ocean-safe sunscreen since Cancun offers snorkeling and other ocean-based activities you’ll want to take advantage of.

Reef-safe sunscreen is manufactured without the harmful chemicals that are included in conventional sunscreen that have been shown to severely harm aquatic ecosystems, including coral and fish.

You will undoubtedly need sun protection in Cancun, and this sunscreen is still effective in providing it.

17. Travel Insurance

Emergencies can strike when you least expect them, but by having a solid plan in place, you can make sure that situations like medical emergencies, theft, damage to your property, or even evacuations are easier to handle and cost you nothing.

Travel insurance coverage is usually incredibly cheap, and you can utilize websites to compare the cheapest plans from a variety of providers in one location.

18. Underwater Camera

On your trip to Mexico, you should really think about packing a waterproof camera.

The majority of your activities will include water, so you don’t want to take a chance on breaking your phone or conventional digital camera.

There are options that are portable, adaptable, and quite durable so you won’t have to worry about breaking it while exploring.

If you don’t want to invest fully in a GoPro or a DSLR camera, these are great options.

19. Universal Waterproof Phone Case

This “one-size-fits-all” phone case is amazing all around! It’s waterproof, dustproof, and shock-resistant.

The low cost makes it a no-brainer. It shields your phone from sand and water damage while still allowing you to use the touchscreen and camera to take that selfie in front of the shore breakers.

Cancun Packing List

You can download this handy Cancun packing list as a pdf and print it out:

What to pack for Cancun checklist pdf

What Not To Bring To Cancun

It’s also important to know what you shouldn’t bring to Cancun. Items like the following can weigh you down, and even get you into some trouble!

Don’t Bring Clothing That Won’t Dry Well

You don’t want to bring something that won’t dry fast or that will be cumbersome after it gets wet in this hot, muggy environment.

Specifically, keep heavy cotton things at home, like jeans, towels, and sweaters.

Don’t Bring Fruits

A lot of fruits are prohibited from entering Mexico.

Make sure you don’t bring any fruits into Mexico if you’re bringing food on the plane to avoid incurring a hefty charge from customs.

Don’t Bring Heavy Books

Books are typically weighty and take up a lot of suitcase space. Think about how much you plan to read and whether the room is necessary.

Choose a Kindle instead if you can because it will need less space and can be secured with a waterproof case.

Don’t Pack Expensive Jewelry

If you wear expensive jewelry, you may become a target for scammers and pickpockets. It can also very easily be broken, misplaced, or damaged.

So that you won’t have to worry about them while on your trip, leave these items at home.

Don’t Take Lots Of Cash

Avoid taking a lot of cash with you as Cancun has many ATMs. There is no need to take a big financial risk.

You won’t run out of money because so many stores, eateries, and bars accept credit cards.

Don’t Take Warm Clothing

It’s hot most of the time in Cancun. It remains warm even when wet.

Leave the cold weather clothing at home and prepare for warmer weather with a chance of rain! Opt for items that are lightweight and dry faster.

What to see in Cancun

Final Thoughts

We guarantee that you’ll have the vacation of a lifetime in Cancun so long as you make sure you pack the right items.

Use our list of essentials when packing and you’ll be ready to set off on your amazing beach adventure!

Check out our other packing guides – New Orleans