Mexico Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for Mexico: for the Riviera Maya, Cancun and Tulum, a mineral, reef-safe sunscreen is essential, because the cenotes, eco-parks like Xcaret and Xel-Ha and protected snorkel areas require it, and chemical ones are turned away. Add light, breathable clothes and plenty of quick-dry swimwear, water shoes for the rocky cenotes, a hat and sunglasses, and insect repellent for the jungle and evenings. US travellers need no adapter, because Mexico uses the same Type A and B plugs at 127 volts. Bring pesos and a card, and do not drink the tap water.
Mexico essentials at a glance
- A mineral, reef-safe sunscreen
- Quick-dry swimwear, two or three sets
- Water shoes for the cenotes
- Light, breathable clothes
- A hat and sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- A reusable water bottle
- Pesos and a no-fee card
Mexico's Caribbean coast is built around water, sun and cenotes, and the one rule that catches tourists out is sunscreen: the eco-parks, cenotes and protected reef areas require the mineral kind to keep the reefs and freshwater clean, and will make you swap chemical sunscreen at the gate. Pack a mineral sunscreen, light clothes and plenty of swimwear, add water shoes for the rocky cenote entries and repellent for the jungle, and the beaches, ruins and swims are yours.
Sun and reef
- A mineral, reef-safe sunscreen · required at cenotes and eco-parks
- SPF lip balm
- A hat and sunglasses
- A rash guard for snorkeling
- After-sun and aloe
Beach and cenotes
- Quick-dry swimwear ×2 to 3
- Water shoes · cenote entries are sharp limestone
- Snorkel and mask, or rent on site
- A dry bag
- A quick-dry towel and a beach bag
Clothing
- Light, breathable clothes
- A light layer for air-conditioning and evenings
- A cover-up
- Comfortable sandals and walking shoes
- One smart-casual outfit for resorts and dining
Health and money
- Any medication
- Anti-diarrhoea and rehydration sachets · do not drink the tap water
- Hand sanitizer and insect repellent
- Pesos and a no-foreign-fee card
- Passport and copies
Tech
- Phone with offline maps
- A power bank
- A camera
- No adapter needed from the US · Type A and B plugs, 127 volts
What not to pack
- Chemical sunscreen with oxybenzone or octinoxate · not allowed at cenotes, eco-parks and protected reef areas; you will have to swap it
- A power adapter, if you are coming from the US · Mexico uses Type A and B plugs at 127 volts
- Any plan to drink the tap water · stick to bottled or filtered water
- Valuables and good jewelry
- Glass bottles for the beach
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Reef-safe sunscreen is required, not just encouraged
In Quintana Roo, which covers Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, the cenotes, the eco-parks like Xcaret and Xel-Ha, and the CONANP-protected natural areas require reef-safe sunscreen, and it is widely signposted along the coast. Only a mineral, zinc-based sunscreen qualifies, so pack one or buy it there.
Water shoes for the cenotes
Many cenote entries and shorelines are sharp limestone rock. Water shoes make it painless, and they stay put in the water where flip-flops float off.
Do not drink the tap water
Stick to bottled or filtered water, avoid ice from unknown sources, and pack rehydration sachets and an anti-diarrhoea remedy in case a stomach upset finds you anyway.
Check the sargassum forecast before you pick a beach
The Caribbean coast gets sargassum, a brown seaweed that washes ashore mainly from spring through summer and can be heavy in some years. Tulum is often hit hardest, while sheltered spots like Isla Mujeres and Playa Mujeres tend to stay clearer, and many resorts run daily cleanup crews. Check a current sargassum tracker before you commit to a beach, and pack water shoes either way.
The things people forget
- A mineral reef-safe sunscreen, chemical ones are banned in cenotes
- Water shoes for the sharp cenote entries
- Insect repellent for the jungle and evenings
- Pesos, as small places are cash-only
What people wish they had packed
- A rash guard for long snorkel sessions
- A dry bag for the boat and cenotes
- A second and third swimsuit
- Rehydration sachets, just in case
Frequently asked questions
What should you pack for Cancun and the Riviera Maya?
A mineral reef-safe sunscreen, plenty of quick-dry swimwear, water shoes for the cenotes, light breathable clothes, a hat and sunglasses, insect repellent, and pesos with a no-fee card. The reef-safe sunscreen is the one thing you cannot skip on the Caribbean coast.
Do you need reef-safe sunscreen in Mexico?
Yes on the Caribbean coast. In Quintana Roo, the cenotes, eco-parks like Xcaret and Xel-Ha and protected natural areas require reef-safe sunscreen and turn away chemical ones with oxybenzone and octinoxate. Bring a mineral sunscreen with zinc or titanium oxide.
Do you need a power adapter for Mexico?
Not if you are traveling from the US or Canada, because Mexico's Type A and B sockets run at 127 volts and take North American plugs as they are. Pack an adapter only if you are coming from Europe, the UK, Australia or somewhere else with different sockets.
What do people forget to pack for Mexico?
A mineral reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes for the cenotes, insect repellent, pesos for cash-only places, a dry bag, and rehydration sachets for the odd stomach upset.