The Mexico Guides

What to Pack for Mexico: A Practical Packing List

· 2 min read Practical
Mexico market packing essentials

Contents

  1. Universal essentials
  2. Clothing
  3. Gear
  4. What not to pack
  5. What to buy in Mexico

Mexico spans beach resorts, colonial highland cities, jungle ruins, and mountain villages. What you pack depends on where you’re going — but there are basics that apply to almost every itinerary.

Universal essentials

Sun protection

  • SPF 50+ sunscreen — Mexico’s UV index is high year-round at all latitudes. Reef-safe sunscreen is required at cenotes and some marine reserves
  • A rash guard or UPF shirt for water activities (required at most cenotes in lieu of sunscreen)
  • Sunglasses with UV protection

Insect protection

  • DEET-based repellent (30–50%) — necessary for jungle areas, the Yucatán in summer, cenotes at dusk, and any area near standing water
  • Permethrin-treated clothing if spending time in jungle or archaeological sites

Health

  • Oral rehydration salts
  • Loperamide (for traveller’s diarrhoea)
  • Any prescription medications (bring enough, with documentation)
  • Basic wound kit (antiseptic, plasters)

Documents

  • Passport with at least 6 months validity
  • Keep a photographed copy of your passport and FMM tourist card in email/cloud storage
  • Travel insurance policy number and emergency phone number

Clothing

For beach/coastal areas

  • Lightweight, quick-dry clothing
  • Swimwear (pack more than you think — it’s on every day)
  • Sandals and one pair of closed shoes
  • A light cardigan for AC in restaurants and bus journeys

For colonial cities and highlands

  • Mexico City, Oaxaca, Guanajuato, San Miguel: days are warm (20–26°C), evenings cool (10–15°C)
  • A mid-layer (light fleece or jacket) is essential for highland evenings
  • Comfortable walking shoes — cobblestone streets are hard on feet, so avoid flip flops as your only footwear

For both

  • A light rain jacket if travelling May–October
  • Neutral-coloured clothing for visiting churches and indigenous communities (some have dress codes)

Gear

Electronics

  • UK/EU plugs work with Mexico’s Type A/B sockets with an adaptor (or buy a Mexican SIM and charge at local voltage)
  • Mexico uses 127V/60Hz — check your device compatibility (most modern electronics are 100–240V)
  • A portable power bank is useful

Bags

  • A crossbody or anti-theft bag for daily use — easier in markets and crowds than a backpack
  • A daypack for day trips and archaeological sites
  • Luggage locks

What not to pack

  • Expensive jewellery: leave it at home
  • Multiple guidebooks: Mexico has good coverage on Google Maps, and paper guides take space
  • Excessive toiletries: everything is available in Mexican pharmacies (Farmacias del Ahorro, Benavides, Similares) — sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and toiletries are cheap and widely available

What to buy in Mexico

  • A hammock (Mérida is the hammock capital of the world)
  • Mezcal (check duty-free limits — most countries allow 1–3 litres)
  • Talavera ceramics (from Puebla — check it’s authentic)
  • Handwoven textiles (from Oaxacan market vendors or Teotitlán del Valle)
  • Vanilla extract (Veracruz produces excellent vanilla — buy whole beans or pure extract)