What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (2024)

When it comes to your vacations, there are countless locations to choose from. However, if you think about the top contenders for the best vacation destinations in the world, one of them is Mexico.This country is a famous destination year-round and it is for a good reason. After all, Mexico is vast and diverse, and beautiful both in terms of the weather and the landscape. Moreover, you will never be short of new foods or beverages to try and activities to do.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (1)

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1What to Wear in Mexico:

2A Year-Round Packing List

2.1What To Wear in Mexico

2.2Mexico Clothing Style:

2.3Climate in Mexico

2.4Mexican Tend to Be Conservative

2.5Liberal Values, but Conservative Dress

2.6Cover Your Shoulders

2.7Bring Good Footwear

2.8What To Wear in Mexico City and Other Cities

2.9Central Mexico is Cooler

2.10Mexico City: Pack White!

2.11What To Wear in Mexico in Spring

2.12What to Wear in Mexico in Summertime

2.13Packing List for Spring and Summer

2.14What To Wear in Mexico in Fall and Winter

2.15Outfits When Visiting Historical and Religious Sites

2.16How To Organize Your Travel Pack

2.16.1Pack Only The Essentials

2.16.2Roll Your Clothes

2.16.3Use Packing Cubes

2.17More Traveling Tips For Your Mexico Trip

2.18Accommodations

2.19Transportation

2.20Shopping

2.21Activities To Do in Mexico

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (2)Mexico has several unique cities and regions to visit. But before you hit the road and start traveling, you might want to know what to wear in Mexico.Also, don’t forget important things for your trips like important hotel documents, travel documents, a travel wallet, and credit cards. You should also apply for travel insurance, (just in case!).

Is this your first time traveling to Mexico? Read on to learn some fashion tips on how you can look stylish and feel comfortable while on vacation in Mexico.

What To Wear in Mexico

Mexico is located right below the United States, in southern North America. This country is known for its rich history, cultural festivals, bright colors, beautiful beaches, and signature cuisine.

Mexico has plenty of popular tourist destinations in the east and west coastal areas. Mexico’s capital, Mexico City, is a great place to visit too.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (3)Here’s what you are going to need for your Mexico packing list:

Mexico Clothing Style:

When thinking about what clothes to pack for Mexico, keep in mind that the clothing style in this country ranges from traditional dresses to stylish jeans, tank tops, yoga pants, leggings, and bathing suits, and sundresses. And while the overall style involves casual clothing, especially in the big cosmopolitan hubs and big cities. But some professions require people to wear a certain dress code or uniforms if you live here for any length of time.

Moreover, heat and proximity to the beach influence styles in coastal areas. They prefer looser, lightweight fabrics and silhouettes.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (4)

Climate in Mexico

The climate in Mexico makes fashion somewhat lukewarm throughout the year. There is more focus on functional items. This country has everything from deserts to rainforests and beautiful beaches. As such, your Mexico City or San Miguel de Allende outfits will look different than both your Tulum outfits or Cancun/Cabo outfits. And all your Mexico vacation outfits will be different in the summer months and winter months and in different regions.

However, you will find yourself needing different colors that are bright, loose fabrics, and as many swimsuits as you can bring.

Mexican Tend to Be Conservative

If you are to take a cruise or boat around the coast, it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket or throw. In a beach resort, you may feel the need to bare some skin. But if you are going to visit villages and towns, you might want to dress a bit more conservatively.You see, most Mexicans are modest and conservative in their clothing.

Liberal Values, but Conservative Dress

Mexicans prefer denim pants, button-down shirts, and long sleeve shirts made of natural fabrics in bigger cities and pueblos. You will also see Mexican women and men wearing T-shirts and pairs of shorts, even in warmer months.Mexico has liberal values but a conservative dress. Mexican women are free people who love wearing dresses. You will notice that most women are dressed in long pants and long skirts.

Cover Your Shoulders

However, around the popular travel destinations on the west coasts, most summer clothing is acceptable. Make sure to bring pieces to cover your shoulders and long trousers or skirts if you plan to visit any religious sites such as cathedrals.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (5)

Bring Good Footwear

As for the best footwear to pack in your travel backpack, it depends on the place you are planning on visiting and the activities you are going to do.If you are going to the west coast of Mexico, a pair of sandals is a great option. That is because a large amount of your time will be spent exploring beaches and beach towns. Wearing sandals will help you stay cooled off and comfortable during your trip.

Make sure to bring a comfortable pair of shoes for walking. You might want to bring a slip-on style like flip flops or slides to take on and off for the beach.Don’t forget to take along a comfortable pair of shoes for hiking and other more active excursions. One of the most comfortable shoes is sneakers. You can wear them while exploring parts of cities and towns that are not as close to the beach.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (6)

What To Wear in Mexico City and Other Cities

Most of the best places frequented by travelers and visitors are located in Central Mexico. This area of Mexico has the following places:

  • Cuernavaca
  • Guanajuato
  • Mexico City
  • Oaxaca City
  • Puerto Vallarta
  • San Cristóbal de las Casas
  • San Miguel de Allende
  • Zihuatanejo

Central Mexico is Cooler

Central Mexico has colder climates than other areas in the country. Places in this part of Mexico have cool nights, with the temperature dipping to 40 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter. It climbs to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day in the spring and summertime. Although, for the most part of the year, Central Mexico has gorgeous weather. After all, it is known to have an eternal spring climate.

Mexico City: Pack White!

You might want to consult the weather before you pick out your cute outfits for Mexico vacation. That is because Mexico City’s weather varies a lot. So, you might want to check your Mexico City packing list. When visiting Mexico City, make sure to pack a white dress, a shoulder dress, a maxi dress, or even white pants.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (7)You will see several Mexico City local people and tourists wearing white clothes. That’s because a white dress perfectly matches almost everything. This outfit also goes beautifully in pictures with the most famous landmarks in this city like the Angel of Independence.

What To Wear in Mexico in Spring

You will notice that during the spring, the weather in the Baja California Sur region is traditionally quite warm. The temperature during the days in this season averages 80 degrees.

If you are planning to visit Mexico at the beginning of spring, you can wear shorts, skirts, short-sleeve tops, and dresses. And since nights can become a bit cooler, you will want to wear light layers to stay comfortable, like a light sweater or jacket.

What to Wear in Mexico in Summertime

As for summertime, you might want to wear skimpy clothing since the weather is hot and humid in this season. If you are going inland or to a town or city, consider options that are breezy but more stylish. Perhaps you can wear wide-legged palazzo pants and a tank top in cool fabrics, such as cotton or linen.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (8) Packing List for Spring and Summer

You might want to remember that in spring, the sun can be intense. So, you might want to pack a wide-brimmed hat, a sun hat, or a straw hat, to help keep the sun off your face.To protect your eyes from the scorching Mexican sun, you can bring sunglasses.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (9)Because of the tropical weather, you can wear dresses, tops, and a bathing suit with bright colors or even bright white, especially if you want to stand out.Mexican beach outfits are pretty standard. You don’t need to dress fancy unless you are going to a high-end beach club. You might also want to invest in plenty of sunscreens, an eco-friendly bug spray, mosquito repellent bracelets, a beach bag, and a towel.

Bonus Local Tip: Don’t forget your travel umbrella and water bottles.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (10)Some of the top Mexico beach destinations for your beach vacation include Puerto Vallarta, Tulum, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Escondido, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, La Paz, Rocky Point, and Todos Santos.

Most of these places have the same weather as the Yucatan region. Yucatán Peninsula weather has temperatures with five to ten degrees Fahrenheit hotter because of humidity, especially in the dry season.

What To Wear in Mexico in Fall and Winter

The east coast of Mexico has a wet season or rainy season in the fall. So, you should prepare for some tropical rain showers on some days. Make sure to pack a travel umbrella.

Winter in Mexico City during the day feels comfortable. But in the early mornings and evenings, it is cold enough for you to wear a coat.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (11)Although, depending on what part of the country you are visiting during the wintertime, you might want to bring a rainproof option. You can pack a waterproof jacket, shell, or poncho.

Outfits When Visiting Historical and Religious Sites

It is a good idea to dress a bit more modestly when you visit historical or religious sites in Mexico. If you are planning to visit the Yucatan region like Chichen Itza or Mayan ruins in the dry season, you should pack comfortable clothing. Make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and lip balm. Don’t wear open-toe shoes or high heels.

How To Organize Your Travel Pack

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (12)Here are some tips to help you organize your travel backpack:

Pack Only The Essentials

You should not bring anything that you are not 100 percent sure you are going to use. Clothes that you do not wear at home are not going to be worn while traveling. These things will just end up taking up so much room in your bag.

Roll Your Clothes

You should roll your clothes instead of folding them. It will leave you with so much space in your bag that you can use to store other things that you might need during your trip.

Use Packing Cubes

Do you want an effective way to organize your travel wardrobe? You should use packing cubes. You can find packing cubes in the market with a numbering or color system. This way, you can easily identify where everything is. You can also use packing cubes to pack shoes and accessories and to separate the clean clothes from the dirty ones in your luggage.

More Traveling Tips For Your Mexico Trip

Mexican people are extremely welcoming and helpful. And while it will help a lot if you learn a bit of Spanish before your trip, you will have less worry if you visit tourist destinations on the coasts. These areas have several friendly English-speaking locals.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (13)Accommodations

As for the accommodation, Mexico has several all-inclusive resorts, family hotels, private villas, volunteer housing, Airbnb Casas, and hostels. Eco-villas and eco-resorts are also steadily growing in this country.

Transportation

Most of your transportation in your trip around Mexico will be via automobile. You can drive or take the vast network of buses. In Mexico, driving is the main mode of transport.Buses can take a while to get from place to place since Mexico is expansive in land area. But they are cheap so you can lessen your additional cost. They are also quite comfortable and air-conditioned too.

Mexico also has reliable airline connections. Its airports are in good proximity to most of the tourist destinations. Flight times are also reasonable from the United States, so a weekend getaway might be a great option for you.

Shopping

If you arrive in Mexico and realize you have not packed everything you need, you will be relieved to know that many of Mexico’s popular tourist destinations have several stores where you can pick up both imported and locally made clothing and accessories. You can find them at any time of year. You can even purchase your essentials from a grocery store near the tourist spot you are planning to visit.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (14)

Shopping is fun in this country. Mexico is also the right place for finding deals on silver jewelry and stones, such as turquoise and opal.

There are also smaller shops and stalls in flea markets. It is common to barter to get a lower price in these places. That’s because vendors often post their asking price higher than they are willing to sell each item for.

Activities To Do in Mexico

If you are looking for the greatest attractions in Mexico and one of the new world wonders, it’s the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. Mexico has plenty of tourist parks along the coasts that have theme parks and adventure parks close by. So, if you want a little more action on your trip, you might want to visit these places. You can also go ziplining and ATV riding in these areas.

If you are into watersports, close to the coast you will find easily accessible snorkeling and scuba diving activities. They have options for beginners and seasoned divers.

You can also try paddleboarding, fishing, or enjoy the view from a privately chartered catamaran cruise.

And for some real Mexican culture, you can enjoy Mexico’s many festivals. Taking place in the middle of fall is the Dia de Los Muertos. It has huge celebrations and events throughout the entire country. In winter, Mexican festivals include Dia de Los Inocentes, La Posada, and New Year’s Eve.

Several websites with recent trip reviews on the internet are as helpful as a tour guide since they can help you plan your itinerary. They may also have affiliate links since some of the writers are amazon associates.

What to Wear in Mexico: A Year-Round Packing List (2024)

FAQs

How do I not overpack for Mexico? ›

Basic Packing Checklist
  1. Casual clothes (trousers/pants, jeans, shorts, T-shirts, collared shirts or blouses)
  2. Light sweater or jacket.
  3. Semi-formal clothes and dress shoes (for 1-2 evenings, depending on the length of your cruise)
  4. Bathing suit and a cover-up or wrap.
  5. Comfortable walking shoes or sandals with rubber soles.

What clothes to pack for 2 weeks in Mexico? ›

Mexico packing list: Clothes and accessories
  • T-shirts and tank tops.
  • Blouses or dress shirts.
  • Dresses and skirts.
  • Shorts and lightweight pants.
  • Light jacket or sweater.
  • Rain jacket (if you're travelling between May to October)
  • Bathing suits.
  • Beach cover-ups.
Jul 3, 2023

How do most people dress in Mexico? ›

In general, Mexico City fashion is more casual than in the United States or Europe. Amongst chilangos (Mexico City locals), you'll find that most folks dress modestly with jeans and teeshirts. Even in the hottest parts of the year, most locals will wear pants rather than shorts.

Should I pack jeans for Mexico? ›

Mexican style includes everything from traditional dresses to fashionable jeans and stylish tops. Most Mexicans dress more modestly, including wearing jeans and pants even in the warmest months. Packing dresses, lightweight long pants, and capris will help you blend in more, especially outside of coastal areas.

What not to bring to Mexico? ›

You are prohibited from bringing the following items into Mexico
  • Narcotic drugs.
  • Electronic cigarettes.
  • Used clothing that is not part of your personal luggage.
  • Some over-the-counter medicines commonly used in the United States, including inhalers and some allergy and sinus medications.

How do I make sure I don't overpack? ›

How to Avoid Overpacking for Vacation: 10 Useful Tips
  1. Make a checklist beforehand.
  2. Pack a mini capsule wardrobe.
  3. Choose outfits ahead of time.
  4. Replace full-size toiletries for travel size.
  5. Book a destination with a laundry service.
  6. Consider packing multipurpose footwear.
  7. Avoid packing items “just in case”
Jul 12, 2022

How many pairs of clothes should I bring on a 2 week trip? ›

Pack in threes.

Plan to bring three pairs of socks, underwear, and shirts. This way you'll have just enough of each item to wash one, dry one, and wear one. Pants can usually be worn more than once, so two pairs should suffice. This rule only applies to the staples that you'll be wearing everyday.

How much money should you take to Mexico for 2 weeks? ›

For budget travelers, you can expect to spend around $30 to $50 per day in Mexico, including accommodation, food, transportation, and activities. For mid-range travelers, you can expect to spend around $80 to $150 per day, depending on your preferences and activities.

How many outfits to pack for 15 day trip? ›

However, you should have an outfit for every day, plus extras for the weather. Therefore, you should include at least 14-16 outfits in your packing list. However, that doesn't mean you must wear completely different clothing each day.

What do Mexican ladies wear? ›

The most common traditional Mexican garments are the huipil, a loose-fitting tunic worn by women; the sarape, a colorful woolen blanket-like shawl worn by men; and the sombrero, a wide-brimmed hat that protects the wearer from the sun. Long, flowing skirts have also been a staple of Mexican fashion for centuries.

How can I look good in Mexico? ›

Lightweight pants with pockets are key. They are equal parts basic and stylish, and can be dressed up or dressed down. Short skirts and shorts are a no-no for most travelers – you really stick out in Mexico as a North American when you wear these.

Can I wear leggings in Mexico City? ›

You'll want to bring layers that you can easily put on or take off depending on the temperature. Some good options are: A light jacket or sweater that you can wear over a t-shirt or blouse. Jeans, leggings or skirts that are comfortable and versatile.

Should I bring shoes to Mexico? ›

If hiking through nature or up pyramids, sneakers and hiking boots are a must. You may also want to bring at least one pair of closed-toed dress shoes for going out to more upscale restaurants and clubs, particularly if you plan on spending time in a city.

What shoes to wear on vacation in Mexico? ›

Since a large amount of time is spent exploring beaches and beach towns, sandals are a must to stay cooled off and comfortable during your trip. Bring a comfortable pair for walking, as well as a slip-on style such as flip flops or slides to take on and off easily for the beach.

How to pack for 7 days in Mexico? ›

Mexico Packing List
  1. Travel Backpack. You don't need to travel with just a daypack like I did, but it is much easier to navigate Mexico without dragging a suitcase behind you. ...
  2. Shorts or Skirt. ...
  3. Shoes: Sandals and Sneakers. ...
  4. Tank Tops or T-Shirts. ...
  5. Bathing Suit. ...
  6. Bug Spray and Sunscreen. ...
  7. Medications. ...
  8. Sarong or Quick-Dry Towel.
Sep 2, 2023

Do they check your bags going into Mexico? ›

The traditional Green Light/Red Light system is no longer in use here. Instead, your bags are scanned by customs officials before they even reach the carousels.

Can I pack food in my carry on to Mexico? ›

As a rule of thumb you are allowed to bring into Mexico whatever you need for the time period you will be staying in Mexico. You are not allowed to bring food, fruits and/or products that are not "company" packed and sealed.

How much merchandise can I take to Mexico by air? ›

Duty-free allowance

Persons that reside in the north border are allowed to import merchandise for up to $150.00 USD. During holiday periods –Easter, Summer, Christmas, New Year-, passengers may import up to $500.00 USD. Passengers entering Mexico by air or maritime port may import up to $500.00 USD.

Do I need to fill out before going to Mexico? ›

Stays less than 72 hours within the border area, do not require an Official Entry Immigration Form (FMM). U.S. citizens who travel as tourists beyond the “border zone” or enter by air must fill out an Official Entry Immigration Form (FMM), which is provided by commercial airlines or at the Mexican airport of entry.

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