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The Ultimate Mexico Packing List: Everything You Need To Have
Read all you need to know about what to pack for your trip to Mexico, tips and more, and get ready for your next adventure!
Mexico is an exciting holiday destination that attracts millions of visitors every year. With warm weather, sandy beaches, and some of the best food in the world, it’s easy to see why.
You have every right to be excited about your Mexico trip, but if you forget to take some essential items with you, you may miss out on part of the fun. That’s why it’s always a good idea to create a Mexico packing list before your trip and use it when you’re filling up your suitcase.
To help you out, we’ve come up with the ultimate Mexico packing list with all the essentials that you should have with you when visiting Mexico. Adjust it slightly to match your personal needs, and you have yourself the perfect list to follow before your trip.
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Mexico packing essentials
Here is the list of essential things that you must take in your suitcase to Mexico. Some of these apply to any international trip, while others are aimed directly at allowing you to enjoy Mexico to the fullest.
Passport and visa
Forgetting your passport is one of the worst things you can do when traveling. Whether you’re flying or driving in, you won’t be allowed to pass the border without your passport, so make sure you have it with you before you leave the house.
You’ll also need to fill out an immigration document that authorizes your entry and exit from the country for a maximum period of 180 days.
If you are a citizen of a member country of the Schengen area, the USA, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom, you will not need a visa. For other countries, we recommend you check the website of the embassy or the Mexican consular office in your country.
If you travel to Mexico for work, study, or as a digital nomad for a period longer than 180 days, you must meet additional requirements and process other types of visas or special permits.
Travel and health insurance
While there are no requirements for you to carry additional travel and health insurance in Mexico, it’s still a good idea to have them for your own peace of mind. It protects you from the damages of losing your suitcases or having to pay crazy medical bills in case you get into an emergency.
Depending on the insurance you choose, you will have different types of coverage for medical assistance, lost or damaged luggage, accidents, hospitalization expenses, travel delays, legal coverage, and other services.
Plane ticket
If you’re taking a plane to Mexico, make sure to have your plane tickets with you. Thankfully, we live in a digital age and you can simply have them on your phone. That said, it’s a good idea to have both physical and digital copies of your ticket, just in case your phone dies on you.
It’s also a good idea to send digital copies to the people that you’re traveling with. That way, if you can’t access your tickets yourself, you’ll be able to use the devices of your travel partners to get through the check-in process.
Driving license
Renting a car in Mexico is one of the best ways to get to know the country at your own pace and with a little more freedom. You can use car rental services such as Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Budget, National Car Rental, or Alamo Rent a Car.
You can fill out your rental request on the internet or when you arrive at the airport. However, you must be over 25 years of age, have a valid driver’s license, apply for an international driving permit, and have an international credit card with available funds to rent a car successfully.
Internet connection in Mexico
It’s hard to imagine traveling abroad without an internet connection nowadays. You can use the public Wi-Fi network of the airport, the hotel, or the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico, but these connections are neither fast nor secure.
To have the best experience, we recommend you look at the Holafly eSIM for Mexico. With unlimited data and completely flexible plan durations, you’ll always be able to access the web, no matter where you go.
Of course, there are other options, such as prepaid SIM cards or pocket WiFi, but these tend to be more expensive and less convenient than using an eSIM.
Advantages of the Holafly eSIM or virtual card
- You don’t need a physical SIM card, just a device compatible with eSIM;
- Share up to 500 MB of data with those traveling with you;
- Unlimited data and flexible plan durations;
- eSIM for Mexico, Canada, and the USA available
- Buy, set up, and activate online from anywhere in the world;
- Immediate delivery of the eSIM by email;
- You keep your WhatsApp number and SIM card;
- You get coverage in the main cities and tourist destinations;
- Use the Holafly eSIM App for Android and iOS for a better user experience;
- Super flexible refund policies in case the service doesn’t work as expected;
- 24/7 customer support in multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
Cash and credit card
Having cash on hand is a good idea whenever your travel abroad. While you’ll be able to pay with your credit or debit card in most places nowadays, you may still need cash for a taxi, street food, or goods at a local market.
You may want to get some Mexican pesos before your trip, since exchanges near airports or borders can sometimes offer worse exchange rates.
Clothes and footwear
While Mexico is known for pleasant weather all year round, the clothes and shoes you pack may still depend on when you visit. The rainy season lasts from May to September, so you may want to pack a light rain jacket just in case. While the winter months are a bit cooler and may require you to pack a sweater or two.
Clothes that cannot be missing in your suitcase to Mexico
- Light sweater: Whether you’re visiting in the colder months or simply plan to go out at night, packing a light sweater to Mexico is a good idea;
- Comfortable pants: Choose pants in light fabrics to support very hot days, it can be in linen or cotton to absorb sweat from your body;
- Shorts: Not a fan of pants? The weather is warm enough for shorts nearly year-round;
- Swimsuit: Mexico is a famous beach vacation spot thanks to its beautiful beaches and pleasant weather. Needless to say, you should make sure to pack your swimsuit whenever you visit;
- Warm clothes: Warm clothes may not be a must in the Summer, but if you’re visiting in the winter, pack a warmer sweater or even a light jacket, since it can get quite cool early in the morning or late at night;
- Sunglasses and hats: There’s never a shortage of sunshine in Mexico, so make sure you pack your sunglasses and a hat to be a bit more comfortable in the sun.
Comfortable and versatile footwear
You are not going to Mexico to sit during your trip, so do not forget the appropriate footwear in your suitcase. It will depend on the place you go to, but the essentials are:
- Sneakers or other comfortable shoes: Whether it’s for exploring Mexico city, taking a day to visit the shops, or any other activity that requires you to be on your feet — having comfortable shoes is a must;
- Flip-flops and sandals: Flip-flops and sandals are great options for short walks to the beach or simply taking the day off and relaxing by the pool at your hotel;
- Trekking shoes: Mexico has plenty of good hiking spots, but if you plan on doing some hikes, take your trekking shoes with you.
Essential accessories
Make room for a bag to store your toiletries and personal care products, a sewing kit, a first aid kit, and other items that can make your life easier.
Toiletry bag and sewing kit
Toiletry and personal care products should always be protected with a waterproof toiletry bag. Remember that you can carry a maximum of 10 containers, each of 100 ml, in the plane cabin or travel suitcase, for the safety of the passengers.
The products that you can take in your suitcase to Mexico are:
- Moisturizer, soap, and deodorant;
- Toothpaste and toothbrush;
- Daily protectors and sanitary pads;
- Basic makeup kit (If you need it);
- Sunscreen;
- Sewing kit.
First-aid kit
A first aid kit is something you always hope that you won’t need, but it’s good to have one handy just in case.
- Paracetamol: It is one of those inevitable medicines that is very useful so for fever or pain;
- Antidiarrheals: Sometimes your stomach may not respond very well to local food, so having something to calm your stomach helps;
- Omeprazole: For reflux or gastritis, take some omeprazole capsules with you, they can save the day;
- Moisturizing lip balm: Whether due to the sun or the cold, tsome lip balm will help you avoid the uncomfortable dryness;
- Insect repellent: Mexico has its fair share of insects that range from annoying, to downright dangerous. Have some insect repellent handy just in case.
- Sunscreen: Going on vacation isn’t an excuse not to take care of your skin. Make sure to wear sunscreen at all times to avoid annoying and painful sunburns.
Airplane rest kit
Depending on where you’re traveling from, the trip to Mexico may take quite some time. With hours on the airplane and at airports between flights, it’s always a good idea to pack a travel pillow, eye cover, ear plugs, and a light blanket, which can also be replaced by your beach cover-up.
You can take a book or pack a small board game to keep yourself and your co-travellers entertained.
What to pack in your carry-on suitcase to Mexico
Unfortunately, you never know if your check-in luggage will arrive in Mexico with you. But if you pack your carry-on thoughtfully, a delayed delivery of your luggage becomes much less of an issue. Here are some things you might want to take on board with you:
- Clothing: Clothes for two or three days, some shorts, light long pants, underwear, and a bathing suit;
- Footwear: You probably already have comfortable sneakers on, but don’t forget to pack an extra pair of shoes;
- Basic makeup kit: In case you need it, imagine that you lose your suitcase, taking it with you is a relief if you use it daily;
- Documents and money: Personal documents, reservations, travel guides, bank cards, and cash;
- Electronics: Chargers, camera, laptop, and cellphone. They are essential items that you should not lose sight of;
- Rest kit: The trip is not short and you are going to wear it;
Prepare your travel suitcase with a green seal
Take care of the environment while you travel and prepare your suitcase with a green seal:
- Take a reusable water bottle, avoid buying plastic bottles at airports and using them during your trip;
- Bring a cloth bag for your purchases;
- For your hygiene products, take your travel kit with small bottles;
- Use ecological toothbrushes;
- The documents you need have them on hand in digital versions.
Complete your own Mexico packing list
The packing list above should be enough to give you basic guidelines of what you should have with you when you visit Mexico. That said, the list is far from exhaustive, add the things you can’t imagine traveling without and make your own ultimate packing list.
Just remember to double-check that you’ve packed everything before you leave the house.
Frequent questions about what to pack for your trip to Mexico
Mexico is known for pleasant weather all year round, but that doesn’t mean that there are no seasons in the country. Wintertime can get slightly chilly, so pack some warmer clothes. Summer is the rainy season, so you may want to have a rain jacket handy.
Other than that, pack plenty of t-shirts, lighter clothing, and don’t forget your beach bag, since you’ll probably be spending a lot of time drinking in the sun at the beach.
It’s better to exchange some euros for Mexican pesos before your trip. You don’t know what exchange rates you’ll find when you arrive, so it’s best to have a small amount of money in the local currency ready in advance.
The number of suitcases depends on the means of transport you choose. If you are traveling by plane, check the airline’s baggage policies. If you plan to rent a car, the number of suitcases you can take depends simply on how many you’re able to fit in the car.
