The Riviera Maya is one of my favorite areas of Mexico! Whether you are visiting Tulum, Akumal, Playa del Carmen, or Cozumel, this area has some of the best beaches and clearest blue-green water around. There are also so many amazing things to do in this area, and is also conveniently located within 2-2.5 hours of some of Mexico’s most popular attractions and adventures!

This isn’t my first rodeo in Mexico, nor will it be my last!

So here is everything I’ve learned to pack for a trip to the Riviera Maya to ensure an unforgettable experience:

The Best Time to Visit the Riviera Maya

• Dry Season in the Riviera Maya is from November through April, also making this the busiest time for tourism!
• Shoulder Season is from May to early June. This is a good time to go because the weather is still generally pleasant and there are fewer crowds, which also means lower prices!
• Low (Wet) Season is from September to November, with September and October being peak hurricane months. Technically hurricane season in Mexico runs from June to November, so I would suggest skipping Mexico in these months.

Essential Clothing and Accessories

• Plenty of tank tops: It is either warm or hot during the dry season. Be sure to bring those tank tops so you can stay cool and achieve the right tan!

• Plenty of shorts: Jean shorts, biker shorts, cotton shorts, work-out shorts… it doesn’t matter! Just bring three or more pairs, depending on how long you plan on staying.

• Lounge clothes: Bring what you would normally wear when you’re just lounging around the house because you won’t always be out and about. Try to make yourself at home!

• Plenty of underwear and socks: A pair or two for every day that you are in the Riviera Maya, travel days included. Need I say more?

• Extra bras (for the ladies): It will be hot. You will sweat a lot. Bring more bras!

• Dressy clothes: Whether you prefer dresses or dressy blouses and skirts, you need to bring a few options. There are going to be many fine dining options and photographic moments for which you don’t want to be dressed down. I always pack a few sundresses and dressier blouses.  

• Sun hat: Bring a wide-brimmed sun hat for those dressy days or just to protect yourself from the sun.

• Other hats: I usually bring one or two baseball caps to wear on my t-shirt and shorts days. 

• Swimwear: A different swimsuit for every day is absolutely necessary! You will want to dive into that beautiful turquoise water every day, multiple times a day! Don’t forget your cover-ups. 

• Flip-flops & sandals: If you’re like me, you want pairs of each, and one black pair and one brown pair. I don’t know if I’d recommend white shoes unless you know you’re going to be walking on straight asphalt or cobblestone. It is super sandy in the Riviera Maya, and a lot of these places are lined with dirt roads. I also recommend that you bring at least one pair of dressy sandals for those days that you do want to be somewhat dressy, but don’t feel like heels or wedges.

• At least two pairs of casual shoes: For out-and-about or activities that don’t involve hiking or long treks, I always bring my tried and true Keds or Taos sneakers. If you’re a Converse fan, bring those! If you just like your Adidas, bring those. Just remember to bring your favorite everyday shoes!

• Sunglasses: Bring one or two pairs. I love my Ray-bans!

• A versatile, quick-drying towel: You should pack a good, lightweight, quick-drying towel that repels sand. I personally like Nomadix for traveling because it comes with a stuff-sack (to save space) and it repels that musty odor towels can get when they stay wet for far too long!

• A dry bag: Especially if you are going to be doing any snorkeling or scuba trips that are combined with land activities. You want to keep your land clothes dry while on the boat!

• Essential jewelry: I would not suggest bringing your entire collection of jewels, but I usually bring a nice watch, favorite rings, earrings, a couple necklaces, and a couple bracelets that could go with anything. I recommend investing in a jewelry roll that you can store in your carry-on, so that you don’t lose your valuables!

Essential Toiletries

I have been known to get a little out of control with my toiletry packing. I have learned over the years that you don’t need a lot of that stuff! It just weighs you down and takes up space. I have also adopted a little bit more of a minimal existence since I got married and became a mom, which happens to the best of us. It’s not a bad thing! It has actually been for the better. Here’s what I think the average person not participating in the Miss Universe pageant needs to pack.

• Sunscreen: I like to use reef-safe sunscreen for any trip where I’m frolicking in the ocean. Some say that no sunscreen is safe for the coral reefs, but I have that seriously fair German-Irish redhead skin that severely burns after being exposed in the Riviera Maya for 30 minutes… so yes, I am 100% going to wear sunscreen! 

• Aloe: Because no matter how hard you try, sometimes the sun just gets ya!!

• Dry Shampoo:There are many days when I want to just get up and get on with the activities of the day as fast as I possibly can, and dry shampoo helps me do that! Instead of washing my hair in the morning, I simply do a few sprays of Batiste, massage my hair around, flop it around a few times, and throw it up in a fresh-looking ponytail! Easy, and it smells great too!
• Deodorant: It’s going to be hot. There is no way that you aren’t going to need deodorant.

• Travel toothbrush: Such as these bamboo toothbrushes. I bring these instead of my big, clunky electric toothbrush to save space.

• Travel toothpaste: Just find a travel-sized container or two of your favorite toothpaste to save space.

• Travel shampoo & conditioner: If you don’t have smaller travel containers, try finding the travel-sized versions of your favorite shampoo and conditioner. 

• Waterproof mascara: Between the ocean, the pool, and the sweat, you’re going to need a mascara that can stand the test of daily water activity!

• Waterproof eyeliner: Ditto waterproof mascara. I use several colors of Urban Decay.

• Eye shadow: Bring your favorite palette of eye shadow, but don’t overdo it! Just bring one with a good mix of colors.

• Tinted moisturizer:This may not be you, but I personally never use foundation or blush. Every now and then, a bronzer in sun-kissed destinations, but I can’t stand powdering my face! I use this tinted moisturizer which doubles as a moisturizer (although I still put my normal moisturizer on first) and added color. 

• Concealer: I almost always have to put concealer under my eyes. Bring a stick, just in case!

• Hydrating primer: I never put makeup on without a primer, and this one is hydrating and smells good too!

• Bronzer: Every now and then I have to add a little extra color to my cheeks so that I look like I belong in the Riviera Maya. My skin is just ungodly pale!
• Travel soap: If you’re like me, you don’t like using the soap provided by your place of stay, I always bring a travel-sized bottle of Dr. Bronner.

• Body lotion: Don’t think that just because you’re getting a salt scrub in the ocean doesn’t mean you won’t get dried out! Be prepared to lather up!

• SPF-facial moisturizer: 100% bring a face lotion that is AT LEAST SPF-15. Seriously.

• Under-eye patches: If you sleep on your stomach and always wake up with puffy eyes like me, you are going to need to bring a pair of eye patches for each day.
• Bug-spray: There can be a lot of mosquitos, so have some quality repellent on hand. 

• Bug balm: In the event that you do get attacked by mosquitos and sand fleas, have something on hand to soothe those bites.

• A travel-sized first aid kit: I highly recommend bringing a small first aid kit with you wherever you go, because you never know what is going to happen in a country that you aren’t familiar with! These kits will usually have remedies for headaches and stomach ailments as well, which can be necessary in unfamiliar territory. If you already have a first kit, make sure it has been replenished!

• Essential medications: Other than what is included in your first aid kit, you may have prescription medications that you need on the daily. I have to take multiple thyroid medications every day, so I just keep them in their original bottles with the script, close them up in a Ziploc bag, and always bring a signed note from my doctor explaining what these medications are for. Some countries require this, but even if they don’t, just do it anyway to save yourself the trouble! If you suffer from any other chronic ailments such as migraines or acid reflux, be sure to have that covered as well. 

• Hand sanitizer: For the germaphobes— just bring a travel-sized container of hand sanitizer or hand sanitizing wipes.

Essential Luggage

• One large suitcase: Something that you can fit every bit of clothing, every pair of shoes, and toiletry case in.

• Children’s luggage: If you are bringing the kiddos along, get them their own luggage. They will love rolling it through the airport like the grown-ups! I like the Trunki because it feels like a toy, they can pack away their inseparable buddies, and when they get too tired or bored to walk (as young kids almost always do at the airport), it serves as a ride-along for you to pull them on. 

• One carry-on: This is where I would stick most of my very important and valuable tech and jewelry, passport wallet, and anything that I may need immediately, including medications.

• An all-around neutral purse: Something you can wear with any outfit because you don’t want to have to stuff multiple purses into your luggage. It takes up way too much space!

• Fanny-pack: Yes, you heard me right! We’re bringing the fanny pack back! Ok–Ok! You can call it a sling bag if you’d like, but either way, you don’t want to be lugging your purse around wherever you go. 

• RFID wallet: You are going to another country, and honestly I would suggest this for your home country as well! Keep your debit and credit cards safe from wireless theft.

• Travel containers: I use these smaller, tubular containers to stash things like body lotion, shampoo, and conditioner so that I don’t have to lug around the huge bottles that they already come in. 

• Toiletry bag: You need a really good, organized toiletry bag or case for all of your toiletries. Find something that can be folded up or broken up into smaller parts. 

• Reusable grocery bag: Here’s something that my husband and I didn’t learn until we went grocery shopping in Antigua. You need to have at least one or two reusable grocery bags because plastic and paper bags are nonexistent. The cashier rang up all of our groceries (about three bags full) and asked us how we were going to bring them to our car, with the most dubious look on her face! Needless to say, I was confused but walked out of the grocery store with three new reusable grocery bags. The same goes for Mexico, where a a few areas have banned plastic bags outright. So unless you want to buy them at the more expensive price in a Mexican grocery store, just go ahead and buy them ahead of time.

• Passport wallet: Keep your and your family’s wallets and important TSA documents safe and organized in a passport wallet that you can fit in your carry-on.

• Apple AirTags: Have you been the victim of lost luggage or worse, stolen luggage? If you haven’t been yet, and you travel often, chances are you will be at some point in your lifetime. Your AirTag connects with an iPhone or iPad, and sticking one of these bad boys in with your luggage can help you keep track of that luggage. To me, it’s worth the extra $20 for that extra peace of mind. 

Packing for the Wet Season

I recommend planning around the wet season in Mexico. If it’s the only time you can visit though, here are a few things to consider:

I do recommend securing travel insurance. Just FYI, I recommend purchasing travel insurance for any overseas trip to anywhere at any time! You never know what can happen. Accidents happen. Health scares happen. Luggage is lost or broken. And sometimes, these things happen while traveling. I use SafetyWing for all of my travel insurance needs! 

• A lightweight raincoat: I don’t recommend traveling with a bunch of umbrellas, ponchos, or a pair of clunky rain boots. Just get yourself a stylish, but effective lightweight raincoat with a hood!

• A windbreaker: If you’re fragile like me, then any amount of wind can convince you that you’re freezing. 

• A pair of water-proof sneakers: To be honest, I have never found a pair of sneakers that were 100% water-proof, but I like Columbia’s Crestwood Sneakers because they are mostly water-proof and they are great hiking shoes as well. They are also stylish enough to just wear out and about, if you are too scared to explore in wedges like me! 

• Extra socks: Because soggy feet are just no fun! 

Essential Tech

Not everyone is a blogger or photographer, so I’m not going to lay out my complete list of travel tech that I bring with me, because that could be overwhelming for you! I am going to be including all of that in a separate list, so stay tuned if you really are curious!

There are a few things that I do recommend for the average traveler though:

• Go-Pro: I find this to be an absolute must! I truly hate taking video with my phone, and the Go-Pro is a great way to take videos and photos! The best part? You can take the Go-Pro into the water with you! Be sure to get the Floaty mount too, so that you don’t lose your beautiful Go-Pro in the water!

• Selfie-stick: I also hate taking photos (especially selfies) with my phone. This is not to say that you can’t take great photos with your smartphone though! Use a selfie stick, not just for better quality and stability, but also so you don’t have to put yourself in super dangerous situations just to get a selfie! 

• Mobile hotspot: I’ve noticed that even at the most luxury resorts, the wifi can be completely useless!! This is a no-go if you’re addicted to Instagram and can’t wait to share your top moments with friends and family! 

• eSIM card: If you want to stay connected with people via your smartphone, you must have a SIM card, and I don’t think there is anything easier than getting an eSIM card! You activate an app, choose your destination based on country or region, how much data you need, and for how many days you need it. Install and activate your eSIM card and you’re ready to go! I use Airalo for my eSIM needs.

• Apple AirPods: On the airplane, I like to sit back and listen to music or a good audiobook. I like AirPods because they are wireless, and I won’t be getting anything else in my lap tangled up in my headphones! If you don’t care about all that, at least bring your headphones of choice, old MP3 player, whatever you like! Be prepared to need some kind of entertainment, because the entertainment provided is not always reliable or entertaining. 

Your Charging Station

You are going to want to be able to charge all the things! Anywhere you stay in the Riviera Maya is probably not going to be able to provide you with a backup charger for your smartphone or iPad or Kindle. We live in a society where everything we do is connected to our technological devices. So unless you just need a cold turkey break from it all (and the Riviera Maya is a great place to do so), you want to keep all your tech charged and ready to use. Lay every bit of tech out on your bed before packing it up, and lay every charger required for each piece of equipment right beside it. Then pack it all up! If you have a charging equipment organizer, that’s even better!

20W USB-C power adapter (or two)

35W dual USB-C port power adapter

USB-C to lightning cable

Lightning to USB cable

Most places in Mexico have Type A and Type B outlets, but to be safe (and I would say this for anywhere you travel outside of the country you’re from) I would inest in a universal adapter or travel adapter kit, like this one from Apple.

Money Matters

Not everywhere in the Riviera Maya takes debit or credit cards, although a lot do!

Do take plenty of cash (Dollars AND Mexican pesos)! 

Do make currency exchanges at your bank or credit union BEFORE leaving for the airport. This can often cost less in fees than doing so at the airport. 

Do keep a little of your cash in USD, just in case something happens to your debit or credit cards!

Don’t take a shit ton of cash with you! You don’t want to be a walking bank and you don’t want to be a target for thieves. Try to keep it in the realm of $500 or less, and don’t be flashy with your money! You are going to a country that is a little less developed than yours, and there will be some disparity between you and the citizens of that country. Just keep any money tucked away and bring it out only when needed. 

Don’t keep your money in your pockets. Not only is pickpocketing a thing, but it can also just fall out of your pockets! 

A note on travel rewards:

I would not be able to travel nearly as much as I do if I didn’t build up points through various rewards programs and travel points-based credit cards!

Some of my favorite rewards programs are:

Southwest Rapid Rewards

Emirates Skywards

United Mileage Plus

AA Advantage

My favorite points-based rewards credit cards are:

Capital One Venture/Venture X

Chase Sapphire Preferred

_{DISCLAIMER!!!: I am not an affiliate partner for any of the programs listed above! I am listing these because they have been beneficial to me and have really helped me make travel more affordable. However, if you are not in the financial position or if you do not feel that you can manage your credit card transactions wisely, DO NOT GO THIS ROUTE! These are high interest credit cards, so while they come with a lot of benefits, they WILL come back to bite you in the ass if you don’t use them responsibly. I don’t want that for anyone.}

And those are all of my wonderful tips on packing for a trip to the Riviera Maya! If there is ever something that you think I’ve missed or just really want answered, feel free to drop your suggestions or questions in the comments below! 

For more packing tips, visit my complete collection of packing guides here.

For more stories about Mexico, check out my Mexico archive here.