What to Wear on Vacation in Mexico (2024)

My husband and I recently went on an amazing trip to Mexico full of relaxing, soaking in the sun, eating delicious food, and of course, dressing in cute clothes! My suitcase was bursting at the seams full of swimsuits, colorful dresses, shorts, fun accessories, and more. I thought it would be fun to talk about the outfits I wore and the items that I packed. If you have a trip planned to Cabo, Cancun, or another sunny destination, bookmark this post as your guide on what to wear on vacation in Mexico.

You may also want to save these posts to reference when packing:

  • Resort Wear Finds for Your Next Vacation
  • Comfortable Shoes You Need for a Beach Vacation
  • My Favorite Travel Essentials to Pack in My Suitcase

What to Wear Traveling to Mexico

When I’m traveling, I like to look for an outfit that is comfortable and wrinkle-free. This time I went with the SPANX Air Essentials Jumpsuit. I wore a light jacket on the way to the airport and on the plane. Then when we arrived in Mexico, I removed the jacket. The sleeveless jumpsuit was great for the hot and humid Mexican climate! You can see me wearing the jumpsuit here.

If you prefer to wear athleisure when traveling, a pair of leggings (these are my favorites) paired with white sneakers and a comfortable top would be great as well.

What to Wear During the Day

The outfits you choose for your day-to-day activities will differ depending on your itinerary in Mexico. You can skip these pieces if you plan to spend your entire trip relaxing by the pool or under a cabana. However, if you plan to explore the city, walk around the resort, or go to lunch, you will need to pack some pieces to wear during the day.

One of my favorite vacation-friendly combos is a patterned top with a neutral short or vice versa. I wore this navy and pink top paired with these navy shorts to a fun lunch date. It was cool and comfortable while still stylish. You could switch it up and choose a fun patterned short like these hot pink pull-on shorts from Loft styled with a white top. If you’re looking for more shorts and more short outfit inspiration, you can check out this post on the best shorts for women over 50.

What to Wear at the Beach or by the Pool

You’ll definitely want to pack several flattering swimsuits to wear at the beach or to the pool. Between prepping for my trip to Miami earlier in the year and this recent trip to Mexico, I think I have tried every swimsuit out there to find the best of the best. I typically pack one swimsuit per day.

ThisBandeau Twist Top Swimsuitis one of my favorites. I like detachable straps so you can take them down when sunning. The swimsuit also has molded cups and good coverage, and the color is gorgeous. If you prefer a two-piece, this black and whiteOne Shoulder Two Piece Tankini Bathing Suitis striking in person. I love that it is a 2-piece suit that looks like a one-piece. This suit is chic, stylish, flattering, and a tad on the sexy side. You can see more modest and flattering swimsuits for women over 40 here and also in this one piece swimsuit guide for women over 50.

Of course, you will also need cute cover-ups to wear over your swimsuits. It never fails that every time I wear this sheer button-down cover up that I get lots of compliments. I also love wearing kimonos as cover ups like this affordable, colorful one. I thought I would also share this super cute cover up dress by Tommy Bahama that could double as a dress to wear to lunch or shopping.

What to Wear for Dinner/At Night in Mexico

When I head somewhere tropical, I usually bring a lot of happy colors and fun patterns with me. This usually means my suitcase is loaded with fun sundresses in bold hues and floral prints. You can see all of the beautiful dresses I took to Miami in this post.

For this trip to Mexico with Joe, I brought this shirt dress covered in a cute travel-themed print. It had little airplanes, boats, postcards, etc. I paired it with these slide sandals with a low heel.

I also brought this sweet little belted dress with an eyelet ruffle hem in deep pink. I love wearing this color, especially when I have a tan! PS. My tan is from a bottle; you can get the perfect faux tan too. Just follow these directions!

I also usually make sure to bring a classy black dress. They are so versatile and can be worn for everything from dinner, to traveling home, to lunch, to throwing over your swimsuit for an easy cover up. I shared some ideas for styling a casual black dress here.

Accessories to Bring

The best part of getting dressed for me is adding accessories! Jewelry, scarves, and belts take up virtually zero room in your suitcase, so I always load up on a variety of colorful accessories (like these earrings that go with everything).

I usually bring a lot of woven and rattan items with me when I am heading to the beach or a tropical location. How fun are these raffia heels and these fan earrings? You can’t go wrong with a rattan beach tote or a straw clutch. If you need more ideas for beach bags, you can check out this roundup of the best vacation purses and totes.

I always bring an assortment of shoes with me. If we are going to be exploring, I like to bring a comfy shoes for walking. I usually wear waterproof shoes to the beach or pool like these slides. For daytime outfits, I typically bring a few casual sandals. For dinner, I usually wear dressy sandals or wedges. I covered all of my favorites in this post: Comfortable Shoes You Need for a Beach Vacation. Don’t forget to get your feet looking sandal ready with an at home pedicure!

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What to Wear on Vacation in Mexico (10)
What to Wear on Vacation in Mexico (11)

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What to Wear on Vacation in Mexico (12)
What to Wear on Vacation in Mexico (2024)

FAQs

How should I dress to go to Mexico? ›

You'll still want to dress casually so as to not call too much touristy attention to yourself. A mid-length sundress or cute shirt and jeans combo would be the perfect outfit. One of the most important essentials you can pack when visiting Mexico is sunscreen.

How to pack for 7 days in Mexico? ›

A Mexico packing list for every season
  1. Lightweight clothing, such as T-shirts, shorts and sundresses.
  2. Comfortable walking shoes or sandals for exploring.
  3. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat for sun protection.
  4. Swimwear for beach visits or lounging around the hotel pool.
Aug 28, 2023

Is it OK to wear shorts in Mexico? ›

What not to wear. Again, from a strong Mediterranean influence, Mexico City is relatively formal compared to more northerly cultures and those influenced by such cultures. With that in mind, no matter the time of year, it is not really the place to wear shorts or sandals or flip flops.

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

What is the dress code in Mexico? ›

For example, Mexicans tend to dress more formally and conservatively than Americans or Europeans, especially for work or social events. They also tend to avoid wearing shorts, flip-flops, or tank tops in public places, as they are considered too casual or inappropriate.

How to not overpack for Mexico? ›

10 Brilliant Tips to Stop Overpacking for Vacation That You Need...
  1. Plan out Your Outfits Ahead of Time. ...
  2. Take Things You Can Wear More Than Once. ...
  3. Bring Travel Laundry Detergent. ...
  4. Bring Only 3 Pairs of Shoes. ...
  5. Make a Checklist. ...
  6. Use Packing Organizers. ...
  7. Pack More Tops Than Bottoms. ...
  8. “Just in Case”

What to wear on the plane to Mexico? ›

Wear lots of layers!!!

I like to wear clothes with lots of layers so that I can easily adjust what I'm wearing if it's hot or cold. I usually wear both a scarf and jacket to the airport with a light T-shirt or dress underneath, so that I can take both of them off once I arrive.

How many outfits do I need for a 7 day trip? ›

Pack complimenting clothing.

I have a simple equation for a week of packing – three tops and three pants that all must match each other. This way I get nine outfits from six articles of clothing! Throw in a little black dress, and you're ready to take on any destination.

What not to bring to Cancun? ›

You are not allowed to bring food, fruits and/or products that are not "company" packed and sealed. And if you are bringing food or products they are allowed only if you need them because of a special diet or for medical reasons. The same rule applies to medicine.

What shoes to wear in Cancun? ›

Footwear Options for Cancun
  • Sneakers: Sneakers are a great option for sightseeing and exploring the city. ...
  • Sandals: Sandals are a must-have for any trip to the beach, and Cancun is no exception. ...
  • Flip-flops: Flip-flops are another beach essential, and they're also great for hanging out around the pool or at the resort.

Can I wear jeans in Cancun? ›

Cancun Packing Essential: Dinner Outfits

Each resort varies, but for the most part, you'll want to avoid wearing denim shorts or jeans for dinner and opt for dresses, skirts, or dress pants/shorts. For shoes, you can wear dress sandals, but avoid flip-flops.

Should I bring toilet paper to Mexico? ›

Most public bathrooms don't have toilet paper. That means that you always want to make sure you have some toilet paper on you when you're traveling. In fact, traveling with out TP is one of our top things not to do in Mexico. This is especially true if you're on a road trip and stopping in lots of public places.

What to wear in Mexico and not look like a tourist? ›

A lightweight linen long sleeve shirt is my favorite thing to protect my skin from the sun. Cool and Loose Items: Think of a cotton dress or a pair of lightweight linen pants. These breathable materials are perfect for hot and humid weather at the beach. You can dress them up or down depending on the situation.

What shoes to wear on vacation in Mexico? ›

Best shoes to pack for Mexico

The bread and butter of your Mexico vacation shoe wardrobe should be a comfortable pair of flip flops if you'll be spending time at the beach.

How do most people dress in Mexico? ›

Mexican Dress Culture

People tend to dress more modestly than in the US, especially in rural areas. Big cities, like Mexico City, Lima and Bogota (just to name a few) are less conservative and people here are more fashionable just like in major US cities like LA and NY.

What to wear in Mexico to not stand out? ›

Dresses and skirts are great options for Mexico City as long as they aren't too short or revealing. Women in Mexico are more conservative when it comes to showing their legs so I wouldn't recommend anything more than a couple of inches above the knee.

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