So, you’re getting ready for a beach vacation? LUCKY! Whether it’s a quick getaway or a long-awaited trip, I know you’re going to have an amazing time. I absolutely love beach destinations and almost exclusively travel to places like this, so I’ve had plenty of experience figuring out exactly what to pack for a beach trip to make the most of your trip!
Believe it or not, packing for the beach can be trickier than it seems (trust me, I’ve learned this the hard way). That’s why I’m here to share everything you need to know about packing for a beach vacation, no matter the destination.
And if you’re heading to Mexico specifically, you’re in for a treat! With its rich history, vibrant culture, incredible food, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, it’s a dream destination.
Today, you’ll learn what to pack, why each item matters, and get over 20 outfit ideas you can recreate with basic pieces you probably already have in your closet!
Ready!? Let’s dive in on what to pack for a beach vacation!
Article originally shared in July 2023 – Updated in January 2025
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you shop for anything, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you – this really helps me support myself and keep creating content for free! Thanks so much in advance 💕
🧳 Things To Keep In Mind When Planning What to Pack For A Beach Vacation
- When selecting which pieces to pack, it’s important that you take everything out and lay it flat on your bed. This makes packing so much easier because you can really see what goes with what and what doesn’t.
- Pack mostly neutral colored pieces and just 2-3 printed/colorful ones. This makes mix and matching so much easier!
- Make sure that 90% of the pieces you’re packing can be styled in a couple of different ways. If you can create at least 3 different looks with each piece, then you’re off to a great start!
- Don’t underestimate the power of a good accessory! I’ll show you why below ;)
Why Am I Qualified To Share What To Pack For A Beach Vacation?
I live out this carry-on bag and as a full time traveler, I have spent over 4 months exploring Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula over the past year. So trust me, I’ve made many packing mistakes. And I want you to learn from them so you can have the best time ever during your vacation!
Plus, as I already mentioned, we almost exclusively travel to tropical destinations! So even if you’re going somewhere other than Mexico, you’ll still find this post very useful.
👀 So, keep reading!
Want A Customized Packing List For Your Upcoming Trip? 🙋🏻♀️
If you’re traveling somewhere during Spring and Summer and you want your own customized carry-on packing list, I just need you to answer these 2 questions about your trip and I’ll send you one!
How does that sound? It takes 2 seconds now and it will make your packing process a breeze!
☀️ My Personal Beach Travel Essentials & Why
I can vouch for all of these items I’m about to list, because I own all of them and I will explain under which circumstance you will need each of them while vacationing in Mexico or at pretty much any beach holiday.
As always, I ask you to please look at what you have first. It’s the best way to be sustainable with your wardrobe!
Keep in mind that this list is for a 10-day beach vacation, but you can still use it as reference and just add extra pieces if your beach vacation is longer, or remove some of them if it’s a shorter trip. And the best part is that all of these pieces fit in a carry-on bag (all the outfit pics + styling tips are below).
Tops: (6)
- 1 white t-shirt (this brand is my favorite for elevated basic pieces).
- 1 t-shirt of your choice (t-shirts are versatile and easy to style!) I recommend a neutral color of your choice or a fun graphic one.
- 3 cute/fun going-out tops (Browse some cute options here and here). I like ruffled options or something with fun sleeves!
- OR 3 tank tops (notice the ‘OR’ 😂) This really depends on your personal style – I love this brand because they have high-quality and sustainable options without breaking the bank.
- 1 white linen button down shirt (this is a must for every day life!) – read this blog post for more ideas and outfits with this closet staple!)
Bottoms: (3)
- 1 pair of linen pants, linen shorts OR denim shorts (These are super cute!)
- 1 mini skirt
- 1 midi or maxi skirt. Check out some cute options here.
👗 Dresses & Cover Ups: (2)
- 1 colorful mini dress (check out this page for cute options)
- 1 neutral dress (think about something you would wear out for dinner *black is great*. Bonus points if it doubles as a cover-up!)
🎯 You can replace a dress with a top & bottom set! My top 3 places to buy cute top & bottom sets (or matching sets):
Budget (sustainable) – Medium (sustainable) – Premium (sustainable)
- 1 beach cover-up (this one is my go-to!). I’ve had it for over 3 years and it packs great because it doesn’t wrinkle. (you can check out other cute options here – the brand is amazing!)
I didn’t list more than one cover-up because you can wear a lot of the other pieces in your suitcase to the pool/beach as well, so no need to pack separate cover-ups!
👙 Bathing Suits: (2)
- 1 bikini. This one is an oldie and I got it when I was still living in Venezuela, so it’s not available online. But I love these high-waisted bikinis! (Notice the headband and earrings. It just makes a simple beach day, be extra cute!)
- 1 one-piece bathing suit. When choosing this piece, make sure it matches one or two of your bottom pieces. That way you can wear it as a bodysuit or you can just add shorts or a skirt and be ready for the beach.
Here’s how I’ve done this during our travels: (you can do this with skirts too!)
👉🏻 Also read: How To Create Outfits With A One-Piece Bathing Suit
This is where I got that super flattering one-piece bathing suit. It’s sort of an investment but it’s basically the only bathing suit I’ve used over the past 2 years and it still looks like new! (wearing size 4) – Can’t recommend this brand enough!
🩴 Shoes: (2 or 3)
- Going out sandals (flat ones are my preference. Just simple brown leather ones)
- Beach Sandals – These are my go-to! They are great for the beach and super comfy to go out exploring new sights!
Yes, that’s it. I personally don’t like to travel with heels. And if you know me by now, you know how much I love my white sneakers, but I honestly would never wear them for a beach vacation.
Although I must say, if you are visiting other cities (you know, besides beach towns) and there’s going to be a lot of walking, visiting local markets, ruins, etc. then yes, bring your white sneakers or any comfy shoes you love. Trust me, you will need them!
👟 These are my favorite white sneakers EVER!
👑 Accessories:
- 1-2 headbands
- 1-2 Statement Earrings
- 1 Straw Hat
- 1 Neck Scarf (for cute pony tails)
- A couple of rings, necklaces or bracelets if that’s your style. The right accessories can elevate any outfit! Just make sure to pick one that matches most of the pieces you’re packing (this site has cute options and it’s not too pricey).
- 1 pashmina (check the weather in advance to see if you’ll need an extra layer at night) – pashminas are also great as a beach cover-up, you can always wrap them as a skirt ;)
- Check the weather in advance, but I recommend bringing a denim jacket if you get cold during travel days.
- Not exactly an accessory, but I packed everything in these compressible packing cubes!
🏖️ For Your Beach Bag:
- Reef safe mineral sunscreen.
- Sunglasses (these are the only ones I own)
- A water bottle with filter.
🎥 Sign up to watch a private video of my exact packing process when packing for a recent 6-day beach vacation! (my most recent packing list included)
Outfit Ideas For A Beach Vacation in Mexico (or any beach vacation!)
Here are some travel-style tips to help you create your own version of these beach vacation looks! These are some of the hacks I use in order to create even more outfits with the pieces I have without having to buy anything while traveling the world! I’m a huge fan of minimalist packing.
Some of these photos were taken in other places besides Mexico because I don’t always take photos of every look. But trust me, I live out of this 20′ carry-on bag, so I’m mostly wearing the same outfits in different parts of the world LOL.
Tip #1: Bring the right accessories!
It makes all the difference! A cute headband, a pair of statement earrings, a belt, a nice hat… it can all make a super basic outfit look elevated.
Tip #2: Get creative when mix and matching colors to maximize every piece you packed!
This is why is so important to lay all your pieces on your bed. Make sure they all work well together!
1️⃣ Bringing a printed dress? Make sure it goes well with your neutral pieces.
2️⃣ Packing accessories? Make sure your headbands and earrings match with your outfits!
3️⃣ Have pieces that are the same color? Or similar? Dress head to toe in the same color. It looks great!
Tip #3: A button down piece can be your best friend!
I love my button down shirt. I always have some kind of button down shirt, but my favorite one is this white linen one (it’s available in other colors too).
It’s just so easy to throw over any dress or skirt, looks great with shorts, and it can even be used as a cover up!
Tip #4: Don’t overpack. You need less than you think :)
I’m serious. You won’t need 2 or 3 outfits per day. Most likely, there will be a washer in your Airbnb OR a one-day dry cleaning service in your hotel and in most cases, you can wear the same piece twice before you need to wash it. I promise it will be so much easier if you bring less things!
You’ll have less to think about every day, it’ll be easier to deal with your suitcase and you’ll be able to leave the airport sooner if all you have is your carry on. Please trust me on this one.
Pack less things! :)
You Will Also Like:
- 10 Items You’ll Need In Europe In Spring!
- 5 Genius Spring Break Packing Tips
- How To Downsize From Checked Bag To Carry-On!
What To Keep In Mind For A Beach Vacation In Mexico:
- Mexico is not all about its beaches. for example, if you’re heading to the Yucatan Peninsula, there are many cute towns to be explored (Campeche, Merida, Valladolid) and of course, incredible Mayan ruins to visit.
- Using the items I listed above, you can create outfits that are appropriate for towns and activities. Here are some outfit ideas I wore when visiting Mayan ruins:
- There are a lot of mosquitoes in Mexico, please bring mosquito repellent and have it with you after 5 pm. You will need it.
- It’s hot and humid in most places, especially during the months of March to June. Try to plan some indoor activities during the day or chill with a book in the shade. Otherwise you will be exhausted!
- Seaweed is a thing depending on the season, currents, and a million other things you can’t control. Make sure to check the local news, or even search for Instagram hashtags! For example you can search for #sargazo + name of the city you’re visiting + month/year. You might be lucky and find recent posts from other people to see the current status. In my experience, seaweed or sargazo has never ruined a trip for me, even though it has been present.
- Scuba diving & snorkeling are a must if you’re going to Cozumel!
If you’re heading to the Yucatan Peninsula, make sure to read this blog post on our travel blog! Or check out our Mexico category for a bunch of blog posts with a lot of good recommendations!
Final Thoughts & Questions About Packing For A Beach Vacation:
I’m happy to reply to any questions you may have about what to pack for a beach vacation.
I want you to feel good about yourself, have fun and enjoy your time in Mexico (or anywhere else), all while feeling cute and comfortable!
Obviously, there are many other things you could pack but the items listed above are more or less the ones I bring in my carry on. It also depends on the length of your trip, your destination, personal style, activities and what you like to do, so please just take this as a reference and add/remove what you need.
But take this advice from a full-time traveler: the less you pack, the easier your vacation will be!
>>> You can answer these 2 questions and I’ll send you a customized packing list so you can forget about packing!
Anyways, thanks so much for being here!
Cheers to your awesome beach vacation. Tell the mango guy I say hi.
Take care and safe travels ✈️
XO,
Aimara
About the author:
Hi, my name is Aimara and I am the voice behind Ways of Style. I was born and raised in Venezuela until the age of 27 when I moved to Chicago, and 2 years later I met my best friend and husband. We now travel full time and live out of a carry-on bag, so believe me, I know a thing or two about how to maximize every single piece I own.
I love creating new looks, and looking cute while I’m traveling. And in this blog, I try to share all my looks, even if I don’t have the best photos ;) My goal is to help you maximize every piece you have in your closet and to encourage you to live with less things.
Did You Learn What To Pack For A Beach Vacation Today? Please Share It On Your Pinterest! It really helps my blog grow 🙏🏼
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This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you shop for anything, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you – this really helps me support myself and keep creating content for free! Thanks so much in advance 💕
Article originally shared in July 2023 – Updated in January 2025
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