Mexico
“Mexico is a mosaic of different realities and beauties.”
Mexico is a country rich with color, beauty and history that nourishes the soul! Go to Mexico to be immersed in palm-fringed 🌴 beaches, steamy jungles, bustling cities, fiesta fireworks, and chili-spiced cuisine. There is something for everyone here, whether you like the big city life, mountains, beach or highlands. Tulum, Cancun, Punta Cana, and Cozumel attract many but there’s more to see in the rest of the country! Don’t miss Central Mexico with its culture capitals like the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan and the teeming metropolis of Mexico City; the south’s pristine beaches of Quintana Roo, and the north’s forested mountains of the Sierra Norte.
The best luggage for Mexico:
The best luggage for a trip to Mexico is:
A good roller bag: Check or carry on an efficiently-sized roller bag. One way to go is just bringing a carry-on sized spinner so you don’t have to check it on the way there. Then for the way back home, check it and use an expandable tote as your carry-on to hold extra goodies you found on the trip.
For more tips on how to travel light and only with a carry on, click here.
Voltage DLX 20" Spinner
International Carry-On
Carry On Spinner
Platinum Elite 21” Carry On Spinner
Travel backpacks:
A travel backpack saves you while traveling in Mexico. From going to the beach, to hiking, and going on all-day excursions, a backpack will serve you well in Mexico! It’s important that your backpack is properly designed to make the weight you’re carrying comfortable and is weather-resistant. Instead of a travel backpack that looks traditionally touristy, how about using a cuter one keeps your outfit looking good and you enjoying using it. That means getting one that is both functional and stylish!
The Rowledge
A gorgeous larger sized pack with many compartments and a sleeve to slip over suitcase handles.
Ellie Leather Studded Backpack
Mini Macaroon Colorblock Water Resistant Backpack
The cutest!
Fjallraven Kanken Backpack
The beauty of Fjallraven backpacks is they pack down flat when not in use!
Mexico packing tip: Leave room for SOUVENIRS
Not typically a “souvenir” person? You may become one when visiting Mexico? Why? Because Mexico is amazing and has all kinds of wonderful gifts for yourself and others. Leave room in your bag for Mexico to fill. Or bring a collapsible duffel in your suitcase to fill up with all your goodies for the trip home! Whether you buy Mexican coffee, Mayan chocolate, pottery, a traditional Mexican blanket, Taxco Silver jewelry, Dia de los Muertos figurines, etc., trust us you’ll want to be able to bring it all home. If you don’t plan ahead for that you probably will end up leaving behind some of your own items to make room!
What to pack for Mexico:
Here are a few non-negotiable items that should always find their way into your luggage for practically any Mexican excursion:
Swimsuits: Itty-bitty swimsuits don’t take up much space in your suitcase so it works well to bring one for each day of the trip. Try using one-pieces! They are so great because you can slip on a pair of shorts over the one-piece and tuh-dah it feels like a complete outfit.
Sunhat: With typically bright sun and scorching temperatures, everyone needs a sunhat for Mexico!
Shorts: If you’re a dress person, you don’t need a ton of shorts. Two pairs of shorts can be great for your whole trip.
Jeans: Shorts or dresses aren’t always the best to wear on a plane during travel, so jeans may your choice. One pair will do.
Cover-Ups: You don’t necessarily want to walk around a resort with just a swimsuit on, so cover-up dresses, kimonos, and shorts are best! A kimono is a great cover-up because you can slide shorts on over your suit to make it a complete outfit or just wear it by itself at the pool bar.
Casual Tops: Bring a few cute casual tops to wear with your shorts, skirts and/or jeans. Nothing too stuffy!
Sweater/Cardigan: For the plane and for the cooler restaurants, having a sweater is a must for those of us that easily get cold!
Dresses/Rompers for Dinners: Remember, some of the restaurants in Mexico might have dress codes! For easy dinner outfits bring sundresses, pretty maxi dresses, or little rompers. They’re light, comfortable and they take little space in your travel bag. Add a pair of sandals or wedges and you’re good to go.
Lightweight Pajamas: Since it’s typically hot and humid at the majority of Mexico you’re going to want lightweight pj’s. Of course, the rooms should have A/C, but if you love sitting on the balcony with a coffee in the mornings, light pj’s are best.
Small Backpack: This might be your travel backpack mentioned above. Whether you’re heading out on an excursion or going to the pool, it’s nice to be able to throw your sunscreen, Kindle, and bottled water into a little backpack!
Small Purse: Try something like a round bamboo bag! You can find them everywhere. You can fit your phone, lip gloss, and small wallet inside.
Shoes: Ladies, you can get away with just sandals, wedges, and sneakers (if you plan on hiking or doing something adventurous). Bring casual flip flops and also a nicer pair of sandals that can be dressed up or down.
Hair Bun Donut: Mexico is humid as HECK. There is absolutely zero reason and/or need to do anything to your hair other than throw it up somehow cute, because whether you’re curling, straightening, or beach-waving, it’s just gonna turn into a big ball o’ frizz the second you leave your bathroom anyways!
what to wear
Embrace the feel of Mexico in what you wear! Go all out in clothes with festive colors, prints and detailing. Match the feel of this wonderful country’s culture. It’s time for a fiesta! Add great extras too — like straw sun hats, cool sunglasses, big decorative earrings, hair scarves, and beachy handbags.
dresses and jumpsuits:
Try dresses or jumpsuits for a trip to Mexico! For this country, we absolutely adore multi-color printed dresses in breezy, flouncy, peasant cuts. Or go with a gorgeous all-white frock. You’ll really feel like you’re fitting in wearing one of these!
Pants:
Bringing a pair of pants or two on your Mexican journey is a wise choice! You can of course wear simple blue or white denim skinny jeans, but we also are obsessed with the super ornate wide-leg pants. Take advantage of wearing this vacation-y style because you can’t normally at home!
Bathing suits:
You need bathing suits on your trip to Mexico, obviously! You’re likely to be spending a lot of time at the beach or pool so bring some cute suits. Coordinate them with your cover-ups, sunglasses, sun hats, and sandals!
what to do
Mexico means spicy foods and salsa, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, artsy and graffiti-filled neighborhoods, shopping in large sprawling markets, dancing in lively nightclubs, wonderful beaches, lush jungles and forests, and the great archaeological monuments from Mayan ruins to Teotihuacan’s pyramids. Mexico has tons to do (and tons of IG photo ops)! Explore Mexico’s vibrant energy and gorge yourself on delicious tacos, tostadas, and tamales made from achingly fresh fish and seafood, slow-cooked pork and fresh veggies (to name a few great items from Mexico’s cuisine.
1. Wander through Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park
Stretching over 1,600 acres, Chapultepec is one of the largest city parks in the world! It’s fascinating that the park was once a summer residence for Aztec rulers. Now home to an internationally renowned Zoo, Chapultepec Castle (which houses the National History Museum), and the Museum of Anthropology, Chapultepec Park is a great place of exploration. The museums are rich in history with vast collections of sculptures, jewels, and artifacts from ancient Mexican civilizations.
2. Visit the markets
Rich, colorful markets abound in Mexico. Stop by in just about any city to enjoy traditional food and cultural items at bargain prices. Two of the best: Centro de Artesanias La Ciudadela in Mexico City for handmade goods from all over Mexico, or Oaxaca’s Mercado Benito Juárez for local foods like fresh ground coffee beans, chocolate, spices, juices, and famous grasshopper tacos!
3. Take a rail trip
One of Latin America’s best rail trips is the Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacifico (Copper Canyon Railway)! Journey from sea level at Los Mochis to Chihuahua’s high desert plains through rocky canyon landscapes. As you travel along enjoy alpine forests, lush valleys, unique villages and views of some of the deepest canyons — all from your comfy window seat! The train even takes a 15 minutes stop along the canyon’s edge – a perfect photo-op!
4. Go diving or snorkeling
Boasting some of the world’s best diving, Mexico’s surrounding seas have incredibly diverse marine life, large coral reefs, and excellent visibility. The Great Maya Barrier Reef is the second largest reef system in the world! You can dive or snorkel to your heart’s desire to see tropical fish, whale sharks, coral plates, and there’s even underwater caves and wreck diving! The waters are also great for fishing and whale watching.
5. Relax in Cancun
Cancun offers more than just being the official party capital of Mexico with great beaches. Cancun can get crowded and full of obnoxious tourists but there are relaxing, picturesque things to do too. You can find quiet, hidden local markets and restaurants, go to spas, swim in natural cave pools, explore Mayan ruins, archaeological sites, and little villages nearby.
6. Get lost in Guadalajara
Mexico’s second-largest city is a charming collection of pueblos overflowing with labyrinthine markets, colonial architecture, great churches, excellent public spaces and handicraft shopping in the art-rich suburbs of Tlaquepaque and Tonala. Guadalajara is known for being the best city in western Mexico to eat out, whether you’re after local specialties such as spicy goat or lamb stew, or chic New Mexican and fusion cuisine. There’s also a big nightlife with hip bars and dance clubs, featuring the best of tequila and mariachi. Visit the Hospicio Cabanas, a hospital built in the 19th century, and the Guadalajara Cathedral with its Gothic interior and famous Mexican art.
7. Oaxaca City
Oaxaca is a wonderful place to hang out with a booming arts scene and craft-making communities. Take part in colorful festivals, inventive Mexican cuisine (and particularly the famous moles!), gorgeous handicrafts shopping, and old colonial architecture. Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders will love the cool, forested hills of the Sierra Norte, and beach-goers will love the pretty Pacific Coast shoreline.
8. See the Pyramids of Teotihuacan
An hour outside of Mexico City lies Teotihuacan which was once among Mesoamerica’s greatest cities! The gorgeous site left to us by the Aztec empire is stunning and not to be missed. It is believed that mystical energies converge here and can be felt by visitors. The two biggest structures of this ancient metropolis, the giant pyramids known as the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of Moon, were completed around 300 BC. The remains of the pyramids dominate the landscape. Definitely bring sunscreen and a hat! Admission is 70 MXN ($3.55 USD).
9. Visit the Marvelous Merida
The Yucatan Peninsula’s cultural capital Merida is lesser-known but offers an authentic Mexican experience. Walk down beautiful cobbled streets dotted with sunny plazas, while exploring museums and galleries (not to mention some of the best food!). Surrounding the town, you’ll find wildlife reserves, graceful haciendas (estates), jungle-shrouded cenotes (sinkholes) to swim in, and quiet Maya sites along the Ruta Puuc that allow you to peacefully step back in time.
10. Honor the Day of the Dead
Yearly between October 31st and November 2nd, Mexico celebrates this major festival: Dia de los Muertos. It is a time of celebration, not gloom, of those who are gone but not forgotten. It is an interesting experience of Mexico’s unique culture. Mexicans honor their deceased loved ones by visiting cemeteries, decorating the graves and spending time there. Mexico City is a great place to experience the celebration.
