Cute Outfits and Clothes for a Mexico Beach Vacation in 2023

Are you planning a beach trip to Mexico and looking for cute clothes for your trip? You’ve come to the right place!

I’m a travel blogger that lives in Playa del Carmen and have shopped all the latest beach styles in Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and the Riviera Maya.

In this post, I’m sharing all my best packing tips, Mexico outfit ideas, and cute clothes for Mexico beach vacations.

Read on to find out what to wear in Mexico on the beach!

About Mexico Beach Style

Since I live in Playa del Carmen, this guide is more geared towards Mexico vacation outfits and clothes for Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Tulum, and the Riviera Maya.

However, if you’re planning to visit tourist destinations on the west coast of Mexico such as Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita, or Los Cabos, the style is pretty much the same.

It’s just important to know that the weather in Cabo San Lucas can be much cooler at night depending on the time of year you’re visiting. Be sure to bring light layers if you’re staying in these coastal areas.

What’s the beach style like in Mexico?

Beach style in Mexico is all about bright colors, tropical patterns, and bold prints. Think colorful maxi dresses, flowy skirts, crop tops, and strapless or off-the-shoulder blouses.

🛍 You can scroll through and shop the images in this post to give you some great Mexico vacation outfit ideas.

You’ll also see styles inspired by traditional Mexican clothing like colorful embroidery, hand-woven fabrics, and tassels and pom-poms.

Mexican women tend to dress a little more formally, but most tourists usually wear more casual beach and resort wear with sandals and flip flops during the day. For a night out, dresses, skirts, and rompers are the normal dress code.

The great thing about Mexico beach style is that you can definitely get away with different colors and bold patterns.

Don’t be afraid to step out in these beach towns in something that is a little brighter or bolder from your normal style!

What’s the weather like in Mexico at the beach?

Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya has warm weather and a tropical climate all year round.

There are occasional cold fronts, but the temperatures never really drop below 60^°F so you can feel comfortable wearing shorts and beachwear any time of year.

The Riviera Maya dry season runs from October-April, when the weather is still very warm but there is less humidity.

On the contrary, the rainy season runs from May-October, when thunderstorms and showers are more common but there will still be plenty of sun.

During the winter months (December–January), it can sometimes get cooler at night, so it’s a good idea to bring a sweater or light jacket if you’re visiting during this time.

🌊 The sea temperature is generally warm enough to swim in and visit the Riviera Maya beaches all year round.

Be prepared for the humidity, which is most intense during the summer months but is still present all year round.

Hot and humid weather means you’ll want to pack plenty of bug spray or mosquito repellent bracelets!

What kind of clothes should I pack for a Mexico beach trip?

Since the weather is hot and humid for most of the year, the best clothes to wear in Mexico are light breathable clothing as you’ll likely be breaking a sweat. Light cotton and linen fabrics are best to absorb sweat and keep you cool.

What to pack for Mexico will depend on the length of your trip and the types of tours and activities you plan to do.

If you’re planning to visit any archaeological sites on the Yucatan peninsula like Chichen Itza or the Tulum Ruins, you’ll want to bring comfortable shoes, activewear, and pair of water shoes.

🧳 Related Reading: The Ultimate Packing List for a Mexico Resort Vacation

Outfits for Mexico Beach Vacation

Below is an overview of the most popular style and fashion you will find in Playa del Carmen, Cancun, the Riviera Maya, and Tulum.

Playa del Carmen, Cancun, and Riviera Maya Outfits

Playa del Carmen and Cancun are much less conservative than other big cities in Mexico, and it’s not uncommon to see a lot of people wearing swimwear and minimal clothing walking down the street.

After all, you’ll probably be in your bathing suit for most of the time!

The general vibe is very beachy, laidback, and carefree. Styles can range from super casual to more formal resort wear for a fancy dinner or night out.

Tulum Outfits

In Tulum, the style tends to be more bohemian so you’ll see that the outfits for Tulum typically include more Fedora hats, flowy skirts and wraps, and crochet tops in neutral, earthy tones.

Tulum style is pretty boho-chic, which fits into Tulum’s overall design aesthetic and attracts influencers and fashion bloggers from around the world.

Cute Clothes for Mexico Beach Vacation

Below is a roundup of some of my favorite finds for a Mexico beach trip including dresses and rompers, tops, shorts, skirts, coverups, shoes, and accessories.

These are some cute Mexico outfits you can expect to see in Mexico at the beach.

👙 For swimsuits and rash guards, check out my complete guide to Mexico swimwear here: The Best Swimsuits for Mexico

Dresses and Rompers

These dresses to wear in Mexico are colorful, comfortable, and flirty. Rompers are probably one of my favorite fashion items because you can dress them up but they are still comfortable and usually have pockets as an added bonus.

Tops and Blouses

You’ll want to wear tanks, short sleeve, or sleeveless tops since the weather will be hot and humid–you will probably be uncomfortable in long sleeves! You’ll also see a lot of crop tops paired with skirts or a pair of shorts.

Shorts

Comfortable shorts are an essential item to pack for Mexico. I love the high-waisted drawstring shorts that are super comfortable and non-restrictive.

If you’re comfortable in shorts and skirts, you can probably get away without bringing any long pants or jeans as it’s too hot for most of the year.

Skirts

Flowy ankle length maxi skirts are a good option that you can dress up or that can also double as a beach coverup to wear with your bikini top. And one of the best things is that flowy skirts are light and airy to keep you cool!

Coverups

You’re probably going to be in your swimsuit about 90% of the time so a beach coverup is pretty essential.

I usually try to choose a neutral color like black or white that will go with all my swimsuits.

Travelista Tip: Consider buying a kimono style coverup that can double as a shawl in the evenings.

Sandals & Shoes

In the shoe department, you’ll definitely want to bring flip flops and a pair of sandals, as well as comfortable walking shoes.

You’ll also want to pick up a pair of water shoes if you’re planning any adventurous tours or activities.

If you’re staying in downtown Playa del Carmen, I wouldn’t really recommend wearing heels as the streets are pretty uneven.

If you really want to wear heels, I would recommend wedges or platform sandals.

I usually opt for these platform sandals for a night out for the added height of wearing heels but way more comfortable.

However, if you’re staying at one of the all inclusive resorts in Riviera Maya, you can probably get away with wearing heels to dress up for a nicer dinner or night out at the resort.

Accessories

Mexico beach accessories are pretty much all about the brightly colored tassels and pom-poms!

Bring a sun hat as well as some colorful jewelry, bags, and accessories to complement your cute Mexico outfits.

In addition, you’ll definitely want to bring a crossbody purse for added safety and security when you’re out and about.

I personally have this belt bag and it’s one of my favorite travel accessories for daytime activities.

Mexico Packing Tips

I have packed my bag for Mexico so many times that I pretty much have it down to a science!

The great thing about packing for the beach is that you can pack lighter and your items won’t take up as much space in your suitcase.

• Try to mix and match: Try to choose tops and bottoms that can be easily mixed and matched to create different outfits to wear in Mexico. This will save space in your suitcase and expand your outfit options.

• Pack some neutral accessories: Try to pack a few neutral accessories like tan, white, or blush colored shoes, clutches, and jewelry that can be paired with many of your Mexico vacation clothes.

• Skip the heels: As I mentioned, it can be difficult to wear heels for a night out unless you’re planning to take a taxi everywhere. It’s not impossible, but you’ll be way more comfortable in sandals, platforms, or wedges.

• Bring a beach bag as your personal item: A beach bag is a cute and practical accessory to bring to store your beach towel, sunscreen, and other beach bag essentials. However, they can be bulky so I would recommend bringing it as your personal item on the plane to save space in your suitcase.

• Bring water shoes: If you’re planning to go on any tours or participate in more adventurous activities during your trip, make sure to add water shoes to your Mexico packing list. You’ll definitely want to have them for activities like visiting a cenote, ziplining, or going to an adventure park.

Conclusion: Clothes for Mexico Beach Vacation

I hope this cute outfits for Mexico vacation guide was helpful in preparing for your Mexico beach trip!

Mexico beach destinations are fun, flirty, and colorful, which makes it so much fun to shop for. Just be sure to bring lightweight options and not too many warm clothes.

Now that you know what to wear in Mexico on the beach, you can focus on planning fun tours and activities!

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