Packing essentials for Cancun 2024

Need to know what to bring to Cancun? What about what you should purchase at the grocery store before arriving at your penthouse?

This Cancun packing guide will help you think about everything you should pack and what you should purchase before arriving at Tim’s Ocean Condos.

My blog also has a ton of extra information about traveling to Cancun, even if you are not staying with us at Tim’s Ocean Condos.

Pack smart to get your vacation off to a great start. Especially if your first travel day is long. You will want to get your vacation started as soon as possible with the least amount of anxiety as possible. And you will want to have easy access to your essentials right away. So, are you ready for some fun in Cancun?

First thing to know, packing for a vacation rental in Cancun is different than just throwing a bathing suit and sunscreen into your suitcase. These first items are essential for worry free vacation at our penthouses.

For a great Cancun penthouse vacation, it is important to know that some things are necessary to purchase before you check in. So, keep scrolling after these essentials for a full list of groceries I made (that you can print) so you know exactly what to purchase when you go to the grocery store.

Whether you plan to hang out by our pool or go on a private fishing trip with our friend Mike or even an adventure to the cenotes, these are the items that you will need for your best Cancun vacation.

Beach Bag/Grocery Bags

This large beach bag has become my favorite item to bring with me to Cancun. I have three of them. I use them every day.

The first thing to know is when you go to the grocery store while in Cancun, they are not going to put your groceries in a bag for you. Plastic grocery bags are not allowed in Cancun. So, you must think ahead and bring your own bags – or you will get stuck purchasing fabric bags from the grocery store and believe me they are not cute or fun to re-use.

At least with these bags you can re-use them as the most perfect beach bag after the grocery store. And each time you use the bag again it will give you a fun reminder of your time in Cancun.

These bags are so nice to be able to just throw your book, sunscreen, beverage into one bag for the pool or beach. It even has a nice zipper pocket to hold your room key, cell phone and sunglasses.

The bag is also strong enough to hold two 2-liter bottles of soda or a full bag of ice from the grocery store. There is no ice machine at the resort so you will want to pick up at least one bag for making the perfect margarita in your penthouse.

I suggest getting at least 3 of these cute bags and packing them inside your carryon or the outside pocket of your checked in suitcase. This will make it easy for you to remember them when you get to the grocery store. Plus once your girlfriends see it they will want to borrow it too.

I use mine as my purse now while I travel. I just put my smaller purse inside the beach bag, and it works perfect for me at the airport when I purchase my bottle of water and snacks for the flight. The beach bag tucks under the seat in front of me and is easy access for items I need during the flight.

Foldable Sun Hat and Sunglasses

Cancun is bright and sunny!

The white sand combined with the ocean multiply those dangerous UV rays when you're at the beach. For your skin and for your sight, bring a hat and sunglasses.

You will want to protect yourself from the bright glare as soon as you walk out of the airport. The fresh Cancun sun causes me headaches every time. And then I get bitchy, and I don’t like it after a long day of traveling when I am already exhausted.

A packable sun hat (a hat that does not crush in your suitcase) is incredibly important, so you do not feel heat exhaustion even when you first leave the airport.

Sometimes you might have to wait up to a half hour outside for the transfer company to have an empty van to pick you up from the waiting area at the airport. If you do not have sunglasses and a hat on, you might get a little hot and irritable.

Wet/Dry Travel Bags

Not only a good idea for keeping yourself organized, but this reusable and waterproof bag is a lifesaver when repacking all your family's swim stuff (that's still wet and sandy) back in your suitcases.

These bags are so useful for the entire family when you are trying to pack up to go home. You know that someone inevitably will not remember to dry out their bathing suit. Save the day when all you want to do is get things packed and ready to go home.

This zippered bag is a hero for packing up to leave the beach. With two zippers, it is the perfect multifunctional bag that allows you to carry both wet and dry stuff in one bag. Keep your dry items dry and your wet/soiled items separate. The double zippered compartments contain a "wet" section that is sewn in and sealed to prevent wicking or leaking for hours. This ensures that your dry items stay dry.

Available in many colors, each bag measures approximately 11.5-inches wide by 14-inches tall. They are so lightweight and simple to roll up when not in use.

This can be used as a diaper bag, travel bag, storage bag, cosmetic bag, wash bag and even an organizer bag. 32 different colors available.

Packing tip: pack all your liquid toiletries in one or two of these bags. Because no one wants to find toothpaste or shampoo spilled all over their sundress while on vacation. Seriously, it happened to me on my last trip with Tim and really sucked. I was so excited to wear this brand-new outfit but when I unpacked it, it was full of spilled massage oil. Not fun.

EarPlanes

A vacation isn't really a vacation if you're stressed about getting sleep. Or if you are on a flight with a screaming baby. Or if you are on a flight and it is your kids that are the screaming babies because of the ear pressure. Childrens EarPlanes Plus will reduce your children’s ear pressure naturally.

During take off and landing, changes in altitude affect the airplane’s cabin pressure. This change leads to an imbalance that may uncomfortably stretch out your eardrum. With EarPlanes, your ears are protected from these sudden shifts in air pressure – so you or your children can fly in peace and comfort.

The EarPlanes cell phone app measures cabin pressure and notifies you when to put in your children’s EarPlanes to prevent ear pain while onboard your flight to Cancun.

In Cancun, you never know what event, party, or late-night outdoor terrace chat will be happening right outside your bedroom window—or when it will end. It is best just to be prepared before it gets frustrating.

Regulate air pressure and reduce loud noise naturally with EarPlanes ear plugs.

Biodegradable Bug Spray & Sunscreen

Make sure that your sunscreen is biodegradable, as non-biodegradable sunscreens (typically found in US markets) contain chemicals harmful to coral and other marine life. Always read the ingredients on your bug spray and sunscreen. They will advertise if they are “Coral Safe” or “Reef Safe.” Choose products that are mineral based like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

Do not choose products with the preservative BP (butyl paraben), cinnamates, benzophenones, and camphor derivatives. These chemicals promote viral infections in the coral reefs ecosystem and are responsible for coral bleaching.

Coral Reefs are beautiful and fragile. Standard sunscreens dissolve easily into the sea water and release toxic chemicals that kill the coral reefs. Safe Sea is the first sunscreen that will protect your skin while protecting our coral reefs and is certified by the Friend of the Sea Organization.

I trust this Amazon Store called Murphy’s Naturals for safe bug spray and this Amazon Store called Safe Sea for biodegradable sunscreen.