What to Pack for Cabo San Lucas: The Ultimate Packing List

If you’re planning a trip to Los Cabos soon and are wondering what to pack for Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, Mexico — we’ve got you covered. The following list includes a few things you’ll want to include on your Cabo packing list to make your trip to this resort city in Baja California Sur memorable, fun, and stress-free. Let’s dive right in!

Packing Gear

The first question you’ll likely face in the packing process is whether you should bring a carry-on or checked bag to Cabo. The truth is — it depends on your preference and the length of your trip!

Carry-On Bag

Bringing carry-on luggage to Cabo is ideal for a quick weekend trip or a shorter trip in the summer. If you don’t need to pack bulky items for a summer trip, like rain jackets or sweaters, we recommend bringing a carry-on. Then, you won’t need to wait for your luggage to arrive at baggage claim when you land and can begin exploring right away!

Checked Bag

If you’ll be visiting Cabo for a week or longer, you’ll probably want to bring a roller bag to comfortably fit all the clothes, shoes, accessories, and other items you’d like to bring. We recommend using packing cubes to maximize your suitcase’s space and make packing a breeze!

Clothing

Wondering what to wear in Cabo? Although the dress code is pretty casual and includes the usual suspects, like bathing suits and flip-flops, there are also a few clothing pieces to bring that you might not otherwise consider for a beach vacation.

Comfortable Walking Shoes

You’ll definitely want to bring a few pairs of comfortable shoes on your Cabo vacation. We recommend a pair of flip-flops to wear to the beach, comfortable water shoes for water activities, like snorkeling or swimming with whale sharks, and comfortable sandals or dress shoes that you can use for “dressing up” for dinner or bar hopping!

Bathing Suits

A bathing suit is essential in Cabo San Lucas! You’ll spend plenty of time in the water — whether in the swimming pool or the ocean. You’ll want to pack at least one swimsuit, but we recommend packing two or three, so you’ll always have a dry swimsuit to put on daily!

Beach Cover-Ups

Bringing a beach cover-up or something you can easily throw on and off over your swimsuit is helpful, especially if you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort, where you’ll spend a lot of time running up and down from the hotel room to the swimming pool.

Light Jacket

Many people assume that Cabo is always sunny and warm and they won’t need to bring warm clothes — but that is not always the case. If you’re visiting Cabo between November and April, you’ll want to pack a light sweater in case the evenings get chilly. You might also want to consider bringing a rain jacket if there is rain in the forecast during your vacation.

Casual Clothes

You’ll want to bring plenty of casual, cute clothing and athleticwear, like tank tops, t-shirts, and athletic shorts, to help you stay cool when you’re not in the pool or ocean. At some all-inclusive resorts, like Villa La Estancia, you can also play tennis or pickleball on the property — so bring clothes suitable for these activities!

Dinner Outfits

Though you might spend most of the day in a swimsuit or casual clothes, you’ll probably want to dress up in the evenings for dinner. We recommend that women pack a maxi dress or a few sundresses to stay cool while dressing up, and men should pack a collared shirt and long pants (or even a nicer pair of shorts) for a dressy dinner in Cabo.

Accessories

There are a lot of accessories that you can bring to visit Cabo — but that doesn’t mean that you need to bring them all. For example, some items might be provided by the resort or hotel, like beach chairs and a beach towel, so you’ll want to check what amenities that hotel provides before packing these bulky items in your suitcase.

Sun Protection

It gets hot and sunny on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula! That said, you’ll want to bring some sun protection on your trip to Cabo. A wide-brimmed sun hat and sunglasses are great for keeping the sun out of your eyes and off your shoulders while lounging at the pool or beach, but a baseball cap with sunglasses will do the trick as well.

Refillable Water Bottle

Did you know that tap water in Mexico is unsafe to drink? Because of this, we recommend bringing a refillable water bottle and a SteriPEN, a portable device to purify water, so you don’t need to buy a bunch of plastic water bottles after arriving in Mexico.

Toiletries

Of course, you’ll need to bring all the usual toiletries, like deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, makeup, toothpaste, and a toothbrush to Cabo San Lucas. However, the following toiletries are some that you might not think to pack, but you’ll be happy that you have them after arriving in Cabo!

Sunscreen

You’ll want to bring plenty of sunscreen to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to keep slathered on while hanging out at the pool or beach. If you plan to do any water activities, like snorkeling, we recommend choosing reef-safe sunscreen to protect the marine ecosystems in Cabo.

Bug Spray

We highly recommend bringing bug spray if you plan to get off the beach to go hiking, ziplining, or ATV riding in the jungle in Cabo. Mosquitos are more prevalent in the forested areas of Cabo, and you want to avoid dealing with itchy bites during the rest of your vacation.

Electronics

These are a few go-to electronics and miscellaneous items that are helpful to have on hand while traveling to Cabo.

Portable Power Bank

A portable charger is a must-have while traveling to Cabo. While you’re out and about during the day, you’ll never have to worry about your phone running out of charge. These are also great for keeping your phone charged on the plane!

Waterproof Phone Case

Bringing a heavy-duty waterproof phone case is an absolute lifesaver in Cabo San Lucas. Not only will you not have to worry about your phone getting wet while spending time on the water on a whale-watching tour or sunset cruise, but you can also snap some amazing underwater photos while snorkeling in Cabo!

Phone Charger

Of course, remember to bring your phone charger (and laptop charger, if needed) to Cabo San Lucas. Unlike traveling to Europe, you don’t have to worry about bringing a travel adapter to Mexico — the outlets in Mexico are the same as those in the United States.

Check Off Your Cabo Packing List and Stay with Cabo Rentals by Jane

As you can see, you don’t need to pack a ton before traveling to Cabo San Lucas to have a great time. Just include the essentials on this list in your suitcase, hop on an airplane, and arrive for your stay in paradise! But, before you head out check our Cabo San Lucas travel tips for additional information every first-timer should know.

Cabo Rentals by Jane offers penthouses, panoramic oceanfront villas, and beachfront rentals at the Villa La Estancia Resort if you’re still looking for somewhere to stay during your vacation. This is a great location for golfers! Explore our available properties, and if you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out!