Tulum
Packing List
Overview
In just a couple of hours in Tulum, you can go from swimming in a cenote in the heart of the jungle to dancing on the table tops of a high-end restaurant.
After two months of exploring Tulum, taking in all the sites, eating up a storm, and dancing our way through days on the beach we pulled together this guide to help you plan for your trip.
Our ultimate Tulum packing list will take you straight from Tulum's beaches to dinner at Kin Toh without a care in the world.
Weather in Tulum
Tulum is a tropical destination located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It is 2.5 hours from Cancun and only a 40-minute drive from Playa Del Carmen.
The tropical climate creates warm weather year-round. There is a dry season that runs from December to April and a rainy season that begins at the end of May and extends into November. Average daytime temperatures range from 32°C to 24°C in the summer months to average temperatures of 26°C in the winter months.
The best time of year to go to Tulum is November and December. During this time there is very little rain, beautiful beaches free of seaweed, and you'll avoid the high season. Over this period the average temperature ranges from 21°C to 29°C.
The temperature can get very muggy, and with high humidity year-round. Because of the constant humidity, we suggest packing light natural fabrics that breathe well such as cotton and linen.
Zimmerman - Jeannie Mini Tri Towel Bikini
Gucci - Grosgrain-trimmed glittered straw hat
Celine - Cat-eye acetate sunglasses in Ivory
Prada - Logo straw tote
Fendi - Leather-trimmed canvas slides
Mecca Cosmetica - In a good light face tint with SPF 30
Travel Preparation
Luggage
The first thing to consider is how much room you have for your luggage. For your carry-on luggage, I would recommend ensuring you have enough room to carry your most important documents and essentials.
For the best luggage options, we like the classic Louis Vuitton Horizon 55 and 50 range as these timeless classics are durable, stylish, and well designed.
They are a convenient size, lockable, and can be personalized.
We also recommend always adding apple air tags to all your luggage. These allow you to easily keep track of your items via a tracking system connected to the "Find My" apple app on your iPhone in the instance anything is lost or stolen.
To keep things organized and easy to find as you go through airport customs we recommend a pouch or handbag that has compartments for your passport, papers, cards, and headphones, like the Anya Hindmarch safe deposit pouch. A bag like the "safe deposit pouch" makes it seamless to find all your key items while on the go so you won't get held up in airport queues trying to find everything and you can stress less in transit.
Apple X Hermes - Airtag bag charm
JOOMFEEN - Worldwide all-in-one power converter
Apple - Airpods pro
Anya Hindmarch - Safe Deposit Pouch
Louis Vuitton - Horizon 55, M46074
Carry-On Bathroom Bag
A travel-size moisturizer
A toner or face spray
Travel cleanser
Lip balm
A high SPF sunscreen
Bug spray
Deodorant
Toothbrush and a travel-size toothpaste
We love this grab-and-go summer travel kit from Dr Barbara Sturm.
A set of activewear
2x sets of spare underwear
A light jacket
A pair of sneakers
A Comfortable Change of Clothes
1 set of Swimwear
Slides or flip flops
A sun hat
Tulum Outfit Essentials
Tulum is one of our favorite street-style destinations. Renowned for its ultra-cool boho aesthetic the style in Tulum is often referred to as "Tulum vibes". A laidback linen-heavy hippie look made famous on Instagram. Lately, we have been seeing a lot of Argentinian influence on the streets of Tulum which bring in more muted colors, tattoos, piercings, and a 90s grunge edge.
We've created a guide below to give you an idea of outfits you might need on a trip to Tulum.
Basic Everyday Outfit for Tulum
One shoulder tank top - Anine Bing Ren One Shoulder Rib Knit Tak. You can dress this up or down so it's perfect to take you from day to night.
Sunglasses - Celine eyewear cat-eye acetate in ivory. Neutral-colored sunglasses go with almost anything and this cat-eye style will bring some vintage glamour to your outfits.
Denim shorts - we recommend this set of cross-over light wash jean shorts from AGOLDE. These are an ideal length for jumping on a bike and will work with almost any top.
Gold hoop earrings - Zoe & Morgan Mini Tasa 22k Gold Hoop Earrings. Classy, classic, clean-girl chic jewelry that will go with everything.
Flat sandals - Bottega Veneta Lido Leather Slides in Sea Salt. These comfy leather slides will take you from the beach club to brunch without a second thought. We love the sea salt color for Tulum as spots of dust & sand are less obvious.
Crop top - Loewe X Paula's Ibiza cropped ruched knitted halterneck. Light and breezy, this white top can easily take you from the beach to the bar and is ideal to throw over a bikini.
Sunglasses - Gentle Monster, bliss VC5 shades in lilac. These colorful sunglasses add a pop of color and fun to any beach ensemble.
Wrap around - Pucci Printed cotton-voile pareo in pink. This printed wrap-around can be worn over a bathing suit and has been made in Italy using airy cotton voile to keep the heat at bay.
Strappy Sandals - Valentino Studded Sandals in Light Blue. It’s great to have a pair of high heels on hand for dressier occasions. This shoe’s small block heel makes it more versatile for the variable terrain in Tulum. We love the soft blue and the added bonus of how easy they are to slip on and off if you end up wanting to stroll along the beach.
Tulum Ruins Day Trip Outfit
Jumpsuit - Rivet Utility - the Hotshot linen playsuit in “sand” is breathable, light, and fuss-free. The long sleeves will keep you sheltered during a full day in the sun.
Fendi + 24Bottles - Printed leather bag and brushed steel bottle. To keep you hydrated in high style.
Linda Farrow x Attico - The Mini Marfa Sunglasses are durable and classic.
Proenza Schouler - Lug - Sole Chelsea Boot will help you take on any terrain in any weather while making you look glamourously grunge.
Travel Skincare Tips
Hydration is key.
Our biggest travel hack for skin care is to keep your skin hydrated during, and after your flight. Make sure you have plenty of water throughout your plane ride, and if you have a long flight time then the best way to keep your skin from drying out is to pack a hydrating sheet mask or eye mask to use while on board.
Towards the end of your flight take the sheet mask off and do a quick face wipe, layer on a hydrating facial spray to keep your face feeling fresh, and then layer on hydrating hyaluronic serum, moisturizer, and a lip balm.
The best way to make sure your skincare doesn't take up too much space is to grab a travel kit. We love the Dr. Barbara Sturm summer kit or the Sunday Riley Wake Up With Me Morning Routine Kit.
Our favorite sheet masks for the flight are:
Dr. Jart+ Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution™
111Skin - Rose Gold sheet masks
Knesko - Nano Gold Repair face mask
Sunkissed Skin.
It's no surprise that Tulum is sunny, but the UV factor can also be much stronger than it feels, so it's important to have a high SPF sunscreen that provides a good level of sun protection.
Naked Sundays have a game-changing sun serum that is sprayed on as a clear, mattifying primer underneath your make-up. It's hydrating but keeps you from getting oily all while providing SPF 50.
If you are planning on swimming in a cenote or out at the reef, please pack a reef-safe sunscreen to minimize your impact on the ecosystem.
Being located in a jungle, Mosquito repellent is an absolute must in Tulum. If you are anything like us and you hate strong-smelling, harsh mosquito repellents then you need to try Kinfield Golden Hour Mosquito repellent. A clean bug spray that works with natural ingredients, it has a light vanilla and citrus scent and is free from deet.
For fuss-free tropical skin
MAC - Prep+Prime+fix+Coconut - A coconut-scented hydrating primer that will keep your makeup in place all-day
Ilia skin tint serum - A lightweight, easy to wear, skin serum with SPF 40 that will give you that clean girl glow
Rose Inc - solar infusion soft focus cream bronzer - A mistake-proof bronzer that warms the skin and blurs imperfections
Ilia multi stick in "In The Mood"- An easy-to-use, multifunctional blush to give you that pop of fresh color on lips and cheeks also with the added bonus of SPF.
Charlotte Tilbury - Pillow Talk Dreams Luxury Palette - A small, travel-friendly eye palette with fun colors to match your holiday mood.
Ere Perez - Avocado waterproof mascara in black - Waterproof mascara that won't smudge.
Taming your tresses.
The Tulum environment can wreak havoc on your hair if you are not well prepared. The local water system varies from hotel to hotel and the water in your showers may be direct from a cenote or hard water with minimal filtration. It’s likely you will also find yourself hoping between hotel pools, the beach, and watering holes.
Hair Sunscreen - The long balmy days of sun are great for the soul, but the UV can fade out your hair color and create brassy tones. dpHUE x Kristin Cavallari Sun & City Mist is a spray-on mist that protects hair from the impacts of UV and pollution. Spray onto dry styles before heading out. Also a great way to freshen up second-day hair by lightly hydrating it.
Beach Waves - For styling fuss-free beachy waves on holiday, you can’t travel without Ouai Wave Spray. A weightless, salt-free texture spray that uses coconut water and rice protein to give hair added voluminous waves without the crunch and dryness of a traditional salt styling spray.
Hydrating Treatment - If you have long hair or highly processed hair, saltwater swims can make locks tangled and damaged. Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector is our holy grail product, and while traditionally this is used to repair color damage, we like to use it regularly as a treatment to repair hair and keep it lustrous and strong. If you’ve tried Olaplex you’ll know that nothing is better for hair repair!
Humidity Spray - Sometimes walking out the door in Tulum can feel like you’ve just stepped straight into a steam room. Oribe Impermeable Anti Humidity Spray will keep your freshly styled hair sleek and frizz-free. We love that this product is Miami tested, so you know it will deliver on even the muggiest of days.