What to Pack for a Caribbean Vacation – Packing List and Tips

Posted on October 1, 2024 | Julie J. |

You have booked your trip to the Caribbean and are wondering what to pack and how to dress to make the best out of your vacation.

After having lived in the Caribbean for over two years, I’ll share with you my recommendations when it comes to what to pack for any Caribbean islands, to stay classy while keeping cool and being practical.

Activities in the Caribbean are varied and there are plenty of things to do, so you should be ready for hiking, spending a day at the beach, ATV riding, going on a snorkeling trip, and a fancy night out.

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What to wear in the Caribbean – Clothes and outfits to pack

For clothes, you want to take a mix of comfortable outdoor clothing, to go hiking and do any of the adventurous activities offered on the islands, and light beach clothes and cover-ups for the beach and when you go on boat tours.

Overall, prefer light airy clothes that cover you (to avoid sunburns and mosquito bites), also avoid black as it attracts mosquitoes. Don’t forget to pack one or two nicer outfits for when you go out at night.

Weather is humid and hot year-round, avoid tight clothes and thick fabric, but make sure to pack a light jacket or sweater for the evening or on rainy days. Also, take something for the rain.

If you are going to stay for more than a week, you don’t need to pack more clothes as you can easily do laundry.

Suitcase or backpack?

I usually recommend and use a carry-on backpack (30L) because it’s more practical when you’re moving around. However, as you’re likely to stay at the same place for your entire vacation, a suitcase will be just fine.

Whatever luggage you choose to take don’t forget to take a comfortable day pack for when you go trekking and visit the island.

What to pack for the Carribean – What you’ll need and what you won’t need

The number one travel essential of any trip is travel insurance. A travel insurance will help you in case you get sick, have an accident, get your stuff stolen, and so on. You can check out World Nomad, they’re the leader on the market, or if you are from Europe, you can check out Chapka.

For travel “essentials”, I recommend buying packing cubes, you don’t NEED them, but if you like to keep things organized it’s a great thing to have. Also if you like to read, a Kindle is a great thing to have during a beach vacation, I’ve had mine for years now, and it had allowed me to read hundreds of books without having to carry any of the weight!

In the Caribbean, they use different types of sockets, some are the same as in the US but others are not, so it’s recommended to get a plug adapter. If you travel frequently, buy an international one, that will fit into any sockets and where you can plug in any type of plug.

Make sure to pack sunscreen, try to get an organic one that’s reef-safe and biodegradable, and mosquito repellent (you’ll need this, trust me), you can also pick an organic one, I’ve found they work better than DEET, and it’s way more eco-friendly and better for your health. For mosquitoes, you could also get an ultrasonic mosquito repellent, it’s not 100% efficient but it will keep most mosquitoes at bay.

I would say, it’s no need to bother packing a blow drier or curling/flat iron as the weather is super humid. Your hair is going to dry super fast and any hairstyle you’ll be trying to do probably won’t last.

If you don’t already have one, I would recommend getting a GoPro, half of the Caribbean’s wonders are underwater, and you’ll want to have videos and photos of all the colorful fishes and reefs.

What to pack for the Carribean – Checklist

Clothing for a week:

2 pajamas
2 Swimsuits
3 day-dresses / cover-ups for the beach
1 large long-sleeve shirt to protect you from the sun when boating
3 nice dresses for going out/maxi dresses
2 pairs of shorts
2 pairs of light pants
1 pair of sports leggings
6 tank tops/tee-shirts
1 light jacket or sweater
Socks
Underwear and bras (one set for every day)
Accessories/jewelry (tips: choose the ones that will go with everything)
1 small purse for going out
Hat or cap
Flip-flops;
Sandals;
Sneakers/trekking shoes;
Water shoes;
Lycra (when snorkeling, if you are sensitive to the sun)

Toiletry:

Sunscreen;
UV filter hair serum;
Mosquito repellent;
Shampoo and conditioner (tips: take dry ones to save space and if you’re going to travel with only a carry-on);
Face and body wash;
Toner and serums;
Deodorant;
Toothbrush and toothpaste;
Comb/brush;
Hair ties and bobby pins;
Razors;
Makeup;
Perfume;
Tweezers;
A small first-aid kit;
Feminine hygiene products;
Aloe vera gel in case you get a sunburn;

Carry-on/Beach bag

Passport and ID (tips: make sure you have a passport cover to protect it);
Cellphone;
Headphones (tips: noise-canceling ones are life saviors on a plane);
Travel documents (tickets, hotel booking…);
Wallet with some cash and 2 credit cards (tips: try to never have all your important stuff in one place);
Medications with prescription if needed;
Snacks and reusable water bottle (this one is made with eco-friendly materials, and has over 45k positive reviews on Amazon) ;
Sunglasses;
Antibacterial gel and moisturizer;
A magazine or a book;

Other

Chargers and a plug adapter;
Power bank;
Beach towel or sarong (tip: you can get a sand-free towel if you don’t like having sand all over your towel);
Small backpack for when you go on excursions;
Ziplock or plastic pouch to put your wet towel and swimsuit;
Speaker (tips: pick a waterproof and sand-proof one, like this one>>);
If you are staying in a hostel: quick-dry towel; (read my complete guide for staying at a hostel);