Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Packing List

Typically I title the posts in my packing series “Traveling Light,” but I didn’t feel that was a fair statement to apply to my Puerto Vallarta packing list post. In fact, I could almost title this post “summer travel capsule” as it includes nearly all of my warm-weather items!

The hot-weather forecast in PV meant I would likely need to wear a different outfit in the evening after swimming and  sweating all day, and without an established itinerary (the purpose of our visit was for our friends’ wedding, so all plans were out of our control), I had to pack for many possibilities. So, I packed more than five days’ worth of outfits, though I still managed to fit it all into my carry-on with room to spare. And as always, I stuck with a neutral color palette, ensuring everything matched everything else. I also included every garment made of natural fibers that I own – not only are synthetic fibers more unsustainable, they don’t breathe as well. As you’ll see, most of the items included are made of linen, cotton, or silk.

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I didn’t have the chance to pack until the night before the flight, but I had been mentally planning my items and outfits over a week in advance. I even sewed a linen tank a few days before the trip from scrap fabric to make sure I’d have enough light-colored tops to wear with the two skirts I planned on bringing. Here’s what made the cut and went into my suitcase:

Looking for more packing list inspiration? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter

PACKING LIST FOR PUERTO VALLARTA

tops || Linen Tee* | Silk Cami* | Knot Crop Tee* | Linen Tank* | Grey Crewneck Tee | Open-back Muscle Tank* | Silk Tie Neck Tank* | Cross-back Tank* | Silk Tank* || dresses || Silk Tank Dress* | Evening Dress* | Floral Maxi Dress* || bottoms || High-Rise Skinny Jeans | Olive Linen Pants* | Black Linen Joggers* | Striped Skirt* | Solid Skirt* | Black Shorts* || accessories || Crossbody Bag* | Tote || shoes || Flip Flops | Double Strap Sandal* | Heeled Sandals* | Gumsole Sneakers* | Water Sneakers || athletic wear || Sports Bra | Tee | High-Rise Leggings || swim || Cover-up* | Bikini Top* | Bikini Top* | High-rise Bikini Bottoms | Tie-back One-piece | Cutout One-piece* || inner/outerwear || Camisoles | Cardigan* || pajamas || Cities Tee* | Tee | Cotton Leggings | Sleep Shorts || underwear (not pictured) || 14 Pairs of Underwear | 4 Bras | 1 Bralette

THOUGHTS ON PACKING FOR PUERTO VALLARTA

Though I hate to shop specifically for a trip, I definitely did in this case. The white tie-neck silk tank, the green linen pants, the two skirts, the maxi dress, the water shoes, the heeled sandals, and the flip-flops were all new purchases for this trip. I thrifted almost everything and altered what didn’t quite fit right to save a little money (you might have seen my Instagram stories with the maxi dress – it was initially a cold-shoulder dress, though I altered it as that is not a style that suits me. In the end, I was left with a dress that looked much more expensive than its $9 price tag). Since our trip was planned well in advance, I had time to carefully consider what items I wanted to purchase and to make sure those garments would have a permanent home in my closet for (hopefully) years to come.

Surprisingly, I wore nearly every article of clothing I brought along (yes, even all but one of those pairs of underwear!). The weather was incredibly hot – summer is low-season in Puerto Vallarta and I now understand why – and I definitely needed a second outfit by the evening. Thankfully the resort had two pools and unlimited margaritas; both offered an equally wonderful respite from the sun. Most days we woke up, threw on clothes, had breakfast with the group, grabbed our swimsuits, hung out in the pool until lunch, threw on a cover-up for lunch, swam some more, and got dressed again for dinner. Two of the dinners were more formal, and I was glad I threw in a second bright dress for the evening. My maxi dress was perfect for the wedding’s tropical setting, and I think this trip finally made me more excited about warmer weather and wearing bright clothing once again!

PUERTO VALLARTA OUTFITS

In more detail, here’s how I combined my items over the five days (into many more outfits!):

*items are no longer available; I've linked to a similar product

Enjoyed this post? You may also like:

• Five Days in Puerto Vallarta Guide
• One Week in Guadalajara Packing List
• Guadalajara Travel Guide
• Guadalajara Food Guide
• Three Days in Mexico City Packing List
• Five Days in Mexico City Packing List
• Three Days in Mexico City, Mexico
• Five Days in Mexico City: A Second-Timer’s Guide
• Tequila Day Trip
• How to Pack Faster

Are you ready for summer and warm-weather dressing? Do you have a summer destination in mind? I’d love to hear!