Start with sun protection, then build the rest around it
The single most useful purchase before a beach week in Mexico is a long-sleeve rash guard for each child and a wide-brim hat with a chin strap. Pacific surf beaches such as Sayulita and Puerto Escondido and Caribbean stretches around Tulum and Puerto Morelos give strong midday sun, and a shirt keeps a child in the water far longer than sunscreen alone. Bring two swimsuits per person so one can dry overnight in humid coastal air.
On sunscreen, buy reef-safe mineral formulas at home or stock up at a supermarket such as Chedraui or Soriana rather than paying resort shop prices. Pack a high-factor stick for faces and a large pump bottle for legs. Add after-sun lotion and a small bottle of aloe gel; the pharmacy chains Guadalajara and Farmacias del Ahorro are everywhere in beach towns if you run out, but you will not want to spend a first afternoon hunting for them.
Clothes that work for beach towns and cool highland evenings
Beach towns are casual, and light cotton or linen in loose cuts is the right call. Pack one collared shirt or simple dress per adult for restaurants, and closed shoes with grip for wet cobblestones in places like Sayulita or the Malecón in Puerto Vallarta. Flip-flops are fine for sand but useless on slick streets. A light rain shell earns its space if you travel between June and October, when afternoon downpours are common on the Caribbean coast.
If your itinerary includes Mexico City before or after the beach, remember the altitude: at around 2,240 metres, mornings in Roma Norte and Coyoacán can be genuinely cold, and the rainy season from May to October brings evening storms. One fleece or denim jacket and a compact umbrella make the capital comfortable. Leave the heavy coat behind, but do not assume beach clothes will see you through a night in the city.
The kit that makes beach days easier with children
Pack a dry bag for phones and ferry tickets, a small first-aid pouch with plasters and rehydration sachets, and a folding tote for groceries. A mesh bag for wet swimwear keeps the rest of the suitcase dry. Snorkel masks are worth bringing for older children at spots like Akumal or Isla Mujeres, where rental gear is variable; fins and life jackets are easier to rent locally than to carry. Reusable water bottles matter: buy five-litre garrafones from any corner shop and refill.
For flights and long transfers, a tablet loaded with offline maps and downloaded shows is more reliable than airport wifi. Bring a power strip with two or three sockets so one adapter serves the family, and check that your devices handle 127-volt supply; most do. A compact stroller helps in the flat streets of Playa del Carmen but is a liability on the uneven pavements of older Mexican towns, so decide based on which base you book.
Documents, money and the things you should not bring
Carry passports for every family member, plus printed copies, and check each child's passport expiry well ahead. Mexico requires no visa for most Western visitors on short stays, but arrival forms and the FMM process change, so confirm current rules with your airline. Notify your bank before travel so cards work, and carry a modest amount of pesos in small notes for taxis, tips and street food. Airport exchange counters are rarely the best rate; use an ATM at a bank branch instead.
Skip beach towels and bulky toys; most hotels and rentals provide towels, and shops in any resort area sell inflatables cheaply. Leave expensive jewellery and anything you would grieve over at home. Bring a refillable bag for shells and a small torch for evening walks on unlit stretches. If you are booking now, coastal hotels fill fastest for Easter, July and the December holidays, so reserve early and choose a base near the beach you actually plan to use.
Questions people ask
Where to stay