What to Pack for Hotel Xcaret Mexico: What We Actually Used

What to pack for Hotel Xcaret Mexico is a little different from what I would normally pack for an all-inclusive beach vacation.

Our family spent a lot of time in the water during this trip. We swam through rivers and caves, rappelled into cenotes, kayaked, rafted and spent time at the pools and beach. We also zip lined and rode ATVs, so we needed a few things that I wouldn’t necessarily pack for a typical resort vacation.

We still brought our usual swimsuits, flip-flops and clothes for dinner, but things like good water shoes, extra swimsuits and wet bags ended up being especially useful.

After staying at Hotel Xcaret Mexico with our 13-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter, these are the things we actually used and would pack again.

What to Pack for Hotel Xcaret Mexico: Xcaret-Specific Essentials

Water Shoes for Xcaret Parks and Activities Are a Must

If there is one thing I would not go to Hotel Xcaret Mexico without, it is a good pair of water shoes. Water shoes were required for many of the activities at the Xcaret parks, so we ended up wearing them a lot more than we would on a typical beach vacation.

I bought these water shoes for myself and was really happy with them. They were comfortable, stayed on my feet and held up through everything we did.

I tried to save a little money on my husband’s pair and bought him cheaper water shoes. That was a mistake. His weren’t nearly as comfortable, and they started falling apart during the trip. If I were packing for Xcaret again, this is one item where I would spend a little more for a comfortable pair that will hold up.

Reef-Safe Sunscreen for Xcaret

Sunscreen is one thing I would buy before your trip rather than waiting until you arrive. Xcaret has rules about the types of sunscreen that can be used during some of its water activities because of the natural rivers and cenotes.

We brought Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreen with us. With four people spending so much time outside and in the water, we went through sunscreen pretty quickly, so I was glad we had plenty with us.

I would also check Xcaret’s current sunscreen requirements before your trip since policies can change.

Bring a Few Wet Bags

This was the trip that convinced me to start packing wet bags. I brought a few wet bags, and they ended up being really useful.

At some of the parks, we changed out of our swimsuits before getting on the bus back to the resort. The wet bags gave us an easy place to put our wet swimsuits without getting everything else in our bags wet.

They took up almost no room in our luggage, and I will definitely pack a few again for trips like this.

Waterproof Phone Pouch

Even though we purchased the Xcaret photo package, I was still glad to have a waterproof phone pouch. There are so many places where you are around water that I liked being able to keep my phone with me without worrying about it getting wet.

I especially liked having it at the resort. There weren’t Xcaret photo spots everywhere I wanted to take a picture, so I still used my phone quite a bit. The waterproof pouch let me take pictures around the rivers, beach, pools and other areas of the resort without worrying as much about my phone.

We also bought the Xcaret photo package, which gave us pictures from many of the activities where taking our own photos would have been difficult.

A Water-Resistant Backpack

A water-resistant backpack was useful for days when we went to the Xcaret parks. The backpack itself helped protect our clothes, sunscreen and other belongings from getting wet, which was especially helpful when so much of the day involved water.

Some of the parks have lockers where you can leave your belongings while doing the activities, so we weren’t carrying the backpack everywhere. We still needed a bag to bring everything with us for the day and to take back to the resort afterward.

On days when we changed before taking the bus back to Hotel Xcaret Mexico, we could put our wet swimsuits in the wet bags while keeping our dry clothes and everything else separate.

Pack Plenty of Swimsuits, Rash Guards and Quick-Drying Shorts

We packed plenty of swimsuits, and we used them. Between the resort pools and rivers and all of the water activities at the parks, we spent a lot of time in them.

The kids and I don’t normally wear rash guards on beach vacations, but I was glad we brought them to Xcaret. For some of the activities, especially zip lining due to the harness, I felt more comfortable having a shirt over my bathing suit. I wore a women’s rash guard, and the kids had youth rash guards.

Quick-drying shorts were also useful for park days. We could wear them over our swimsuits and be comfortable going from one activity to the next without sitting around in heavy, wet clothes.

We were constantly going from one activity to another, which is one reason Xcaret worked so well for our family. With a 13-year-old and 15-year-old who were ready to try almost everything, we spent a lot more time being active than we would on a typical resort vacation.

Portable Charger

I bring a portable charger on almost every trip, but we definitely used one at Xcaret. Between taking pictures and videos, spending full days away from our room and using our phones throughout the parks and resort, I didn’t want to have to think about my battery level.

This Charmast portable charger is my favorite one I’ve owned, and we actually have several of them at home now. It’s small enough that I don’t mind carrying it around, even on long park days.

What Else to Pack for Hotel Xcaret Mexico

Not everything you need for Hotel Xcaret Mexico is specific to Xcaret. We also packed many of the same things we bring on our other all-inclusive vacations.

For the things we bring on just about every beach vacation, my full all-inclusive packing list covers the rest of our usual family essentials.

Cash for Tips

I always bring cash for tips to an all-inclusive resort, and Xcaret was no different. We used it for bartenders, servers, housekeeping, drivers and others who helped us throughout the trip. I prefer bringing plenty of small bills from home so I don’t have to worry about finding change once we arrive.

Packing Cubes

I have used packing cubes for years and don’t really pack for a trip without them anymore. We have several sets for our family, and they make it much easier to keep everyone’s clothes organized.

Clothes for Dinner

We packed nicer clothes and shoes for dinner in addition to our casual resort clothes. Some restaurants have dress requirements, so I would check the requirements for any restaurants you plan to visit before packing.

Flip-Flops and Comfortable Shoes

I brought flip-flops for the pool and beach, but comfortable shoes are important too. Hotel Xcaret Mexico is large, and we did a lot of walking during our stay.

Sunglasses and a Sunglasses Strap

Definitely bring sunglasses. You also might like having a sunglasses strap for the active park days so you don’t have to worry about losing them.

A Small Bag for Around the Resort

I use my Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag all the time when we travel. It was perfect for carrying my phone, sunglasses and a few small things around the resort without bringing a full backpack everywhere.

The Rest of the Basics

Of course, we also packed swimsuits, cover-ups, pajamas, casual clothes, toiletries, medications and all of the normal things we would bring on a beach vacation.

We have stayed at several all-inclusives with our kids, and there are a lot of reasons this style of resort works so well for our family.

📌 Save This Post for Later

Considering Hotel Xcaret Mexico for your family? Save this guide on Pinterest so you can find it when you are ready to plan.

Photo Note: Our personal vacation photos are © Stack the Miles. Photos from the Xcaret photo package are used with permission from Xcaret. Select scenic and landmark images may also be courtesy of trusted stock sources and tourism archives.

Sharing is caring!