Caribbean Packing List: Essentials for a Tropical Vacation

Published July 2024 | Updated Nov. 2025

While the thirteen countries in the Caribbean can vary widely in terms of culture and activities, you can pack mostly the same items for all of them!

This Caribbean packing list is also useful for other destinations with tropical weather and beaches.

I included all the items I brought and used on my trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in this Caribbean packing list, plus others I wish I had brought.

From the essentials like a TSA-approved liquids bag, to the fun, optional items like a disposable camera, this is the ultimate Caribbean packing list for your trip!

General Items to Pack for the Caribbean

Aside from the most important items, like your phone, passport, boarding pass, etc., these are the general items I recommend including on your Caribbean packing list.

• Packing cubes: I’ve used inexpensive packing cubes to organize all my clothes in my suitcase, but switched to high-quality compression cubes. Now, I can fit so many more clothes in my carry-on!

• Cash in local currency: Get cash in the local currency before your trip. If you are traveling internationally, having some cash in the local currency is always great. Most places in St. Vincent and the Grenadines only accepted cash, so we used it there often!

• Backpack: I love my anti-theft backpack because it looks nice, holds a lot, and has a zipper on the back so you can’t be pick-pocketed.

Essential Items to Pack for the Caribbean

• Bug repellent: Mosquito bites are a nuisance, especially while traveling. Using bug repellent daily will help keep you protected from itchy bites and the diseases that mosquitoes can carry.

• Note: Only bug repellent made for applying to your skin can be brought on a plane. It must meet the liquids requirement (under 3.4 fl oz/100ml) and be in a TSA-approved liquids bag if it’s in your carry-on.

• Insulated water bottle: Most restaurants give you plastic water bottles when you ask for water, especially on smaller islands where tap water is not safe to drink. I brought my Owala water bottle and poured the water into it to keep it cooler longer!

• Medication: I always travel with a mini pharmacy in my travel pill container. Some medications we were thankful to have were:

  • Imodium (for upset stomachs)

  • Dramamine (for motion sickness)

  • Acetaminophen (for general pain, like headaches).

  • Antihistamines, like diphenhydramine, are handy as well in case of any allergic reactions.

• First-aid kit: Band-Aids and antibiotic ointment are ideal to have in a first-aid kit for any minor injuries like scrapes/cuts and bug bites. I also bring hydrocortisone cream for itch relief when I inevitably get bitten by mosquitoes.

• Earplugs: I never travel without my comfortable wax earplugs. They are especially useful for hotels with thin walls when the people next door have a baby that cries all night (ask me how I know… haha).

Clothes to Pack for the Caribbean

The Caribbean is hot and humid, and the sun is strong! Pack clothing that is comfortable and can be mixed and matched. I pack tops and bottoms that all match with each other, so I can get more outfits out of them and re-wear them a couple of times.

If you’re shopping for new clothes before your trip, these are a few of my favorite places to shop for warm destinations:

• Abercrombie: High-quality, comfortable basics. The majority of clothing items I pack on trips are from here!

• American Eagle: Their stretchy skorts are my favorite! They’re stylish, but also incredibly comfortable because of how much they stretch. Plus, they have built-in shorts, which make them great for travel.

• Fortunate One: The dresses from Fortunate One are lovely, and many of them are perfect for a Caribbean vacation. They also have cute tops and bottoms!

• Lulus: There are tons of dresses to choose from in all different colors and styles at Lulus. I find their dresses both high-quality and affordable, which is a win-win in my book. 

• Madewell: Similar to Abercrombie, Madewell also has high-quality basics.

• Beyond Yoga: The SpaceDye collection is soft and stretchy workout apparel that is great for transit days or hikes! I wear mine on trips often, especially road trips or warm destinations where I plan to hike (like Hawaii).

• Monday Swimwear/Vitamin A Swim: My favorite swimwear brands! They’re incredibly well-made and have flattering fits that will make you feel (and look) good.

Tops

I found it was most comfortable to wear tanks and crop tops that were lightweight and light-colored to tolerate the hot and humid weather. What is most important is to wear clothing that you feel comfortable in.

The heat may already be uncomfortable, so having a comfortable outfit on will make it easier on you throughout the day. I lean towards breathable fabrics like cotton and linen for hot weather.

My favorite tank tops for comfort during travel are basic tanks and camis from Abercrombie. American Eagle has great long-sleeved button-ups to wear over a swimsuit or outfit to protect your skin from the sun.

For a week-long trip, I recommend packing:

• 3-5 tank tops or T-shirts

• 1 long-sleeved button-up shirt (to wear as a cover-up)

• 3-5 pajama tops

Bottoms

Shorts and flowy pants are the way to go! The Caribbean is pretty casual, so you don’t need anything fancy.

Unless you are staying at a luxury resort that has high-end restaurants on-site, you can leave most of your fancy bottoms at home.

Most days, I wore linen shorts or flowy pants. I also wore a linen skort, but would have been more comfortable in my stretchy skort instead!

For a week-long trip, I recommend packing:

• 2-3 pairs of shorts

• 1-2 pairs of flowy pants

• 1-2 skirts/skorts (if you like wearing skirts)

• 3-5 pajama bottoms

Dresses

If you like wearing dresses, include 1-2 dresses on your Caribbean packing list.

I usually enjoy wearing dresses and packed a dress for our trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but didn’t end up wearing it as I felt more comfortable in a tank top and shorts or pants.

Pick dresses that are a bit more flowy and loose as opposed to bodycon. A flowy dress will also help keep you cool throughout the day.

I often pack white dresses for travel because they look great with all the surroundings, but wear whatever color you want!

Swimwear

I like to pack 2-3 swimsuits for trips where I know I’ll be wearing them often! Having at least two—ideally three—swimsuits allows one to hang dry in our accommodation while I wear the others.

Bring swimsuits that are comfortable to wear under your clothes while walking around, that will stay on well while swimming in the sea, and that you feel comfortable in!

Shoes to Pack for the Caribbean

Sandals

I wore sandals the entire week during our trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines! We didn’t do a ton of walking because the heat and humidity made it too unbearable to walk for long distances. Because of this, my sandals sufficed.

While I do love the sandals I wore, the layers of the soles came apart after a couple of months of wearing them. I used shoe glue to glue them back together before our trip, and they’ve been great ever since!

I also own a pair of Reef sandals that are perfect for leisurely trips, but not ideal for walking 20,000+ steps a day in Europe. Teva is also a popular sandal brand for travel.

Walking Shoes

The Caribbean islands have some incredible hikes! My favorite shoes for walking and hiking are my New Balance Trail Runners. They are comfortable, have a strong grip, and they’re cute.

I’m also a big fan of Allbirds, and they have a few options for walking shoes and hiking shoes, including the Tree Runner Go and trail runners.

Accessories to Pack For the Caribbean

• Sunglasses: I travel with cheap sunglasses, so if I lose them or they break, it’s no biggie.

• Hat(s): A wide-brim hat can protect your full face and the back of your neck at peak UV hours.

• Hair tie/clip: It felt best to keep my hair up and off my back in the sticky humidity! A simple claw clip was perfect.

• Beach tote: I brought my backpack everywhere since I carried my heavy camera, but a nice tote would be great to bring if you’re heading to the beach.

• Turkish towel: My Turkish towel was probably my most-used item on our trip to the Caribbean! I used it as a towel after swimming, a shawl to protect my back and shoulders from the sun, and a pillow on long ferries while island hopping.

Personal Care to Pack for the Caribbean

This list does not include the main essentials, like your contacts, toothbrush, hairbrush, etc. I trust you already know you need to pack those!

These are some additional items you might not top-of-mind when planning your Caribbean packing list.

General

• TSA-approved liquids bag: You don’t need to splurge on a high-end liquids bag, as long as it is TSA-approved (a specific size and clear).

• Travel containers: If needed, get small travel containers to squeeze your liquids, creams, and gels into. You can use inexpensive travel bottles that come with the liquids bag or splurge for the fancy, magnetic Cadence travel containers.

Hygiene/Toiletries

• Shower bars: I have been using Ethique shampoo and conditioner bars exclusively since 2021. Since they’re solid, I have more space in my liquids bag for other toiletries!

• COOLA sunscreen: If you’re swimming in the sea or ocean, it’s important to wear reef-safe sunscreen. My go-to sunscreen is COOLA.

• After Sun Gel: Even with diligent sunscreen application, you may still get sunburnt due to the strong UV in the Caribbean. Having some after-sun gel to lather on your burnt skin at the end of the day is a necessity!

• Wet wipes: In addition to using wet wipes in the bathroom, they also work well for wiping dirty/sticky hands (followed by hand sanitizer), wiping down dirty surfaces, or even wiping your sweaty face (reapply sunscreen after).

Beauty

• Tinted Moisturizer: A full face of glam is not ideal for a hot and humid Caribbean trip.

  • Tarte’s BB cream is lightweight, has SPF, and goes on easily with just your fingers! It’s perfect for a hot, tropical destination.

  • If you have dry skin, then the Tarte Maracuja Tinted Moisturizer will be better for you.

• Chapstick: Dr. Bronner’s is my go-to chapstick. It stays on for a long time, has a bit of shine to it, and doesn’t make my lips chapped when it wears off.

• Lip Gloss: If you want to add a bit of color, use Tarte’s moisturizing lip gloss! It’s my favorite gloss and comes in multiple colors.

Tech to Pack for the Caribbean

Aside from the main tech like your phone/charger, this is a list of other techy things I recommend adding to your Caribbean packing list.

• Universal adapter: The Caribbean uses multiple types of plugs — one of our hotels even had two different kinds! You’ll need a universal travel adapter to charge your devices.

  • For an affordable option, get the Tessan Universal Adapter.

  • For a fast charge, the MINIX 140W universal adapter is best.

• Power bank: The fast-charging Anker Power Bank has been one of the most useful travel items I own. It can charge a phone 4x and can even charge a laptop.

• Disposable cameras: One of my favorite things to pack on trips is a disposable camera or two. It’s so fun to get them developed after I get home and relive all the memories in a nostalgic format.

• Waterproof phone pouch: A waterproof phone pouch is perfect for bringing your phone into or near the water for snorkeling and fun underwater photos (not to be used as a regular, long-term phone case).

• AirPods: The AirPods Pro have great noise canceling, which almost completely eliminates the loud noise from the plane or ferry. It makes it much easier to relax and even get some sleep.

• AirFly: If you want to watch something on the airplane TV, AirFly lets you use your Bluetooth headphones instead of having to buy headphones that can be plugged into the AUX outlet.

Miscellaneous Items to Pack for the Caribbean

• Laundry detergent: Pack some laundry detergent sheets so you can wash clothes during your trip. If you aren’t staying somewhere with a washing machine, a hotel sink or bathtub works well! Just clean the sink or bath before/after you wash your clothes in it.

• Chai latte powder: If you are also a chai latte girlie (specifically a non-dairy one!), then this vegan chai latte powder may change your life. Just add hot water to make a delicious dairy-free chai latte! You can then add ice if you prefer iced lattes.

• Snacks: Having filling snacks, like protein bars, on hand is great for long days of exploring or when a meal just isn’t satisfying enough.

Planning Your Caribbean Trip

I hope this Caribbean packing list helped you feel more prepared for your upcoming trip! Visit the full Caribbean Packing List to shop all the items mentioned in one place.

Additional Resources:

• Booking.com to book your stays

• GetYourGuide and Viator to book your activities

• Airalo for a reliable e-SIM

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