What to Wear in Tulum and the Riviera Maya: Boho Chic That Survives the Heat

Photo: Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones, CC BY-SA 2.0. Image resized.

Jet Set LatAM · Style Guide

Tulum has an aesthetic, and it is not subtle: woven bags, white linen, gauzy kaftans and enough gold jewelry to catch every sunset. The good news is that the look is also practical. In the Riviera Maya’s heat and humidity, loose natural fabrics are the only thing that makes sense.

Here is what to wear in Tulum, Playa del Carmen and the rest of the coast — including the bits nobody mentions, like what actually works at a cenote.

The basics: breathable and easy

Expect warm days year-round, with the most humidity from roughly May to October, when afternoon showers are common. Linen, cotton gauze and crochet keep you cool. Neutrals photograph beautifully against the jungle, but a single bold color — coral, cobalt, emerald — looks even better.

Beach and beach-club days

Swimsuit, a sheer cover-up or linen shirt, slides and a straw hat. Beach clubs lean polished: a matching set or a crochet dress over your swimsuit lets you go from lounger to lunch without changing. Bring a tote big enough for sunscreen, a sarong and a book.

Cenotes and ruins

This is where style meets common sense. For cenotes, wear your swimsuit under easy clothes and bring water shoes — rocks and ladders are slippery. Many cenotes ask you to rinse off sunscreen before swimming, so cover up with a long-sleeve rash guard instead. For the ruins at Tulum or Cobá, choose breathable shorts or a skirt, sneakers or sturdy sandals, a hat and plenty of water. Our guide to the best cenotes in Riviera Maya has the swims worth the drive.

Dinner in the jungle

Tulum nights are candlelit and very photogenic. A slip dress, a flowy maxi or wide-leg linen trousers with a silk cami all work. Restaurants are often on sand or uneven paths, so flat sandals or espadrilles beat heels. Mosquitoes love the jungle as much as you do — a light layer and repellent are smart.

Playa del Carmen and Cancún

Slightly more city, slightly less boho. Quinta Avenida in Playa del Carmen is casual-chic; resort restaurants in Cancún may ask for long trousers for men and no swimwear at dinner. Check your hotel’s dress code before you pack.

Your Riviera Maya packing list

• 3 swimsuits and 2 cover-ups
• 2–3 linen or gauze sets and 1 maxi dress
• 1 polished dinner look
• Slides, flat sandals, sneakers and water shoes
• Straw hat, sunglasses, reef-safe or mineral SPF
• A rash guard for cenotes, a dry bag, insect repellent

Shop the pieces

• Lightweight travel wrap: for over-air-conditioned flights and breezy jungle dinners
• Packing cubes: keep wet swimsuits away from everything else
• Shop Agua Bendita ↗
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• Our full travel collection on ShopMy ↗

Where to stay

Tulum’s beach road for barefoot boutique hotels, Aldea Zamá or town for value, Playa del Carmen for walkability. Our guide to where to stay in the Riviera Maya compares every base. The flight search and live accommodation map below help you plan the rest of the trip.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dress code in Tulum?

Relaxed and boho: linen, gauze, crochet and sandals. Dinners are dressier but rarely formal.

What should I wear to a cenote?

Your swimsuit, water shoes and a rash guard, since many cenotes ask you to rinse off sunscreen first.

Can I wear heels in Tulum?

Rarely worth it. Many restaurants sit on sand or uneven paths; flat sandals or espadrilles are better.

Do I need a rain jacket?

From roughly May to October, a packable layer helps with short afternoon showers.

Keep reading

• Top things to do in Tulum
• Cancún vs. Playa del Carmen

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book or buy through them, Jet Set LatAM may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This is a researched editorial guide; details, hours, prices and travel advisories change, so confirm before you go.