Caribbean Packing List: Essentials for a Tropical Vacation
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 even useful for other tropical vacation destinations like Hawaii.
I included all the items I was happy to have during my trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in this Caribbean packing list. From the essentials like a TSA-approved liquids bag to the more fun, optional items like a disposable camera, this is the ultimate Caribbean packing list for your trip!
This post contains affiliate links that earn me a commission. For more information, read my disclaimer.
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 always used inexpensive packing cubes to organize all my clothes in my suitcase. I recently switched to some high-quality compression cubes and I can fit so many more clothes in my carry-on now!
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 cannot be pick-pocketed.
Essential Items to Pack for the Caribbean
Bug repellent: Mosquito bites are a nuisance while traveling (at all times, really). Using bug repellent daily will help keep you protected from annoying bites and the diseases that mosquitos can carry.
Note: Only bug repellent made for applying to your skin can be brought on a plane. It must meet liquids requirements (under 3.4 fl oz/100ml) and be in your TSA-approved liquids bag if it’s in your carry-on.
Insulated water bottle: Many restaurants give you plastic water bottles, especially on smaller islands where tap water is not safe to drink. The heat makes the water warm up quickly, so I brought my Owala water bottle and poured the water in 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), and acetaminophen (for general pain, like headaches). Antihistamines like diphenhydramine are handy as well in case of any allergic reactions.
First-aid kit: Some bandaids 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 mosquitos.
Ear plugs: I’m always thankful to have a pair of comfortable wax earplugs on trips. 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 vacation. They also have cute tops and bottoms!
Lulus: There are tons of dresses to choose from at Lulu’s in all different colors and styles! 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. I love my linen shorts from Madewell and wore them on our trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines!
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 is comfortable for you.
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 Abercrombie scoopneck tanks, Abercrombie square-neck tanks, and American Eagle square-neck tanks. Abercrombie and American Eagle also both have great long-sleeved button-ups to wear over a swimsuit or outfit.
For a week-long trip, I recommend packing 3-5 tank tops or T-shirts, a long-sleeved button-up shirt to wear as a cover-up, and 3-5 pajama tops for sleep.
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 pants at home.
I was happy wearing my Madewell linen shorts and Abercrombie flowy pants. I also wore an Abercrombie linen skort, but would have preferred my American Eagle skort instead!
For a week-long trip, I recommend packing 2-3 pairs of shorts, 1-2 pairs of flowy pants, and 1-2 skirts/skorts (if you like wearing skirts).
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 think white dresses are the best 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, it’s important to note that 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!
If you’re buying new sandals for this trip and don’t want to risk them falling apart, I’d recommend getting some Reef sandals. Teva is also a popular sandal brand for travel and I have these platforms.
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 runners 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. ASOS is my favorite place to get them!
Hat(s): A hat with a wide brim that can protect your full face and the back of your neck.
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, hair brush, etc. I trust you already know you need to pack those! These are some additional items you might not have at the top of your mind to include on your Caribbean packing list.
General
TSA-approved liquids bag: You don’t need to splurge on a liquids bag as long as it is TSA-approved (a specific size and clear). The product title or description will say if it is TSA-approved.
Travel containers: If you have travel-sized items, then you can just put them directly into your liquids bag. Otherwise, small travel containers to squeeze your liquids, creams, and gels into will be necessary. 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 use Ethique shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and face wash bars, which saves a ton of space in your liquids bag. I’ve used the shampoo/conditioner bars as my regular shampoo/conditioner since 2021!
First time buying from Ethique? Use my link to get 20% off!
Deodorant: I love Wild deodorant because I can bring just the refill without the case to save space! Crystal Deodorant is also incredible and is a solid salt rock.
COOLA sunscreen: Anytime you’re visiting a place near the ocean, sea, or lakes, it’s important to wear reef-safe sunscreen that is safe for sea life. COOLA is my absolute favorite because it smells great and goes on like a nice moisturizer.
Aloe: Even with diligent sunscreen application, the sun may still burn you. Having some aloe to lather on your burnt skin at the end of the day is a necessity!
Wet wipes: These are great to have for a variety of reasons. Aside from using wet wipes in the bathroom, they work well for wiping dirty/sticky hands when you don’t have access to a sink (follow with hand sanitizer), wiping down dirty surfaces, or even wiping your sweaty face (re-apply sunscreen after).
Beauty
Tarte BB Cream: 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.
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 like some chapstick does. A good chapstick with SPF is great as well!
Tarte Lip Cremé: If some good chapstick isn’t enough, add a bit of color with Tarte’s moisturizing lip cremé! It’s my favorite lipstick and comes in multiple colors.
Tech to Pack for the Caribbean
Aside from the main tech like your phone/charger, these are 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! A universal adapter is perfect for the Caribbean since it’s compact and works with any type of plug.
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: This isn’t necessary, but there is some incredible snorkeling in the Caribbean — especially in the Tobago Cays where there are tons of sea turtles! A waterproof phone pouch is perfect for bringing your phone into or near the water temporarily (not to be used as a regular, long-term phone case).
AirPods: The AirPods Pro have great noise canceling, which almost eliminates the loud noise from the plane. 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 on hand is great for long days of exploring or when a meal just isn’t satisfying enough. We didn’t love the food on St. Vincent and the Grenadines and granola/protein bars came in handy.
More Caribbean Posts
Pin It For Later
