Caribbean Packing List: Be Prepared To Experience Wonders

What will you bring to enjoy a trip to the Caribbean? Write yourself a Caribbean packing list to ensure you get everything you need!

The Caribbean is a wonderful place with turquoise water, yellow-white sand and a diverse ecosystem. However, living on an island means you can’t always get what you need immediately. So you better be prepared to avoid inconveniences.

But don’t worry, you can still travel light and simple. In this list, we will give you some advice on which item you should bring along when coming to the Caribbean and how to save space as much as possible.

Documents

You should make a checklist of every document needed in case you forget anything important. Photo by Jordy Veldhoen on Unsplash

• Visa
• Passport
• Covid-related certificates
• Boarding passes/plane tickets
• Travel itinerary
• Travel insurance.

If you are travelling to the Caribbean from another country, personal documents are something you should spend time preparing carefully.

Common documents such as Visa, passport, and boarding passes are a must-have. Most, if not all, islands in the region now welcome unvaccinated visitors. So you don’t need to provide COVID certificate and COVID vaccination card.

However, you should prepare an insurance certificate for health insurance abroad, a list of emergency contacts, and even a driving license if you are going to rent a car or a bike.

CabinZero tips: The CBP has also publish a guide on Caribbean Summer Travel Tips. It’s worth a read.

Clothes

Bring a hat as an accessory to take pictures or simply enjoy the sunshine. Photo by Francesca - stock.adobe.com

Essential

• T-shirts
• Shorts
• Pants
• Skirts
• Maxi
• Dresses
• Sweater

Various sets of clothes are necessary items on a vacation, especially if you are planning to take memorable pictures of the beautiful nature here. 

To pack your clothes for the Caribbean trip, first, you should count how long you will stay. Of course, you can change your clothes constantly whenever you like. However, you might probably wear around three outfits per day, so try not to overpack them.

The Caribbean has two main seasons: wet and dry, and the time might change based on your target island, but the weather overall is not so different. Most of the time, the Caribbean weather is warm, so you don’t have to bother packing thick clothes or layers. However, you might want to bring a windbreaker jacket to avoid night breezes.

You should stick to simple options like T-shirts, crop tops, shorts, maxi dresses, etc. If you want to bring pyjamas, prepare those with light and cool materials. You can decide your concept to pick the clothes easier.

The Caribbean is said to have a relaxing vibe, so you should probably go with something not so formal. That said, there are certain resorts and restaurants that have a dress code. So bring along an outfit or two just in case, especially if you are on a cruise trip.

Beach gear

• Swimsuits
• Coverups
• Rashguard

About the swimsuits, you should bring at least two sets to wear interchangeably and wait for one to dry before wearing it again. You can choose any set based on your liking. Don’t forget to bring along a light cover, it can help you avoid sunshine and protect your skin.

Shoes

• Trainers
• Flip Flops
• Water shoes

You should also have flip-flops to walk on the beach easier. Based on your intended outfits, you can prepare sandals or high heels for special circumstances. If you intend to visit further destinations which require walking or hiking, bring some socks and trainers.

Others

• Hats
• Sunglasses
• Scarf or pashmina.

For the accessories, you should bring at least one hat and a pair of sunglasses to protect against the sun. We recommend you choose silver or gold jewellery instead of costume jewellery. The seawater contains a lot of salt which can affect the coating of costume jewellery, therefore making them oxidise.

Technology devices

Power bank is needed if you intend to take various pictures during your trip. Photo by Drobot Dean - stock.adobe.com

• Phone
• Power bank
• Charger
• Adapter.

The first and indispensable is, of course, your phone. While travelling, you can not let your phone runs out of battery. You will need it to take pictures, search for directions or even translate. So don’t forget to bring your charger and also a power bank if you have one.

The Caribbean may have different voltage, plugs and power outlets from your origin country. So be prepared to bring converters or adapters. You can also ask your hotel if they provide these devices but the chance is low.

Based on your needs, you can also bring your laptop or camera along. If you bring your camera, priority the waterproof ones or prepare a waterproof case when you go to the beach.

Toiletries

Most hotels will provide toiletries but you should bring your own if possible. Photo by Syda Productions - stock.adobe.com

• Basic toiletries of choice
• Sunscreen
• Moisturiser
• Hand sanitisers