16 Outfits To Wear In Tulum, Mexico This Summer Tulum, Mexico Outfit Guide || Summer 2023
Hola chicas! I just got back from a ten-day trip to Tulum, Mexico which means it’s time for an outfit round-up. I’ve been to Mexico twice already this year—in January to Puerto Vallarta and in July to Cabo San Lucas and yet nothing could have prepared me for this trip.
Tulum is an up-and-coming hot spot, located two hours south of Cancun. This area has truly been culturally preserved with a heavy Mayan influence. It’s built around nature so it’s a mix of jungle, city, and beach all in one. We had a long time here which made it possible to explore all three areas, really immersing ourselves in their holistic, healing culture.
For reference, our trip was in mid-August which is also the hottest month in Mexico and it was just that… hot. Like really, really miserably hot. If you’re in the midst of packing for this trip yourself, I suggest lots of bathing suits and easy breezy linens. We spent most of our days in the pool/at the beach and our evenings exploring the town, going to dinner, and sipping on drinks.
Of course, I had to do it in style! Today I’m sharing everything I wore throughout our stay along with links to shop. Enjoy!
Floral Feels
photo location ✈ Encantada Tulum Hotel
I’d been planning my Tulum outfits months in advance, stockpiling all kinds of fancy dresses and sets from various designers. I threw this casual linen maxi dress into my bag at the last second and am so glad that I did. It was so hot during our stay in Tulum that easy breezy cottons ended up being our best friends. If I were to repack for this trip, I would’ve brought a few more pieces similar to this one.
This beautiful floral dress is a favorite from Petal and Pup. It has a strapless neckline and a full skirt with several tiered ruffles that spin so effortlessly. I styled this with gold sandals from Steve Madden which ended up being the perfect shoes for a day full of exploring. We walked nearly five miles and these gave me zero blisters. Definitely a win + one of my favorite outfits for the daytime.
Mellow Yellow
photo location ✈ Copal Hotel Rooftop
We quickly realized that Tulum is just far too hot during the daytime to do anything besides lay by the pool/ beach during the day. I suppose it’s a good thing I brought so many different swimsuits! This yellow crochet bikini is from Dippin Daisy’s new Amalfi Coast collection and I’m obsessed.
The wrap-front top is so flattering. The bottoms however, are incredibly cheeky. If you’re not a fan of thong bottoms, I suggest opting for one of their fuller coverage styles in the same shade, available here.
Crochet Cutie
photo location ✈ Kimpton Aluna Balcony
The girls and I went out for Jules’s birthday and I ended up wearing this amazing pink crochet dress. This is entirely see-through and truly meant to be a coverup piece so if you’re bold enough to wear it on its own, as I did, I suggest nipple petals up top and a dark nude thong on the bottom.
This ended up being the perfect outfit for a night out in Tulum town (although I was dripping sweat, lol). However, if you’re going out down by the beach clubs, you’ll want more of a clubby look.
In The Jungle
photo location ✈ Copal Hotel Rooftop
I brought a ton of bikinis on this trip but this one was definitely my favorite. Although this top had thin, adjustable straps and a silver clasp along the back, it was actually one of the most supportive tops I brought with.
If you’re larger in the chest you’ll love the support this suit has. The bottoms are extra chewy with more of a thong-like cut. This is super popular here in Mexico and this color palette was giving me all of the jungle vibes.
Dancing the Disco
photo location ✈ Gitano Tulum
You must visit Gitano during your trip to Tulum. This is a chic spot for dinner and drinks frequented by rowdy groups and bachelorette parties. Almost everyone is dolled up in nicer/club attire so a funky dress and heels are perfect. It turns into more of nightclub/dancing spot after 11 pm.
I ended ups earring this stunning Milly dress. This piece was a jersey knit that was super stretchy, hugging the tush beautifully. I love the bright color palette and ape things bright with a pair of white heels. Whenever I’m wearing a midi style I always reach for lace-up heels as they really help elongate the legs!
Adventure Day
bikini || shorts || flip flops || sunglasses
photo location ✈ Tulum Mayan Ruins
We spent one entire day exploring the Mayan Ruins + swimming in cenotes. I wasn’t sure what to wear for a day that included such different excursions o I ended up going with a bikini and a pair of white linen shorts. I highly suggest bringing a couple of pairs of “cover-up” shorts like this with you.
I also had a pair of pants similar and wore them daily over my bikinis. It was too hot to get “actually dressed” each day we ran out for breakfast so most days I would just throw a pair of these over a bikini and it worked perfectly+ it’s what everyone else was doing too!
Rainbow flip-flops and sunglasses were a must for me every single day. Highly suggest a supportive bikini for this day as there’s a lot of movement involved.
Frisky in Fringe
photo location ✈ Kimpton Aluna Rooftop
How incredible is this blue fringe set from Saylor?! This high-end designer has so many amazing styles right now. If you’re looking to splurge on an elevated vacation look, I highly suggest checking out her stuff. We got all dressed up for dinner one night and this was by far my fav piece.
Love the high-neck top and this low-rise skirt. Again, you’ll see this heels and clutch combo a ton but it really is just the perfect touch to a summer outfit!
Orange You Glad
photo location ✈ Kimpton Aluna Rooftop Pool
How adorable is this bikini?! It was one of my favorites throughout this trip and comes in a gazillion different colors. However, bright orange happens to be one of my favorite hues at the moment. Plus, I love that this bikini comes with a floral belly chain. Such a fun accent! The whole set is under $10 with my code Q4mckenz15.
Exploring Town
photo location ✈ Kimpton Aluna Entrance
I should have brought more sets like this one with me—anything lightweight and linen can easily be tossed over a bikini which was key for walking around Tulum. I tied this long-sleeve over top and popped on these adorable shorts. Straw sandals and this Lulus chain link purse were on repeat for our exploring mornings.
Island Girl
photo location ✈ Nerea Pool
I brought a lot of affordable bikinis on this trip to balance out my hundreds of dollar outfits, haha. This is another under $10 bikini when you use my code Q4mckenz15. This color palette was incredible and so flattering on my deep summer tan. The top is super flattering and the bottoms are a little thicker with these elastic bands.
Pouty In Pink
top || skirt || clutch || heels
photo location ✈ Nerea Balcony
I would love to say I was able to wear this pink crochet set for a full evening but oh my gosh I cannot even begin to tell you how badly I was sweating while wearing this I had to change as soon as I snapped a photo in this iconic outfit. The mix of the high neck. A long skirt and thick knit were just too much for me, even in the evening lol.
Perhaps if you’re vacationing in Mexico at some point that isn’t the middle of the hottest month of the year this would be chic! The maxi skirt hugs your curves beautifully. Pack nude undies and nipple covers to wear with!
Aquamarine Energy
photo location ✈ Nerea Pool
I’ve had this green one-piece in my bathing suit drawer for months now and finally got to put it to use on this trip. Tulum is the perfect place to wear all of the chic styles you’ve been saving. A one-piece is absolutely the vibe for a day at the beach clubs.
I love this green Tularosa one as it gives you a lot of support throughout the chest while still providing some cleavage. It’s snug in all the right ways and has a decent amount of bootie coverage which I know you guys love!
Special Occasion Pics
photo location ✈ Nerea Pier
If you’re headed on vacation chances are you want to snap a few updated family/bestie/boyfriend photos. I almost always refresh these “special occasion” pictures with a little bit of white. I get almost all of my white dresses from Lulus—they have the best selection for grads, bride to be, etc.
This gorgeous white lace midi dress caught my eye immediately. You could totally dress this down with strappy salads (or even barefoot), or dress it up with lace-up heels and a cute clutch for a pop of color.
My whole look is from Lulus and you can use my code MCKENZ20 for 20% off your first purchase.
Vacay Mode: On
photo location ✈ Nerea Beach
As I said, linen maxi dresses will be your best friend. This Saylor style is perfect if you’re looking for something easy and breezy to wear throughout the day. This is a lightweight cotton that’s very breathable. It’s got a beautiful tie front detail that’s very flattering along the chest. Plus, this has pockets which I always appreciate!
I dressed this down with straw sandals—these are old from Franco Sarto but are still some of my most worn shoes. They are looking pretty beat up and that’s because they are very well-loved, haha. I have them in four other colors if that tells you anything, lol.
Endless Summer
photo location ✈ Nerea Pier
Hanging onto swimsuit season every second I can. This pink mini is a Kulani Kinis dupe and is too cute. It has little plastic rectangles along the top and bottom for a fun touch. It’s a little cheekier along the tush and definitely not a supportive top but it was perfect for my afternoon of tanning and reading near the water.
August Slipped Away
photo location ✈ Nerea Pier
I was sent this beautiful strapless dress from a designer named Charaina Sarte and wow, I don’t think I’ve worn something this pretty in a long time. Now don’t get me wrong, this is a very pricey piece but it was gifted and I just couldn’t resist wearing it on this trip. As you can tell it has a beautiful peacock-inspired print to it that seemed perfect for Tulum which is a mix of jungle and beach. It was so windy the day I wore this to dinner and yet it flowed beautifully.
With strappy heels and a clutch, you could definitely sport this as a wedding guest look—it’s linen but it has a very dressy feel to it that I just love. The cups to this are lightly padded so no need to bother with a bra for this either! Worth the splurge if you’re wanting something very unique and sustainably made.
Workout Clothes
I also packed five different workout sets and wore all of them. Tulum is really centered around healing practices and most hotels offer daily yoga and/or have a gym which we went to almost daily throughout this trip. I was really happy I had some spandex and sports bras to wear so that I could participate in these activities. I don’t usually pack these on a trip, but this ended up being a sportier trip than I expected.
Less is more here! Bathing suits with a little cover-up is all you’ll need for most of your days. Well, that is if you’re going in the dead of summer. We had an awesome time exploring all that Tulum has to offer. Check back Wednesday for a full travel guide complete with hotel details, restaurant recommendations, and our full itinerary.
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And of course, if you’re looking for more Mexico outfit ideas, you can click here for more inspiration. I’m off to the Florida Keys next and then I promise I’ll reel it in on the endless summer content. Until then… 😉
Wow, what an experience this trip to Tulum was! I had no idea what to expect
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