This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at TAMU chapter.
This summer, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to study abroad in the beautiful city of Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico, for 2 months. Oaxaca is a state located in the southwest area of Mexico, located near the Guatemalan border. There were so many things to do, thus making packing just a little bit harder than I imagined. If you have plans or want to make plans to visit Mexico and all the beauty it has to offer during the summer months, here’s a list of things you should bring to prepare yourself.
- Rain jacket and umbrella
- The summer months are what is considered the “rainy season” in Mexico. It rains just about every day (yes, every day!) during the mid-afternoon for about an hour or even two hours but stops shortly after. I would recommend bringing a light rain jacket and a small umbrella.
- Jacket + sweatshirt
- While it’s technically summer and still very, very hot during the day, it gets surprisingly cool at night. Cool enough for a long sleeve or even a sweater or light sweatshirt. I would definitely say to bring a couple of long sleeves and a light jacket for those nights out!
- Sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen
- This goes without saying, but sunscreen is a must!!! The sun is SO much brighter in Mexico than in the United States. And you will burn. Bring a light facial sunscreen, AND a body sunscreen, because I guarantee you will be spending most of your time outdoors.
- Tampons and/or Pads
- Okay, stay with me, this sounds a little weird, but if you’re slightly picky, you might want to bring your own (speaking from personal experience). Sometimes the applicators are weird. Sometimes, the packaging is weird. So to be on the safe side, just bring a box or enough to get you through your heaviest days and buy some liners at a pharmacy!
- Comfortable shoes
- If you’re going to a city like Oaxaca, odds are you are going to be walking EVERYWHERE (get those steps in, girl!). To make sure you’re prepared for that, take some comfortable walking shoes. Whatever is comfortable for you is what you should pack, whether that be Birkenstocks or athletic shoes.
There is so much more I can tell you what to pack, but, most importantly, just bring the items that make you the most comfortable and confident! Don’t forget any of your staple wardrobe items for those cute Instagram pictures!
Have fun <3