The Essential Cabo Packing List in 2024

With seemingly every single airport around the world in massive upheaval and chaos, losing your luggage at the start or end of your trip is just a massive pain.

One of the travel hacks in recent times has been to leave an Apple AirTag or Android’s Tile in your luggage. Using Bluetooth technology, you’ll be able to locate your luggage even if you and the suitcase are no longer in the same location.

It won’t help you retrieve your luggage, but at least you’ll be able to track it when it does eventually arrive at your destination. 

The Apple AirTag offers peace of mind in a really turbulent travel time, and can also be used for so many other occasions. Traveling with an Apple AirTag is one of the best travel gadgets in 2024.

One of my tips for traveling is to make sure you download your latest episodes of whatever you are watching from Netflix, Disney+, or Prime. This means that when your phone is on airplane mode you can catch up on your TV shows. It passes the time and is the perfect excuse to binge-watch something.

I’ve found that a lot of airlines have started to remove their inflight entertainment devices, and I’ve had to become more reliant on my phone or tablet when I’m flying. It’s not such a big deal for me as I’ll download a couple of movies or series to keep me entertained in the airport and the long lines.

The hands-free phone holder from Wicked Chili is my absolute favorite gadget on this entire list. I no longer have to hold my phone for the duration of my flight, instead can mount it on the back of the tray table. It’s brilliant! 

There is nothing more annoying than being on a beach or swimming with whale sharks and all of a sudden your cell phone’s battery dies. It’s 100% a first-world problem, but in this day and age when we’re far too attached to our phones, having a dead battery can almost ruin the day. 

I’ve been a huge fan of my Anker 747 Battery Pack since purchasing it after my vacation to Rome earlier this year. I spent each day trying to conserve my battery life by deleting apps, and putting it on various different battery saver plans, only for it to die after a few hours. 

The Anker 747 battery pack allows you to charge two devices at the same time and is the perfect gadget for days when you are by the pool and catching up on social media or Netflix. It takes the hassle out of limiting your cell phone usage. That’s got to be a plus right?

If you are planning on going surfing anywhere on the Baja peninsula or spending time in the Pacific Ocean, consider adding a rashguard to your Cabo packing list. This is one of the easiest ways to protect your skin from sun damage and freckling. It has built-in UV protection, is fast drying, and is lightweight. 

Spending an ample amount of time unprotected in the sun can cause real damage to your skin. This was my first year wearing a rashguard in the ocean as I’ve become quite obsessed with taking care of my skin. What can I say, I want to look 30 for as long as possible!

A quick drying towel that is also incredibly lightweight is a complete game changer. I used to foolishly pack my own beach towels for my vacations and waste valuable clothing space. Then I went through a period of buying a cheap beach towel at wherever I was and donating it at the end of my trip. Or dragging it all the way home, only for it to be donated to my local pet shelter.

Since taking up swimming I discovered the brilliant microfibre towels which come in a variety of sizes and colors. They are so compact that they barely take up any space in your luggage. Seriously, these are a complete game changer.

I’m just about to zip up my luggage when I remember about my liquids. You would think at this stage of traveling we’d all be so used to liquid limits and flying, but it often escapes me. 

I rarely fly with check-in luggage, so I always have to ensure that I follow the liquid allowances for airlines. The Gemice Travel Bottles are not only adorable and come in a variety of colors, but are also TSA-approved. I fill them with my shampoo and conditioners, as well as other various lotions and potions. 

The Gemice Travel Bottles are brilliant for anyone who wants to bring only carry-on luggage when they’re preparing their Cabo packing list. 

Some hotels can surprise you and have the most fantastic hairdryers available in the rooms. More than likely you’ll find the traditional hairdryer glued to the wall, with a button that needs to be held down for it to work. And when you do get it started, it’s like a mouse blowing your hair dry. 

Of course, you can take your own hairdryer with you, or you can consider a lightweight travel hairdryer from GHD. Adding a hairdryer to your Cabo packing list may be a necessary and unquestioning decision to add to your luggage. And if space or weight is a problem, the GHD Travel hairdryer is compact, lightweight, and powerful. 

If I could live in Birkenstocks all year round, I would. I joined the Birkenstock family back in 2019 and if I lived in a climate that would allow me to wear them year-round I totally would.

Birkenstocks are so comfortable and the perfect shoe that can be dressed up or down. And whilst they come with an expensive price tag I can promise you that you’ll have them for years, they are quality through and through.

I don’t know why, but on vacation, I seem to become Mary Poppins. My beach bag seems to house everything I bring on vacation with me. You’ll find half-drunk bottles of water, dog-earred books, a change of clothes, a loose cookie that is now crumbling everywhere. And on top of all the stuff that I bring, my partner manages to sneak his stuff in there too. 

Having a beach bag that I can fit seemingly endless amounts of unnecessary beach paraphernalia is an essential part of my packing list for Cabo. Plus it’s handy for the fantastic stores and shopping in Cabo. 

If you are anything like me and you’re trying to reduce your single-use plastic usage, but don’t want to lug an enormous water bottle around with you. I got you. Introducing the amazing and oh-so-handy collapsible water bottle that fits right in your beach bag or backpack.

With so many water filling points in your hotel or accommodation (it’s not advisable to drink the tap water unless you’ve been told otherwise), this is the easiest way to reduce your plastic usage. Plus it’s not solely for vacation usage and can fit handily in your purse. It also happens to be BPA-free too. 

If you’re worried about your belongings when swimming in your hotel pool, or on an excursion to see whales, then you definitely should add a waterproof phone case to your Cabo packing list. 

The peace of mind that comes with a waterproof phone case that can also hold your AirPods or credit cards is one of the best hacks for your Cabo packing list and an absolutely essential item.

If you are worried about the case actually being waterproof, test it out before your vacation and put a slip of paper into the pouch. Once you’re satisfied with its security and waterproofness then keep testing out various other non-perishable items until you work up to your phone. 

For longer week-long vacations I am 100% an over-packer. I will try my best to pack the entire contents of my home into my luggage. Packing Cubes have been the greatest discovery to keep me and my luggage organized. Each cube has its own purpose that stops me from overpacking. So when the swimsuit cube is full and I can no longer zip it closed, then it’s time to move on to the next cube and fill that up.

Packing cubes keep me organized, they also keep my hotel room organized too. My suitcase doesn’t explode as soon as I enter the hotel room, and I don’t make that much mess for the chambermaids to hate cleaning my room each day. A little goes a long way.

I’m a huge sucker for gadgets that I do not need. But much like a crow, whenever I see something shiny I’ve just got to have it. Which is why I now own the Insta 360 Gimbal Stabilizer for my phone. 

Do I need a gimbal for taking videos for my Instagram account? Nope. But man how I love it. I’ve tried all the tips on how to create seamless floating photos, but I end up shaking my phone really unsteadily. And yes, I even have turned on the stabilizer on my phone’s settings and it still looks like an earthquake is happening underfoot. 

The gimbal is something to add to your hand luggage if you are enjoying making content for your Instagram or TikTok account. And if you don’t, you can totally skip this unnecessary purchase. 

And the beauty of this gimbal is that it also doubles up as a tripod and selfie stick!