What to pack for Cancun in November

16 rain days a month finds every seam. A real shell, not a windbreaker.

UV index of 6.6 burns exposed skin in under an hour.

Glare off water and sand intensifies at this latitude in November.

Humidity at 79 percent draws mosquitoes that carry dengue and Zika.

Cuts from coral and sea urchins happen on coastal trips.

Tap water isn't safe here. A filter bottle beats buying plastic twice a day.

Eleven hours of daylight means screens drain battery by evening.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Carry-on limits force choices between gear and clean clothes for 16 rain days.

Day trips to the national park need space for water and sun gear.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Heat and 79 percent humidity make sweat cling to skin all day.

Water temperature sits at 23 to 28 degrees Celsius year-round.

Wet terrain and coastal wind call for shoes that grip and drain.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Heat and humidity dehydrate faster than tap water can replace.

Tap water here causes intestinal illness in visitors within days.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

Tourist areas see pickpockets work crowded beaches and markets.

Luggage moves through three countries on the way to this coast.

Moisture and salt air mix in shared hostel spaces.

Rain sixteen days a month and ocean spray soak phones constantly.

Sixteen rain days and salt air break down detergent fast, so travel sizes need replacing mid-trip.

Highs near 28 degrees mean long days in minimal clothing.

Sixteen rain days a month soak footwear through to the seams.

Lips crack fast when UV index stays above six all month.

Surfaces touched by dozens of travelers daily spread stomach bugs.

Bites itch worse in heat and scratching leads to infection.

One outlet per room and multiple devices means cables get shared.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

International travel requires documents kept dry and separate from cash.

Checked bags pass through high-theft airport zones.

Toiletries degrade fast in heat and salt air without organization.