What to pack for Mexico City in November

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

UV index of 8.0 burns exposed skin in under 15 minutes even on cool days.

High altitude intensifies glare off buildings and pavement throughout the 11.2-hour daylight.

Mosquitoes breed in city water tanks year-round, including November.

Altitude sickness hits some travelers within hours of arrival in this city.

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

Limited outlets at budget lodging mean devices die mid-day without backup power.

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

Overhead bins on regional flights to nearby parks are smaller than domestic US standards.

Day trips to national parks mean carrying water, snacks, and layers for altitude shifts.

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

At 2238 meters, the thin air makes sweat evaporate faster and skin dries quickly.

UV hits 8 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

The sun's strength at this elevation means even short walks leave faces scorched.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Tap water causes traveler's diarrhea, leading to dehydration at high elevation.

Unfamiliar bacteria in untreated water triggers digestive problems for most visitors.

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.

Pickpockets work crowded markets and transit stations throughout the city daily.

Luggage moves between hotels fast; a tracker prevents losing bags in transit.

Packing cubes compress clothes and keep damp items from touching clean ones.

Four rainy days mean some clothes stay damp; rewash items every few days.

Thin air at altitude lets UV rays damage lips faster than at sea level.

Street food and shared surfaces in urban areas spread stomach bugs quickly.

Insect bites itch intensely, but scratching sunburned skin causes infection.

Hotels provide old USB chargers that work poorly with modern phones and cameras.

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

Immigration requires your passport at check-in, so keep it separate from bags.

Shared dorm rooms and hostel lockers need locks to protect valuables.

Humid air and altitude make toiletries separate from clothes to prevent mold.