Locals usually keep a bottle of cold purified water handy in the afternoons, whatever they are doing. But the heat lasts only a short time. Not like Houston, where it can reach 107 degrees every afternoon for weeks and never drop below 85 at the coolest part of the day. By the time you are ready to eat a light cena or a late dinner, the night air will again be fresh and comfortable. So pack accordingly.
Women here wear strappy sandals with everything and no stockings.
Also because it does rain much of the year, and because neither taxis nor colectivos have air conditioning, hair-dos should be kept simple. Either very short or long enough to pull up into a ponytail or twist into place with a colorful clip. No carefully constructed sets sprayed into place, please. Older women wear skirts and blouses or dresses. Special favorites, appropriate everywhere you go, are long slip-dresses with spaghetti straps.