What to Pack for Colombia: What Actually Worked for Our Family

Late last year, on the day after Christmas, we headed out on a family vacation to Colombia. Packing for a post-Christmas trip is stressful enough, but packing for a multi-city Colombia trip adds a whole level of complexity. During our trip, we stayed in three hotels across three cities with three distinct climates.

If you are considering a family vacation to Colombia, here's what to include in your packing list (and an overview of the items we packed and used).

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What to Pack for Colombia: What Actually Worked for Our Family

Differences in Locations

Before developing your packing list, consider the places you will visit on your Colombian vacation. On our trip, we visited three distinct areas: Bogotá, the Coffee Region, and Cartagena. The average temperatures were about 65 degrees in Bogota, 85 in the Coffee Region, and 95 in Cartagena, and these tend to be fairly consistent.

Check the average temperatures of each place before packing. There are also rainy seasons that you should be aware of that may affect what you pack and what you plan for activities.

What to Pack for Clothes

Once you know the average temperatures, you'll know what type of clothes to bring (spring, summer, etc). For our multi-city trip, I found that layers worked great. I packed pants, skirts, two pairs of shorts, short-sleeved shirts, and two sweaters. I especially love merino wool clothes for this type of trip, and my favorite brand is Unbound Merino. Because we were celebrating New Year's Eve in Cartagena, I also packed a black dress.

You'll need to think about the specific activities you are doing before you pack. For instance, you'll want something dressier if you plan to visit more formal locations or restaurants. I found Bogotá and Cartagena to be especially cosmopolitan, and some restaurants had dress codes (e.g., men in pants and closed-toe shoes).

Sun and bug protection are also factors. Some areas, including Bogotá, are at high elevation, so make sure your skin is protected. Long-sleeved and SPF clothing can really help. It's also good to have a hat, regardless of where you are going.

If you are hiking, especially at lower elevations, you'll want to consider packing clothes that help protect you from bugs. During our forest hike at Proyecto Titi, I packed insect-shield socks (find them on Amazon here), that were extremely comfortable. We also wore long-sleeved shirts and long pants, even though Cartagena is very hot and humid.

Because we left for Colombia from our home in Boston, I did pack a jacket. However, I didn't end up needing it during the trip. If we were traveling during the rainy season, I would have packed a light rain jacket. We packed umbrellas, but since it was the dry season, we didn't need them.

Toiletries

As with any international trip, you'll want to make sure you pack all the toiletries you need. There are lots of pharmacies located in the larger cities and tourist areas, but it's always easier to pack what you are familiar with.

You'll also want to include insect repellent and sunscreen in your bags. If you are going to snorkel, make sure the sunscreen is reef-safe.

I especially like the Sawyer brand insect repellent. It comes in both lotion and spray, but I find the spray is the most convenient. You can purchase it on Amazon.

I also always pack my little essentials kit when traveling. You never know when you may need one of these items during your travels.

Electronics and Devices

Colombia uses the same electrical outlets as the United States, so you don't need to bring adaptors. We were also pleasantly surprised to see that our cell phone service covered Colombia, so we could use our phones as normal with no additional charges.

If you plan to snorkel or hike, you may want to bring specialty cameras for those activities. For snorkeling, you'll want a waterproof device, and for hiking, a camera with a zoom lens is a great option.

While we didn't bring binoculars for our hike, I do wish I had. However, if you don't have a hike planned, you probably don't need them.

One device that did come in handy is a personal fan. I kept it charged and in my bag while in Colombia's warmer climates. You can find mine on Amazon. It also works as a power bank.

Shoes

Determining which shoes are best for any family vacation can be a challenge. Shoes can take up a lot of space in your suitcase, so you don't want to pack too many.

For general sightseeing in Colombia, you'll want comfortable walking shoes that are good on both slippery and rough surfaces. Many of the women on our Adventures by Disney Colombia tour group (including me) wore OnCloud sneakers every day when walking around.

For hiking, I brought hiking sneakers from Amazon for my Costa Rica trip, which also worked out well for Colombia. You can find them here. I'd also recommend shoe bags to keep the rest of your luggage contents clean if you happen to get mud or dirt on your boots.

If your plans include beach or pool time, you'll also want to pack appropriate shoes. I packed flip-flops, which are easy to tuck into your suitcase and beach bag.

What to Pack For Money

Colombia uses the Colombian peso. While most stores and restaurants accepted credit cards, street vendors typically accepted cash.

I'd recommend changing a small amount of money when you arrive - either at a money exchange location or by using a trustworthy ATM. You'll also want to check whether your credit card charges a foreign transaction fee. If it does, you may want to look into getting one that doesn't charge a fee. Foreign transaction fees can add up quickly, so it's best to use a card that doesn't charge them.