What to Pack for Cartagena? A Practical Cartagena Packing List

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Are you currently planning a trip and wondering what to pack for Cartagena, Colombia?

Cartagena is a destination for sun and sand on the beach but also culture and history during the day and a vibrant and fun nightlife in the evening.

So, while you don’t really need cold weather clothes, you do need a bit of everything.

In this practical Cartagena packing list, I’ll share my tips for what to pack for Cartagena based on my decade living there.

So read on to see what you might want to include on your own Cartagena, Colombia packing list.

A Practical Cartagena Packing List – Overview and Quick Tips

I’ll go into more details below and even share some links to some ideas for things to pack for Cartagena you might want to pick up before hand.

However, to start, let me just give you a quick and simple rundown and list of what to pack for Cartagena:

• Your Travel Docs (Duh! But, seriously, don’t forget them!)
• Comfortable clothes for hot, humid, sunny weather and walking around town
• That includes comfortable walking shoes
• Your beach gear
• Backpack, sling bag, or other day bag
• Nicer outfit(s) for going to dinner and/or going out dancing
• Shoes for going to dinner and/or going out dancing
• A good hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Extra socks and underwear (did I mention it’s hot?!)
• A light jacket, hoodie, or sweater (just in case!)
• Toiletries

That pretty much sums up the essentials for what to bring to Cartagena.

Below, I’ll go over some useful general travel gear, then share some examples of good things to wear for both the ladies and guys.

I’ve also included some photos of us to highlight some good outfits and styles for clothes to pack for Cartagena throughout too. A lot of those photos were taken by the wonderful Marina Maldonado, who we’ve done a few photos sessions with over the years. Learn more about Marina here.

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Thing to Keep in Mind When Deciding What to Pack for Cartagena

I want to cover a few quick notes and caveats that are worth adding, and then I’ll share some ideas for gear, outfits, and accessories that you might want to add to your Cartagena packing list.

Travel Docs

First, keep in mind that most foreigners do not need a visa to travel to Colombia as a tourist.

There is a digital immigration form known as Check Mig that was previously required but is now optional. However, some airlines do still ask to see it, so it’s a good idea to just fill it out. You can read a guide to filling out the Check Mig form here.

Canadian tourists do have to pay a fee when entering. Read about the Colombian entry fee for Canadians here.

Immigration agents may ask about the name and address of the hotel where you’ll be staying too, so it’s good to have that info handy. If you haven’t gotten reservations yet, be sure to check out my guide to where to stay in Cartagena.

You can also check out my guide to the Cartagena airport to have a better idea what to expect upon arrival.

Climate and Weather

Cartagena is pretty much always hot and humid.

That being said, if you’ll be traveling elsewhere in Colombia beyond the Caribbean coast, you’ll want some clothes for cooler weather, especially in Bogotá and other places in the higher altitudes of the mountainous interior.

While Cartagena’s weather is usually sunny and gets little rain from December-March, it does get intermittent rains from May-November with more frequent rains from about mid-September to mid-November.

It’s pretty easy to find umbrellas for sell on the street in a pinch, but you might want to pack a travel umbrella, a good light rain jacket, or an easy to pack travel poncho and an extra change of clothes, including socks and shoes, those times of year.

For Cartagena’s heat and sunshine, a good hat is a must. Some great unisex options include a packable Panama hat, the Bora Bora sunhat, or, if you’re like me and have a penchant for losing hats, a generic ball cap. A fold up cap is also nice for travel.

If you’re going to visit the Rosario Islands (which you should!), it’s a really good idea to have along a dry bag to keep your phone, camera, and other things from getting wet on the boat. Some tours and hotels have them, but taking along your own snorkeling gear isn’t a bad idea either. Finally, the rocky, coral islands make a good pair of water shoes useful to have along. These sneaker style water shoes are good and don’t look too goofy.

Oh and I love my bamboo frame shades, and they go perfectly in Cartagena. Goodrs also make a good, not too expensive choice for travel if you are like me and also lose sunglasses even more often than hats! In fact, I lost my green lens bamboo ones on our most recent visit to Cartagena!

Do I Need a Travel Adapter?

Colombia runs on a standard 110 V electrical current and uses the Type A and B plugs found in the United States. If you’re coming from Europe, Asia, or other places that use different outlets, you should bring along a travel adaptor.

I don’t know if I’d take it as gospel, but there’s a handy map on Wikipedia with the sockets used in different countries.

Even if you don’t need a travel adapter, if you’ll be bringing along expensive electronics like video or audio equipment or a lap top to work remotely, it’s not a horrible idea to have along a travel surge protector and power bank, especially if you’ll be staying in the historic districts, since parts of Cartagena’s grid is old, the wiring in older buildings is old, and power outages do occasionally happen.

Cash and Currency

You should not plan to use US dollars or other foreign currencies in Cartagena unless you’re only stopping for a few hours on a cruise stop. While some places, taxis, and vendors may accept US dollars, you’ll end up paying more.

I recommend bringing along a good debit card and credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees. You can take out some cash as necessary as you go from ATMs, which give the best rates, and use the credit card where you can, such as at most restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and tour operators.

If you prefer to have hard currency, you can exchange US dollars, Euros, and some other currencies at exchange houses all over town or exchange at your home bank and bring Colombian Pesos.

You can get an idea of the current exchange rate here.

Cartagena is overall very safe in the tourist areas if you follow general precautions and don’t go looking for trouble. However, it’s not a bad idea to limit the amount of cash you carry, carry your wallet in a front or side pocket, and stash important docs like your passport and home ID in the hotel. A photocopy of your passport is good to have on you at all times.

Taking a backup credit card is also not a bad idea, and not just because of the minimal risk you’ll be robbed. In addition to hats and sunglasses, I’ve also lost a couple wallets in my day.

You could also take along a travel waist pouch, neck pouch, or bra pouch, and even something like a PacSafe to be on the extra safe side.

See more Cartagena safety tips here.

Toiletries and Cosmetic Products

If you’re like me, you’ve probably forgotten your toothbrush, or, even worse for a hot and humid place like Cartagena, your deodorant more than a few times when traveling.

Fortunately if you do forget them, you can find these kinds of things in Cartagena. There are many big international brands such as Nivea, Head and Shoulders, and Pantene available alongside plenty of fine Colombian and Latin American ones.

However, if there is a particular brand or product you must have, you should pack it. Some of these things, especially if they are imported, can be pricier too.

For example, sunscreen, an absolute necessity, tends to be more expensive and sold in smaller bottles in Cartagena than the US. Bug spray, which is good to have too, can also be more expensive.

Oh, and while this has gotten better, the ladies might want to carry around some backup toilet paper just in case there isn’t any in public restrooms.

Fashion Dos and Don’ts in Cartagena

I’ll share some more specific ideas on things to wear below, but figured I’d cover a few general guidelines and common questions I see.

First, don’t bother trying to “dress like a local.”

I see people get all worked up about this in some travel forums and Facebook groups. Unless you’re from a Spanish speaking Caribbean country like Cuba, Puerto Rico, or the Dominican Republic, it’s going to be clear you aren’t a local as soon as you open your mouth. Even Colombians from other regions of the country can’t pass as locals in Cartagena.

If you’re coming here on vacation, you should aim to be comfortable, not dress like some generalized idea of a local travelers post about online that probably isn’t true anyway.

That being said, don’t dress like a slob either!

As a tourist town, standards of dress are pretty laid back in Cartagena. However, there are some rules and norms around dress to keep in mind.

Sure, hit the little tienda shop by the beach for a snack or a beer with only your bikini top on, but put on a shirt when you go to the supermarket, the mall, or eat in a restaurant for goodness sake!

Also, night clubs and a few nicer restaurants will generally require long pants, something nicer than a T-shirt, and proper shoes, not sneakers or sandals, for men.

Most bars and restaurants are fine with shorts and sandals as long as you’re decently put together and don’t look like you just walked off the beach or out of the gym.

For the ladies, it’s ok to show some skin as long as you’re well put together. Don’t be shy about halter tops, crop tops, and spaghetti straps.

What to Pack for Cartagena, Colombia: Some Suggestions

Now that I’ve shared a general Cartagena packing list and some tips, I’d like to share some suggestions of things you might want to pack for Cartagena.

Useful Travel Gear

Here are a handful of ideas for general travel gear and accessories to consider on your Cartagena packing list.

Luggage and Bags

First, if you need luggage, I have a large Delsey hardtop roller bag that’s an older model similar to this one I love and has held up well to lots of traveling.

If you’ll be trekking, backpacking, or budget traveling around Colombia and want something that works well on buses and as a carryon for flights, Susana and I both have Osprey Porter 46L packs and found them to be great on a 6 month backpacking trip we did through Colombia and Mexico. Looks like they have been replaced by the Sojourn Porter, which also looks nice, but doesn’t come in the sweet bright red and teal colors we have.

The newer version of the Farpoint (men’s) and Fairview (women’s) bags incorporate the laptop sleeve on the back and “straight jacket” straps that let you compress the bag when it’s not full that led me to choose the Porter over them when I bought my bag, and they are just a tad smaller. So they are a great option too.

I also like to carry a backpack around to stash anything I need or want when I travel. I had a Roam packable bag that held up well for years until the zipper finally gave out and have a VenturePal now that I also like a lot.

I also have this Samsonite backpack that I mostly use for work, but I love that it zips almost all the way down so it works well for travel too. I often use it as my carry on. I strongly considered the more premium Nomatic backpack when I bought that one.

Good Cartagena Related Books

I also enjoy a good book on the beach, plane, and bus.

A few of the books I recommend related to Cartagena are Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and loosely based on Cartagena. Of course, his One Hundred Years of Solitude is also worth a read.

If you want to learn more about Cartagena’s history, consider my favorite Cartagena history book No Limits to their Sway about the city’s independence era privateers or The Fortifications of Cartagena de Indias: Strategy and History.

For something that mixes history, nature, and travel log, Wade Davis’s Magdalena: River of Dreams is really interesting and well written too.

Other Gear and Accesories

A good travel towel also comes in handy for the beaches in Cartagena or if you’re staying in Cartagena hostels.

The quick dry travel towels from Rainleaf are extremely popular and well reviewed. If you’re looking for something a bit more stylish, check out these retro striped ones from Dock & Bay.

You may also want to bring along a good lock for lockers if you’re staying in hostels. This lock lets you set your own combination, so you don’t have to worry about losing a key and is TSA approved, so can also be used on your bag if you prefer to lock it. You can also use the aforementioned Pacsafe in hostels, hotels, or AirBnBs.

I like to keep some Pepto Bismol and Pepcid on hand when we travel. I’d also recommend having some electrolytes you can add to water like Liquid IV or Nuun tablets in case that Cartagena dehydrates you.

Some Ibuprofen, Tylenol, and Benadryl are also always handy when you need them too.

Finally, I think this mini-first aid kit is nifty, and you’ll be glad you had it if you need it.

Clothes to Pack for Cartagena

Here, I’ll share a handful of specific suggestions for things you might want to add to your Cartagena packing list, starting with the ladies and then following up with ideas for the guys.

What Should Women Pack for Cartagena

First, it’s worth keeping in mind that women on Colombia’s coast generally dress quite liberally. Again, don’t be one of those tourists that goes around town in your bikini top all day, but don’t be afraid of showing a little bit of skin either.

Whites, linens, bright colors, floral designs, and pastels all look great and work well for the weather and Caribbean locale of Cartagena.

Ideas for Casual Wear for Her

Here are some suggestions for things that work well for exploring town during the day but double as wearable in the evening to most restaurants, bars, and clubs too, with an emphasis on light and comfortable:

• A casual and comfy T shirt is versatile
• Same for this cute sleeveless T with a crochet pocket
• This sleeveless button up blouse is classy and casual
• Bring along several colors of this simple tank top for comfortable daytime exploring
• This V-neck knotted front blouse is too and can be dressed up nicely
• These comfy cotton shorts with buttons pair well with almost any top
• These water resistant caprisare perfect for travel
• Some comfortable linen pants work great for Cartagena too
• Consider this cute, long skirt with buttons for daytime and evening wear
• Go all in on comfort with this 2 piece crop top and shorts outfit set
• This sleeveless romper with buttons is very Caribbean and versatile
• So is this button up dress with spaghetti straps
• Meanwhile, this T shirt dress is comfortable and stylish
• Or for a happy medium, check out this sundress which has a lot of colors and prints

Ideas for Evening Wear for Her

A lot of the above works for going out dancing or to most restaurants, especially combined with the right bottoms to dress them up a bit. I’ll share a few more dressed up suggestions here:

• This 2 piece maxi dress with tube top is cute but also classy and comfortable
• This off shoulder floral print dress is classy and can be dressed up or down
• This cute off shoulder cocktail dress would work well for dinner and dancing
• This spaghetti strap front tie up midi dress is good for a bit more casual look
• This 2 piece ruffled top and slit leg pants outfit is also casual but classy
• This floral print halter top and long skirt outfit is Cartagena elegance defined

Ideas for Beach Attire for Her

Here are some ideas for good beachwear for the ladies in Cartagena:

• This sporty halter top bikini is cute
• This ruffled top bikini is too
• Consider this 1 piece cutout monokini for a bit of a throwback look
• This tank top and high waisted bottom tankini is also a classy look
• A ruffled top 1 piece, especially a floral design or bright color would also look great
• So would this V neck ruffled 1 piece that shows a bit more skin
• This cotton sarong with tassles screams Caribbean vibes
• A good pull over dress bathing suit cover up can be handy, and Susana loves that one
• You could get away wearing this beach dress and cover up to casual restaurants too
• Bring along a floppy, packable sun hat for the beach too!

What Men Should Pack for Cartagena

A lot of the same general advice for what to pack for Cartagena for the ladies goes for the men too.

Light, comfortable, bright colors, whites, beiges, and pastel all work well. Linen, in particular, works well for the heat of the day, look nice enough to wear out, and have a local vibe.

Speaking of that, one of the things I often see among the “dress like a local” crowd is in reference to shorts for men. While I’d say that it’s true that Colombian men wear shorts much less often to social events than men in the US, I’m going to repeat what I said above: there’s no point in trying to “look like a local” because you aren’t going to pass for one.

I pretty much spent nearly my entire 20s walking around Cartagena in shorts, t shirts, and cheap Havianas flip flops, or “flip flaps” as a Al, a man I worked with in my college days would tease me about.

I could care less that I looked like a typical gringo, because, the truth is I always did anyway.

Now that I’m closer to 40 than 20 (sigh), I might go for shorts and a polo or light weight button up with sneakers or Birkenstock style sandals. I might even wear long pants during the day! But, well, I still look like a gringo. However, I am comfortable.

You should wear what’s comfortable for you too, and shorts are comfortable in Cartagena’s heat. If you pay attention, you’ll see plenty of Cartageneros in shorts and T-shirts, some with those T-shirts pulled up over their gut to get some air.

Don’t do that (it’s not a good look), and don’t wear shorts and flip flops to the club or out to a nice dinner, but otherwise don’t be self conscious about wearing shorts to walk around a Caribbean vacation destination while you’re on, well, vacation.

You will need a good pair of slacks or jeans and a button up for going out to dinner at nicer restaurants and dancing though.

With that out of the way, I’ll share below some ideas for what a man should pack for Cartagena.

Ideas for Casual Wear for Him

Like the women’s section above, I’ve tried to suggest things here that work well for exploring and walking around town during the day but can also combined and dressed up easily for dinner or drinks.

• Columbia’s T-shirts and polos are comfortable for Cartagena’s heat
• I have a few ATG by Wrangler shirts with short sleeves and really like them
• Short sleeved linen shirts are tough to beat for a nice but casual Caribbean look but can be dressed up well too
• Long sleeved linen shirts dress up even better and can also work for daytime wear
• These Wrangler ATG lightweight shorts with subtle zipper cargo pockets are some of my favorites I currently own too
• Choose some linen drawstring shorts for the win in comfort
• Or go for linen shorts with a button and zipper for the win in class
• Finally, choose some classic dockers shorts for the win in versatility
• I also have several of these lightweight Wrangler ATG pants and think they are perfect for travel
• And yes, I have a few of the “hiking jogger” version of those pants too!
• Drawstring linen pants also work fine for walking around town and even dinner
• A classic but packable and foldable Panama hat is a nice touch to your look in Cartagena
• Grab some New Balance Dad shoes for traversing the uneven cobblestone streets of Cartagena
• Or, hey, rock the flip flaps and shorts!
• Or look back at your youth and realize you could have put a bit more effort in and rock some Birkenstocks.

Evening and Going Out Wear for the Guys

First, keep in mind for going out dancing and dinner at decently nice and up restaurants, you’ll need proper shoes, pants, and something that isn’t a graphic T-shirt.

Honestly, all the linen shirts, short or long sleeved, mentioned above work well. So do most other long or short sleeved button ups and decent looking polos. Jeans are fine in all but the very nicest restaurants and also work for the night clubs.

Of course, a linen get up also looks great and is comfortable in the heat. Guayaberas with nice pants are the most common attire for formal events like weddings in Cartagena. If you want to go a suit route, I suggest a linen one. It’s so much more comfortable.

By the way, don’t tuck in a guayabera like Bill Gates did on a visit to Cartagena.

Speaking of, the guy in the right of that photo has a little shop by the Exito San Diego and makes custom tailored guayaberas, including the one for Bill Gates and ones for many other celebrities and foreign dignitaries that have visited Cartagena. I actually had him make the vest for my wedding. He’s pricey but it’s kind of a neat souvenir if you wanted to get a guayabera made.

That deviation aside, here are a few more ideas for nicer men’s attire to pack for Cartagena:

• Wear a guayabera for a touch of elegance
• Long sleeved guayaberas look even nicer
• You could also do the classic 4 pocket Cuban style guayabera, although they aren’t as common in Cartagena among locals
• Complete the Caribbean get up with some nice linen pants
• Or just get the 2 piece linen outfit
• These Dockers shoes, some Sperry boat shoes, or these Rockports would work for walking around town too if you wanted to only pack one pair of shoes.

Beach Stuff for the Guys to Pack for Cartagena

The fellas will want their beach gear for the islands and beaches of Cartagena too.

I suggest bringing along an extra pair of trunks just in case your first don’t dry out well between beach days, a good hat, light t shirt, button up, or long sleeve, you can wear to get the sun off your shoulders, and some good shades.

Here are a few ideas they guys might want to pick up before a trip:

• These classic board shorts from Speedo look good
• These quick dry trunks have Colombian flag colors (plus other designs)
• The zippered pockets on these board shorts look handy
• A ;ong sleeve UV blocking tee is useful if you’re an easily burned gringo like me
• Long sleeve fishing/hiking shirts also work great on the boat, beach, and even around town.

Ready to put together your Cartagena packing list?

There you have it, a comprehensive Cartagena packing list with, I think, just about everything you might want to consider to pack to enjoy your visit to Cartagena!

I hope you found this packing list for Cartagena useful in helping consider what you should pack for Cartagena. More importantly, I hope you don’t forget those extra undies, your toothbrush, or your deodorant!

Most importantly of all though, I hope you have a wonderful time in Cartagena! Please do check out all the other content on the site to help you plan.

If you brought along a great piece of gear or gadget that came in handy in Cartagena or have a tip for a great outfit, let me know in the comments!

Cheers and Happy Exploring!

Planning your trip to Cartagena?

Be sure to check out the rest of the site to help you plan!

In particular, you might want to check out my complete guide to planning a trip to Cartagena, my guide to the best areas to stay, my list of over 75 things to do, my picks for the best Cartagena tours, the best day trips from Cartagena, my suggested packing list, my guide to the Rosario Islands, and my guide to all the beaches of Cartagena.