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Traveling to Colombia in the near future and don’t know what to pack? I got you! Packing can be daunting, especially if you haven’t visited the country you’re traveling to before. Colombia has a diverse climate due to its geographic location. It includes tropical coastlines, high Andean mountains, vast plains, and dense rainforests. In this post, you can find my ultimate Colombia packing list. It is suitable for traveling for two weeks up to multiple months in Colombia. Here we go!
Dibulla, Colombia
Colombia is a gem of a country in the heart of Latin America. I’ve never experienced a country that is so diverse so far and I really want to encourage you to fully explore everything it has to offer!
From the lush forests of the Amazon and the dreamy Andean Mountains to the laid-back coastline of the Caribbean and otherworldly landscapes of the Tatacoa desert, Colombia is truly what dreams are made of.
It’s sad to see that this country still has a bad reputation, due to its violent drug past in the 1990s, but those days are long gone. Today, Colombia is on a mission to become one of the most innovate countries in the world.
Places like Comuna 13 in Medellin bring stories of hope, progressive thinking, and community effort and also sustainable tourism is gaining momentum in the country, with eco-friendly accommodation, organic coffee tours, and community-based tourism leading the way.
Before I start with the things I packed for my two-month trip through the country, I’ll briefly touch upon what the weather’s like in Colombia and my favorite luggage brand!
I traveled to Colombia with only carry-on luggage, and, if you are up for it, you can do the same!
Los Estoraques National Park in Norte Santander
The weather in Colombia is incredibly diverse because of its geographical location near the equator and its topography. The country’s climate can be divided into several areas and each has its own unique weather patterns.
Depending on how long you will stay in the country, you’ll surely stay by the coast and likely arrive by plane in the mountains of Bogota. But, aside from the mountains and the tropical coast, there are more regions in Colombia with distinct weather patterns like the plains and the amazon rainforest.
Andean Mountains around Salento
Generally, Colombians divide their country into three areas, the Terra Caliente or hot zone are the regions below 900 meters (2950 feet), the Tierra Templada ranges between 900 and 1800 meters (2950 and 6500 ft) and the Terra Fria, cold areas that go up to 3500 meters (11500 ft).
Temperates can very heavily in these destinations hovering from around 30 degrees Celcius in the hot zones to less than 10 degrees Celcius in mountain areas like Cocuy National Park or the Peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Even though I hiked quite a bit in Colombia, I didn’t go on multi-day treks through rough and cold terrain. In case you want to do that, you might need extra gear besides my Colombia packing list, like a warmer jacket to beat the cold.
The choice between bringing a suitcase or a backpack to Colombia depends on your travel style, preferences, and the type of activities you plan to engage in during your trip. Both options have their pros and cons!
A suitcase makes it easier to organize your stuff because of all the compartments and zippers and it’s ideal if you don’t prefer to carry the weight of a backpack on your back.
The Wayks Globetrotter Bundle
A backpack is easier if you will regularly travel on uneven terrain. It is quite hard to take a suitcase on gravel roads and Colombia has lots of streets that are full of potholes and without sidewalks!
My go-to travel backpack is the Globetrotter Bundle from the German brand Wayks. Not only is this backpack made from sustainable and recycled materials, but this bundle includes every bag you might need on a trip. It consists of a travel backpack, a small backpack, a travel cube (that you can use for shoes or as a beauty case), and a sling that can be converted into a tote bag and a mini hip bag.
you can check out my review of the Wayks Globetrotter Bundle to find out why I adore this sustainable backpack. For my trip to Colombia, I only traveled with the main backpack and the small backpack as carry-on luggage and left the sling and cube at home. It’s perfectly doable, even for a two-month trip.
So, here we have come to the section about what to pack for Colombia. I have included a clothing list for both males and females and additional things you need to take on your trip.
This is a great list whether you’re traveling to Colombia for two weeks or six months. It provides enough clothing for two weeks (you’ll only need to wash your underwear and socks) or months, with a regular laundry stop here and there.
Here are the clothing items my boyfriend and I take with us when we travel to Colombia. To make it easy for you, I included links to some of the products and gear that we personally use.
The Caribbean Coast of Colombia
We try to travel as sustainably as possible. We don’t want our travels to cause harm to the environments we visit. That is why the brands I mention are mostly all responsible brands that operate their businesses in an ethical way!
Here are the essentials things to pack for Colombia for female travelers:
I’m not going to elaborate too long here about brands and specific items because, well, I’m not a man and I have never packed a suitcase for a man! But here is a minimalist clothing packing list for a man for Colombia.
The stunning Cocora Valley
Outerknown, Colorful Standard, and Patagonia are awesome clothing brands for men where you can find all the sustainable travel items you might need!
You can get 10% off your order with Colorful Standard if you book through this link!
Here are the websites I use when I travel to Colombia:
Booking.com: For the best guesthouses, homestays, or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For a unique immersive homestay experience in the big cities or the countryside
Busbud and Redbus: The best transport websites for long-distance buses in Colombia. Note that 12Go also works in Colombia but the tickets they will buy for you are open-seat tickets and don’t guarantee a seat on the bus you book online.
Uber: Uber is a convenient and cheap ride-hailing app that can be used in the bigger cities of Colombia. Other apps are Cabify or Didi.
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Bogota and intercity flights in the country.
Viator and Get Your Guide: book all kinds of activities from the Ciudad Perdida trek to a guided private tour of Comuna 13 in Medellin.
Citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand, do not require a visa for short tourist stays (typically up to 90 days). However, this can vary, so it’s always best to check iVisa for the specific requirements for your nationality.
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is undoubtedly Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and, if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Access mobile data immediately when entering the country with a Colombian E-sim or a Latamlink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries. If you are already in Colombia, the best local prepaid sim card is Claro.
Here are the toiletries that I personally use when packing for Colombia. One thing I can highly recommend and which I’m absolutely crazy about is my SURI toothbrush. It’s a sustainable sonic toothbrush that can be bought in a travel case and it is so much better than a bamboo toothbrush or any other sustainable alternatives to plastic toothbrushes!
Check out my review of the SURI sustainable toothbrush. It also gets raving reviews on its website!
If you book through this link you will get 15% off!
The Wayks cube can be used as a beauty case but I didn’t take it with me to Colombia
Here are the toiletries I packed for Colombia. Note that, because I only traveled with carry-on luggage, I put them in small travel containers and bottles.
A great online shop for sustainable toiletries is Ecco-Verde. At Ecco-Verde, you can find everything you need, from safety razors to reusable swabs, eco-friendly toothpaste, and reusable cotton pads.
I love to order the things I need on Ecco-Verde because they let you pick a few small sample products at the check-out for free!
The Tatacoa Desert near Villavieja in Huila
Carrying a basic medical kit is highly recommended when you travel to Colombia or any foreign country. While Colombia has modern medical facilities in urban areas and popular tourist destinations, access to medical care can be limited in more remote or rural regions!
These are the things I put into my medical kit:
Not sure what activated charchoal is? Activated charcoal is commonly used in emergency medicine to treat certain types of poisoning. When ingested, it can adsorb toxins in the gastrointestinal tract, preventing them from being absorbed into the bloodstream.
It comes in very handy for treating food poisoning while traveling abroad!
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The countryside around San Agustin in Colombia
When traveling to Colombia, ensure you have the essential documents and banking items to facilitate a smooth journey.
Your passport should still have at least a six-month validity from the date of entry. Most tourists can enter Colombia without a tourist visa for up to 90 days but check your country’s specific visa requirements beforehand.
Here are the travel documents I added to my Colombia packing list:
The pretty colonial town of Barichara
As a travel blogger, packing also means taking a lot of electronics with me! I know that this isn’t useful for everyone, but there are probably some items in there that you will surely want to take with you, like your phone, cellphone charger and headphones!
These are the electronics I take with me whenever I travel:
The large cobblestone square of Villa de Leyva
To finish this post, here are some items I pack that don’t really belong in any of the other categories. A quick dry towel is an absolute must when traveling and you can find some georgeous and sustainably manufactured ones on the website of the brand Slowtide.
Oido del Mundo, a waterfall in Minca
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this Colombia packing list. It includes all the essential items for visiting this country regardless if you are traveling for three weeks in Colombia or for months on end.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack even more consciously!
ENJOY!
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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