Late final 12 months, on the day after Christmas, we headed out on a household trip to Colombia. Packing for a post-Christmas journey is disturbing sufficient, however packing for a multi-city Colombia journey provides an entire degree of complexity. Throughout our journey, we stayed in three lodges throughout three cities with three distinct climates.
If you’re contemplating a household trip to Colombia, this is what to incorporate in your packing listing (and an outline of the objects we packed and used).
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What to Pack for Colombia: What Truly Labored for Our Household
Variations in Places
Earlier than growing your packing listing, think about the locations you’ll go to in your Colombian trip. On our journey, we visited three distinct areas: Bogotá, the Espresso Area, and Cartagena. The common temperatures have been about 65 levels in Bogota, 85 within the Espresso Area, and 95 in Cartagena, and these are typically pretty constant.
Test the common temperatures of every place earlier than packing. There are additionally wet seasons that try to be conscious of which will have an effect on what you pack and what you intend for actions.
What to Pack for Garments
As soon as you understand the common temperatures, you may know what kind of garments to deliver (spring, summer time, and many others). For our multi-city journey, I discovered that layers labored nice. I packed pants, skirts, two pairs of shorts, short-sleeved shirts, and two sweaters. I particularly love merino wool garments for this kind of journey, and my favourite model is Unbound Merino. As a result of we have been celebrating New 12 months’s Eve in Cartagena, I additionally packed a black costume.
You will want to consider the precise actions you might be doing earlier than you pack. For example, you may need one thing dressier if you happen to plan to go to extra formal areas or eating places. I discovered Bogotá and Cartagena to be particularly cosmopolitan, and a few eating places had costume codes (e.g., males in pants and closed-toe sneakers).
Solar and bug safety are additionally elements. Some areas, together with Bogotá, are at excessive elevation, so make sure that your pores and skin is protected. Lengthy-sleeved and SPF clothes can actually assist. It is also good to have a hat, no matter the place you’re going.
If you’re mountaineering, particularly at decrease elevations, you may need to think about packing garments that assist shield you from bugs. Throughout our forest hike at Proyecto Titi, I packed insect-shield socks (discover them on Amazon right here), that have been extraordinarily comfy. We additionally wore long-sleeved shirts and lengthy pants, despite the fact that Cartagena could be very sizzling and humid.
As a result of we left for Colombia from our residence in Boston, I did pack a jacket. Nevertheless, I did not find yourself needing it through the journey. If we have been touring through the wet season, I’d have packed a light-weight rain jacket. We packed umbrellas, however because it was the dry season, we did not want them.
Toiletries
As with every worldwide journey, you may need to be sure you pack all of the toiletries you want. There are many pharmacies positioned within the bigger cities and vacationer areas, however it’s all the time simpler to pack what you might be conversant in.
You will additionally need to embody insect repellent and sunscreen in your baggage. If you’ll snorkel, make sure that the sunscreen is reef-safe.
I particularly just like the Sawyer model insect repellent. It is available in each lotion and spray, however I discover the spray is probably the most handy. You’ll be able to buy it on Amazon.
I additionally all the time pack my little necessities package when touring. You by no means know when it’s possible you’ll want certainly one of this stuff throughout your travels.
Electronics and Units
Colombia makes use of the identical electrical retailers as the USA, so that you need not deliver adaptors. We have been additionally pleasantly stunned to see that our mobile phone service coated Colombia, so we may use our telephones as regular with no extra prices.
When you plan to snorkel or hike, it’s possible you’ll need to deliver specialty cameras for these actions. For snorkeling, you may desire a waterproof system, and for mountaineering, a digicam with a zoom lens is a superb choice.
Whereas we did not deliver binoculars for our hike, I do want I had. Nevertheless, if you do not have a hike deliberate, you in all probability do not want them.
One system that did come in useful is a private fan. I stored it charged and in my bag whereas in Colombia’s hotter climates. You could find mine on Amazon. It additionally works as an influence financial institution.
Sneakers
Figuring out which sneakers are finest for any household trip generally is a problem. Sneakers can take up loads of area in your suitcase, so you do not need to pack too many.
For basic sightseeing in Colombia, you may need comfy strolling sneakers which might be good on each slippery and tough surfaces. Most of the girls on our Adventures by Disney Colombia tour group (together with me) wore OnCloud sneakers each day when strolling round.
For mountaineering, I introduced mountaineering sneakers from Amazon for my Costa Rica journey, which additionally labored out nicely for Colombia. You could find them right here. I might additionally suggest shoe baggage to maintain the remainder of your baggage contents clear if you happen to occur to get mud or filth in your boots.
In case your plans embody seaside or pool time, you may additionally need to pack applicable sneakers. I packed flip-flops, that are simple to tuck into your suitcase and seaside bag.
What to Pack For Cash
Colombia makes use of the Colombian peso. Whereas most shops and eating places accepted bank cards, road distributors usually accepted money.
I might suggest altering a small amount of cash if you arrive – both at a cash trade location or through the use of a reliable ATM. You will additionally need to test whether or not your bank card prices a overseas transaction price. If it does, it’s possible you’ll need to look into getting one that does not cost a price. Overseas transaction charges can add up rapidly, so it is best to make use of a card that does not cost them.
