The topic of packing for a trip rarely consumes my mind for more than a day or two, but I spent weeks considering what I would pack for my trip to Colombia earlier this month.
Although Cartagena has an annual climate similar to the summers we experience in Florida, I didn’t feel confident I could to pull enough clothing from my wardrobe for four days and three nights. So, I took a good, hard look at what I already had, and thrifted at my local Goodwill and on Poshmark to fill in the gaps.
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Even then, packing for a summer trip feels like both a blessing and a curse: even if you have enough clothing to create one outfit per day, chances are you’re probably going to want to change out of your sweaty daytime outfit before going out for the evening (and shower—I’d never showered so much in my life before visiting Cartagena).
With the expectation of wearing at least two outfits per day, I ended up with a much larger packing list for four days in a warm destination than I would have at a colder one—plus I needed to pack clothing for a beach trip. And while, yes, warm weather clothing takes up less space in a suitcase, Michael and I opted to save $80 in baggage fees by sharing a carry-on bag, so all of my items had to fit in half of the space (and I wanted to leave room for coffee souvenirs!) or in my “personal item.”
Looking for more packing list inspiration? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter
Something had to give then, and in this case, it was shoes. In fact, I was happy to take the opportunity to put this pair of sandals kindly gifted to me by Everlane to the test.
The website reads, “Meet the leather sandals you can walk miles in,” and I was definitely curious if that would be the case, or if I’d end up spending most of my vacation in my not-as-attractive water sneakers.
As far as clothing, I shied away from my usual solid black and stuck to a lighter color palette—and packing as many linen pieces as I possibly could. And even though we were flying from one balmy destination to another, I opted for pants and a jacket for the flight. The Orlando airport runs quite chilly, and I nearly always feel cold on a flight, so even though I wouldn’t need it once I arrived in Cartagena, I brought a top layer anyway.
So what did I bring and how did it all work out? Today I’m sharing what I packed, a few outfits, and my takeaways. And though this is what I brought to Cartagena, I suspect much of this is relevant to many other Caribbean destinations!
EVERYTHING I PACKED FOR CARTAGENA
CARTAGENA OUTFITS
I didn’t manage to snap a photo of each outfit during the trip, but here are a few fun looks from our trip:
The city is so beautiful and colorful that a simple outfit complements it, rather than competing with it. I also look forward to finding an opportunity to wear my jumpsuit again as I enjoyed the open-back cut of this one, and recreating my all-linen airplane outfit: my muscle tank, linen pants, and punchy sandals℅.
Despite missing having any black-colored clothing in my suitcase, I surprised myself by enjoying having access to whites, creams, and navy. But if I had to choose my least favorite outfit, it would probably be my linen dress. The fabric relaxed a little around the bust as the day wore on, causing the neckline to become a little “slippery” and uncomfortable. It’s not enough of a deal-breaker to make me want to part with the dress, but something I will keep in mind moving forward!
REFLECTIONS ON PACKING FOR CARTAGENA
My instinct to pack more for this trip was spot-on. Immediately after arriving at our Airbnb, Michael and I dumped all of our undergarments into the sink (I only own four bras, and I’d already sweated through the first!) with a travel packet of detergent.
After just a few moments in the heat, we knew we were in for a lot of outfit changes! We figured locals must grow used to the heat, as we spotted many people wearing jeans without a hint of glimmering sweat.
Thankfully, many locals also choose to wear shorts and they are commonly accepted in establishments throughout the city, although we would avoid them if dining at a higher-end restaurant, of course. I understand this is not the case in non-coastal towns within Colombia, so if you’re traveling beyond Cartagena, be sure to pack pants, longer skirts, and denim!
Much to my delight, wearing lots of white and light colors/fabrics really did make a difference in staying comfortable in the heat, as did going braless while wearing my linen dress and the jumpsuit.
As I mentioned in a recent post, midway through the trip I succumbed to peer pressure and picked up a gorgeous Panama hat from Territorio (similar option). My skin was grateful for that purchase as well; Cartagena is much closer to the equator than Florida, and the sun is fierce. I slathered SPF 100 all day long and still ended up with a little bit of a sunburn.
It stuck out to me that I didn’t end up wearing two of my tops: my DIY Linen Top and the White Linen Tank. Even if I’d left them at home, they occupied such little space in my suitcase thanks to my using packing cubes I doubt it would have mattered. It was nice to have the security of a fresh, clean top back at the Airbnb whenever I needed it!
Oh, and you must be wondering—how did those shoes fare?
A REVIEW OF THE DAY CROSSOVER SANDAL FROM EVERLANE
Honestly? They were the perfect sandals to wear in Cartagena. And if I wasn’t planning on going to the rocky beach or the outdoor Zumba class, I would have only packed and worn these shoes.
According to Google, we walked fourteen miles over the course of our long weekend away, and yet I ended up with nary a blister. In fact, I found myself reaching for these sandals in the days after we returned home; they’ve begun to mold to my feet and are so easy to slip in and out of for the day. Plus, this camel color is gorgeous and rich, but also is a beautiful neutral that pairs with almost anything. If we weren’t heading into Fall, I would probably purchase the same shoe in white.
A word of caution, though—you’ll need to carefully watch where you step in Cartagena. Sidewalks are very narrow and uneven, and in many spots, we noticed deep holes just begging for an ankle to twist in them. It’s also a good idea to watch out for broken glass or horse droppings, as these are things foot-exposing sandals do little to protect you from!
What are your favorite shoes to wear on summertime trips?
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Awesome and wonderful collection of wearing accessories for summer traval.
?? This was the most underwhelming wardrobe I’ve ever seen
The post offers a practical packing list for traveling light to Cartagena, Colombia.