What should I pack for Cartagena?

Shoes matter more than anything else in Cartagena. The Walled City's streets are rough colonial cobblestone, uneven and slick after rain, and you'll cover 8-12 km on foot over a full day between San Diego, Santo Domingo, and Getsemaní. Flat-soled sandals with ankle straps work. Heels and flip-flops don't. The heat sits at 28-33°C year-round with 85%+ humidity, so cotton soaks through in 20 minutes. Pack 3-4 moisture-wicking tops, two pairs of quick-dry shorts, and one pair of long linen pants for evening restaurants on Plaza de Santo Domingo where the dress code leans slightly smart-casual. A light long-sleeve layer is worth it for over-AC'd hotel interiors like Sofitel Legend Santa Clara, where lobby temperatures drop to maybe 18°C.

Cartagena sits at 10°N latitude. The UV index hits 11-12 most days, which is extreme even by Caribbean standards. Bring SPF 50+ sunscreen, and make it reef-safe if you're heading to Islas del Rosario or Playa Blanca on Barú, where the coral starts less than 2 meters from shore. A wide-brim hat is not optional. You will feel the burn through thin fabric on a 45-minute boat ride to the islands. June through November is the wet season, and afternoon storms roll in fast. They tend to last 15-20 minutes of heavy warm rain, then steam rises off the cobblestones and the air smells like wet stone and frangipani. A packable rain shell beats an umbrella on narrow Walled City streets where overhanging colonial balconies already drip.

A waterproof phone pouch, the flat lanyard kind, earns its 3 grams every day. You'll want your phone accessible for InDriver, the ride-hailing app locals prefer over Uber, and for Google Translate at Bazurto Market where vendors speak rapid Costeño Spanish and minimal English. Pack a portable charger, 10,000 mAh minimum. Maps, translation apps, and the constant photo ops at spots like the Puerta del Reloj drain a phone by 2 PM. Most visitors forget a dry bag for boat days. The lanchas to Islas del Rosario kick up salt spray on the 45-minute crossing, and the cheaper boats that leave from Muelle de la Bodeguita have no covered storage for bags.

Skip packing mosquito repellent, aloe vera, and cheap beach sandals. Farmatodo, the Colombian pharmacy chain with a location on Calle del Arsenal in Getsemaní, sells OFF! Deep Woods for around 18,000 COP (about $4.50) and aloe gel for 12,000 COP. Flip-flops go for 15,000 COP from vendors along the Murallas. Sunscreen is the exception. It costs 60,000-80,000 COP locally for a decent SPF 50, roughly double US prices. Bring two bottles from home. Worth noting for North Americans, Colombia runs on 110V with Type A and B outlets, same as the US and Canada. European visitors need a plug adapter. Nobody from North America does.