What to pack for Colombia in August

19 rain days a month finds every seam. A real shell, not a windbreaker.

Altitude sickness, insect bites, and waterborne illness happen here regularly.

Tap water isn't safe here. A filter bottle beats buying plastic twice a day.

Limited outlets mean charging happens once daily, not twice.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Fourteen days of rain means every item needs to fit overhead.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

UV hits 8 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Tap water isn't safe, so electrolytes matter when stomach turns.

Unfamiliar bacteria cause traveler's diarrhea within the first week.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

Crowded transport hubs in major cities make bag tracking essential.

Wet climate means clothes stay damp, so cubes keep gear organized.

Rain and humidity make clothes smell by day three without washing.

Thirteen rain days soak boots daily, so spray keeps seams sealed.

Thin air at altitude means lips crack and burn faster.

Sunburn and insect bites overlap, so relief cream must work on both.

One cable charges phone and camera both, saves bag space.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Humidity at 80 percent warps paper documents, so protection matters.

Shared hostels and transport stations mean locks prevent loss.

Moisture in the air ruins toiletries fast without hanging ventilation.