What to Wear in Cartagena, Colombia: A Resort Packing Guide for the Walled City

The short answer: Cartagena is hot and humid all year, so wear loose linen and cotton, keep colours light, and cover shoulders with a light layer in churches. Pack flat sandals for the cobbles, a wide-brim straw hat for the midday sun, a one-piece and a pareo for the islands, and one dressed up cotton dress for dinner. Johanna Ortiz, the Colombian house, named a whole edit after the city. See it on the Johanna Ortiz page and in our Winter Sun 2027 collection edit.

Cartagena de Indias sits on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Its walled old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a grid of balconied colonial streets painted in ochre and blue. Beyond the walls are the boutique hotels of Getsemani and the beaches of Bocagrande, and a boat ride out are the Rosario Islands. Days are around 30 degrees with high humidity, the dry season runs roughly from December to April, and evenings barely cool. Dress for heat first, then for the city.

Cartagena packing list at a glance

How to dress for the heat

• Fabrics. Linen and cotton only. Synthetic fabrics trap heat in this humidity.
• Cuts. Loose and long. A tunic dress keeps sun off the shoulders without trapping heat.
• Shoes. Flat leather sandals with a back strap. The old town is cobbled and uneven.
• Sun. A wide-brim straw hat, ideally one woven in Colombia from iraca palm.
• Churches. Carry a pareo to cover the shoulders.

Our picks

1. Desert Heart Dress

Ankle length linen in green and rose, with a halter neck. The old town dress.

2. Buen Viento Dress

Black and ecru linen with a halter wrapped at the throat. Graphic enough for dinner.

3. Palm Veil Tunic Dress

Black cotton mesh with embroidered palms and tasselled front ties. The beach club layer.

4. Raiz Marina One Piece

Ecru lycra with chocolate binding, for the islands.

5. Solar Drift Object Pareo in Ecru and Green

A 170 by 130 cm cotton pareo that covers shoulders in church and ties as a skirt on the boat.

6. Song of the Gaucho Hat in Ecru

Hand woven iraca palm from Colombia, with tasselled ties.

7. Paradise Dress

A strapless black eyelet cotton mini for rooftop drinks.

Why Colombian designers are the answer

Colombian designers design for exactly this climate. Johanna Ortiz founded her label in Cali, Colombia, in 2003, and still designs and produces there, working with Colombian artisans on the prints, the embroidery and the hand finishing. The prints come from the country’s flora, and the fabrics are cut for heat. Read who is Johanna Ortiz, and for a wedding on the coast, the Johanna Ortiz destination wedding guest guide.

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear in Cartagena?

Loose linen and cotton in light colours, flat sandals for the cobbles, a straw hat, and a pareo to cover shoulders in churches.

Is Cartagena dressy at night?

Smart, but relaxed. A long linen dress, a printed cotton maxi with gold jewellery and sandals is right for most restaurants.

What is the weather like in Cartagena?

Hot and humid all year, around 30 degrees by day. The dry season runs roughly from December to April.

What shoes should I wear in Cartagena?

Flat leather sandals with a back strap. The old town streets are cobbled.

Should I cover up in Cartagena?

Beachwear belongs on the beach. In the old town and in churches, cover your shoulders with a pareo.