Medellin Packing List: Worry-Free List for a Colombia Trip

Medellin is Colombia’s city of eternal spring, and for that reason, I’ve always started my packing (we’ve gone four times, twice, for a month!) thinking along the lines of, “What do I need for a trip where every day feels spring-like?”

For a trip to Medellin, it comes down to packing for comfortable temperatures, walking on hills and some excursions where you may need your sunscreen handy, or a light jacket at a coffee plantation, or dropping all your layers and sweating your face off in any of the pueblos outside the city. Of course, prepare for some rain, but also lots of sun, and a city so moderately-temperatured, that there’s barely any need for A/C nor heat. Pretty cool, right?

In this list, we’ll help you pack with what we take every time we pack our bags for a trip to Medellin. Make sure to use the trip length selector here, to adjust selections based on how long you’ll be traveling for.

For more on what to see and do in Medellin, check out our Medellin travel guide.

Essentials

Regardless of how long you’ll be spending in Medellin, make sure you have these essentials packed. These are at the top of my list by default, for every trip.

Packing organization

Having some organization in your packing matters when you’re traveling with Medellin’s daily temperatures, super hilly terrain and the mix of city and outdoor activities. Use packing cubes so that you know where your layers are versus your daily basics, and use pouches like a toiletries bag so that you can quickly take all your toiletries to the bathroom.

Clothing for spring-like climate

Medellin’s spring-like climate means comfortable temperatures year-round, typically in the low 70s during the day and 60s at night. By my standards, this is “just right!”

You’ll want lightweight, breathable fabrics that work for both city exploration and day trips, and keep in mind, the city actually has microclimates that make Laureles a few degrees hotter than Poblado, for example. Some seasons in Medellin tend to be wetter, with April, May, October and November having the most rainfall, so take a few things for staying dry in a pinch.

Shoes and footwear

Medellin’s hilly landscape requires comfortable and supportive shoes that can get you uphill and downhill, maybe in the same span of five minutes. You’ll do a lot of walking, from exploring neighborhoods like El Poblado and Laureles, to taking day trips to towns like Guatape (and climbing the giant Peñol!).

Toiletries and health

You can buy most toiletry needs in Medellin, but having these on hand saves time and stress. I recommend taking your favorite brands from home, along with specialty items like face wash or specific sunscreen. For everything else, Medellin’s pharmacies are impressive for getting essentials you may have forgotten to pack!

Electronics and tech

I like to pack all my favorite tech, especially bite-size gadgets that don’t take up a ton of space in my bag, like adapters, a slim camera and a rechargeable power bank for long days out. See what’s in my list of musts’s, below.

Sightseeing essentials

We spend a lot of our time exploring Medellin’s neighborhoods, taking free walking tours, visiting cafes and sitting down at restaurants. The items in the list below will come in handy when you’re out and about, trying to capture moments and stay comfortable!

Day trip essentials

If you plan to take day trips, like going out to Guatape, Santa Fe de Antioquia and El Retiro by bus or car, make sure to pack enough of the items below to stay ready for changes in weather, and keeping everything securely zipped up.