Practical
What to pack for the Sierra Nevada: beach, mountain and jungle in one trip
In 42 kilometres you go from the Caribbean Sea to 5,775 metres. This is the real list of what you need, and what is just dead weight.
· 5 min read
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the highest coastal massif in the world: it rises from sea level to 5,775 metres in 42 kilometres. That means in a single week you can be sweating at 32 degrees on the beach and need a blanket in Minca the same night. Packing for that confuses a lot of people.
The essentials
- Broken-in closed walking shoes. Tayrona is two hours of stone and sand; new shoes there guarantee blisters.
- Sandals or water shoes, for the river and the beach.
- Biodegradable sunscreen. In several Tayrona sectors it is a requirement, and the reef appreciates it.
- Insect repellent. Mountain humidity brings mosquitoes at dusk, especially in Minca.
- A hat and UV sunglasses. Midday Caribbean sun is not negotiable.
- A waterproof bag for phone and camera. On the tubing you get completely soaked, there is no middle ground.
- A reusable bottle. Single-use plastics are not allowed into Tayrona.
- One warm layer. It sounds absurd heading to the Caribbean, and you will use it if you go up to Minca or the high Sierra.
- A torch or head lamp. Several estates in the area run on solar power and light is rationed.
- Cash. Cash machines are scarce outside Santa Marta and many places do not take cards.
What is dead weight
- Hairdryer and straightener. Many estates run on solar power and cannot support them.
- Formal clothes. There is not one place in this region where you will need them.
- A large hard suitcase. The last stretches are often unpaved track or on foot along a trail.
- Beach towels. Almost all accommodation lends them; ask before hauling your own.
If you are visiting indigenous communities
Long-sleeved shirt, trousers and closed shoes. It is not a written rule, but beach clothes are out of place when you enter the home of a Kogui or Arhuaco family, and they notice.
If you are going to the Lost City or La Guajira
Those two destinations have their own lists. For the Lost City: quick-dry clothing, one dry change sealed in a waterproof bag, and decent fitness. For the Alta Guajira: a canteen — water is scarce — a light blanket for the cold nights and biodegradable toiletries.
