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Yes, you can do Colombia’s hot coast and cold Bogotá nights in one carry-on. My setup on every trip: a hard-shell carry-on plus a backpack, no checked bag, no extra fees. For the full packing picture beyond just the carry-on question, see my what to pack for Colombia guide.
The quick answer: 5 tops · 7 underwear · 5 pairs of socks · 2 pants (one that works from a hike to dinner) · wear the bulky stuff on the plane · one packing cube per climate, or compression bags · buy shampoo and sunscreen when you land.
Free packing quiz · about a minute
Not sure what to pack?
Tell me your stops, your trip and your bag. You’ll get a list built for your route: what to bring, how many, and what to leave at home.
Build my packing list →One Carry-On Works for Colombia
I travel the same way every time: a hard-shell carry-on for anything delicate, gifts and valuables, and a backpack that does most of the actual work. The backpack I use is a tomtoc 40L travel backpack, and it’s a bit bigger than a standard under-seat bag, but no airline has ever stopped me, and it fits under the seat without a problem.
If you want a list built for a carry-on specifically, the quiz builds one for your exact route.
Colombia Carry-On Packing List: Exact Quantities
| Item | How many | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tops | 5 | Laundry is everywhere in Colombia, you don’t need more |
| Underwear | 7 | Cheap, light, worth having extra |
| Socks | 5 pairs | Same logic as underwear |
| Pants | 2 | One for everyday, one that goes from a hike to dinner |
| Swimsuit | 1 | Coast days and hotel pools |
| Light layer | 1 | Cool evenings in Medellín and the coast after dark |
| Warm layer | 1 | Bogotá nights, no exceptions |
One of my two pants is a pair of dark blue Uniqlo athleisure joggers, light enough to roll up tight, and they genuinely work for a hike or a dinner out. I roll everything as tight as I can to make the numbers above fit.
Free packing quiz · about a minute
Not sure what to pack?
Tell me your stops, your trip and your bag. You’ll get a list built for your route: what to bring, how many, and what to leave at home.
Build my packing list →Wear the Bulky Stuff on the Plane
Your shoes and your warmest layer take up the most room in a bag. I always wear mine when I’m leaving, not pack them, which frees up real space before I’ve even started.
One Packing Cube Per Climate
| Climate | Where | What goes in |
|---|---|---|
| Hot | Cartagena, 24-31°C | Shorts, swimsuit, light tops |
| Mild | Medellín, 17-28°C | Light layers, long pants |
| Cold | Bogotá, 7-19°C | Fleece, base layer, beanie |
I use packing cubes on every trip, mine are a no-name set, any basic set does the job, like these packing cubes. More recently I’ve started using compression bags too: fill one with clothes, squeeze the air out with the pump, and it saves a surprising amount of room. Don’t forget to take the pump with you!
Liquids and Toiletries in a Carry-On
The 100ml rule applies on your flight into Colombia. Solid shampoo bars are an easy way around it, though I actually skip packing shampoo entirely and just buy it when I land, one less thing to carry. Sunscreen is the same story, I buy it there rather than bring it. ISDIN is a good brand of sunscreen you can buy in Colombia that is light and has a high SPF.
Pico’s Local Insight:
“Buy your sunscreen at a local pharmacy when you land. My pick is ISDIN: a little more expensive, but really good quality and not greasy.”
Avianca, LATAM and JetSMART Carry-On Rules
| Airline | Cheapest fare includes | Personal item (free on every fare) | Carry-on (overhead bin) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avianca | Personal item only on Basic; carry-on included on every other fare | 45 × 35 × 20 cm, must fit under the seat | 55 × 35 × 25 cm, 10 kg |
| LATAM | Personal item only on Basic; carry-on included on Light and Full | 45 × 35 × 20 cm, 10 kg | 55 × 35 × 25 cm, 12 kg (Economy) |
| JetSMART | Personal item only; carry-on is a paid extra | 45 × 35 × 25 cm, 10 kg | 55 × 35 × 25 cm, 10 kg |
All sizes include wheels, handles and pockets. A bag that’s too big or too heavy for the fare you booked goes in the hold, for a fee.
The takeaway: on the cheapest domestic fares, only the under-seat item is actually free. Going carry-on only usually means either paying for the overhead bag or picking a fare that already includes it. My backpack being a bit bigger than a strict under-seat bag matters most on exactly these fares.
Power banks: carry them in the cabin only, never in checked luggage. Under the 2026 rules, Avianca now allows a maximum of two per passenger, and many airlines no longer let you charge one during the flight. Keep each one under 100 Wh.
Liquids on domestic flights: the 100ml rule is confirmed on the international flight into Colombia. Whether it’s relaxed on domestic flights inside the country is genuinely unclear from airline to airline, so don’t assume it is.
For how domestic flights and getting between cities actually work, see my guide to getting around Colombia.
Pico’s Budget Tip:
“Carry-on only means no checked-bag fees on any flight. My backpack is a bit bigger than a standard under-seat bag, and no airline has stopped me, and I’ve had no trouble fitting it under the seat in front of me, but personal item rules vary by airline and fare, so check yours.”
What I Leave at Home
Two pairs of shoes is my rule: everyday walking shoes, plus flip-flops for hostels, Airbnbs, showers, the pool and the beach. No third pair unless I have room in my bag. I also skip full-size toiletries and a bath towel, both are easy to live without or pick up there. For the fuller list of what not to bring, see What Not to Bring to Colombia.
Leave a little room in your bag for the trip home too, not just the trip there. If you want more ways to make the logistics easier, see my 15 savvy hacks for stress-free Colombia travel.