I’m going to El Socorro, Colombia! What do I need to pack?
I’m currently studying and volunteering at EHE Spanish School here in Socorro, Santander. This little town is an untouristed and unspoiled gem of Colombia, which makes it absolutely beautiful, but it also comes with a few challenges for tourists. But don’t worry, after living in Socorro for six weeks, I think I’ve got a great idea of what you might need for a short visit or a long-term stay.
Documents:
- Passport – Please don’t forget your passport. I find that in Colombia it’s great to carry a copy of your passport too (digital and physical copies)
- Yellow fever certificate – Helpful tip, you can actually get the yellow fever vaccine for free at the airport in Bogota upon arrival
- Other form of ID – In general for traveling in Colombia, I find it great to carry around a driver license or other form of identification so that I can leave my passport somewhere safe.
This little town is an untouristed and unspoiled gem of Colombia
Things you might overlook:
- Bring your favorite or essential items! Socorro doesn’t have a shopping mall (San Gil has a mall and it’s a 30-minute bus ride away); therefore, the product selections are limited. If you need to use products that you think might be difficult to find here, bring them with you.
- Filtered drink bottle – this is something I wish I brought with me. I would recommend against drinking the tap water here in Socorro, but a drink bottle with a filter will fix this, no problem.
- Colombian Pesos/Currency cards – the downfall of a small town like Socorro is that there isn’t a place to exchange your currency. Colombia is mostly a cash society, so ensure you exchange any money before arriving in Socorro. Don’t worry though, if you have an international bank card you can still make withdrawals at any of the ATMs
- Sleeping bag liner – this is great for overnight busses, I take mine with me on the 6-hour bus ride to Bogotá!
- Gifts from your country – this is definitely not an essential, but something I wish I brought more of. You’ll meet some amazing people on your travels and you may want to give them a little slice of home, whether it be a little token or something you can only get in your home country.
Clothing/Footwear:
The climate in Socorro is mostly hot, but it can rain here from time to time (especially when it cools down in the evenings). Here you definitely won’t need a heavy jacket, but places like Bogota can definitely get colder, so pack appropriately!
- T-shirts/tank tops – I live in t-shirts here! They are my most worn item of clothing
- Shorts/skirts
- Rain jacket – It can get super-hot during the day, which means in the evenings it might start raining. Keep a rain jacket handy
- Light Jacket
- Long pants – Coming from New Zealand, I find the heat perfect shorts weather, but sometimes it can get a bit chilly. I packed one pair of jeans with me and two other lighter pants, and I’ve found that this is the perfect balance. If you come from a hotter climate, maybe pack what you would typically wear at home
- Sweater – One sweater is more than enough for when the weather is cooler, and make sure you bring it on those cold long-distance bus rides
- Swimwear – there’s always an opportunity to find a river or pool to swim in, a great option to cool down on a hot day
- Scarf – Catching the long-distance busses can get cold, take a scarf that can double as a blanket
- Short and long pajamas – I would recommend light materials to sleep in
- Underwear
- Socks
- Comfortable footwear – I rotate between a pair of sneakers, flip-flops, and Birkenstocks
Electronics:
- Power bank – every traveler’s essential
- Plug adapter – don’t forget this essential if you’re coming from overseas. Colombia uses type A or B sockets (If you’re coming from the USA or Japan, you don’t need to worry)
- Camera – Whether you take photos on your phone or if you use a DSLR, make sure you bring a camera. There’s a lot of beauty in Socorro, make sure you capture it
- Chargers and cords for your devices
Toiletries:
- Sun screen – make sure you’re being sun smart and bring some sunblock with you, it can get very sunny here in Socorro
- Insect repellent – the mosquitos love biting here (from our experience they love biting around the ankles), so pack that insect repellent to avoid being bitten
- A packet of tissues – These always come in handy because some bathrooms may not provide toilet paper
- Deodorant – I find that deodorant is costlier here in comparison to other countries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Body wash/soap
- Feminine hygiene products – you can buy pads and tampons easily here
- Make up
- Skincare – facewash, moisturizers etc.
General Items:
- Medication – just to stay safe, bring your essential medication and enough supplies for the duration of your stay
- Backpack – Perfect for school or for short trips in the weekend
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Bum bag/fanny pack – I find that this is a great way to keep your things close to you especially when you’re on the go or living it up at a festival!
- Travel umbrella
- Lock – for bags or for hostel lockers
- Microfiber travel towel
- Glasses/Contact lenses
- Headphones
To Learn Spanish in Colombia is a great experience.
Ashleigh Yi
New Zealand
EHE Spanish School student