🇨🇴 The Final Countdown: Essential Travel Tips & Wedding Reminders! 🇨🇴

María Albao M.
1 day ago
2 min read

Hey everyone! We are officially down to the wire and ONE MONTH AWAY (M-1) from the big day! We are incredibly excited to see all of your beautiful faces soon in Santa Marta to celebrate with us. 🎉🤵👰

To make sure your journey is as smooth, safe, and stress-free as possible, we’ve put together a quick final checklist and a few insider recaps from our travel guides.

🧳 1. Packing & Weather Alert: Pass through Bogotá? 🧥

While Santa Marta is going to be beautifully warm and tropical, please remember that Bogotá is high altitude and chilly!

If you are passing through or connecting in Bogotá: Make sure to pack long pants and a jacket in your carry-on so you don’t freeze when you land.
Domestic Flight Perk: Unlike international flights, there are no 100ml liquid limits on domestic flights in Colombia. Feel free to pack your full-sized toiletries if you are traveling with carry-on only!

📱 2. Stay Connected: WhatsApp & Apps

Join the Community: If you haven’t already, please make sure to join the different group chats within our WhatsApp Community that apply to you. This is where we will share real-time updates and logistics during the wedding week!
Staying Online:
- If you don't want the hassle of finding a local SIM card, you can easily use an eSIM like Airalo or Holafly before you land.
- If you prefer a local card, Claro offers the best coverage. (Pro tip: Remember to register your phone’s IMEI if you go the local SIM route so it doesn’t get blocked after 20 days!)

💸 3. Money & Tipping

Cash is King: While credit cards work well in big city establishments, smaller vendors, taxis, and beach spots in Santa Marta are often cash-only. Keep some Colombian Pesos (COP) on hand.
Tipping: Most restaurants include a voluntary 10% service charge (propina) on the bill. You don’t need to tip extra unless the service was absolutely extraordinary.

🔒 4. Staying Safe & Savvy ("No dar papaya")

Colombia is amazing, but petty theft can happen. Keep these simple rules in mind:

Keep it low-key: Leave flashy jewelry, expensive watches, and unnecessary valuables at home.
Bag body-guarding: Never leave your phone or wallet flat on a restaurant table. Keep bags zipped, in front of you, or clipped to table hooks. Don't put valuables in your back pockets.
Rideshares: When ordering an Uber/Didi near a heavy taxi area, walk a block or two away to meet your driver, and sit in the front seat so it looks like a friend is picking you up.

💧 5. Food & Water Safety

Stick to bottled water: Do not drink the tap water.
Street food caution: Avoid fresh-cut fruits or salads from street vendors unless you are at a reputable restaurant where you know they use filtered water to clean them.

📚 Want the full breakdown? Check out our complete insider guides here:

BONUS! A little calendar of the main activities for you to keep in mind: