Casual Clothing

Cartagena

Cartagena is in the Caribbean and that equals warm to hot weather. Wear accordingly. Shorts or skirts are acceptable attire for tourists. Local men almost always wear jeans. Except while on the beach, shirts are always required. You don't want to be that gringo without a shirt or gringa wearing only a bikini walking around town. You may draw attention, hoots and hollars, but not the good kind.

At night, cool winds roll in off the ocean. If you get cold easily, bring a light sweater. If going out to a nice dinner, jeans and a nice short sleeve shirt are just fine. Ladies of course can wear a casual dress if desired, any time of the day.

Sandals are wearable any time of day, any type of dress.

Bogota

While you may see tourists in the most touristic neighborhoods wearing shorts on a warm Bogota day, the locals do not. We recommend a pair or two of jeans if you are planning to stay in the capital for more than a few days. The weather can change very quickly in Bogota, from sun and shine to cold and rain (or vice versa). Typically the mornings are more sunny than the afternoons, so plan your schedule accordingly (outside activities in the morning, inside museums in the afternoon).

At night, temperature drops as low as 50F are possible. Bring a light jacket. Casual bar wear is simply jeans and a shirt. Dress codes at clubs are less enforced for gringos and gringas. Jeans and a clean shirt will do.

A good pair of tennis shoes is recommended to navigate the streets of Bogota.


Wedding

Men

The  typical Caribbean wedding attire is a long sleeve guayabera with linen pants. If you don't own or wish to purchase the typical attire, a long sleeve shirt with tie and light colored pants works too. Colors are typically light tan, beige, or white. Shoes to match, tan or light brown colors with closed toe. No sandals please.

Women

An elegant, formal dress at least 3/4 in length. Below the knees is a requirement. In other words, the longer the better. Colors should be solid, no floral or crazy patterns. The bridesmaids color is purple. Shoes as desired, open or closed toe. Heals under 4", flats, or sandals.

No one wants to look the odd one out, so if you have any questions, please ask. The event is considered semi-formal. Keep in mind Cartagena is in the Caribbean and therefore the weather will be warm during the days. Ocean breezes blow in at night to cool everything off. For men, the traditional linen fabric was adopted as it provides a nice balance of warmth and coolness. For women, lighter fabrics like chiffon maybe more comfortable than a heavy satin.