This ‘Inside story on climate compatible development’ by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network summarises guidelines for climate change adaption in the coastal city of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia. It outlines the process leading to creation of the guidelines and highlights how they lay the foundation for a full municipal adaptation plan. According to the brief, the government of Colombia is also closely following the progress of this municipal process, which will influence the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan and similar approaches in other coastal cities and towns in Colombia. Despite several recent changes in the political leadership of Cartagena, the city leaders seem to generally consider adaptation as an important opportunity to build resilience and improve the quality of life of its citizens. The brief concludes that planning for climate resilience is an ongoing process that requires constant and sustained capacity building of local stakeholders.