Located in the north of South America directly connecting to Central America, Colombia is bathed by the Caribean and Pacific oceans. It is a land of rhythm and flavor, offering unique landscapes, innovative cities full of cultural and gastronomic richness, quiet villages surrounded by imposing mountains and lush, full of wildlife rainforests. The ever present smile of Colombians and their spontaneity, solidarity and hospitality guarantee a pleasant stay that will surely feel short, regardless of the time spent. Colombia is a land of great natural diveristy but aslo a rich cultural heritage, reflected in the influences from various civilizations, including Amerindian, European settlements, African slaves, and immigration from Europe and the Middle East.
katiebordner, CC BY 2.0, via flickr
Roberto San Andrés, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Colombia has an equatorial climate and therefore does not have dramatic seasonal changes. In the highlands, weather is generally mild with chilly nights year-round. The lowlands enjoy a warm tropical climate year-round, with little temperature variation. In general, seasons in Colombia are either rainy(-er) or dry(-er), since it actually rains year-round specially in the highlands, with more frequent rain showers taking place from April to June, and October and November. In summary, it is difficult to define a best time to visit Colombia but, if you can choose, December to mid-March, and June to September, are the driest months and your best bet. The Caribbean coast is a year-round destination, with temperatures remaining around 33°C.
Snorkelling and Diving: on the Caribbean Coast, water temperature is pleasant year-round, but visibility is better during the dry season (January to March and June to August). On the Pacific Coast, the best conditions for diving are from January to February. Also, humpback whales come to breed to Gorgona Island from July to September, and whale sharks are around between May and June.
Hiking: from January to March and July and August are the best months with more frequent clear skies. During the hikes, the weather can suddenly change so carry a rain jacket and additional warm layers. Also, plan additional days for high altitude hikes to avoid altitude-sickness.
Wildlife: for the Amazon June to December is the best season, with less rainfall. This means a better chance to navigate trails and see wildlife gathering at water sources. For whale off the Pacific coast, the season is from July to October. Turtles come to lay their eggs on the beach of Acandí (near Capurganá) around March/April.
Birdwatching: Colombia is one of the world’s best bird-watching destinations, containing more bird species than any other country on the planet. Places like Santa Marta mountains, Antioquia’s humid sub-tropical forests, the cloud forests around Los Nevados, the lowland tropical rainforest of the Pacific Chocó Region, and the Amazon jungle offer a great range of unique endemic species. The dry season offers the best spotting opportunities.
Caño Cristales: its unique algae only grow during the rainy season so the best time to visit this nature’s spectacle is June to November.
Amazon: From December to May, the water level increases, and from June to November, the water level decreases. When the water level is low, there is more chance to observe turtles and migratory birds. But it is more difficult to navigate along the river. When the water level is high, you can travel more in-depth in the jungle.
Black and White Carnival: is one of the most symbolic Colombian festivals, reflecting the cultural traditions of the region. January 5th is the day of the blacks and January 6th is the day of the whites. The day of the blacks commemorates the time when African slaves were liberated. Generally, the celebration in Pasto starts on December 28th with some fun pre-carnival events
The Colombian Peso is the official currency. Typically, 3.300 to 4.400 Pesos per Euro and 3.00 to 3.800 per US Dollar.
Spanish, although dialects and languages spoken by ethnic groups are also considered official in their respective territories. English is not widely spoken or understood, you should only expect to be able to rely on it on major tourist destinations and major cities like Bogota and Medellin.
A tourist visa is not required by nationals from several countries including EU countries, USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Japan and South Africa; for stays of up to 90 days. For more information about which countries need visa or visa options for longer stays, check this website.
All tourists visiting Colombia must hold valid passports, tickets, and documents for onward or return travel, and sufficient funds to cover their stay. Tourists must have confirmed accommodation on arrival. It is recommended that passports are valid for at least six months at the time of arriving in Colombia.
ATMs are the best option to get Colombian Pesos at the best exchange rate. Visa and Mastercard work very well and there are many ATMs in Colombia, even in small towns, although you should bring cash when travelling to remote areas. ATMs can be used in English, however, you should take money out during the day and to take a look around before using an ATM machine. Also check machines for possible criminal interference since card cloning is a problem in Colombia. For peace of mind most of Colombia’s high street banks will have an ATM inside the branch.
Credit card payments are widelly accepted in hotels and restaurants, excluding in remote areas; and can be used for most payments in major cities.
Stores are open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 7 pm, and shopping malls are open daily from 10 am to 7 pm Some supermarkets are open 24/7. Bars and restaurants open from 8am, lunch from noon to 2 pm, dinner from 7 pm to 9 – 10pm; restaurants in smaller towns often close by 9 pm or earlier. Many do not open at all on Sunday.
Time: GMT – 5 hours
Bogota El Dorado International Airport (the largest and busiest airport, in Colombia, it’s the main entry point for international travellers from outside the Americas), Aeropuerto Internacional Medellin José María Córdova (is the second busiest airport and one of the 2 airports serving the city of Medellin), Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Núñez (on the Caribbean Coast near Cartagena), Aeropuerto Internacional Alfonso Bonilla Aragón (Cali Airport is located between the cities of Cali and Palmira, is Colombia’s fourth largest airport). There are plenty of airports in Colombia, many serving only domestic flights, but providing an efficient means to travel long distances.
Colombia’s infrastructure is relatively poor compared to some Latin American countries, there are practically no passenger trains in the country and bus transport is the most popular way of getting around Colombia. The bus network has intercity buses running between major cities, and local bus services in most towns, often reaching even the smallest villages. By train, there is one railway line in Colombia, which exclusively runs the tourist train (Tren Turistico de la Sabana) from Bogota’s Sabana station to Zipaquira and Parque Jaime Duque Briceño. The only metro system in the country is in Medellín. The transport system also incorporates buses and cable cars into its infrastructure.
There are different types of buses, from large coaches for long-distance travel to colectivos for shorter distances. Colectivos (minivans) are often much quicker but wait until they fill up, which may take a while outside of rush hours. During major holidays, purchase bus tickets in advance if you can, as buses can quickly fill. Each region usually have a range of local bus companies serving the routes with different schedules and frequencies, ask around for the prices, convenient times and the vehicle making the journey. Long-distance buses tend to stop at requisas (military checkpoints); soldiers sometimes search everyone’s possessions and make everyone disembark and provide an ID. Each city has a “terminal de buses” where the intercity buses arrive; Bogotá has more than one.
Domestic flights are an excellent, quick, and, thanks to the arrival of discount airliners such as VivaColombia, an often-economical way to travel around Colombia. Airlines have generally excellent track records and maintain modern fleets. There are some destinations Leticia in Amazonia, the Pacific Coast destinations, and San Andrés and Providencia in the Caribbean, for which the only viable way to get there is by air.
Driving in Colombia is generally a poor idea for tourists. Roads are often in a poor state and are almost always just two lanes, speed limits and basic driving norms are not respected. Driving through large towns and cities can be stressful, roads can close for hours on end during rainy seasons, and roads can be unsafe at night. There some exceptions such as “Eje Cafetero” (the coffee region) where roads are in better shape and improving and it is safe to drive for foreigners. If you are planning on spending some time visiting coffee farms and idyllic little villages, this might be a good option. Another region where renting a car may make sense is in Boyacá, where the countryside is beautiful and traffic is manageable.
Taxis: authorised taxis are yellow in colour and will display their registration. It is not advisable to hail taxis from the street, it is safer to use smartphone apps or to ask your accommodation to call one for you.
Boats are also a common way of transport, mainly off the Pacific coast. Also speedboats travel from northern Antioquia (Necocli and Turbo) to the Caribean towns of Sapzurro and Capurganá.
Drinking tap water, unbottled beverages or drinks with ice, using illegal taxis, driving on rural roads at night, travelling without cash, “giving papaya” (used in the context of making a thief’s job easy), uncooked food from street stalls, trying to do everything yourself, ignoring local advice, get yourself involve with drugs.
Colombian food is a unique blend of indigenous and European traditions with a strong Afro-Caribbean influence, dishes and ingredients vary widely by region. Some of the most common ingredients are: cereals such as rice and maize; tubers such as potato and cassava; assorted legumes; meats, including beef, chicken, pork and goat; fish; and seafood. Food is generally enjoyed with seasonal fresh juices (jugos). “Bandeja Paisa” (the dish consists of pork rinds, ground beef, two types of sausages, beans, rice, a fried egg and an avocado slice), “Empanada” (are fried dough pockets filled with anything from rice, cheese, meat or egg), “Ajiaco” (it is a soup with chicken, kinds of potatoes, corn, sour cream, capers, avocado and guasca, a special herb that grown throughout the Americas and gives the soup its distinct flavour), “Sancocho” (includes chicken or fish, plantains, yucca, cilantro, corn, and potatoes), “Arroz con Coco” (coconut rice pudding, it is made with lemon zest and cinnamon)
In Colombia there are you will mainly find US plug types, types A and B (two flat parallel pins, with a grounding pin for type B). Colombia operates on a 110V supply voltage and 60Hz.
Healthcare in Colombia is quite good, WHO rates it as world’s 22nd best, and hospitals and clinics in major cities have many bilingual doctors. Colombia made healthcare a basic right for all citizens and foreigners. There are three types of medical coverage available, though only two are available to non-Colombians: SISBEN: This is a free government-subsidized healthcare system and is only for very poor or homeless Colombians. Entidades Promotoras de Salud (EPS): is the public healthcare system and is mandatory for all residents. The monthly premium is 12.5% of your monthly gross income. Medicina Prepagada: Private health insurance available through different private companies. As a non-resident foreigner, you will have to pay for all your medical expenses in Colombia.
Even if medical treatement is not expensive in Colombia, it is highly recommend that, before traveling, you take out international medical insurance to ensure full cover should you need medical attention. If you require prescription medication while travelling then it is best to take your medication with all the necessary documents from your doctor to help you get it through customs.
Currently, no vaccines are required to gain entry to Colombia. However, if you wish to visit tourist sites such as the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park, the Tayrona National Park or the different Amazon reserves, the Colombia authorities will require that you are properly vaccinated against yellow fever. Remember that this vaccine must be administered at least 10 days prior to traveling to these destinations. Other recommended vaccines, but not mandatory, include immunization against Hepatitis A and Typhoid fever. Mosquito borne illnesses like dengue fever, Zika and Malaria are prevalent in Colombia. Visitors must be sure to take preventative measures, pack enough mosquito repellent and wear concealing clothing.
On most restaurant bills in Colombia, there is a 10% voluntary (propina voluntaria). While you are not required to pay it, nearly everybody does. The staff members typically share the tip money. A more luxury restaurant may already include between 10-15% service charge.