We’ve thought of you and created this guide summarizing all our practical information for preparing a trip to Colombia!
You’re hearing more and more about Colombia, you’re seeing pictures that make you want to go there, but you don’t know where to start planning your trip?
Good news! You’ll find everything you need right here, but you can also delve deeper into the subject with our dedicated posts.
Contents
We were fed up with paying fees abroad
So for several years now, we’ve been using a free bank debit card specially designed for travelers, and we don’t pay any more fees abroad – no more!
Best time to travel to Colombia?
Preparing for your trip to Colombia
It’s hard to give a simple answer to this question. It all depends on what you want to do in Colombia, whether there are events you don’t want to miss, whether you’re looking for the best weather, whether you’re looking for the lowest prices for your flights to Colombia, whether you want to travel out of season, and so on.
High tourist season
What’s certain is that the “high season” periods are roughly the same as everywhere else, unfortunately… Which means that July, August and Christmas vacations are when airfares to Colombia are likely to be the most expensive.
The week before Easter (Holy Week) is also “high season”, as are the bridges, as Colombians like to take advantage of these times to explore the country.
| High tourist season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Colombian school vacations | December and January, mid-June to mid-July |
| Holy Week | The week before Easter |
| Fixed public holidays | January 1 and 6, March 19, May 1, June 29, July 20, August 7 and 15, October 12, November 1, December 8 and 25 Ascension, Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart |
| Weekends | In general, weekends are a good time to take the family out to nearby tourist attractions |
Weather in Colombia
Weather is not an exact science, and Colombia is no exception. Especially as Colombia’s geography offers a wide variety of climates, from the very hot to the very cold… and the rainy seasons, which are biennial, are not necessarily the same everywhere.
Our posts to consult
Packing your suitcase
Preparing for your trip to Colombia
It’s time to pack for your trip to Colombia, and you’re not sure what to bring?
Generally speaking, you’ll need to take your itinerary into account, as this will determine which items you’ll need. Colombia’s climate varies greatly from region to region, so you’ll need to take a bit of everything for every climate!
Warm clothes if you’re going to the colder regions (Bogotá, Boyaca), and heat-resistant clothes if you’re going to the Caribbean, Pacific or Amazon regions. In these regions, long but light clothing may also be useful for protection against mosquitoes.
Our post to consult
Colombia Travel Cost
Preparing for your trip to Colombia
The question on everyone’s mind: how much does it cost to travel to Colombia? Is life in Colombia expensive? Hotels, meals, transport, etc.?
To give you an idea of what you’ll need to spend, we’ve summarized the average budget calculations in our dedicated post, but if you’d like to go further, we strongly recommend you read our post.
| Budget per person for 3 weeks | Local expenses (pesos) |
|---|---|
| Budget Backbacker | $ 2.200.000 COP |
| Medium budget | $ 7.600.000 COP |
| Comfortable Budget | $14.000.000 COP |
Our post to consult
Entry requirements for a trip to Colombia
Preparing for your trip to Colombia
To sum up, US, Canadian, Australian, UK and European citizens do not need a visa to travel to Colombia.
PIP (Tourist) visa for stays of less than 90 days
For a tourist trip to Colombia, no visa is required for European or Canadian citizens for a stay of less than 90 days.
Requirements
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from date of entry.
- Must complete the Check-Mig to facilitate customs clearance. This form must be filled in 72 hours to 1 hour before the flight closes.
IMPORTANT: PROOF OF EXIT
Proof of exit is required to enter Colombia. If you don’t have a return ticket, we advise you to use Onward Ticket‘s services, which can issue a temporary fligth reservation, totally legit and valid 48h for only $16.
Proof of vaccination
As of April 5, 2023, there are no longer any Covid-related restrictions on entering Colombia. No vaccination certificate or negative test will be required to enter the country.
Exit tax: $110.000 COP
If you are staying in Colombia for more than 60 days, you may be asked to pay an exit tax at the airport when you check in your luggage. This tax must be paid at the airport counter (cash or credit card).
Rate for a stay of over 60 days: $110.000 COP
Our post to consult
Vaccination requirements
Preparing for your trip to Colombia
There are no compulsory vaccinations for entering Colombia.
Recommended vaccines
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A
For long stays or special travel conditions :
- Hepatitis B
- Rabies (for long stays in isolated areas)
- Typhoid (for long stays in precarious hygienic conditions)
- Malaria (for long stays in high-risk areas)
Covid
As of April 5, 2023, there are no longer any Covid-related restrictions on entering Colombia. No vaccination certificate or negative test is required to enter the country.
Our posts to consult
Safety in Colombia
Preparing for your trip to Colombia
Safety is probably one of the biggest questions when it comes to choosing a trip to Colombia. Often when you tell your friends and family that you’re going to Colombia, they give you a strange look and stereotypes of danger, drugs and violence rain down on you. Take a deep breath! And bring out your best arguments.
Yes, Colombia has suffered a lot from its bad media image, and yes, its history is not an easy one. Fortunately, things are changing, and a lot has changed since the peace agreement.
In Colombia, it’s important to be intelligent and to respect a few simple rules, which in our view are valid for all the countries in the world that we write about.
Our posts to consult
Electricity in Colombia
Preparing for your trip to Colombia
Before leaving for Colombia, you’ll need to remember to verify check your geras, your electrical appliances, and if you need a universal adapter, as the voltage and electrical outlets in Colombia can be different from where you live.
Specificities of electrical outlets in Colombia
Types of electrical outlet in Colombia
- Socket: Type A / B
- Voltage: 110 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Electrical outlets have two flat input plugs alone or with a third round plug.
Check your appliances
To see if they are compatible in voltage and frequency. Most cell phone, tablet, camera and laptop chargers are compatible with Colombian specifications. So check whether your chargers are labelled: INPUT: 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz.
Travel adapter
Remember to buy a travel adapter before you leave, as it will be an investment that will serve you well on future trips. The best choice is a universal travel adapter that can be used anywhere in the world. To help you with your purchase, you should know that if the adapter is designed for the USA, then it’s the right one for you, since electrical outlets and currents in Colombia have exactly the same characteristics as in the USA (Type A/B)
TIP
Rather than bringing several adapters for your various electrical appliances, the most practical solution is to bring a multi-socket outlet to which you can plug all your appliances with a single universal adapter.
Calling and Internet
Preparing for your trip to Colombia
It’s perfectly possible to stay connected in Colombia. Cell phone and Internet network coverage is generally good, except in rural and very remote areas. 4G connection is available in the country’s major cities.
Buying a local SIM card
We advise you to buy a local SIM card so you can enjoy peace of mind and benefit from internet (datos) and call minutes. To do this, you’ll need to make sure your phone is unlocked, show proof of identity and visit a store belonging to one of the best-known providers: Movistar, Claro, Tigo.
We always choose Claro, because it’s the provider with the widest coverage.
Rural areas
In the most rural areas, in the jungle or the mountains, it can be a little more complicated to access the Internet and sometimes even the telephone network.
Internet in Colombia
It’s very easy to connect to the Internet in Colombia, as most hotels have a wi-fi network. It’s also easy to find Internet cafés all over the major cities.
Our post to consult
Good deals: bank charges
Practical information before leaving for Colombia
As we all know, when it comes to traveling abroad, traditional banks charge high fees. In recent years, a number of online services have made life easier for travelers. Here are two services we use and recommend:
Free banks for travelers to pay abroad without charges
If you’re living in Europe, The N26 card lets you avoid fees when paying abroad. It’s free and it would be a shame not to take advantage of it. If you’re living in USA or Canda, other services such as Revolut offer similar services.
We advise you to read our comparison of the best banks for travelers, which will give you an idea.
Remitly to send money to Colombia (e.g. to pay a deposit)
Remitly is a platform that lets you send money abroad at low cost (and the 1st transfer is even free). It’s a very useful tool if, for example, you need to pay a deposit for a reservation with a Colombian travel agency. For us, Remilty is the best platform for sending money to Colombia – simple, fast and inexpensive.
Our posts to read
10 useful things (or not) to know before leaving for Colombia
Travel information for Colombia
- You’ll throw your toilet paper in a garbage can
- You’ll taste the pleasure of a cold shower
- People will say “mi amor” to you in the street
- Have a heart attack on the bus
- You’ll drink a tinto
- You’ll drop your stereotypes before you leave
- You’ll taste the arepas
- You’ll prepare for all climates before you go
- Thou shalt rethink thy look before leaving
- Thou shalt travel “responsibly