Colombia Travel Guide

Bogotá — Main Hub

BOG · El Dorado International. Colombia's primary gateway. Connects to all major US/European cities. At 2,600m altitude — allow a day to acclimatise.

Medellín

MDE · José María Córdova — 45 min from city. Direct US routes (AA, United, Spirit).
EOH · Olaya Herrera — domestic only, in the city.

Cartagena & Caribbean

CTG · Rafael Núñez — only 15 min from the walled city. Direct US flights (AA, United, Spirit, JetBlue).
ADZ · San Andrés island airport.

Cali & Others

CLO · Alfonso Bonilla Aragón (Cali)
PEI · Matecaña (Coffee Region / Pereira)

Currency

Colombian Peso (COP $)
~4,000 COP = 1 USD (rates vary). Bills in 1K, 2K, 5K, 10K, 20K, 50K, 100K denominations.

ATMs & Cash

Use ATMs inside shopping centres and banks, which are safer than street ATMs. Bancolombia and Davivienda are reliable. Notify your bank before travel.

Tipping

Restaurants add a 10% voluntary propina — customary to accept. Round up taxi fares. Always use app-based taxis (InDriver, Cabify).

Value

Excellent value. Quality restaurant: $15–30 USD. Budget lunch (menú del día): $3–5. Craft beer: $2–4.

Time Zone

COT. Colombia Time
UTC−5 year-round. Colombia does not observe daylight saving time.

Vs. US Cities

Same as US Eastern Standard Time (winter). 1 hour behind US Eastern in summer when US clocks spring forward.

Sunrise & Sunset

Near the equator, sunrise around 5:45am and sunset around 6pm consistently year-round. Very little seasonal daylight variation.

Cartagena (Caribbean)

Best: Dec–AprRainy: May–Nov Hot and humid (28–34°C) year-round. Brief intense downpours in rainy season.

Medellín

Great year-round 18–28°C consistently. The "City of Eternal Spring" title is fully deserved.

Bogotá (High Altitude)

Best: Dec–Mar, Jul–AugRainy: Apr–May, Oct–Nov Cool at 2,600m (12–19°C). Always bring a layer.

Cali & San Andrés

Cali: warm 22–30°C year-round, two rainy seasons (Apr–May, Oct–Nov).
San Andrés: tropical 28–32°C, best Dec–Apr.

Language

Spanish (Castilian)
Colombian Spanish is considered among the clearest and most neutral in Latin America — great for learners.

Key Phrases

¿Qué más?. What's up? (very Colombian)
Chevere: Cool/Great
La cuenta, por favor: The bill
Parcero/a: Friend (informal)

English Availability

Spoken in upscale hotels and tourist areas of Cartagena and Medellín. Less common elsewhere. Download Google Translate offline.

Visa-Free Entry

USA, Canada, UK, EU, Australia enter visa-free up to 90 days (extendable to 180 days total per calendar year).

Entry Requirements

Valid passport (6 months recommended). Return/onward ticket required. Proof of funds may be requested. No entry card — process is digital.

Yellow Fever

Certificate may be required if arriving from certain countries. Recommended for Amazon and Pacific coast visits regardless.

Within Cities

Uber and DiDi operate in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena and are generally safer than hailing a street taxi. Always confirm the plate matches the app.

Medellín Metro

Clean, efficient, and safe — including the iconic Metrocable gondola system connecting hillside neighbourhoods to the city centre.

Inter-city Travel

Domestic flights (Avianca, LATAM) are fast and affordable given Colombia's mountainous terrain. Long-distance buses exist but are slow.

Overall

Exercise Caution Tourist zones in Cartagena, Medellín (El Poblado/Laureles), and Bogotá (Zona Rosa) are genuinely safe with normal urban awareness.

Emergencies

123. National Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Tourist Police present in Cartagena and Medellín.

Key Tips

App-based taxis only (InDriver, Cabify). Don't display expensive items. Avoid ATMs at night. Don't accept drinks from strangers.

Colombia

Destinations in Colombia

Cartagena

Medellín

Bogotá

Cali