22 Things to Know Before Visiting Colombia
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Colombia is sometimes called the gateway to South America, due to its northerly location on the continent. And as the first destination I visited in South America, this rang highly true for me. Home to some of South America’s wonders, such as the Andes and the Amazon, it’s a worthy travel destination.
In this post you can learn everything you need to know before visiting Colombia.
Shall we start with a brief history of Colombia? Side Note: This is a very brief overview there is so much more to Colombia’s history.
A long long time ago and believed to be some of the first inhabitants of Colombia were the Muisca Tribe. The Muisca spoke a variation of the Chibcha language, which historians believe originated in Central America, and so the Muisca are sometimes also known as the Chibcha people.
Fast forward to the 1500s when the Spanish began a conquest of Colombia, mainly in search of gold, which meant Colombia ended up under Spanish rule for over 200 years. After many uprisings, in 1819 Simon Bolivar led forces to finally defeat the Spanish.
Since then Colombia has faced civil wars, guerrilla groups and drug cartels. I urge you to form your own opinion on Colombia and not buy into the stereotypes. Visit and learn about the recent history from the people who lived it instead of Western media and Netflix shows.
Colombia's national currency is the Colombian Peso or COP. Two things about the currency you may often see it written with the dollar symbol and also if you see prices written like this ‘$25” it most likely means 25,000 COP.
You’ll find in the large cities of Colombia such as Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena you will be able to pay by card for most things. However, outside of the cities, you will most likely need to pay in cash or if you can pay on a card you may incur a fee.
We didn’t have a problem taking cash out however a lot of ATM charge a fee, this blog post shows the different banks and which ones are fee-free. I recommend a Monzo or Starling card for travel as you can withdraw cash up to £250 a month all around the world.
The national language of Colombia is Spanish, not only is it respectful to know the odd phrase, but I also think your trip becomes a lot easier if you have a basic understanding. Whether you watch some TV shows in Spanish, take some Spanish classes, or download Duolingo to practice, I think it’s important.
Here are some simple Spanish phrases for your back pocket:
gracias (thanks)
buen día (good day)
para aca and para llevar (to stay and to go) helpful when ordering coffee
cuánto cuesta (how much)
dónde está… (where is…)
The weather in Colombia depends more on location than the season. Mostly it’s a country that has 2 seasons, dry and wet. You’ll find it's warmer in the north e.g. Santa Marta, Cartagena and the further south you go it gets a little cooler. The weather in Medellin is described as ‘eternal spring’ and the high altitude in Bogota makes for a much cooler climate.
The plug sockets in Colombia are type A and B, the same as in the US, so unless you have US chargers you will need a travel adaptor. I always recommend the worldwide ones as you can be ready for anything and also it allows you to charge multiple things at once.
Colombia is regarded as a highly affordable country to travel to, just like anywhere you can expect the prices in the cities to be higher. Our daily spend for our 2 months travelling in Colombia (2023) was £84 for 2 people but we weren’t choosing the most budget options, it could be a lot less.
There is a popular saying among Colombians “no dar papaya” which means don’t be an easy target. Don’t flash valuables or cash, keep phones and wallets secure and close to you and have a fabulous but safe trip.
I felt safe in Colombia, except for Santa Marta, where we had a few too many uncomfortable encounters. There’s a common misconception about the country being unsafe but it also can be true in certain situations. When hearing about scams or attacks on tourists, 95% of the stories began with “I went on a night out then ….”. This by no means you shouldn’t go out and enjoy yourself. Just avoid walking the streets at night or in non-touristy areas. Always check the latest travel advice on your government's website before visiting.
From the UK I believe the only Colombian airport you can directly fly to is Bogota with Avianca (do correct me if I’m wrong). If you wish to fly to any other Colombia cities e.g. Medellin, Cartagena or Cali it will most likely mean a stopover in the US or another Latin American country. Just remember if your layover is in the US you will still need to have an ESTA (US Visa) even if you don’t leave the airport.
In terms of transport around Colombia, the fastest way is normally by taking a flight, the main airlines are Wingo, LatAm and Avianca, I found Wingo to be the most budget-friendly. However the most affordable way is by taking buses, you’ll find many long-distance buses available, just expect nothing to arrive on time and be extremely patient with these buses.
Although Colombia isn’t a small country it only has one time zone, Colombia Time or COT which is UTC/GMT-5.
With a British passport, tourists don’t need to prearrange a visa. On arrival, you will be given 90 days, but you must be able to show an onward or return ticket valid within the 90-day period. You may be able to extend your stay once you are in Colombia by up to 120 days by applying at the immigration office. Always check your government’s website for the most accurate advice.
It is not safe to drink tap water in Colombia, however, most accommodations have filtered water to refill bottles.
The capital city of Colombia is Bogota. The city often gets overlooked by travellers visiting Colombia which I think is a mistake. One of my most insightful days in Colombia was a day trip from Bogota to Lake Guatavita. You will learn more about the history of the Muisca and the legend of El Dorado. Read more in my Bogota travel guide ->
Cali is the capital of Colombian salsa dancing, so if you want to learn how to move your feet, it’s the best place to be.
Cartagena is Colombia’s most vibrant city, located in the north of the country on the Caribbean Coast. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and you can also find some incredible beaches and islands around this area. Discover 11 fantastic things to do in Cartagena ->
Medellin has gone from Colombia’s most dangerous city to one of the most visited cities in Colombia. As the number of tourists visiting the city has grown exponentially over the past few years, such a drastic change has created a lot of intrigue. Learn more in this Medellin travel guide ->
If you have any questions about planning a trip to Colombia, I will happily answer any queries. Or if you visited Colombia before leave your best travel tip in the comments below.
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