Colombia Practical Travel Guides

Visa and entry: Citizens of the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia receive 90 days on arrival, extendable to 180 days by visiting the Migración Colombia office in any major city. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. There is a $42 USD tourist entry fee (Tarifa Turística) collected at Bogotá El Dorado airport on arrival; some nationalities are exempt, so confirm before travel.

Money: The Colombian peso (COP) is the local currency. As of 2024, the rate runs approximately 4,000–4,100 COP to the USD. Airport ATMs and Bancolombia branches in major cities offer the most reliable withdrawals; many ATMs have a per-transaction limit of 400,000 COP ($100). Avoid exchanging cash at hotels. Budget meals at local restaurants (almuerzos) run 12,000–25,000 COP ($3–6); mid-range dinner 40,000–100,000 COP ($10–25).

Safety: Colombia's security situation has improved dramatically since the early 2000s. Tourist areas in Bogotá (Candelaria, Chapinero, Usaquén), Medellín (El Poblado, Laureles), Cartagena (walled city), and the Coffee Region are generally safe with standard urban precautions. Avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar neighbourhoods; use registered taxis or Uber rather than street hails; do not display expensive equipment in crowded markets. Avoid the Cali neighbourhoods east of the city centre after dark.

Best time to visit: Colombia has two dry seasons, December to March and June to August, roughly aligned with the inter-Andean weather patterns. The Caribbean coast (Cartagena, Tayrona) is driest December–April. The Coffee Region is best December–January and June–July. The Amazon and Pacific coast are wet year-round; Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the July–August high season see higher accommodation prices in Cartagena and Bogotá.