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Planning a trip to Colombia? Here you'll find our day-by-day itinerary (From the coffee Andes to the Caribbean), plus all the practical info to organise your journey: currency, visa, e-SIM, health, plugs and useful numbers.
Near the equator, in Colombia the climate depends on altitude more than season: tropical heat on the Caribbean coast (Cartagena, Tayrona), eternal spring in Medellin, cool in Bogota (2,600 m, bring a jacket). There are no real seasons but wetter and drier periods: the driest, ideal months are December-March and July-August. In Bogota, because of the altitude, take it easy the first day.
Updated: June 2026
You need a passport that is valid and in GOOD condition: the Colombian authorities do not admit damaged passports (tears, stains, even minor alterations). For tourism no visa is required for up to 90 days (an entry stamp records the length of stay); other nationalities should check their rules. You must have a return ticket (airlines also check at departure): carry a paper copy. Cash sums over USD 10,000 must be declared.
The currency is the Colombian peso (COP), with high figures (one euro is worth several thousand pesos). Colombia is cheap. Cards are accepted in cities, hotels and restaurants; you need cash for markets, towns and tips. ATMs are common: use them in daylight, inside banks or malls, to reduce risk. Bring some euros or dollars to change at an exchange office. Always check your change and beware of anyone distracting you while you pay.
The language is Spanish, spoken in Colombia clearly and considered among the most understandable in Latin America. English is common in the tourist sector and among young people in the cities, less so elsewhere: a few words of Spanish are very useful and Colombians, warm and kind, appreciate the effort.
YELLOW FEVER vaccine strongly RECOMMENDED for those travelling inside the country, especially in tropical, low-lying areas like the Tayrona Park, the Caribbean coast and the Amazon (have it at least 10 days before); it is mandatory if you arrive from at-risk countries. Malaria and dengue are also present in the lowlands. Private clinics are good but costly: take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation. Drink bottled water, no ice outside the cities, and buy medicines only at qualified pharmacies (counterfeit risk).
The main operators are Claro, Movistar, Tigo and WOM: a tourist SIM with data costs little and is bought with a passport. Alternatively an eSIM. 4G coverage is good in cities and tourist areas, weaker in rural and mountain areas. Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafes and restaurants.
Power is 110V/60Hz (as in the United States) with type A and B flat-blade sockets. NOTE: European 220V-only devices need a converter, not just an adapter; most modern chargers, however, are dual-voltage (100-240V) and work. Bring an adapter for the flat-blade sockets.
Colombia is at UTC-5 all year (no daylight saving time).
💡 Colombia is one of the most surprising destinations in South America, today safe in the tourist areas: travel between the big stops by plane, get the yellow fever vaccine before leaving (recommended for Tayrona and the Caribbean) and follow the local saying 'no dar papaya' (don't flaunt valuables). Don't accept anything from strangers (scopolamine risk) and use taxis/apps in the evening. That way you fully enjoy a country of colour, coffee and extraordinary people.
