Travel Guides

Colombia

the country of the world's most notorious drug lords.
FURTHER
<p>"Live for today and enjoy the beauty of the world around you, even if you only have 10 pesos in your pocket" is the motto of the locals. Colombia has twice been named the happiest country in the world.</p>

Guide to Colombia

Basic Information

<p>The Republic of Colombia is located in South America, washed by the Caribbean Sea. It is a country of contrasts: here you can walk through fashionable, elite neighborhoods, but also wander into places where the poor live, who simply have nothing to eat. Among other things, Colombians are very friendly and welcoming, and the resorts of the Caribbean Sea beckon tourists from all over the world. Attitudes towards Colombia are very mixed: many are afraid to go to the country, having heard about the eternal fights of street gangs and tons of cocaine, other tourists are happy to travel to Colombia to admire the amazing beauty of the surrounding nature and majestic mountains, as well as to relax in one of the luxury resorts in the Caribbean.</p>

Photos of Colombia

Cocora Valley, Colombia
Traditional housing in Northern Colombia
Capitol, Bogotá, Colombia
Caribbean beach in Colombia
Cartagena de Indias at night, Colombia
The streets of Cartagena
A boat at the Colombia de Rosario marina.
Antioquia, Colombia
Cartagena, Historic Center
Coffee farm, Colombia
Capital
Bogotá
Language
Spanish
Currency
Colombian peso
Time zone
UTC -5:00
Population
49 436 892
Territory
1,141,750 square kilometers.

Dishes worth trying:

Ahiko — soup with chicken, vegetables and potatoes.

Arepa — maize flour tortillas.

Arroz con coco — rice cooked in coconut sauce.

Bandeja Paisa — a dish of beef, rice, cassava, beans, and banana.

Cazuela de mariscos — a seafood stew.

Aguardiente — anise-flavored liqueur.

Chumpus — a frothy drink made from pineapple, lulo, cereal, and other ingredients.

Things to do in to Colombia

  • Taking pictures of the most original graffiti on the streets of Bogotá.
  • Take a walk in the valley of wax palms in Salento.
  • Learn the trade of a coffee picker on a plantation.
  • Visit the birthplace of drug lord Pablo Escobar in Medellin.
  • Overcome 659 steps zigzagging to the top of El Piñol de Guatape.
  • Take a stroll through the colorful streets of Carhajena.

Tips

Do not leave the territory of the city at night, and do not move around the city on evening buses (it is better to use a cab).
Theft and fraud are rampant in big cities. Leave valuables in the hotel safe.
Avoid gifts from strangers" in the form of drinks or cigarettes, they may contain narcotic substances.
Tipping in restaurants and bars averages 10-15%, depending on the level of the establishment.
In big cities prices are quite high, so it is worth haggling.
In the mountainous areas, there are storms and sometimes frost between June and August.

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Sights

Once you've been to Colombia, you'll want to come back again and again. And what is special about this country? There are places here that will surprise even the most demanding tourist.
Las Lajas Cathedral
A majestic building of the XX century, the road to which passes through a 30-meter bridge. Located in the town of Ipiales.
The Rock of El Peñón de Guatape
The impregnable rock, 220 meters high, sits between the towns of El Peñol and Guatape. There is a restaurant at the top.
Tyrone National Park
On the territory of the reserve (Santa Marta) there are thousands of hectares of jungle, coral reefs and sandy beaches.
Caño Cristales River
A rainbow river with numerous waterfalls, about 100 km long. Algae constantly color the river in the most unusual colors, especially in summer.
San Agustin Archaeological Park
The park features stone figures depicting people, gods and animals. Some are up to 7 meters high, the oldest dating back to the 6th century BC.
Sierra de la Macarena National Park
The park covers more than 1 million hectares and is located near Bogotá. Here you can see a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Tours to Colombia

Vacation in Colombia offers a wonderful blend of beach relaxation, exploration of historic sites, outdoor adventures in mountains and jungles, and immersion in vibrant city life. The best times to visit are December-April and July-August, during the "dry season."

Most sightseeing tours typically begin in Bogota, and from there, you can choose to focus on beach destinations or continue exploring the country's iconic attractions. The price for an 8-10 day trip starts from $2000 per person, and this may not include airfare and visa processing.

If you're looking to save on your Colombia trip, you can plan your own tour. Round-trip airfare to Bogota starts at $900 per person, and accommodations can be found for as low as $25 per night for a double room. tripmydream can assist you in finding the most favorable flight and hotel options.

Where to go to Colombia?

The country bewitches all visitors who set foot on its soil. Bogotá enchants tourists with the indescribable beauty of the surrounding mountains and the historic city center with its exquisite old mansions. Cartagena, the Venice of South America, attracts tourists with its colorful facades of colonial style houses and exotic fruits (papaya, mango, guanabana).

The most elite resorts of Colombia are considered to be San Andres Island and Santa Marta. In addition to impeccable service, there is a lot of entertainment and colorful nightlife. Lovers of hiking will also enjoy traveling in Colombia: numerous coffee plantations, the longest river in the world Amazon, tropical jungles and rocky mountains Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Excursions
Excursions Vacation at sea
Cartagena
Cartagena

When to go to Colombia

Colombia is close to the Equator, so the temperature varies only slightly throughout the year. However, each region has its own climate: in the mountainous areas it is always spring, while on the coast it is always summer.

Spring in Colombia

You should go on a beach vacation in March-April. This is the dry season. It is hot outside, with temperatures reaching up to +27°C. March-April is the Holy Week before Easter, which is a popular tourist season.

Spring in Colombia

July-August is the ideal time to visit the highlands. The weather is warm and there is little rainfall. The average temperature in the capital, Bogotá, is +19°C. Many festivals and celebrations take place in summer.

Fall Colombia

Autumn in the country is rainy. It's a good time to go on an Amazon tour, it's always hot and humid, but prices for flights, sightseeing tours and accommodation are lower than in other seasons.

Winter in Colombia

The winter months are considered the best time to visit the country. On the one hand, the weather is dry and warm, on the other hand, there is a flurry of celebrations, in particular the world-famous Carnival.

Usefulness

To make your vacation in Colombia memorable and carefree, tripmydream has selected for you the most important and useful information that will come in handy during your trip.

Visa to Colombia

Citizens of Ukraine are required to apply for a tourist visa to Colombia. The package of documents should be submitted to the embassy of this country, which is located in Warsaw. <br> The processing time is 3-10 days. It is possible to stay in Colombia for 90 days. <br> Personal presence is not necessary, you can apply to an agency. The cost of tourist visa: from 100 euros (consular fee) + 70 euros (agency services, if required).

Customs & Tax Free

Import and export of currency equivalent to more than 10,000 USD must be declared upon arrival. <br> It is prohibited to import non-canned food, weapons, as well as things of historical or artistic value without authorization (the latter is prohibited for export as well). <br> Export of drugs and narcotic substances, animal skins is not allowed. <br> To export jewelry, leather and wool products, souvenirs, it is required to present a receipt of payment and an export stamp (for emerald and gold products).

Travel by car

If you drive your own or rented car into Colombia, you must buy insurance (about $50/month). <br> Car rental is better to carry out in large offices, they can always be found at the airport. <br> The price for 1 liter of gasoline is, on average, $0.8. <br> The quality of roads in Colombia is excellent, most of the roads are toll roads, the cost of transportation is 3-6 dollars. <br> The speed limit in populated areas is 60 km/h, outside populated areas - 90 km/h.

Phrasebook for tourists

Popular phrases in Spanish: <br>Hello - Buenas tardes (Buenas tardes); <br>Goodbye - Adios (Adios); <br>Yes - Si, No - No; <br>Thank you - Gracias; <br>Pardon me - Pido perdón (Pido perdón); <br>Do you speak English? - Habla ingles? (Habla ingles?)

Public transport and prices

The most common form of public transportation in Colombia is the bus. <br> Medellín also has a functioning metro. The fare is $0.83 per hour. <br> Bogotá has a Transmilenio transportation system using magnetic cards and fixed stops. The price of a ticket is $0.5.

Events

February - 4 days of carnival in Barranquilla. The date of the event depends on Pasca. <br>March-April - Festival of Latin-American theater in Bogota. <br>Late June - Folklore Festival in Ibague. <br>July 20 - Independence Day. <br>Early August - flower festival in Medellin. <br>November 11 - Independence Day in Cartagena.