How to get to Colombia & other Travel Advice

Colombia has five international airports around the cities of Bogota (Baranquilla), Cali, Cali and Medellin.

TACA and LAN offer direct flights from the USA to Cali, Medellin, Cartagena, or Central America. It is cheaper to travel to Colombia via the USA with Avianca or American Airlines or Continental Airlines. You can also fly directly from Europe with Avianca or Iberia, as well as direct flights with Air France.

All international travelers (including Colombian citizens), must pay an exit tax of US$33 if they stay for less than one month. If you stay longer, US$66 is required. US$111 is required to leave Cartagena. Check with the airline to see if they include the departure tax in their rates. You can also pay the tax at the airport in Colombian Pesos or US Dollars. At the tax payment points, you can only pay the exact amount.

There are direct flights to Colombia from Germany, France, Spain and throughout South America, Central America, and North America.

The standard voltage in Colombia is 110 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz. Adapter plugs allow electrical connections up to 240 volts. An adapter plug does NOT change the current or voltage (this requires a converter) unless your appliance is dual voltage.

There are three types of plugs that can be used in Colombia: types A and B. Type A has two parallel pins, while type B has two parallel pins.

Bogota, Colombia's capital and largest city, is also the capital. It is also one of the three highest cities in South America. It is divided into North or South. The city's northern portion is more wealthy than its southern counterpart.

Colombia is GMT -5 hours.

Most visitors, including those from the USA and UK, can enter Colombia for 90 days without needing a visa. It is possible that you will need to show proof of return or onward travel. You should ensure that your passport has been stamped by immigration authorities if you are entering Colombia by land.

The legal tender of Colombia is the peso. It is usually identified by the abbreviation COP, and the symbol ($) for the official peso is used localy.

There are many banknotes and coins to choose from. There will be 50, 100, 200 and 500 peso coins, as well as 1,000, 2000, 5,000 and 10,000 peso banknotes.

You can pay with cash or debit cards for purchases in the country's most popular tourist areas, including Bogota and Santa Marta.

All department stores accept credit cards, as well as smaller shops. Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly accepted cards, followed by American Express and Diners Club.

Check that you have enough funds to cover your expenses before you use your debit or credit card in Colombia. Also, inquire about whether your bank will charge you for international withdrawals.

There are a few providers that offer Colombian currency orders in the UK. However, they usually have a minimum order limit between PS250-300. This is fine if you only plan to spend a short time in Colombia. You can also take US Dollars and change it in Colombia. However, if cash is important to you, then you should buy Colombian pesos at the UK and take them.

A 10% service charge is included in most sit-down restaurants. Wait staff must ask you "?Desea include el serviicio?" ("Would the service be included in your bill ?").?" Restaurant staff often forget to ask customers about service inclusion. If you feel the service was exceptional, you may leave a little more cash. Tipping isn't expected in cafes or bars, but tip jars have become more popular. Tipping is not a common practice in small-town restaurants across the country.

Tipping taxi drivers is not a custom. If you feel that the driver was trustworthy, safe, and honest, or if they made extra stops for you, waited patiently for you or were just friendly, you can always tip the driver. (Instead of COP$6,200, give the driver COP$7,000. Say "Quedese con los vueltas por favor") For non-Colombian visitors, a tip is sometimes included in the fare.

Some vaccines are required or recommended for Colombia. The WHO and the National Travel Health Network and Centre recommend that you have the following vaccines: hepatitis, typhoid and yellow fever. All climates in Colombia are home to mosquito-borne diseases. To avoid yellow fever, Zika, Zika, and dengue, be sure to have repellents.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is purely for guidance purposes and we are not medical experts. We always recommend that you make an appointment with your doctor 6-8 weeks before departure who will be able to properly assess your personal medical history, give accurate advice and advise on exactly which immunisations or medical precautions you personally need to take.