Colombia is one of the most visited countries in Latin America with more than 2 million tourists a year. It’s no wonder, thanks to the colourful streets of its colonial cities and towns, its natural landscapes with breathtaking views, the friendliness of its people… all these factors make this country a more than appealing destination. But when it comes to organising a trip to this marvellous place, there are probably a thousand questions: Do I need a visa, what about vaccinations, what are the Covid restrictions? Below, we aim to answer all your questions and tell you what requirements are necessary to travel to Colombia. Continue reading to find out.
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Do I need a visa to travel to Colombia?
If you’ve been wondering whether a visa is one of the requirements to travel to Colombia, the answer is no. As long as you are going to Colombia as a tourist, you are allowed to stay for up to 90 days without a visa, or up to 180 days if you apply for an extension and pay the relevant fees. However, there are conditions that do require a visa. For example, if you decide to stay for a period longer than 90 days, or if you are travelling for work or to study, even if the duration of your stay is less than 90 days. If you meet any of these conditions, you can apply for your visa in Colombia at your consulate.
Although you don’t need a visa, there are other necessary documents: a valid passport and return tickets. One recommendation to keep in mind is to photocopy your stamped passport once you arrive at your destination. Keep it in a safe place as a precaution in case you lose the official document. Another document required before your trip is the Check-Mig form, an electronic form imposed due to the pandemic, which must be completed 24 hours before your trip with your travel information.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Do I have to be vaccinated in order to travel to Colombia?
Before travelling it is always advisable to have your vaccinations up to date, including those for measles, rubella and yellow fever. But for travel to Colombia there are some particular cases in which it is not only a recommendation, but also one of the requirements. This is the yellow fever vaccine, as the International Yellow Fever Certificate will be required in the following cases:
- Travellers to and from Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Brazil. Airlines bound for Brazil will not accept any passenger without a vaccination certificate.
- Travellers, national or international, going to endemic areas of Colombia.
- To enter most Colombian National Parks.
Colombian currency
Colombia’s currency is the Colombian peso. Currently the exchange rate against the Euro is around €1 / $4,400 Colombian pesos, however, it is best to check before your trip to avoid excessive currency exchange rates. The maximum amount of cash you are allowed to take into Colombia for the extended maximum of 180 days of travel is US$10,000, or about 40 million Colombian pesos and about €9,000.
The most common method of payment in Colombia is cash, so carrying some money in your wallet is a must. However, in recent years the use of credit or debit cards has become increasingly popular in the country, and many establishments have adapted and offer this method of payment.
However, it is necessary to carry cash, as many businesses, especially small ones, do not accept card payments, as well as street food and craft stalls. Currency exchange can be done at any bank on presentation of your passport.
Travel insurance: practically one of the requirements for travelling to Colombia.
As we say, having travel insurance is not a requirement, but it is a very, very recommended. In fact, the website of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs “strongly recommends having a valid international medical insurance when travelling to Colombia”. The consulates, in no case, will be responsible for the possible expenses derived from any medical procedure carried out on tourists if their country of origin does not have a health agreement with Colombia. No European country has an agreement. Medical expenses can be very high, so it is worth taking out travel insurance.
Which airlines fly to Colombia and to which cities?
Colombia, and especially its capital Bogotá, receives many national and international flights on a daily basis. Some of the airlines that fly to and from this country are Avianca, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, Interjet, Jet Smart, KLM… among others.
Colombia has a total of 40 airports spread across the country, but from Europe the only city that receives direct flights is the capital, the rest have at least one stopover in this city. The most important airports in Colombia are Bogotá, Medellín, Pereira, Leticia, Santa Marta and Ipailes.
What are the Covid restrictions in Colombia?
Like most countries in the world, Colombia has restrictions on admitting travellers at its borders to protect the country from Covid-19. As with the pandemic situation, countries’ restrictions are constantly changing. Therefore, it is best to check for yourself before travelling to Colombia what the Covid-related requirements are from your country. You can use the Sherpa tool or the Skyscanner tool which, by entering your country of origin and destination, gives you a breakdown of the restrictions.
At present, travellers with a full vaccination schedule do not need to quarantine on arrival in Colombia and do not need to submit a PCR test. However, those whose vaccination schedule is not complete, or who have not yet passed 14 days since the last vaccination, will need a negative PCR 72 hours before travel or a negative antigen test 48 hours before. Those who have not been vaccinated are not allowed to enter the country; the vaccine is one of the essential requirements for travelling to Colombia. Furthermore, 24 hours before your trip, you must fill in the electronic Check-Mig form, imposed due to the pandemic, with your travel details.
In addition, one of the Colombian government’s measures against Covid is to request vaccination certificates at the entrance of most establishments, such as museums, bars and restaurants, among others. Masks are mandatory in public spaces, enclosed environments and on public transport.
Travel route to Colombia
Tips for your trip to Colombia
- It depends on the area, but in general the dry season is from July to August and from December to March. The rest of the months rainfall is frequent and abundant.
- Generally, it is best to wear light clothing during the day and some warm clothes at night.
- Try to promote local produce when buying food and handicrafts.
- Try to have cash on hand to pay for taxis, bus fares and street food.
- On nature hikes, make sure to carry water and something to eat at all times and don’t carry more weight than necessary. Make sure to wear hiking boots or shoes.
- Help preserve the environment. Don’t litter and respect wildlife.
- Remember to exercise caution and keep an eye on your personal belongings at all times.
- If you take a taxi, it is best to use the phone numbers and mobile apps of well-known companies such as Easy Taxi or Taxis Libres.
- Only water in Bogotá and major cities is considered drinkable, but to avoid scares, always drink bottled water.
- Cover yourself against possible medical issues: travel with insurance, even if it’s not one of the mandatory requirements for travelling to Colombia.
How to organise your Colombia travel itinerary?
Now you know the necessary requirements to travel to Colombia, it’s time to plan your trip. Passporter is your best tool to do so. Sign up or download the Passporter App and discover all its useful features.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.
If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about Colombia
Although some parts of the country have can be unsafe, you shouldn’t panic as long as you take minimum precautions. In city centres you’ll need to be careful with your personal belongings, but no more so than in any European city – pickpockets are everywhere. If you need to get around by car, we suggest using Uber or other apps such as Libre Taxi. Find out which areas and neighbourhoods of cities are most dangerous, especially at night. If you decide to travel through mountainous areas, check which areas are high-risk before you decide to go, such as the regions of Meta, Guaviare, Casanare and Caquetá.
Travel to Colombia can be considered relatively inexpensive. The most expensive part is the airfare – the average round-trip fare is over €700, but it all depends on the dates you decide to go. Once you’re there, accommodation is inexpensive by European standards. The average price of a hotel room in Colombia is no more than €30. As always, though, it all depends on how much money you’re willing to spend.
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