{"id":58614,"date":"2023-11-22T06:23:16","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T05:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comeamaviaja.com\/viajar-colombia-por-libre\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T15:22:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T13:22:15","slug":"colombia-travel-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comeamaviaja.com\/en\/colombia-travel-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Colombia travel tips for 2025 – Everything you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Colombia Travel Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u200b\u200bBelow you can find all my Colombia travel tips for travelers planning their own trip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Best time to travel to Colombia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Santa Marta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Palomino<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The temperature in Colombia varies more depending on the region and altitude than on the time of year. Below 1,000 meters, you’ll find a warm climate (24\u00b0C or higher). Between 1,000 and 2,000 meters, there’s a temperate climate (17\u00b0C-24\u00b0C). Lastly, between 2,000 and 3,000 meters, you’ll encounter a cold climate (11\u00b0C-17\u00b0C).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The high season in Colombia is from December to February, as the weather is excellent throughout the country. However, there will be more people, and prices will be higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shoulder season is from March to September, with increased rainfall in various parts of the country, but it’s still easy to find clear skies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the low season is during October and November, as they are the two months with the most rain. On the other hand, prices will be lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, the best time to travel to Colombia would be from December to March and July or August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. How many days should you spend in Colombia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you’re coming to Colombia from the other side of the pond, I recommend staying for at least two weeks. However, I also say that if you have more days, even better. You can visit the country for a month and still crave more, as there are many places to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We traveled independently in Colombia for three and a half weeks, visiting Cartagena de Indias, Santa Marta, Tayrona, La Guajira, Medell\u00edn, Guatap\u00e9, and the Coffee Triangle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have less than two weeks in Colombia (one week or ten days), don’t worry. Choose the region that excites you the most and enjoy your days in this beautiful country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further down, I suggest several routes in Colombia based on the time you plan to spend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Flights to Colombia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you know when you’re going to travel to Colombia and how many days you’ll be staying, it’s time to book your flights. I always use and recommend Skyscanner<\/a> to find cheap flights since you can easily see which day and with which airline flights are more affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are direct flights between Madrid and Medell\u00edn or Bogot\u00e1 with Avianca, Iberia, and Air Europa. It’s also possible to find some direct flights between Barcelona and Bogot\u00e1 with Avianca. I flew from Madrid to Cartagena de Indias with a layover in Bogot\u00e1 with Avianca, and the flight was very good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Travel requirements for Colombia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

US, Canadian, UK, and Australian citizens do not need a visa to travel to Colombia. You can enter the country with a valid passport, provided it will not expire in the next 6 months. A visit can last up to 90 days without a visa. If the stay is longer than 90 days, a visa is required. You will also need to show an outbound ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no vaccination requirements to enter Colombia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other vaccines for Colombia<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Visit the TravelHealthPro<\/a> website to find out if you require a yellow fever certificate. Travelers who are 1 or older and are arriving from Angola, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or Uganda, as well as those who have transited through an airport of a country where there is a risk of yellow fever transmission for more than 12 hours, must have a yellow fever vaccination certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting San Andreas Island?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You must get a tourist card on the day of the flight from the airport you are departing from, usually at the boarding gate, if you are going to the Islands of San Andres, Providencia, or Santa Catalina. Children under seven years old and visitors who stay on the islands for less than 24 hours are excluded. Confirm your travel plans prior to boarding with your airline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Is it safe to travel to Colombia?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Palomino<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Safety in Colombia is one of the main concerns for some people considering a visit to this country. The truth is that Colombia has a very bad reputation regarding safety due to its past, and because nowadays only negative news seems to make headlines\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s not deceive ourselves; Colombia is not one of the safest countries in the world. One must be cautious, but as I always say, caution is necessary everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key travel recommendation in Colombia is, as Colombians say, “no des papaya” (don’t give a chance). This means not walking around displaying your valuables. It also depends on where you are since there are very safe places where you can be more relaxed, such as the historic center of Cartagena de Indias. However, in areas of Bogot\u00e1 or Medell\u00edn, you need to be more cautious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another useful piece of advice that I always follow is, upon arriving at the hotel, ask if there are any areas I should avoid. I especially inquire about this in large cities, as there might be more risk. This way, I make sure not to venture into an unsafe area. There are other obvious tips, like avoiding lonely streets at night or being cautious with your belongings, which are worth remembering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, I can confirm that visiting Colombia independently is not dangerous; just be smart and take necessary precautions. However, bad luck can happen anywhere, and there’s little advice I can offer on that front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to know more about security in Colombia, I recommend reading the advice from the U.S Travel Advisory<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Travel insurance for Colombia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another of the most important steps when organizing a trip is to purchase international medical insurance if you don’t already have medical coverage in the country you’re traveling to. In this case, you will need to get good travel insurance for Colombia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We use Mondo, an insurance that I always use and recommend. We were fortunate not to need to use it, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes during a trip, we may experience flight delays, lost luggage, accidents, illnesses, etc. That’s why traveling insured is so important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you still don’t have travel insurance, you can get a 5% discount on HeyMondo<\/a> through the following button:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Purchase a policy<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Things to do in Colombia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As I mentioned before, there are many things to do in Colombia: beaches, charming villages, valleys, big cities, deserts… Below, you can find a list of the must-visit highlights of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cartagena de Indias<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Cartagena, Colombia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was impossible not to start this list of things to do in Colombia with Cartagena de Indias. The historic center of Cartagena is probably one of the most charming places I’ve had the fortune to stroll through. Joy, color, and beauty are palpable in every corner. It was the first stop of my journey and is the most touristy place in the entire country. When you arrive, you’ll understand why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organize your visit to Cartagena with the following articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n