Visiting Colombia doesn’t have to be intimidating. Preparation always makes a holiday go smoother. After living, travelling and organising tours in Colombia for several years, we’ve put together some information you’ll find useful. Read these Colombia travel tips before your adventure begins:
• Language: Spanish, English is not widely spoken
• Capital: Bogota, many international flights arrive and depart from Bogota
• Time: Colombia local time is GMT -5
• Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)
• Emergency number: 123
• Electrical Supply & Plugs: Colombia uses 110 volts AC (60 Hz) and most of the sockets are for appliances using 2 flat pin plugs (similar to US standard)
• ATM Availability: In major towns, but always carry some cash
• Public Phone Services: There are widespread public phone services for making both local and international calls
• Mobile Telecommunications: There are three companies that provide mobile telecommunications – Movistar, Claro and Tigo
• Internet Access: The majority of hotels and hostels provide free Internet access for guests. There are also internet cafes to rent a PC with Internet connection at a modest price in large and medium-sized cities
• Drinking Water: Although major cities have excellent running water services, we recommend avoiding taps and drink bottled water instead
• Tipping: The suggested service is normally 10%. Always check the bill to verify if the service has been already included. We hope this information is useful while preparing to visit Colombia
If you have any questions or require more information, feel free to shoot us an email at hello@uncovercolombia.com.