Colombia travel advice
Is Colombia safe?
Is it safe?
Rosanna Neophytou from our leading Colombia vacations supplier, Tucan Travel, shares her top Colombia travel advice:
“I didn't really know what to expect before my trip but for me the thing that stood out was just how welcomed and safe I actually felt. The Colombian people are very anxious to remove the negativity that has been associated with the country in the past. Everyone we met was friendly and welcoming. If people do have worries I do suggest a group tour as opposed to independent travel as you will be with an experienced leader and other travelers. Colombia is still fairly new to tourism so you will often find not many people will speak English or understand you. Traveling with a guide means you do not have to worry too much about language barriers but I would recommend practicing Spanish with the locals on your travels as that is all part of the experience.”
Accommodation tips
Accommodation tips
Dan Clarke, from our supplier RealWorld Vacations:
“The standard of accommodation has changed beyond all recognition in recent years. Even the smaller towns now have a smattering of lovely boutique hotels, and some of the restored historic properties in places like Bogotá and Cartagena are just fabulous.”
Food tips
Food tips
Vicki Brown, Responsible Travel’s writer and editor:
“My mistake in the first few days was to try and order non-Colombian food. The pizzas, pasta, wraps were just awful. As soon as I embraced the fried food and carbs, things got so much better. No, it’s not super healthy, and yes, it’s monotonous, but it’s also unbelievably tasty and fresh. Along the Caribbean coast in particular, the fried fish, plantain and coconut rice are incredible. Wash them down with fresh fruit juice followed by a tinto – a ‘shot’ of sweet, black coffee from a street vendor with a thermos flask.”
Packing
advice
advice
Packing advice
Rosanna Neophytou from our supplier, Tucan Travel:
“Bring a Spanish phrase book. Pack for a range of weathers – Bogotá can be quite cold in the evenings whilst Santa Marta and Cartagena get hot hot hot! Pack mosquito spray if you are going to Tayrona or other jungle regions, and prepare for slight altitude feelings if you fly into Bogotá and are not used to high altitude places.”
Why go to Colombia?
Why go to Colombia?
Dan Clarke, from our supplier RealWorld Vacations:
“Colombia doesn’t have a single stand out site like some other countries in South America, but what it does give you is the full package in one place: mysterious, ancient ruins and huge, prehistoric statues; fabulous Caribbean beaches and tropical islands; gorgeous Andean colonial towns; the Amazon jungle plus more amazing wildlife like whale-watching on the Pacific coast… It really is amazing how much it fits in.”
Scott Marquardt from our supplier, Tucan Travel:
“The lack of ‘big name’ highlights is precisely one of the charms of Colombia; although it is getting more popular it is still an undiscovered gem in many ways. Colombia offers lush green scenery, beautiful colonial cities and towns and incredibly friendly people. Even though Colombians are relatively new to hosting tourists they are always very eager to help and are genuinely thankful and happy to receive visitors to their country. The people are definitely one of the highlights, although really there are too many highlights to name! Cocora Valley and its wax palms are truly stunning. And Medellín is a truly fascinating city and it's inspiring to see a place that has gone through so much yet come out the other side to become a gleaming example of how to get urban regeneration right.”
Getting around
Getting around
Scott Marquardt from our supplier, Tucan Travel:
“Keep in mind Colombia is a country made of jungle and mountains, meaning in most places there are no giant freeways and long travel days are occasionally necessary to get from point A to B. Keep an open mind and Colombia will surely be the trip of a lifetime.”
Get to know Gabo
Get to know Gabo
Vicki Brown, Responsible Travel’s writer and editor:
“If you’re heading to Cartagena, read Gabriel García Márquez’s Love in the Time of Cholera. It’s a love story between two people – but it’s also a love letter to Old Cartagena itself, which, on the surface, has changed little since the period in which the book was set, at the turn of the last century. Cartagena brings to life the magic realism that García Márquez was famous for – you’ll feel like you are living inside a novel for a few magical days.”
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COLOMBIA ADVICE FROM TRAVELLERS
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Colombia travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your suitcase.
There were many highlights - Colombia is such a varied country it felt as if we had several vacations in one… ![]()
– Erin Turner
“Colombia is vast, it is several landscapes and peoples that can be read and discovered as you travel. It is at times, tough and challenging, but even then it can be sublime; many parts of the Caribbean coast remain welcomingly untrodden, with a huge sense of release, without feeling part of the herd. But if you want to party, you will never have to go far. Most of the misgivings about Colombia are now misconceptions; just travel sensibly. It really helps to learn at least basic Spanish, it is the great liberator, and will magnify the rewards for a lifetime.” – Weng Yee
“Be aware of the temperature and humidity when trekking in the jungle. I had not really taken into account that the entire trip would be in the jungle and therefore hot and humid every day. Also if you are not very fit that some training is necessary as it is a challenging trek.” – Lisa Lawton
“Be aware of the temperature and humidity when trekking in the jungle. I had not really taken into account that the entire trip would be in the jungle and therefore hot and humid every day. Also if you are not very fit that some training is necessary as it is a challenging trek.” – Lisa Lawton
Most memorable was our visit to Comuna 13 favela in Medellin… I think that the local people (especially Medellin) appreciated us coming to their towns as it proves that the image of Colombia is changing for the better.![]()
– Dave Kerr
"Hot and cold weather clothing required! Lots of mosquito repellent too. Do learn Spanish as not much English spoken.” – Trish Standaloft
“Getting in and out of Tayrona is really for people who are extremely fit and know something (anything) about riding a horse. The cabin was lovely, but Tayrona is still definitely a backpackers' destination because of how hard it is to access. You should definitely love heat and humidity and be prepared for the altitude in Bogota. Learn some Spanish before you go. I was really grateful at certain points that I could communicate. If you didn't know any Spanish, you could have really been stuck, trying to tell a taxi driver where to go, etc. We appreciated the small hotels and local guides. We also appreciated the 5-hour drive from Tayrona to Cartagena because it gave us a glimpse into every type of life in Colombia--the slums, the big industrial city, the pretty coastline, the flat swamp lands, etc.” – Anne Maertz
“Getting in and out of Tayrona is really for people who are extremely fit and know something (anything) about riding a horse. The cabin was lovely, but Tayrona is still definitely a backpackers' destination because of how hard it is to access. You should definitely love heat and humidity and be prepared for the altitude in Bogota. Learn some Spanish before you go. I was really grateful at certain points that I could communicate. If you didn't know any Spanish, you could have really been stuck, trying to tell a taxi driver where to go, etc. We appreciated the small hotels and local guides. We also appreciated the 5-hour drive from Tayrona to Cartagena because it gave us a glimpse into every type of life in Colombia--the slums, the big industrial city, the pretty coastline, the flat swamp lands, etc.” – Anne Maertz
More Colombia articles
The best time to go to Colombia is in December to March, when the Andes are drier.
Our guide explores this country where, as the tourist board once claimed, 'the only risk is wanting to stay'.
Colombia is huge; there’s no way you’re going to be able to explore it all in a single trip.
When it comes to things to do in Colombia, you’ll be torn between its vibrant culture and its astonishing nature.
It's little wonder the Caribbean coast is the grand finale on most tours through Colombia.
From Cali to Cartagena, Colombia’s cities are shaking off their dangerous reputations and reinventing themselves.
Tours through Colombia’s Zona Cafetera reveal the traditional coffee-making process.
Explore one of South America’s most important archaeological sites at San Agustin.
For Colombians, cycling is something of a national past time: practically everyone has a bike and knows how to use it.
Colombia is pretty new to tourism, so its development in the next few years will be crucial.
