Photo: Cartagena, Colombia · Sgonzalezb · CC BY-SA 3.0
First-Timer Guide 🇨🇴Colombia: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / Colombia
A typical first trip here runs about $550 to $750 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. This is an estimate from PINYA hand-reviewed prices, not a live price. Prices last reviewed July 2026. Real cost moves with your dates and exchange rates. Get a tailored number in the Budget Calculator, or have The Crown price your exact trip.
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Bandeja paisa, massive platter of beans, rice, chicharrón, egg, and arepas
- Arepas, cornmeal patties eaten at every meal; variations differ by region
- Ajiaco, chicken and potato soup with herbs; Bogotá's signature dish
- Colombian coffee, some of the world's finest arabica; grown in the Coffee Triangle
- Empanadas and buñuelos (cheese fritters) are beloved street foods
- Carnival de Barranquilla (February), UNESCO-listed; South America's second biggest carnival
- Feria de las Flores (Medellín, August), famous Silleteros flower parade
- Feria de Cali (December), world capital of salsa dancing
- Vallenato music and cumbia, Colombia's musical heritage is UNESCO-recognized
- Coffee Triangle region, UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape
Spanish (Colombian variety is considered among the clearest in Latin America). English is spoken in Cartagena and Bogotá tourist zones.
Colombians are warm, proud of their country's transformation, and extremely welcoming to tourists.
- Colombians are warm and tactile, hugs and cheek kisses are standard greetings
- Compliment the country's beauty, Colombians are transforming their nation's image
- Never make cartel or Pablo Escobar jokes, deeply offensive
- Tipping 10% is standard; look for "propina" on bills
Best Time to Visit
Colombia sits near the equator, so altitude shapes the weather more than season; two drier windows are the popular times, while the wetter months bring more afternoon rain.
- Peak: December to March, July to August
- Shoulder: June, September
- Off season: April to May, October to November
Source: ideam.gov.co
Getting Around
- Domestic flights link the main cities quickly across the mountainous terrain.
- Intercity buses serve many routes.
- Medellin has a metro with connecting cable cars, and other cities have bus networks.
Source: travel.state.gov
What moves the cost: The December-to-January and Easter holidays raise prices, while other months cost less.
Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Colombia?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Is Colombia safe for first-time travelers?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Latest for Colombia
Updates for Colombia will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.