A typical first trip here runs about $425 to $575 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. Get your own number from the Budget Calculator.
- 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
Latest for Colombia
Updates for Colombia will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.