country
ColombiaColombia
First trip: three bases linked by short flights, Bogotá 2–3, Medellín with the Coffee Region 4–5, and Cartagena 3–4; skip long mountain bus rides, which take far longer than the map suggests.
Colombia's cities sit in separate mountain valleys and on the Caribbean coast; a 400 km bus ride can take 10 hours or more. Trips break on road time and on street and nightlife safety. Fly between the main cities, give Bogotá (about 2,600 m) an easy first day, use app or hotel taxis, and follow official advice closely, as it lists specific departments and border areas to avoid.
All regions, cities and parks in Colombia (Atlas) →
Regions
Capital; La Candelaria, museums, Zipaquirá salt cathedral
2–3 nights
Medellín, Guatapé, and Salento/Cocora Valley in the Eje Cafetero
4–6 nights
Cartagena, Santa Marta and Tayrona
3–5 nights
Arrive
BOG
El Dorado International (Bogotá)
Main hub; 30–60 minutes to the centre by taxi or app depending on traffic
MDE
José María Córdova International (Medellín)
In Rionegro, about 45–60 minutes from Medellín by road
CTG
Rafael Núñez International (Cartagena)
About 15 minutes to the walled city
Time math
- 7 days
- Medellín 3 (Guatapé day trip) + fly to Cartagena 4
- 10 days
- Bogotá 2 + Medellín 3 + fly to Cartagena 4 + 1 buffer
- 14 days
- Bogotá 3 + Salento/Coffee Region 3 + Medellín 3 + Cartagena 4 + 1 buffer, flying the long legs
Country rules
- Check entry rules for your passport with Migración Colombia or a Colombian consulate; some travellers must complete an online migration form before arrival.
- Security advice lists specific departments and border areas: check your own government's advice for every place on your route, including coastal roads.
- Never accept drinks, food or cigarettes from strangers, and be careful with people met on dating apps: drugging (including with scopolamine) followed by robbery is a known risk.
Etiquette
- Greet people before asking anything: buenos días, and use usted with strangers.
- Punctuality is relaxed for social events but not for tours and flights.
- Do not joke about drugs or the country's conflict history.
- Semana Santa (Easter week)
- Domestic travel peak; coast and towns full.
- December–January holidays
- Cartagena and the Caribbean coast at peak demand.
- Feria de las Flores (August, Medellín)
- Big crowds and higher demand in Medellín.
Money & passes
Cash necessity: 3/5
- Currency is the Colombian peso (COP, $). Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; cash is needed for small shops, markets and rural areas.
- Use ATMs inside malls, banks or supermarkets in daytime.
- Restaurants usually suggest a 10% tip (propina voluntaria) on the bill; you may accept or decline it.
Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry
Safety
- Emergency: 123.
- Phones: do not use your phone openly in the street; phone theft, sometimes by motorbike riders, is common in cities.
- The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to several departments and border areas (including the Venezuelan border, parts of the Pacific coast and the south): read the list before planning.
- The Santa Marta area and the coastal road to Tayrona and Palomino have seen security problems; check current advice before going.
- Do not use land crossings into Venezuela.
- Book taxis by app or through your hotel, especially at night.
Bogotá is an Avianca hub with flights across Latin America; Panama City is a short flight away.
Sources
- UK FCDO travel advice: Colombia (official)
- Wikivoyage — Colombia (secondary)