Covid-19 : current situation Colombia

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, entry and travel restrictions may apply Colombia. Remember to visit the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you leave for the latest information

Money Colombia

The Colombian currency is the peso (pesos in plural), whose symbol locally used is $ (or COP), not to be confused with the American dollar (US$). There are coins of $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1,000. Since 2016, two families of bills have been circulating, with denominations of $1,000, $2,000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000 and $100,000. You can quickly become a millionaire in Colombia! It is advisable to always carry small bills, especially in the countryside but also in the city, especially to pay for a cab ride (people will always make big eyes at a $50,000 bill!).

Exchange rates (May 2022): 1 € = $4,200; $10,000 = $2.30; $50,000 = $11.70. 1 US$ = $4,000; $10,000 = $2.50 US$

The Colombian peso has lost a lot of its value in recent years. Most Colombians think in US dollars much more than in Euros. There are many exchange offices in the big cities. All major shopping centers have them. Please note that Colombian pesos cannot be exchanged outside Colombia (except in border areas).

Budget & Tips Colombia

The cost of living in Colombia is very affordable for a European. Keep in mind that the minimum monthly salary (which many do not even reach) is 1 million pesos (about 230 euros). If you are traveling on a small budget (dormitory accommodation, a local breakfast, meals on the run or in the markets, public transportation, a few cab rides, museums and nightlife) count on the equivalent of 20-30 € per day. With a more comfortable budget (private room, meals in tourist restaurants, domestic flights or car rental, activities and excursions every day, guides, outings) plan on 40 to 80 €, based on two people. Beyond 150 € per day, you can really treat yourself (boutique hotel, gourmet restaurants, all-inclusive excursions, domestic flights or private drivers). Cartagena is the most expensive city in Colombia, along with the archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia, although it is always possible to travel economically (youth hostels, markets...)

Payment by credit card is common in tourist places but not in small towns or small businesses. Some establishments and agencies charge an additional fee (usually 5%) for payment by card. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) have been developed, but many tourist villages still do not have any, or only one, which is quickly emptied on weekends or breaks down... Withdrawals are generally limited to $300,000, but it depends on the bank. Most ATMs reject the card immediately, and ask you to hand it over, before asking for the secret code. For each foreign withdrawal with your card, unless there is a special option, a commission is retained by both the ATM bank and your bank.

Haggling(regateo). You can't haggle anywhere in Colombia. If you speak a little Spanish, you can ask for a discount in the low season, on buses or in some hotels. However, haggling is not an institution and is a matter of good judgment. It is not very smart to haggle with a craftsman who sells you his products directly, unless you buy a large quantity. In the markets, you can ask with a nice smile for a ñapa, which is a small gift in kind for the purchase of a certain quantity of products

Tip (propina). Outside of popular restaurants, it is customary to leave the waiter 10% of the bill. Some upscale or tourist establishments include gratuity in the bill. Tips are generally appreciated in hotel services (luggage handlers and receptionists in large hotels) and by guides

Taxes. The IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado), the equivalent of the French VAT, is 19%. Some everyday consumer goods benefit from an IVA of 5% (coffee, flour...) and others are exempt (meat, milk...). Since 2016, non-resident foreign tourists in Colombia enjoy an exemption from the IVA in hotels and certain tourist services registered in the National Tourism Registry (land tourist transport, travel agencies, guides...). All they need to do is present their passport with the entry stamp.

Passport and visas Colombia

European and Canadian tourists in possession of a passport (valid for the next 6 months) do not need a visa for a stay of less than 90 days. They are automatically issued a PIP 5(Permiso de Ingreso y Permanencia N° 5), a temporary residence permit, which is a simple stamp on the passport upon arrival in Colombia. When entering the country (by river, land or air), the migration services may ask you to present a return ticket or a document proving that you will leave the country soon.

An extension of the 90-dayPIP is possible once you are in Colombia, at the Migración Colombia (www.migracioncolombia.gov.co), with the application form (downloadable online), your passport and a proof of exit from the territory of less than 90 days (return ticket for example). The process is now free for European citizens, but remember to apply a little in advance, so that your PIP does not expire in the meantime. The renewal can only be done once, so it is not possible to reside more than 180 days per calendar year in Colombia as a "tourist" (the trick of going to a neighboring country for a few days and coming back to Colombia for a new 90-day cycle does not work here, unlike other countries in the region). It is important to always carry a photocopy of your passport with the stamp indicating the date of entry into the country

For more information about specific situations (studies, internships, adoption, medical treatment...), please visit www.migracioncolombia.gov.co. You can also try to contact the Colombian embassy in France (www.francia.embajada.gov.co), but you will surely find more practical information on the blog - www.colombianito.fr - very clear and didactic, created by a Frenchman living in Barranquilla.

Driver's license Colombia

French, Belgian, Swiss or Canadian driving licenses are valid to drive in Colombia. An international driver's license is not necessary. It is valid for a maximum of 90 days and the police may ask you to present your passport to verify your date of entry.

Health Colombia

The sanitary situation in tourist areas is generally good in Colombia. But as in most tropical regions, below 2,200 m of altitude, one must beware of diseases transmitted by insects, mosquitoes in particular. Dengue is the main disease (present in France for a few years). It can be found in urban areas (stagnant water). The symptoms are similar to those of the flu (high fever, joint pain, headaches). In case of appearance of these symptoms, it is necessary to consult a doctor quickly to clarify the diagnosis. Management is based on taking paracetamol-based painkillers and rest. It is imperative to avoid taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Cases of chikungunya and Zika are much more rare. For malaria (very few cases in Colombia), a preventive treatment (often heavy with side effects) is recommended only for prolonged stays in affected areas. The prevention of bites is the basic rule, with the wearing of covering clothes and the use of repellents and mosquito nets in infected areas.

It is also important to pay attention to general hygiene (washing hands well). Water is drinkable in many cities in Colombia, but when traveling, it is better to drink bottled water (or plastic), especially on the Caribbean coast. There is no problem to drink fruit juices in restaurants and cafes. In the street, you have to be more careful even if the street vendors want to keep their customers and use treated water.

Also beware of altitude sickness, sun and currents at the beach (see the Practical/Everyday Life/Health section at the beginning of this guide).

Mandatory vaccination Colombia

No vaccine is required to enter Colombia, but even if cases are rare, it is recommended to get vaccinated against yellow fever at least 10 days before traveling to an infected area (below 1,800 m altitude), in the Amazon, in the Llanos and in the Pacific and Caribbean regions. The effect of the vaccine lasts 10 years. You can be vaccinated in Bogotá, especially at the international airport (free of charge). Even if in practice it is very rare, you may be asked to show your vaccination card at the entrance of some national parks. You should also know that if you are traveling from Colombia to Costa Rica, the yellow fever vaccination card is strictly required by the authorities of the Central American country (you may even be refused entry into the country if the vaccination was given less than 10 days ago).

Security Colombia

Don't panic, if you don't look for trouble, nothing should happen to you! The media and people you know who have never been to Colombia tend to be very alarmist about the situation in "the country of guerrillas and cocaine". However, the armed conflict in some rural areas and the insecurity in the big urban centers is undeniable, and the criminal gangs are still very present in the territory. So is the country dangerous? Yes and no... It depends where, and it depends for whom. For the environmental activist, or the incorruptible mayor in Cauca or Chocó, there is no doubt that insecurity is part of daily life. This is also the case for the bus driver who drives around Ciudad Bolivar or Soacha every day. But for the average tourist who does not do anything and does not go anywhere for the taste of adrenaline or white powder, the risks of finding himself in a dangerous situation are not higher than in other Latin American countries. There is no such thing as zero risk, but to avoid problems, just like anywhere else, you need to have common sense and respect basic rules of caution. Concerning the areas to avoid, there are obviously the dangerous districts of the big cities, but also all the rural areas suffering from the notorious presence of illegal armed groups linked to drug trafficking, as it is the case in most of the border regions, but not only.

For the latest information on local security, consult the "Travel Advice" section of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs. Be aware, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers and that this sometimes gives a very alarmist picture of the real situation in the country.

Time difference Colombia

Between Colombia and France, the time difference is 6 hours (winter time in France) or 7 hours (summer time). When it is 8pm in Paris, it is 2pm in Bogotá in February and 1pm in July.

Spoken languages Colombia

Spanish is spoken everywhere, with some regional peculiarities and accents, more or less easy to understand when you have studied Spanish in school. There are also 68 indigenous languages (65 indigenous languages, 2 Afro-Colombian languages and Romani). In the tourism sector, more and more Colombians speak English (especially the younger generations) and some French.

Communication Colombia

Telephone and Internet coverage is generally good in the big cities, less so in the remote villages, where power cuts are frequent. Most hotels and cafes offer Wi-Fi. You can also connect for free in many public places (squares, bus stations, airports, etc.), but the network is generally slow. Note that many Colombian websites end in ".co" (not ".com").

Electricity and measurements Colombia

The local electrical outlets provide 110 volts, 60 cycles, North American type. It is therefore necessary to bring an adapter, because the plugs are flat and have a different spacing than the European ones. They are easily found locally (and less expensively) in hardware or mass-market stores. Power cuts can occur in case of heavy rain, but rarely last more than a few hours. Colombia uses the metric and kilogram systems for weights and measures. Gasoline is purchased by the American gallon (1 gallon = 3.8 liters).

Luggage Colombia

Don't overload yourself, keep some volume available to bring back memories!

Clothing. Colombia offers a wide range of climates, from the tropical heat of the coast to the low temperatures of the Andean regions. An all-purpose suggestion: light, loose-fitting clothes that dry easily, a waterproof jacket or poncho, a fleece, good walking shoes, flip-flops, sunglasses, a hat (there are some nice ones out there!), a high factor sunscreen and a bathing suit! No problem to find all this on the spot and most of the hotels propose a fast laundry service. Military fatigues and clothes are not necessarily well seen... Finally, you should know that Colombians attach a lot of importance to clothing, especially when going out at night (avoid shorts and flip-flops).

Some accessories that are always useful: first-aid kit, headlamp, meat bag, earplugs (not to say headphones!), Swiss Army knife, padlock, sewing kit, rope, waterproof cover for electronic devices, SD cards and USB keys to store your photos during the trip, electric adapter (if you have one, otherwise it is cheaper in Colombia), mask and snorkel, binoculars, light hammock for hiking...