Colombia Journey Ideas: Issues You Want To Know Earlier than You Go…
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Colombia is a surprising nation with a lot to supply – from wonderful climbing trails to extremely beautiful white sand seashores to fragrant espresso.
However, as with all new place you go to, it’s necessary to adequately put together your self for what to anticipate – so we’ve ready this information on issues to know earlier than visiting Colombia so you’ll be able to go in absolutely ready.
Journey to Colombia may be very totally different from touring to locations in Europe, USA or Australia – it’s important to take into account issues like vaccinations, change charges and native foreign money, language boundaries and security.
So, go in ready, and take heed of those Colombia journey suggestions that you must know earlier than your journey!
Issues to Know Earlier than Going to Colombia
It’s Colombia, not Columbia
Very first thing’s first – earlier than you go to this gorgeous nation in South America, you’ll want to know the way it’s correctly spelled.
It’s Colombia, not Columbia.
Don’t really feel dangerous when you thought it was the latter – it’s a quite common mistake.
Colombians are pleasant
When you make an effort to study simply sufficient Spanish to have the ability to talk with the locals, you’ll be able to meet some actually unbelievable folks.
That is very true for people who find themselves guides on the free strolling excursions, that are very talked-about in bigger Colombian cities.
They’re nearly all the time pleasant locals, who’re desirous to introduce you to their cities, and inform you every little thing about it, together with some private tales.
Colombia is protected to go to, however be in your guard
A variety of vacationers are involved about security in Colombia. Despite the fact that the times of drug cartels and brutal violence are only a darkish spot in Colombia’s historical past, it’s nonetheless removed from being one of many most secure nations on the earth for vacationers.
Nevertheless, Colombia is protected to go to, you simply have to be aware of strangers and be on guard in your interactions. Don’t settle for drinks from strangers, and remember that criminals can typically pose as cops and ask in your passport. Simply don’t give it to them.
Usually, staying protected in Colombia isn’t a lot totally different to staying protected in large European cities – simply use your widespread sense, and you have to be superb.
Which means staying away from poor neighborhoods and never venturing far outdoors vacationer facilities.
Maintain your valuables protected – don’t carry your smartphone and pockets within the again pocket of your denims. Put them in your jacket or a cash belt as a substitute, particularly when utilizing public transport.
Don’t put on flashy jewellery, and check out to not appeal to an excessive amount of consideration to your self. Take into account swapping your cumbersome DSLR for a smaller level and shoot digicam or your cellphone in crowded areas, and carry your backpack kangaroo model (entrance of physique).
Colombia is definitely safer than most individuals assume, particularly since there’s nonetheless plenty of police on town streets.
However it’s nonetheless necessary to know what to anticipate, and to take all the required precautions to make sure you keep protected whilst you’re exploring the beautiful nation.
Study the phrase “no dar papaya”
The phrase “no dar papaya” which interprets to “don’t give papaya” is a Colombian slang time period which basically means “don’t give criminals a purpose to focus on you.”
Don’t zone in your cellphone in Bogotá
One in every of my high suggestions for staying protected in begins earlier than your Colombia trip begins.
It’s necessary earlier than you journey anyplace to perform a little research on security issues. You’ll need to collect specifics in regards to the nation usually, and likewise in regards to the areas you intend to go to.
Lots of people publish warnings on-line in regards to the threat of getting your cellphone stolen in Bogotá. This was a big downside for me: I’ve completely no sense of route so I depend on my cellphone for navigation.
Within the outdated days, I might carry a map, however nothing screams “vacationer!” like carrying a map round. Nicely, that and carrying white sneakers.
What did I do? I used my cellphone very sparingly, and solely after I had clear sight round me that it was protected to take action. I made positive my again was towards a wall and nobody was near me.
After I used my cellphone, I made positive to look as much as assess my environment to make sure it was nonetheless protected to have my cellphone out. If folks approached me, I put it away.
I’m completely happy to say my cellphone joined me for the flight residence from Colombia.
Get Perception from Locals in Medellín
One other nice technique to find out about security is by speaking with locals.
Whenever you ask the place they suggest you go, additionally ask if there are locations the place you must not go.
We regularly concentrate on the locations we need to go to after we journey, however understanding the place to not go is simply as necessary.
Medellín is among the greatest locations to go to in Colombia and there’s a lot to do there. You do have to be cautious in sure neighborhoods.
Keep away from the El Centro Neighborhood at Night time
Strolling excursions are a good way to orient your self to a brand new metropolis. I took a strolling tour in Medellín and our information, Juan, gave us some invaluable recommendation.
He stated that we must always not go to the downtown space, La Candelaria (regionally referred to as El Centro), at night time and to be very cautious throughout the day as properly.
The El Centro neighborhood is the world the place most of the points of interest are in Medellín, and it’s very talked-about.
By day, it’s full of businesspeople and it’s fairly protected, although there are pickpockets round.
It’s a good suggestion to keep up consciousness round you always and to make sure to have a agency grasp in your belongings. If you’re carrying a bag, put on it throughout your chest or in your chest (for backpacks).
Nevertheless, after the commuters go residence, the downtown space is unsafe and even the locals avoid it.
Juan shared the Colombian saying, “dar papaya,” which loosely translated means “you shouldn’t put your self ready the place folks can simply reap the benefits of you.”
So, if an space is the very best threat like El Centro, or “4 papayas,” it’s greatest to keep away from.
NOTE: The Get Your Information tour firm provide a number of days tour of Medellin, many with 5 star opinions. Take a look at their excursions and opinions right here.
Beware in San Antonio Sq.
San Antonio Sq. (Parque San Antonio) has some lovely murals that stand out in a metropolis recognized for its inventive road artwork.
Also, there are two bird sculptures on display created by local artist Fernando Botero. One is intact and the other was mostly destroyed in 1995 by a guerrilla bomb. It serves as a painful reminder of the violent history of Medellín.
Our guide cautioned us to be wary of gang activity in San Antonio Square even during the day and to avoid the park at night.
It’s best to only visit in groups (like a walking tour group) and to be especially cautious of pickpockets.
Visiting Communa 13
Communa 13 is a great example of a neighborhood that was once the poorest and most violent in Medellín. It is now a place that most tourists visit known for its amazing street art.
I took a walking tour of this area with a local guide who grew up there named Sergio. He told us stories from his childhood that were painful to listen to and shared how the community is remembering its history through art.
Sergio shared a wall of small planters painted with names on them symbolizing the life of the people who disappeared in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Colombian people are very aware of their history. They strive to move past it and to move forward in a positive direction so they can continue to be proud of their country and how far it has come.
When people ask, “is it safe to travel to Colombia?” locals will say a resounding, “yes!” because they are proud to be Colombian and of what their beautiful country is today.
Caution when using crosswalks
Another safety tip I learned from Juan is that “crosswalks are art” in Medellín.
Meaning that drivers don’t often yield the right of way to a pedestrian so be very careful when crossing the street.
I learned this the hard way the next day when I found myself in the middle of the street as a car approached and had to dash for the curb as he went racing past me.
It sure got my heart racing and was a good reminder to be careful.
Right after that incident, a moped rode up on the sidewalk and nearly plowed me down, so caution should also extend to walking on the sidewalk as well.
Keep your eyes open in Cartagena
When you’re traveling, you never know where you might end up.
If you’re like me, you plan for a few things every day, but leave time to explore if you see something interesting.
Don’t make yourself a target by clearly not paying attention. Or conversely, it’s not a good idea to appear fearful by frantically looking around. Simply take a look around as you walk.
I liken this to driving a car. When we’re driving around, we’re constantly scanning our surroundings to make sure there is nothing in our path so we know it’s safe to continue driving.
At first, this takes some practice. But in time, we can do it without even thinking about it. As you build your solo-traveling muscle, you will find the same.
Be careful with alcohol
It’s important to be especially careful when you’re drinking. You want to be sure you are aware of your surroundings and paying attention, and you simply aren’t as focused when you are drinking alcohol.
That’s not to say you can’t have a drink with dinner, but it’s just not a good idea to drink a lot when you’re traveling solo.
While you’re in the restaurant or bar, be sure to keep an eye on your drink at all times.
Especially when you’re traveling solo and don’t have someone else looking out for you, it’s a really bad time to learn what it’s like to get a “mickey” in your drink.
Why you should Uber in Colombia
As a solo female traveler, I do try to limit walking around at night and tend to take a cab or an Uber when I go out.
Uber is technically illegal in Colombia (“technically” because you can find Uber drivers in some of the major cities, like Cartagena, however, you may be harassed by taxi drivers or the police if they are caught).
I prefer Uber over a taxi for a few reasons.
First, because no money changes hands during the ride. I don’t have to figure out how much a ride fare is or think about if the driver turned the meter on.
I can also be reasonably sure a driver is legit. Uber tells me the driver’s name, shares a picture, and the vehicle make and license plate.
However, it’s helpful to know that Uber isn’t legal in Colombia, even though you will find some industrious people still driving with them.
I had no idea when I went there and learned from a local I met while in Cartagena after taking Uber from the airport to my apartment.
Not a lot of people speak English
The native language in Colombia is Spanish, and only about 4% of the population claims they can speak English well.
Which means that you may have a challenging time in the country if you don’t speak any Spanish at all.
So, try to learn at least some useful phrases before your trip. It’s not a difficult language, and the point isn’t to become proficient overnight – just to learn enough that you can communicate with people at restaurants, bars and shops.
This is as simple as taking the DuoLingo Spanish course or watching some TV shows in Spanish to pick up the key phrases.
Get the recommended vaccines and immunization
Keep in mind when planning a trip to Colombia that it has a tropical climate, which is an ideal setting for mosquito-borne diseases to flourish.
Which is why you should do all you can to protect yourself, and ensure you stay healthy throughout your trip.
If you’re only traveling to larger cities that are on a high elevation (above 2,200 meters), you don’t have to worry about mosquito-borne diseases.
But if you want to explore Colombia’s stunning countryside, seaside and the gorgeous national and nature parks, you should at least be vaccinated against yellow fever.
Other vaccines that are recommended for those traveling to Colombia are:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Tetanus
- Diphtheria
- Rabies
- Typhoid
None of these are mandatory for travelers from Europe and North America, but they are highly recommended.
But, if you’re travelling from one of the following countries, or even just had a layover there, you will be required to present yellow fever vaccination certificate:
- Brazil
- Uganda
- Angola
- Democratic Republic of Congo
Mosquitos are everywhere (almost)
We’ve touched upon this in the previous section, but you need to be properly prepared for the amount of mosquito’s you will encounter when you visit Colombia.
The climate in the country is ideal for them, so the pesky insects really are hard to avoid in some locations.
That is not to say they are everywhere. For example, in the cities and high-altitude areas like Salento (the coffee region) they are not a problem at all.
However, if you head to the jungles up north you will likely encounter them.
The best thing you can do to prepare yourself is get non-harmful mosquito repellent. Plus bracelets, candles, lotions, sprays and as many electrical repellents as you can fit in your suitcase.
You should also ask your doctor about anti malaria pills; it’s not something you can be vaccinated against, and it’s a serious issue in western and eastern parts of the country.
Additionally, it is best to wear long sleeve tops and long trousers, especially during and after dusk. If necessary, sleep under a mosquito net to avoid any bites during the night.
It’s best to visit in December – March
Colombia is in the Southern Hemisphere, so its summer season runs from December until March.
This is the peak season for tourism since it’s the dry season. It’s when the skies are sunny and there’s little rain, and it’s also when there are cultural celebrations such as Carnival in Barranquilla and Easter.
However, June to September receive cooler weather and less rainfall, and fewer crowds than December to March.
The rainy season is October to November, which can pick up heavy rain storms, thunder, and flash flooding, so probably not the best time to visit in those months.
Prepare for altitude sickness
Some people don’t associate Colombia with mountains, but there are some pretty high areas and altitude sickness is a real issue.
Bogotá sits at 2,640 meters above sea level, and some people experience altitude sickness here. Manizales is 2,160 meters above sea level, and Armenia is at 1,551 meters above sea level.
Pereira, gateway to the Coffee Triangle, and Medellín, are only 1400 meters. This isn’t usually high enough for altitude sickness, but it can get cold here due to the high elevation.
Credit Cards are accepted, but usually come with fees
Gone are the days when you couldn’t use your credit card throughout Colombia, but now there is a catch.
Most places accept credit cards, but it’s common that merchants will add 10% fee for using it.
Cash is still king in the country, and you will need to have plenty on hand for restaurants, bars, cafes and even shops.
The major hotels, shops and fancy restaurants do accept cards, especially in larger cities like Bogota, Cartagena and Medellin, but you will need cash for everything else – bus tickets, taxi fares, souvenirs etc.
If you’re planning on withdrawing money, there is something you should know beforehand, like the variations in the withdrawal limits.
The withdrawal limit on ATM’s in Colombia depends heavily on the bank. It can be as low as 400,000 COP, and it usually doesn’t get higher than 1,200,000 COP.
In addition to that, some ATM’s will also charge you a fee, which ranges from 18,000 and 26,900 Colombian Pesos per transaction.
Perhaps it’s best to look for a Colpatria bank ATM. They don’t charge a fee, and the withdrawal limit is 900,000 COP.
Of course, you should also consider the maximum daily withdrawal limit from your bank. You can usually withdraw the maximum amount from an ATM about 3 times in total.
Do not talk about Pablo Escobar
Most of us got hooked on Netflix’s Narcos show at some point, and were captivated by the world of drug lords in the 80s in Colombia.
However, while the TV show was incredibly interesting for the Western world, Colombians did not like it so much. Our tour guide in Medellin made a point of mentioning it.
Most locals feel that it is not an accurate representation of the troubled times, so definitely avoid mentioning anything about it. There are also mixed feelings about him with the local people – some think he is a hero, and other’s think he is a criminal.
Play it safe and don’t mention him.
Leave your Narcos t-shirts at home when visiting Colombia, and refrain from mentioning the Medellin or Cali cartels at all – especially if you’re visiting either one of those cities.
One of the main issues with the popular show was that it presented Colombia as a drug country, an image that it is trying hard to move away from.
So, be supportive of that, and don’t reference the dark past unless a friendly local starts talking about it first.
Tipping is not expected
In Colombia, it’s not expected to tip your waiter or taxi driver, but we recommend you do it anyway if you were happy with the service.
Even a small tip will be met with gratitude, especially because it’s not a common social custom.
In fancier restaurants in big cities, you will see a service fee on your bill. It’s usually 10% of your order, and that tip is later split equally among all the restaurant staff.
Buses and taxis will get you anywhere, but planes are much faster
Getting around Colombia is easy with buses and taxis. They go pretty much anywhere, and they are very inexpensive.
Buses are especially good for getting around bigger cities, getting to and from the airports, and reaching those smaller places that are outside urban centers.
However, Colombian buses tend to be really slow and uncomfortable, not to mention likely to break down, so we don’t recommend them if you have to cross hundreds of kilometers in one day.
If you’re trying to get from, let’s say Medellin to Santa Marta, it’s best to take domestic flights. One-way tickets are super cheap and planes are a lot faster than the bus.
In this particular case, you can save about 13 hours if you opt to fly.
Be patient
The concept of time in Colombia is different from that of the Western world. So, while it might be unimaginable that a train in Switzerland is 30-minutes late, in Colombia that would be quite normal.
That’s probably going to be the hardest thing to get used to.
Buses run late, so it’s normal to wait a while for your meal in a restaurant, and nobody is surprised if a flight gets delayed for several hours. At least one of our 10 flights in Colombia was late.
If you get caught in such a situation, try to not act like a Westerner. Don’t panic, and keep your cool – adapt to the situation and socialize with the locals.
Maybe grab a cerveza while you wait, if it helps you stay cool.
Learn to salsa
Salsa is more than a dance in Colombia, it’s a way of life. Learn to salsa and you will never be short of finding a dance partner, especially in cities like Medellin or Cali, the Salsa Capital, where salsa bars are frequent.
You can also look for salsa lessons while you’re there!
Pack for all climates
As mentioned earlier, Colombia has some high altitude areas, so be sure to pack for all climates as it can get cold – even in the height of summer.
Remember to pack for the beaches if you’re hitting the Caribbean Coast or Providencia Island, pack your hiking shoes if you’re visiting the mountains for hiking in Colombia, and long and loose fitting clothing if you plan to visit the jungles.