Are you looking for a place where you can spend your next getaway? Why not choose Colombia and see for yourself why it is called a diverse paradise. This South American country features Pacific and Caribbean waters, Andes Mountain Range, the Amazon, and its countryside with the warm smiles of its people. Also, due to its geographical locations, it holds the title of having one of the highest levels of diversity of flora and fauna around the globe.
If you’re heading to Colombia soon but aren’t sure what you need to know before commencing your trip, then worry no more since we’re here to help. But first, book your flight with Avianca, rest assured that you’ll reach your dream destination without any trouble. Plus, if you need to monitor your fleet, we have here a live flight tracking system that makes things possible. In just a click, you’ll be notified by the information that you need to know. Now let’s get started and equip oneself of the necessary things that need to be noted.
It’s safer than you imagine.
Don’t worry too much since Columbia is indeed safe for tourists. This is very evident especially if you’re taking on the gringo trail such as Santa Marta, Bogota, Medellin, Salento, Ipiales, and Cartagena. You’ll notice the presence of police in every city. Still, if you’re at an unfamiliar destination, be aware of your surroundings at all times. Be sure to keep an eye on your belongings and stay attentive. It is suggested that you stay in a well-populated place and avoid going out alone at night time. Avoid wearing flashy and branded items. Guard your wallet and phone, don’t put in your pocket where it can easily be pickpocketed. It is also advisable to purchase the appropriate travel insurance to cover you for any situation.
It’s incredibly diverse.
Be in awe as you travel around Columbia. Ready yourself as you’ll witness Caribbean beaches, mountains, deserts, jungles, and megacities. If you prefer a hot and summer-like weather all year round, head to Cartagena. If you want to see more mountains and quite chilly weather, then there’s Ipiales. Salento is known for its tall wax palm trees. If you want to see a red desert soil, then visit Tatacoa Desert. It is suggested to spend at least three days in each place to fully-experience what it has in store for you. It’s a good idea that you have a concrete itinerary inclusive of the duration just to be organized. With this, high chances that you’ll have a remarkable trip.
Check the weather forecast so you can pack the things that you need.
The majority of the aspects is concerning the weather of the place that you’d want to visit. The clothing that you need to pack also varies depending on your itinerary. If you preferred to do a lot of walking around the country, then you need to pack everything from a winter jacket to summer clothes. Please be reminded the climate here is incredibly diverse. You can check the weather forecast from time to time so you’ll have a general idea of what to wear or where you’re supposed to go.
There’s a bus that can easily tour you around the city.
If you’re on a budget trip, it is suggested that you make use of buses if you’re going from one place to another since fares are cheap plus you get to be seated comfortably. It features fully reclining seats, blankets, headphones, snacks, water, lavatory, memory foam headrests, and even a sliding door that separate the driver and the passengers. No need to worry about your luggage since it gets tagged. Nobody else can take your luggage unless the tags say it’s yours. You might want to bring a hoodie if you have a low tolerance when it comes to cold temperatures.
Negotiate the fare before going inside the taxi.
Before going inside the taxi, be sure to ask the driver of the fare then that’s the time where you can haggle the price down. In some cities like in Medellin, Bogota, the taxi has a meter. Be sure that your driver only turns the meter the moment you start your trip.
You have an option to choose if you’ll purchase a sim and data or just rely on Wi-Fi.
It’s up to you if you’ll be purchasing a sim card with mobile data or just rely on the Wi-Fi connection. Sim card costs around 2000 Colombian Pesos ($0.64) and a 2 GB data for 20,000 COP ($6.40). It is available in convenience stores and even mobile shops. If you need to recharge or top up your around, you can do so at any shop or street vendor which has signages that says recargas on it. Once you top up your account at any stores available, you can now purchase the data package that you prefer through the use of the Mi Claro app.
Street food is safe to eat plus it is delicious.
As you spend your vacation here, be sure to at least try some of the street foods. One of the better ways to experience Colombian culture is through its cuisine. Be sure to have some char-grilled corn, arepas con queso, fresh-squeezed juice, and empanadas to name a few. You’ll never be hungry wherever you are, there’ll always be something that you can eat. Besides, you don’t need to pay more than 5000 Colombian Pesos ($1.60) for a snack. If you opt to have something sweet or juicy, try out the Colombians fruits. Even if the local cuisine revolved around rice, soup, and fried meat, you can still find vegetarian options here, if you prefer.
It helps to know a little bit about their local language (Spanish).
Not all of the people in the city know how to communicate using the English language. It is suggested that you practice and brush up on your Spanish skills. You can download offline translation from the google translate app. It is a good idea to bring with you some basic phrases, it’ll surely be super helpful. Just be confident, people here are friendly.
