What NOT to Do When Visiting Colombia
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re sharing some of the don’ts of visiting Colombia. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to do in Colombia, we also want to share what you should NOT do on your trip to Colombia!
Don’t Forget to Brush Up on Your Spanish
English isn’t as widely spoken as you might expect for such a popular travel destination. You definitely want to know a little bit of Spanish just to get by. You don’t have to be fluent but learn a few words. The locals will appreciate you for trying!
Don’t Expect a Quiet Vacation in Colombia
Colombians are a lively bunch! The cities are full of music and dancing and celebration, while nature is loud with birds and animals. Colombians are night owls, though, so you might find it pretty quiet before 10 in the morning.
Don’t Neglect Your Safety
Colombia has become much, much safer than the 80s and 90s so it’s not a dangerous place. However, you do have to watch out for yourself as you would in any other city. Our usual tips apply here, like not wearing flashy jewelry or expensive clothing. Pickpockets are not unheard of, so keep your wits about you. Stay in the tourist areas of town and don’t go wandering out into other neighborhoods. Ask your hotel if there are specific areas nearby to avoid.
If you’re partaking in the nightlife of Colombia, always keep an eye on your drink. It is possible to be drugged, so use caution.
Travel Safety Tips for Any Destination
Don’t Joke About Drugs or Escobar
Cocaine is often what people associate with Colombia. That is a dark part of the country’s past, and it’s not something to be joked about. Fortunately, it is in the past and Colombia has emerged as a beautiful, vibrant country with so many redeeming qualities.
Don’t Think Anything is Free
While Colombians are very friendly, they sometimes seem to offer you something for free. But usually it’s not free. This happens often on the beaches, where you’ll be offered a “free massage.” Others may want to give you a street performance or have their photo taken with you. You do need to tip them!
Remember, everyone is just doing a job to support their families. Don’t be rude to the street vendors, even if they are a bit pushy. Be polite and move on. If you speak a little bit of Spanish, they will actually be very nice and might even offer you some travel tips. Talking to the locals is the best way to get intel on the destination!
Don’t Be Anti-Soup or Anti-Arepa
They LOVE soup in Colombia, even for breakfast! There are a ton of great soups in Colombia.
Caldo de Pescado and Sancocho are two favorites.
Arepas are everywhere; it looks like a cornmeal pancake, and they can be filled with a variety of things from sweet to savory.
Don’t Flush Your TP
Colombia is one of those countries with old plumbing, so the pipes cannot handle toilet paper. There will always be a little basket next to the toilet where you can put your used toilet paper.
Don’t Forget to Have Cash
Cash is still king in Colombia. Some of the more popular tourist areas will take credit cards, but it’s always a good idea to have a little bit of cash for street food and tipping. It’s easy enough to get cash upon arrival at the airport and then you don’t have to worry about it.
Don’t Pass up the Street Food in Colombia
There are so many delicious things to eat from the food carts on the streets. You’ll find fresh fruit and types of fruit you’ve never heard of, as well as arepas, sweets, and so much more. We don’t usually eat the meat that’s sold on the street, but everything else is usually delicious.
Don’t Be Shocked by the Cheese Obsession
They love cheese in Colombia! It’s everywhere; they even put cheese in their hot cocoa drinks! It sounds weird, but the sweet and salty combo is actually delicious! You’ll find cheese soups, cheese bread, empanadas with cheese, arepas con queso, and on and on. One of Mark’s most interesting meals was a plantain with cheese and guava paste. Shockingly delicious!
Don’t Think Yes Always Means Yes
Colombians often respond “Si” to anything, so if you ask a yes or no question, you might just get a quick “si”.” So it’s better to ask an open-ended question if you want more details in the answer.
Don’t Underestimate the Altitude
Some parts of Colombia, like Bogota, are high in the mountains. Bogota sits at over 8,600 feet above sea level. That can be a major adjustment if you are arriving from sea level! Don’t plan too much for your first day as you might feel sluggish and dehydrated. It’s a good time to just walk around and take in the scenery without doing anything strenuous.
How to Deal with Altitude Sickness
Don’t Expect Consistent Weather Everywhere
Colombia is a big, diverse country and it has several climates. Bogota has high altitude weather, and it can be cold any time of year, while Cartagena is sunny with beaches. If you are visiting multiple regions within Colombia, you may need a lot of different types of clothing!
Whether you are enjoying the beaches of Cartagena or the mountains of Bogota, make sure you are wearing sunscreen. The sun is stronger at high elevation, so even if it’s not hot and sunny, you’re getting those UV rays! (Bug spray is also a necessity!)
Don’t Expect Great Service
Colombians are friendly, so you shouldn’t have bad service, but it can be kind of slow. The service charge (propina) is usually already included, so they’re also not hustling to earn your tips.
They just live at a different pace here. Even though you’re not on an island, you could say Colombians run on “island time.” This goes for tours, restaurant service, parties, etc. So just be patient and have a good time without being in a hurry!
Don’t Pass Up the Local Drinks
Aguardiente is the local spirit in Colombia, so you should try that at least once. Mark’s favorite is anything with Lulo in it. Lulo is a tropical fruit that looks like an orange but has a tart flavor. Lulolada is like a limeade made with Lulo. All of the fruit juices and smoothies are so fresh in Colombia! Cholado is extra tasty; it’s like a fruit cocktail with sweetened condensed milk. YUM!
One exception, surprisingly, is the coffee in Colombia. Even though Colombian coffee beans are shipped all over the world, the roasting is what usually gives coffee its flavor. So don’t expect the “best coffee ever” in Colombia. It’s just OK. While the coffee isn’t amazing in Colombia, the chocolate is so eat lots of chocolate.
In the big cities, you can drink the tap water, but in more rural areas, bottled water is the safest option.
Don’t Be Afraid to Splurge on Flights Between Cities
There are buses throughout Colombia, but they can be very slow. Colombia has a lot of mountainous terrain, so traveling by bus from one city to the next can take forever! This is one instance where we encourage you to spend a bit more for a flight. Avianca is a great airline and flies to most destinations in Colombia.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Colombia is a beautiful country with a lively culture full of dancing, celebration and good food! It’s A friendly country, so say hello when you enter a business and don’t be afraid to explore beyond the major cities.
Want more tips for visiting Colombia? Check out these blog posts: