Practical A–Z

Visa

Germans, Austrians, and Swiss do not need a visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. Upon entry at the airport, the border officer decides the length of stay — usually 90 days are stamped in the passport, sometimes only 60. Required:

• Passport: Valid for at least 6 months beyond the stay. ID card is NOT sufficient.
• Return or onward flight ticket: Regularly checked! Entry may be denied without an exit ticket. Tip: A cheap, refundable bus ticket to a neighboring country suffices.
• Proof of financial means: Rarely requested, but in case of doubt, be able to show credit card statements or bank app.

Extension

The 90-day stay can be extended once for another 90 days (a total of 180 days per calendar year). Apply at Migración Colombia (offices in Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali). Cost: approx. 130,000 COP (30€). Apply early — not on the last day!

Entry Form

Since 2023, the digital entry form Check-Mig must be completed online (apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co). Within 72 hours before entry. Partially checked at the airport.

Colombian Peso (COP)

The Colombian currency is the peso. The large numbers can be confusing at first: 100,000 COP sounds like a fortune, but it's only ~24€. Coins: 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 COP. Bills: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 COP.

Exchange rate (estimate 2025/26): 1 EUR ≈ 4,200–4,500 COP

ATMs

ATMs are available in all cities and tourist areas. The main banks: Bancolombia (red, most ATMs), Banco de Bogotá (blue), BBVA, Davivienda. Tips:

• Withdrawal limit: Usually 600,000–1,000,000 COP per transaction (140–240€).
• Fees: 12,000–15,000 COP (3–3.50€) per withdrawal by the Colombian bank + possible fees from your home bank.
• Best cards: DKB Visa or Wise Debit Card — minimal foreign fees. Revolut also works well.
• Safety: Only withdraw money in busy, well-lit areas. ATMs in shopping centers and supermarkets are the safest.

Credit Cards & Cash

Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted in hotels, upscale restaurants, and shops. In rural areas, local restaurants, and for buses: cash only! Tip: If asked at the checkout “Ahorros o Corriente?", answer “Ahorros" (savings account).

Nequi & Daviplata: Colombia's mobile payment apps. Many small shops and taxi drivers only accept these apps or cash — no card reader. Not directly usable by tourists, but good to know.

General Security Situation

Let's be honest: Colombia has a security image problem that is bigger than the actual danger for tourists. Yes, the country has a violent past. Yes, there is crime. But: The tourist regions are much safer than their reputation. Millions of international tourists visit Colombia every year, and the vast majority have no problems at all.

That doesn't mean you should be naive. Colombia is no pony farm, and common sense is the best insurance.

Safety Zones for Tourists

Common Dangers & Prevention

• Pickpocketing: The most common danger. DO NOT use phones openly on the street (especially in Bogotá). Wear backpacks in front, keep valuables close to the body. Be particularly vigilant on the TransMilenio.
• Express Kidnapping (Paseo millonario): Extremely rare for tourists, but possible. Taxi drivers drive to an ATM and force the victim to withdraw money. Prevention: NEVER hail a taxi on the street. Always use Uber/DiDi or official taxi apps.
• Scopolamine (Burundanga): A drug that makes you compliant. Occasionally mixed into drinks (bars, clubs) or applied to paper/business cards. Rule: Never leave drinks unattended, accept nothing from strangers, always order drinks yourself.
• Fraud: Fake police officers conducting “document checks" and then trying to copy credit cards. Real police officers wear uniforms with numbers. In case of doubt: accompany them to the nearest police station.

Golden Safety Rules

1. Uber/DiDi instead of street taxis — always
2. Do not use your phone openly on the street
3. Do not walk alone in dark areas at night
4. Never leave drinks unattended in bars
5. Carry only a small amount of cash, leave the rest in the hotel safe
6. Do not wear expensive watches/jewelry openly
7. Digitally store copies of your passport and credit cards (cloud)
8. Take out travel insurance with repatriation

Altitude Sickness (Soroche)

Bogotá is at an altitude of 2,640 meters — that's the height of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but you fly in directly from sea level. The altitude can be noticeable:

• Symptoms: Shortness of breath when climbing stairs, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, faster exhaustion. Mild for most travelers.
• Prevention: Take it easy on the first day, no alcohol, drink plenty of water, eat lightly. Colombians swear by Agua de Panela (warm sugarcane juice with lime) as a home remedy.
• Duration: 1–2 days of acclimatization are sufficient for most. If feeling very unwell: descend (Medellín at 1,500 m or coast at sea level).

For Colombia beginners, a clever strategy: Don't start in Bogotá, but in Cartagena or Medellín, and then gradually work your way up in altitude.

Vaccinations

No mandatory vaccinations for entry from Germany. But strongly recommended:

• Yellow Fever: Strongly recommended for the Amazon, Chocó, and rural lowland areas. The vaccination certificate is sometimes checked upon entry to the Amazon.
• Hepatitis A: Recommended (transmission through food/water)
• Hepatitis B: For longer stays
• Typhoid: For travel to rural areas
• Refresh standard vaccinations: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio

Insect Protection & Tropical Diseases

In lowland areas (coast, Amazon, Chocó), there is dengue fever, Zika, and occasionally malaria. Protection:

• DEET mosquito spray (at least 30%) — apply in the morning and evening
• Long clothing at dusk
• Mosquito net in simple accommodations in the Amazon
• Malaria prophylaxis: Recommended only for the Amazon and Chocó (consult a tropical doctor)

Medical Care

In Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena, medical care is excellent — many clinics meet international standards (Medellín is even a medical tourism destination!). Pharmacies (Farmacias/Droguerías) are everywhere, many medications are available without a prescription. In rural areas: limited care.

Travel health insurance with repatriation is mandatory! Statutory health insurance is not valid in Colombia.

SIM Card & Mobile Data

A local SIM card is cheap and the best option:

• Providers: Claro (largest network, best coverage), Movistar, Tigo, WOM (cheapest provider)
• Price: SIM card free or 5,000 COP (1.20€). Data packages: 10 GB for 25,000–35,000 COP (6–8€), valid for 30 days.
• Purchase: At Bogotá airport (Claro and Movistar have stands right after baggage claim), in any mobile store or Drogería. Passport required!
• Network coverage: 4G in all cities and tourist areas. In the Amazon, Chocó, and remote villages: patchy to non-existent.

eSIM

For travelers with modern smartphones: Airalo, Holafly, or Ubigi offer Colombia eSIMs from 10€ for 5 GB. Buy online in advance, activate upon arrival. No SIM card swap needed.

WLAN

Free WLAN in most hotels, hostels, cafés, and restaurants. Bogotá and Medellín also have public WLAN in parks and TransMilenio stations (slow but functional). Speed: Good in big cities, often frustratingly slow in rural areas.

Tips (Propina)

In Colombia, a “propina voluntaria" of 10% is automatically suggested at the end of the bill — the waiter asks: “¿Desea incluir el servicio?" (Would you like to include the service?). Saying “Sí" is the norm. Additionally:

No-Go Zones & Taboos

• Drug Tourism: Colombia suffers from the image of a “party land for drug use". The consumption of cocaine and other drugs is illegal, socially frowned upon, and finances armed groups. Respect the country and its history.
• Escobar Glorification: Never say “Cool, Pablo Escobar!" to a Colombian. For most, he is a mass murderer, not a hero.
• Colombia ≠ Columbia: The country is called COLOMBIA, not Columbia (that's a district in Washington D.C.). Colombians are sensitive to this confusion.
• “Dangerous" Comments: Don't start with “Isn't it dangerous?" — Colombians are tired of being reduced to the conflict. Instead, ask for recommendations and favorite places.