Colombia is Open for International Travel
Never before did most of us have to consider whether a country was open for us to travel, but in 2021, it’ll be the first question we all ask.
Colombia is currently open to travelers from most countries including the United States with no quarantine required upon arrival.
Pro Tip: Check your home country’s embassy website to see if you’re allowed to enter!
Colombia is open on the inside, too. You can easily travel between cities and curfew only applies for a few hours each night depending on where you are.
The only cities with greater restrictions are Bogota and Medellin but thankfully there are usually exceptions for travelers with a plane or bus ticket!
Colombia is Working to Keep You Safe
While you are allowed to travel to Colombia without a quarantine, there are a few requirements for entry:
- Have a negative PCR test result taken no more than 96 hours before you land in Colombia
2. Fill out the Migracion form online- super important as you won’t be able to board your flight without it!
3. Download the CoronApp -it’s a tracking app designed for contact tracing and sometimes they will check at the airport if you have downloaded it!
4. Don’t show up with any symptoms of COVID- I know this one sounds obvious, but we’re covering all our bases here
When you arrive in Colombia, you’ll see that masks are required in almost all public spaces and most people wear them.
There are some restrictions on entering buildings such as supermarkets and banks (but not ATMs or cajeros as they are called in Colombia) depending on the city. But this seems to change all the time and shouldn’t affect you too much!
When you arrive at your accommodation in a new city ask what the current restrictions are and they’ll be happy to help.
**FALL 2021 UPDATE: PLEASE DO NOT TRAVEL UNLESS VACCINATED** Yes, I’m one of those people. Vaccinations are now widely available and FREE in most countries and it’s your responsibility as a traveler to take the necessary steps to keep everyone safe.
Colombia is Close to the USA
A big one for many Americans. Colombia is pretty close to the USA.
From Miami, it’s only a 3–3.5 hour flight to Medellin or Bogota.
This is great because it means traveling to Colombia is easier, less tiring, and you don’t have to worry about passing through another country to get there.
The other huge bonus: Colombia is in the same time zone as New York (EST).
So if your tiny apartment is starting to give you serious cabin fever, you can bop down to Colombia for some tropical refreshments without worrying about changing your schedule.
Colombia is Affordable
For many of us, the pandemic has hit financially as well as every other way.
Maybe the dream vacation in Tahiti is out of reach now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t afford to get away.
Colombia is as affordable as it is beautiful and in most cities you can secure a comfortable private room for two for $20–30 USD/night.
And if you’re looking for some real luxury, there are totally places where you can splash out and for $50-$100 USD/night you can live like royalty.
And Colombia’s amazing prices don’t stop at hotels and hostels. If food and nightlife are your thing, you can secure a decent dinner for around $5 or a really nice one for $10.
Beer or wine will set you back as little as $1 and you can get cocktails for as cheap as $3, with the average price around $6–7.
*Note: Cartagena, the most popular tourist city in Colombia, has the prices to match! If you’re on a tight budget and want to experience the Caribbean Coast, there are loads of other places to stay that won’t be so hard on your wallet.
If you’re into adventure, you’re in luck. You can find tons of epic places to explore for free around Colombia. Find awesome tours for as little as $5 (like a coffee farm tour in Salento) or try some adventure stunts and go hang gliding for less than $50.
Everything is Outdoors in Colombia
This one is great for 2 reasons:
First, if you’re coming from a colder country where the pandemic is still raging, you’ve probably spent the past few months cooped up inside your house.
Getting outside is proven to be good for human health and it’s a lot easier to do that when you don’t have to put on a coat, boots, and pray that you won’t freeze.
Second, it’s much harder to spread the virus outdoors. You should of course still social distance when possible and wear your mask when you’re around others, but it’s much less likely that you’ll catch or spread the virus when you’re outside and moving around.
Colombia Isn’t Full of Tourists
Even though Colombia has seen a massive increase in tourism over the last decade, it isn’t as heavily touristed as the Bahamas or parts of Mexico.
And after 2020 hit tourism has dropped off again.
Unless you’re in Cartagena or Medellin, you probably won’t find yourself surrounded by other tourists. Depending on where you go, you may get to enjoy some peaceful solitude.
This is also great because hostels, hotels, and attractions aren’t usually fully booked or full. It’s nice to have a little extra breathing room.
Colombia has Something for Everyone
Colombia is getting more popular for a reason. This South-American travel destination is absolutely beautiful.
And Colombia has it all. Towering mountains and stunning tropical beaches. Dense forests and grasslands. Deserts and snow.
No matter what type of environment you like to visit, you can probably find it here in Colombia.
And if your thing is seeing lots of different types of environments, getting from the mountains to the coast is just a bus ride (or two).
Did I mention buses and flights are affordable as well?
You can admire the beauty of Colombia from a few chosen cities, stay in the coffee region soaking up the picturesque mountain towns for weeks, or make your way slowly along the coast enjoying cocktails and sunsets.
Colombia really does have it all.
Thinking of traveling to Colombia soon? Comment below!
