Key facts
Colombia is a country located in South America. There are 5 countries (Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Venezuela) that Colombia shares its borders with. The official language of Colombia is Spanish. Traveling across Colombia if English is your first (and only) language may be difficult due to language barriers.
In the EF English Competency Index (EF EPI), which assesses the language proficiency of non-native speaking countries, Colombia was ranked 81st out of 100 countries in 2021.
The national currency in Colombia is Colombian peso (COP). The peso ($) is subdivided into 100 centavo.
Colombian
Banknotes
$1000$2000$5000$10000$20000$50000
Colombian
Coins
$5$10$20$50$100$200$500$1000
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in Colombia is 203.73 Mbps and mobile is 49.86 Mbs.The global average is 192.62 Mbps and 126.54 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density The number of ATMs per person in Colombia is close to the world average.40.02 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration In order to purchase a SIM card in Colombia, a passport or ID is required as identification.
Socket types
There are 2 socket types used in Colombia. Type A & Type B are widespread in North America (incl. the U.S.), Central America, Japan, and the Philippines.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, Colombia will celebrate 18 national public holidays. The next one Columbus Day will take place on October 14.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024Moving holiday | New Year’s DayAño Nuevo | |
| January 8, 2024Moving holiday | EpiphanyDía de los Reyes Magos | |
| March 25, 2024Moving holiday | Saint Joseph’s DayDía de San José | |
| March 28, 2024Moving holiday | Maundy ThursdayJueves Santo | |
| March 29, 2024Moving holiday | Good FridayViernes Santo | |
| May 1, 2024Moving holiday | Labour DayPrimero de Mayo | |
| May 13, 2024Moving holiday | Ascension DayAscensión del señor | |
| June 3, 2024Moving holiday | Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi | |
| June 10, 2024Moving holiday | Sacred HeartSagrado Corazón | |
| July 1, 2024Moving holiday | Saint Peter and Saint PaulSan Pedro y San Pablo | |
| July 20, 2024Moving holiday | Declaration of IndependenceDeclaracion de la Independencia de Colombia | |
| August 7, 2024Moving holiday | Battle of BoyacáBatalla de Boyacá | |
| August 19, 2024Moving holiday | Assumption of MaryLa Asunción | |
| October 14, 2024Moving holiday | Columbus DayDía de la Raza | |
| November 4, 2024Moving holiday | All Saints’ DayDia de los Santos | |
| November 11, 2024Moving holiday | Independence of CartagenaIndependencia de Cartagena | |
| December 8, 2024Moving holiday | Immaculate ConceptionLa Inmaculada Concepción | |
| December 25, 2024Moving holiday | Christmas DayNavidad |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Colombia?
There are Mariott hotels in 5 cities.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in Colombia.
The IHG hotel chain operates in Colombia.
The Best Western hotel chain operates in Colombia.
There are Radisson hotels in 4 cities.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Colombia.
What fast food chains are present in Colombia?
The McDonald’s chain operates in Colombia.
The KFC chain operates in Colombia.
The Burger King chain operates in Colombia.
The Subway chain operates in Colombia.
The Domino’s Pizza chain operates in Colombia.
The Starbucks chain operates in Colombia.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Bogotá?
Weather data for Bogotá (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are no passenger trains available.
Subway Systems The subway system is available in Medellín.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Colombia
Sources
- Colombia Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Colombia (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Smoking is forbidden in all public indoor locations, with limited exceptions.
Cananbis legality Recreational usage: Decriminalized up to 22g
Medical usage: Legal
Sources
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)