Colombia uses the Colombian peso, COP, and prices use dots for thousands, so COP 10.000 means ten thousand pesos. ATMs are easy to find and usually beat exchanging USD cash. Withdraw in pesos and decline the machine’s conversion offer, otherwise the rate gets ugly. Davivienda is often a good first try, and some travelers have found it fee-free, but cards can behave inconsistently, so be ready to test another bank. A 4-digit PIN works more reliably than longer ones. Cards are widely accepted in major cities, though small shops, markets, buses, and rural spots still want cash. In restaurants, a 10% service charge is commonly offered or included.

Colombia splits by altitude and region more than by classic seasons. In the Andes, Bogotá stays cool most of the year, often around 10°C to 20°C, while Medellín sits in a mild spring zone around 17°C to 28°C. The Caribbean coast, Cartagena and Santa Marta, is hot and humid year-round, commonly 27°C to 32°C. The Pacific is very wet, basically all year. Broad dry windows are December to March and July to August. Rainier periods are usually April to May and October to November, often with short afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain.

The biggest real risk is urban robbery and drugging tied to nightlife, dating apps, sex work, and getting too drunk, especially in Medellín. Skip Tinder meetups with strangers, watch drinks closely, and do not buy drugs. Petty theft and muggings also happen in Bogotá, Cartagena, and on public streets, even in daylight. Keep phones, watches, and cash out of sight, and check maps inside a shop instead of on the sidewalk. After dark, use Uber, Cabify, Taxis Libres, or a taxi called by your hostel. Parque Lleras deserves extra caution, and border regions are a different game entirely.

Buses are the budget backbone. Main operators include Expreso Bolivariano, Copetran, Expreso Brasilia, Coomotor, and Rápido Ochoa, with tickets on redBus or at terminals. Price anchors, Medellín to Guatapé around COP 19,000, Bogotá to Medellín around COP 100,000. Expect mountain-road delays, landslides, and travel times that look fake on paper. In cities, Medellín’s Metro and cable cars are excellent, while Bogotá runs on TransMilenio at COP 3,550 per ride, with a Tullave card costing COP 8,000. For late-night rides or luggage days, use Uber, Cabify, or Taxis Libres instead of random street taxis.

Water is safest from the tap in Bogotá, but outside Bogotá bottled or filtered water is the safer default. Main health annoyances are stomach issues, dehydration on the coast, altitude in Bogotá and other highland areas, and mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue, with malaria and yellow fever relevant in some regions. Pack repellent and take heat seriously in Cartagena. Private clinics in big cities are usually the best bet if something goes wrong, while care gets thinner in smaller places. Good insurance matters, especially for evacuation from remote areas.

Physical prepaid SIMs are easy in Colombia, almost absurdly easy. Claro, Movistar, and Tigo are the main players, and buying one is usually simple at carrier shops, kiosks, and malls. Local prepaid plans are cheaper than travel eSIMs and include a Colombian number. A solid known option is Movistar prepago at COP 18,500 for 30 days, with unlimited calls and texts plus 27 GB. Coverage is good in Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, and main routes, but beach towns and rural spots get patchy fast. Palomino and Minca are flaky enough to ruin a workday. Keep some data as backup even if your hostel promises strong Wi-Fi.

Spanish runs the show. English exists in some hostels, tourist offices, and parts of Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, and the Coffee Zone, but it drops fast in markets, small restaurants, buses, and day-to-day errands. A little Spanish helps a lot, both for smoother travel and for avoiding the confused-foreigner look. Colombians usually respond well if you try. On the Caribbean coast, the accent can feel very fast for learners.

Colombia rewards a low-key style. Dress neatly enough, keep valuables hidden, ask prices upfront when they are not posted, and do not speak loudly in English in public. People are often warm, direct, and more formal in everyday greetings than many backpackers expect, so a simple hello goes a long way. Tipping is light, not some giant performance, and in many sit-down restaurants the standard question is whether to include the 10% servicio. Haggling is normal in markets and souvenir stalls, less so anywhere with fixed prices. First-timers are often surprised by how quickly looking flashy can change the vibe around them.

Food is better when the plan is local lunches, bakeries, market snacks, and regional stuff instead of chasing imported brunch. A casual local meal is often around the equivalent of a cheap set lunch, and street or simple lunch spots are where the budget behaves best. Look for almuerzo corriente, arepas, empanadas, bandeja paisa in Antioquia, ajiaco in Bogotá, and Caribbean fried fish with coconut rice on the coast. In many restaurants, they ask if you want the 10% servicio added. Cartagena and trendy Medellín neighborhoods can charge tourist prices fast, so ask before ordering if the menu or portion seems vague.