Colombia
Republic of Colombia
South America · COL
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Colombia
Colombia suits travelers who want a high-contrast South America trip with colonial cities, mountain landscapes, and enough cultural range to justify moving beyond a single stop. It is strongest when you build around one or two regions such as Bogotá and the coffee zone or Cartagena and inland heritage sites, rather than trying to stretch a first trip across the whole country.
Popular For
Things To See
- Bogotá
- Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia
- Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena
- San Agustín Archaeological Park
- Historic Centre of Santa Cruz de Mompox
- Chiribiquete National Park – “The Maloca of the Jaguar”
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- January and July through September are the easiest broad months in the current brief.
- The current brief carries a US Level 3 advisory, so route choice and region-by-region planning matter more here than in easier first-trip destinations.
- Bogotá, Cartagena, the coffee region, and inland archaeological sites already give enough contrast for a focused itinerary without turning the trip into a full-country sweep.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Colombia.
Guidebooks
Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Colombia.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Bogotá
- Population
- 53,057,212
- Area
- 1,141,748 km²
- Region
- South America
Languages
- Spanish
Currency
Colombian peso ($)
COP
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
35.4
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 32.8
- Restaurants
- 27.0
- Rent
- 10.9
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Bogotá (4.71°N, 74.07°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
77/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 100/100
- Lived safety
- 33/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban✅
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.788
High human development
- 5-year change
- +0.013
- 10-year change
- +0.028
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.992
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.393
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.740
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (9)
- 🌍
Chiribiquete National Park – “The Maloca of the Jaguar”
Inscribed 2018
- 🏛️
Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System
Inscribed 2014
- 🏛️
Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia
Inscribed 2011
- 🌿
Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
Inscribed 2006
- 🏛️
National Archeological Park of Tierradentro
Inscribed 1995
- 🏛️
San Agustín Archaeological Park
Inscribed 1995
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Santa Cruz de Mompox
Inscribed 1995
- 🌿
Los Katíos National Park
Inscribed 1994
- 🏛️
Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena
Inscribed 1984
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 17.0%
- Forest cover
- 52.8%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 63
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 102
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
51/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
85/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Updated information on civil unrest and kidnapping. Reconsider travel to Colombia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have an increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do Not Travel to: Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), and Norte de Santander departments due to crime and terrorism. The Colombia-Venezuela border region due to crime, kidnapping, conflict between armed groups, and the risk of detention. Country Summary: Violent crime, like murder, assault, and robbery, is common in many areas in Colombia. In some places, organized crime is rampant. This includes extortion, robbery, and kidnapping. There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity, in Colombia. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Terrorists and criminal organizations in Colombia may attack with little or no warning and target: U.S. government facilities Local government facilities Tourist areas and attractions Transportation centers Shopping malls and markets Military and police facilities Hotels Clubs Restaurants Airports Political demonstrations are common throughout Colombia and can: Shut down roads and highways without notice or estimated reopening timelines. Lead to road closures that reduce access to public transportation. Interrupt travel within and between cities. Become violent and result in deaths and injuries. Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Colombia are prohibited from: Going to Colombia’s land borders with neighboring countries without special authorization. Using motorcycles. Using street taxis or any public transportation that is not prearranged. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Colombia. If you decide to travel to Colombia: Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Check local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Keep a low profile. Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry. Stay aware of your surroundings. Travel only during daylight hours. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Colombia. Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States. We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage. Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), and Norte de Santander departments – Level 4: Do Not Travel Do not travel to these areas for any reason. Violent crime, like armed robbery and murder, is common in these locations. Terrorist groups are active in some areas here. Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Colombia are prohibited from traveling to these areas. The Colombia-Venezuela border region – Level 4: Do Not Travel Do not travel to this area for any reason. Crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict are common here. Do not cross the border into Venezuela from Colombia. You may be detained by Venezuelan authorities. Due to the risks, the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens here. Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Colombia are prohibited from traveling to this region. The Colombia-Venezuela border is not clearly marked. Avoid the area due to the risk of accidentally crossing into Venezuela. Venezuela's Travel Advisory is Level 4: Do Not Travel. U.S. citizens trying to enter Venezuela without a visa have faced terrorism charges. They have been held for long periods. For more information, read the Venezuela Travel Advisory.
Read full advisory →Data current as of August 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data