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
- 34/100
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
52/100
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
Reconsider travelto Colombia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and natural disasters. Some areas have an increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Violent crime is common in many areas of Colombia, including murder, assault, and robbery. Other crimes, such as drugging, extortion, kidnapping, and armed break-ins—including at hotels and other places tourists stay—also occur frequently in some regions. Street crime occurs throughout Colombia and can quickly become violent. If you are targeted by criminals, do not resist. Police procedures and investigations in Colombia differ from those in the United States, and crimes against tourists are not always prosecuted. This can be a source of frustration for victims. Terrorism 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 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 Police, military personnel, and their facilities are often targeted, including in large cities. In the past, attacks have included car bombs, grenades, explosive devices placed in buildings or on main roads, and the use of drones. Illegal armed groups, including narcotrafficking groups and terrorist organizations, have increased in number and expanded into more regions of Colombia. In remote areas where these groups are fighting with the government, they use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and landmines against rivals and government forces. These explosives may be hidden in vehicles, attached to drones, or buried in the ground. Truck bombs have also been used to attack police and military installations. Civilians could be unintentionally harmed by IED attacks aimed at rival groups and government targets. Demonstrations 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. Hailing taxis from the street or using any form of public transportation. Natural Disasters Colombia has many volcanoes that can become active, and earthquakes are common throughout the country. After seismic events, tsunami warnings may be issued for coastal areas. For current alerts and more information, consult the Servicio Geologico Colombiano. Landslides are also a risk due to Colombia’s mountainous terrain and informal settlements in mountain cities such as Bogota and Medellin. Do Not Travel to: Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali) and Norte de Santander departments due to crime and terrorism. Within 10km/5mi of the Colombia-Venezuela border region due to crime, kidnapping, conflict between armed groups, and the risk of detention.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 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