Colombia Tours & Holidays

Health and Vaccinations 

There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Colombia though you should be up to date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. For some regions you require a Yellow Fever Certificate. There are mosquito borne diseases presently in Colombia such as Malaria and Zika is present in some parts of Colombia so we recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and/or preventative treatments.  

Officially visitors to the Tayrona National park only need to show a Yellow Fever certificate if they have visited Brazil or certain West African countries in the previous 6 months. However, on occasions overzealous park wardens can request this documentation from all visitors. As a precaution we suggest that guests are up to date with their YF vaccination and must present their certificate if requested. Although unlikely to happen, there is a small risk that failure to have your certificate may hold up the entrance process to the National park or entry could be denied.  

Currency

In Colombia the official unit of currency is the Colombian Peso (COP).  

To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com. 

Cultural Sensitivity 

On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.  

In the churches and cathedrals women should cover their heads with a scarf or hat, while men should take their hats off.   

Language & Religion 

Colombia’s official language is Spanish although those dialects and languages spoken by other ethnic groups are also considered official in their territories. The dominant faith in the country is Catholicism and although the country has a very colourful history they are often very devout in their beliefs.  

Time 

Colombia is 5 hours behind GMT.  

A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.  

Food and drink 

Food and drink play a big part in Colombian culture – please do not expect to lose any weight on this trip! But do just be prepared as breakfast can be a bit repetitive usually eggs, bread and coffee. The diet is also quite meat orientated, so vegetarians may struggle. In Colombia, hot chocolate is still a staple in almost every Colombian home, accompanied by Colombian pastries, bread, cheese and even eggs.