COLOMBIA
Travel to South America, Colombia with a special and free-spirited plan that's uniquely mine

Various concerns about traveling to Colombia.

Climate and best season

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

Average temperature and precipitation in Colombia (Bogotá)

Source: Weather Base (http://www.weatherbase.com/)

Cash, cards and currency exchange

・For currency exchange, obtain US dollars in Japan beforehand and exchange them for Colombian pesos locally. There are overwhelmingly more places to exchange US dollars than Japanese yen, and the rates are better.
・In Colombia, credit cards can be used in most places. Using a credit card is more cost-effective than exchanging for local currency due to lower fees. Actively use credit cards where possible, and it's recommended to use both cards and cash during your stay.

Tips

・Whether or not a tip is needed varies depending on the place and situation.
・Hotels: In five-star hotels, a tip of about US$1 is needed for bed-making, and tips are also required for room service and porters.
・Restaurants: Tips are often already included in the bill, so check before deciding if a tip is necessary.
・Taxis: Tips are generally not required. However, if you receive special services, such as having your luggage carried at the airport, it is good to give a tip.

Public Safety

・Colombia's security cannot be said to be good. In addition to petty crimes like pickpocketing and bag snatching, serious crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and drug trafficking are also frequent, so you need to be very cautious when traveling.
・Particularly dangerous areas include Medellín, Cali, and Bogotá. Crimes occur regardless of day or night, but especially at night, so avoid going out at night.

Clothing

・Regardless of the rainy or dry season, you can wear long sleeves during the day. At night, you will need a sweater or jacket, so be prepared.
・During the rainy season, it is recommended to carry rain gear such as a folding umbrella or raincoat.

Things you should bring with you

Stomach medicine, cold medicine, mobile battery, insect repellent items, sun protection items, etc.

Visa availability and arrangements

・For stays of up to 90 days for tourism purposes, a visa is not required. However, your passport must be valid for at least 3 months upon entering Colombia, and you should check in advance that there are at least 2 unused pages.

Required vaccinations

・There are no mandatory requirements for travel. However, the following vaccinations are recommended.

・Adults: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, tetanus, and typhoid. Be aware that the antibody levels for vaccines such as measles, rubella, whooping cough, diphtheria, and Hepatitis A and B decrease 10 years after the last vaccination.
・Children: It is recommended to receive all age-appropriate routine and optional vaccinations available in Japan.