Why visit
Colombia covers Bogotá's altitude and art, Medellín's transformation, Cartagena's walled city and Caribbean, the Coffee Triangle, and Tayrona's jungle-beaches.
Country · South America
Colombia
beachculturefoodcitynature
At a glance
Location
4.0°, -72.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
1,141,748 km²
440,831 mi²
Country population
52.1 million
46/km²
Subregion
South America
Currency
Colombian peso ($)
COP
Dial
+57
Language
Spanish
Demonym
Colombian
Internet
.co
UN
Member state
ISO code
CO / COL
Where in the world
4.0° · -72.0°
Colombia
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Did you know
- Colombia is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Pacific and Caribbean.
- It produces over 1 billion red roses annually: most of the US supply comes from here.
- Colombia has more bird species than any other country (1,900+).
- Gabriel García Márquez (Nobel Prize winner) set much of his fiction in a fictional Caribbean version of his native Colombia.
Bordering Colombia
Traveler notes
- Visa-free for most Western passports for 90 days
- Medellín is Latin America's most surprising urban turnaround
- Cartagena is unmissable. Consider it the anchor
Plan checks
- Start research with the capital Bogotá, then compare two or three other regions.
- Check passport validity, visa rules, health requirements, and travel insurance for current conditions.
- Verify swim safety, ocean conditions, and water-quality reports by month.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
Signature travel cities in Colombia
Cartagena
Cartagena is a UNESCO Spanish colonial walled city on the Caribbean. Ciudad Amurallada's plazas, Getsemaní's street art, Rosario Islands day-trips, and Colombian-Caribbean food.
Medellin
Medellín is Colombia's comeback story. Metrocable to Comuna 13's street art, Parque Explora, Botero Plaza, and year-round spring climate earned it the nickname City of Eternal Spring.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Colombia
What is the capital of Colombia?
Bogotá is the capital of Colombia.
What currency does Colombia use?
Colombia uses the Colombian peso ($), ISO code COP.
What languages are spoken in Colombia?
The primary language is Spanish.
Is Colombia landlocked?
No, Colombia has a coastline.
What countries border Colombia?
Colombia borders Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Venezuela.
What is the international calling code for Colombia?
The calling code is +57.
When is the best time to visit Colombia?
Dec–Mar. Check current weather and local events before booking.
Other South America destinations
Chile
Chile stretches 4,300 km. From Atacama's driest desert to Patagonia's Torres del Paine, Easter Island's moai, and Valparaíso's hillside murals. Wine country wraps around Santiago.
Ecuador
Ecuador is Quito's old town at altitude, Otavalo markets, the Galápagos Islands, Amazon basin lodges, and Cuenca's colonial streets. All compact enough for one trip.
Guyana
Guyana is a destination in South America where the landscape is the point. National parks, coastlines, forests, or mountain travel anchor most itineraries.
Paraguay
Paraguay is a destination in South America where the landscape is the point. National parks, coastlines, forests, or mountain travel anchor most itineraries.
Peru
Peru is Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, Cusco's Inca + colonial layers, Amazon jungle at Puerto Maldonado, Lima's Michelin-listed food, and the Nazca Lines.
Suriname
Suriname is a destination in South America where the landscape is the point. National parks, coastlines, forests, or mountain travel anchor most itineraries.