VISA AND OTHER PROCEDURES
The Portuguese traveler, like the Brazilian, only need a passport valid for another 6 months. Upon arrival, you will have your passport stamped and a visit authorization for a period of 90 days.
HEALTH AND SAFETY CARE
Yellow fever vaccination is only required if you come from a country with a risk of contagion, although it is advisable to visit jungle areas in Colombia. The risk of malaria transmission persists in several regions, mainly in Amazonia, Orinoquia, Pacifico and Uraba-Bajo Cauca.
For more information on traveling health, see the Health Portal of the Ministry of Health and Tropical and Traveler Medicine Clinic. In FitForTravel find country-specific health and disease prevention advice (in English).
With regard to security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs keeps the following information online:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Republic of Colombia
TRIP TO COLOMBIA
A TAP (tel: 707 205 700) recently inaugurated the Lisbon – Bogota route with flights starting at €800. Book in advance or during promotional periods if you want to obtain prices of this type.
INTERNAL FLIGHTS
Colombia enjoys a dense and well-developed internal flight network based on the operation of different airlines: Avianca; Satena; easyfly; Live Colombia
TRUCK
Like domestic flights, the bus network is extensive and functional. There are three distinct classes of buses in Colombia, the normal ones, the 1st class and those with air conditioning. It goes without saying that if comfort is one of your priorities, you should avoid the most basic ones. Be aware, however, that, similar to what is happening all over South America, the drivers of buses with air conditioning have the habit of turning it on at the maximum, which cools the cabins too much. On these trips, carry clothes for the cold.
There are still the collectives, a kind of mix between buses and jeeps that leave when full of passengers and cover intermediate routes.
As a rule, bus travel in Colombia is cheap, in the order of €2 to €3 per hour of travel, plus 20% for autopullmans and 40% for airconditioned cars.
CAR RENTAL
Few visitors choose to explore mountainous, largely wild and still significantly unsafe Colombia by car. Even so, you can rent a car on the internet, airport counters or main city counters – Bogota, Cali, Cartagena – and use it to explore nearby points of interest.
We do not advise you to travel by car between the cities indicated. To get an idea, the journey of less than 700km between Bogotá and Cartagena de Indias can easily take 20 hours.
Although Colombia has different weather patterns: Caribbean coast, Pacific coast, Amazon jungle, Andean mountains and others, in general, the best times to visit the country are December to March and July to August, periods that coincide with the seasons droughts in almost the entire territory. The holidays for Colombians run from the end of December to mid-January. At this time of year, roads, transport and accommodation are usually full.
Colombia's currency is the Colombian Peso (COP). The country has a vast ATM network and credit card payments have become popular. Get ready for a minimum of €30 to €35 per day – if you travel in a truly spare backpacker mode and €70 to €100 if you stay in 3 to 4 star hotels with meals non-current during the day. Substantially more if you opt for resort stays.
ACCOMMODATION
There is a little of everything in Colombia, with an almost inexhaustible offer, from the cheapest hostels that charge €4 to €10 for a basic double room, to the most sophisticated government or private hotels and resorts where a night can cost €300 or 400€.
FOOD
consume food corrients (ready-to-eat dishes in simpler restaurants) is the least expensive way to eat in Colombia, but without the gastronomic richness that the country has to offer, since, between €1 and €3, the dishes served do not usually vary. out there beyond. Other types of traditional/regional meals in normal restaurants cost approximately €4 to €6, drink included. These prices have little to do with those of fine restaurants in Bogota, Cali or Cartagena – especially those at the surrounding resorts – where a full meal can cost €80 or €90.
INTERNET
Only the cheapest residential may not have Wi-Fi included in the room price. Moreover, it will have it included in hotel and resort rates. Otherwise, it won't be difficult to find internet cafes in big cities and even smaller towns. Access will cost between €0,80 and €2 per hour.