If it’s your first time traveling to Colombia and you’re looking for tips and tidbits to prepare for your visit, you’ve come to the right place. Our family of 5 lives in Medellín Colombia, and we regularly welcome family and friends from the United States. And being thoughtful travelers, our visitors usually ask, “what should I know before I come?” Accordingly, we’ve compiled a quick cheat sheet to answer that question. Some of these top tips for visiting Medellin apply more broadly across Colombia, while others (like the weather) will be more specific to Medellín.
Read on to learn our top tips for visiting Medellin.
Top Tips for Visiting Medellin
- Pack for spring weather.
- It’s about 75-80 degrees every day all year in Medellín, and drops down in the 60s at night. Because of this, there is neither heat nor AC in most homes. With the altitude, it can feel pretty hot mid-day with the sun, but it’s otherwise very pleasant. We leave our balcony doors open pretty much all day and night.
- It’s cooler and more breezy in the hills of Medellín, and warmer the closer you get to the river. In general, Laureles is the hottest and least shaded part of the city. During rainy season it’s cooler, and (of course) rainy, but it tends to rain for a short time.
- Understand unwritten clothing ‘rules’.
- I say ‘rules’ because these aren’t hard and fast. But a few general things to know, if you’d like to blend in a bit more. For one, shorts are pretty rare in Medellín. Not inappropriate, but you definitely stick out. They’re becoming more common, but still are mostly only worn by tourists. I usually wear a skirt, dress, or lightweight jogger-style pants. Shorts are definitely fine on the coast, where it’s VERY hot.
- Sandals and flip-flops are also pretty rare (except at the pool). Most people wear sneakers or walking shoes, even with dresses! Here again, totally fine on the coast!
- The vast majority of pools in Medellín require you to wear a swim cap when you swim. Pools are super common here, because you can swim year round! You can also buy swim caps in stores like Decathlon. We did not have to wear swim caps in coastal cities like Cartagena and Santa Marta.
- Most people keep their shoes on at home- most apartments have tile floors, and it’s not as culturally common (as in many cities in the US) to take of your shoes either in your own home or in others’ homes. But you can always err on the side of asking!
- Prepare for elevation.
- Medellín is at about 5,000 feet (1,500m) elevation, and the mountains surrounding the city go up to 8,000-10,000 feet (3,000m) . This can be a big adjustment if you’re coming from someone much closer to see level! Accordingly, it’s important to drink way more water than you think you need (think at least 2-3 liters per day). Consider using hydration tablets or powder/electrolyte drinks.
- I will note, the impact of the altitude is highly variable from person to person. Spence had no trouble adjusting, and didn’t need to be super intentional about salts/electrolytes. I seem to lose a lot more salt and had issues with light-headedness and fatigue early on. But, this totally goes away if I consistently drink 3L a day and use a scoop of electrolyte powder in one of those liters.
- Fill out your immigration form.
- When you enter and leave the country, you are supposed to fill out the CheckMig immigration form. One form per person traveling (including children). In talking with other expats, it seems that airlines are less consistently asking for it (as of Feb 2024), but it more frequently/consistently is requested for entry to the country. And at least Copa Air tends to ask for it coming into Colombia.
- The form used to be super glitchy, but it seems to be better more recently (phew!). It’s easiest if you can do it on a laptop and use the Spanish version of the site. If it’s your first time, be sure to allot an hour, and have some patience! Don’t worry, it’s not you, its’ the form. Take a screenshot on your phone/laptop of the completed form, in case they don’t actually email you the PDF.
- When you return to the US, you are required to fill out a Contact Tracing form. Again, one per traveler. Your airline should send you a link in your check-in email, but here is an example for Copa. I also hear inconsistent reports about whether airlines ask for proof of this.
- Have cash on hand.
- Cash is used more frequently in Colombia than the US, though many places accept credit cards. You can get cash out at the airport upon arrival, especially if you plan to take a taxi into the city, as taxis do not accept cards. Always decline the conversion rate the ATM offers.
- A quick, though not exact, conversion rate is 4.000 Colombian pesos to 1 USD, so you can have some shorthands in mind- 40.000 pesos is $10, 100.000 pesos is $25, 400.000 pesos is $100, etc.
- As with most cash-based societies, it’s best to break your bigger bills (50s and 100s) in larger stores, if you can. A taxi driver won’t be thrilled if you give them a 50.000 bill for a 7.000 peso ride. Try to use exact change when possible.
- We have found that credit cards are less commonly accepted in small towns and coastal cities than in Medellín.
- Understand tipping norms.
- In restaurants when you ask for the bill, the server should ask you if you’d like to include the 10% tip (servicio). Most people say yes, but it’s not required. That is the tip. You don’t need to add anything else.
- In other contexts, tipping is pretty variable/really at your discretion. But generally in situations where you would tip in the US (e.g., massages, spas, hair cuts, facials), you can err on the side of giving a 5-10% tip for good service. With taxis you can round up to the next whole number or add in 1 mil. For instance, if your taxi ride is 9.200, give the taxi driver 10.000 and don’t ask for change. This is nice, but not necessary.
- As a quick note, when you ask for your bill in a restaurant (‘la cuenta por favor’), or are paying in a store, they will ask you if you’d like to pay in cash or card (‘en efectivo o con tarjeta?’). If you’d like to pay with card say ‘con tarjeta.’ When you are paying, they’ll then ask what type of account (‘ahorros o crédito?’). If you’re using a US credit card, your answer is crédito. And then they’ll ask ‘cuantas cuotas,’ (how many installments). Your answer for that is most likely una (1). And finally, they’ll ask if you’d like a copy of the receipt (copia?), When my Spanish wasn’t as good, this lengthy series of questions for even a simple transaction felt overwhelming. So this is my way to prepare you!
- Use ride sharing apps and taxis.
- Uber is commonly used here, but ride sharing apps are technically illegal. As such, drivers keep a low profile (e.g., no UBER stickers on windshields, tinted windows). We use Uber a lot because you can pay with your credit card card, and of course it’s an app that many people from the US already have.
- Didi is another ride-sharing app people use and of late seems to be faster/more reliable. You can also set and adjust the price you want to pay for the ride (unlike Uber). However, be aware you usually need to use cash for payment. inDrive is another app people frequently use, but I have not personally used it.
- Taxis are ubiquitous, metered, and relatively cheap to get around the city ($3-5USD per ride). Taxis from the airport are a fixed rate into the city (110.000 pesos to where we live, there is a sign at the airport exit with current rates listed). There are white taxis available outside the airport doors, the rest in the city are yellow.
- Because ride-sharing apps aren’t legal, most drivers prefer (and will explicitly ask) that you sit in the front seat. That way, if a police officer stops the car for some reason (this has never happened to me in hundreds of rides), it will not be as obvious as if you’re sitting in the back seat with an empty passenger seat. Fines can be steep – I’ve heard 400-500.000 pesos – so if you’re comfortable, sit in the front. With taxis you can sit in the back.
- Adjust your car-door-shutting.
- This is 100% one of those cultural differences you would almost certainly not notice without being told. But here’s the deal- Americans tend to slam car doors. Colombians, in contrast, gently close them. Maybe this is because the cars in the US tend to be huge and heavy, and cars here are in general smaller and more… shall we say… fragile. But it’s a thing.
- So. When you get in/out of a car, don’t swing/throw it shut from all the way open. Try to guide the door closed most of the way, then give a little firm push at the end when it’s a few inches open. Your Uber and taxi drivers will appreciate it!
- Take common-sense safety precautions.
- Medellín can get a bad rap in the news, and it unquestionably has a sordid and violent history. But the reality is that for most people visiting or living here, the crime is basically the same you’d expect in any big city. Petty crime and pickpocketing certainly happen, especially in more touristy areas, and at crowded events (e.g., concerts, sports events). And of course there are neighborhoods you shouldn’t go to. That was the case when I lived in the DC area, Philly, and NYC, too! But in general, if you’re thinking in terms of the typical ‘street smarts’ for being in a big city, you’ll be fine.
- There’s an expression here “no dar papaya” which basically means “don’t give people a (visible) reason to rob you.” I don’t wear fancy jewelry or carry expensive purses. I changed out my diamond engagement ring before we moved and only wear a simple wedding band. Keeping a low profile goes a long way! That being said, most everyone is on their phones on the metro and bus, which indicates to me that the average Colombian isn’t walking around scared that their phone is going to be stolen!
- One noteworthy exception. If you’re a single person visiting the city and going out late to enjoy bars and dancing – especially if you’re a man looking to meet women – exercise EXTREME caution. And quite honestly, avoid dating apps. This could be an entire post on its own, but unfortunately one recent trend is highly organized criminal activity where men are going on ‘dates’ via Tinder and other apps… but they are then lured, drugged, robbed, and (unfortunately) even killed. It’s a serious enough trend right now (a quick google will give you lots of perspectives on this) that I want to mention it even though I can’t do justice to it in one bullet.
- But in general, if you’re seeing global news headlines about tourists being murdered and that makes you nervous about visiting- be very aware that nearly 100% of these involve drugs, sex, alcohol, late nights, nightclubs etc. If you plan to partake of those things, understand the risks involved and take the necessary precautions. If you aren’t, rest assured you are more than likely totally fine.
- Bring your electronics as is.
- Good news! The plugs are the same in Colombia as in the US. The same shape AND voltage, so you can use anything you’d use in the US. So, yes, even bring your hair dryer. Super convenient, and super easy! No adapters needed.
- If you plan to travel to other countries on your trip, be sure to check their plugs and voltage.
- Consider some self-care.
- Self-care is *very* affordable here, especially compared to the US. It’s definitely a place to consider doing things like massages (~$40-50/hr), manicures (~$10 for a gel manicure, less for standard), pedicures ($5 for standard), and/or facials (~$50-60). If you’ll be here longer term, you might also consider things like laser hair removal, which costs about $50 per session at the high end places, but tends to need multiple sessions over 6-12 months to do in full. Those are just a few of the options!
- Medical tourism is also huge here. If you have procedures you’ve put off due to cost in the US (e.g., LASIK), and have sufficient time/planning, look into it!
- Put toilet paper in the trash can.
- This is such a small thing, but it was honestly a huge adjustment for me. How do you change decades of a motion that is on autopilot? The reality is, the plumbing systems can’t handle large volumes of toilet paper. So pretty much everywhere, put your toilet paper into the trash cans that are universally located next to toilets.
- This is such a small thing, but it was honestly a huge adjustment for me. How do you change decades of a motion that is on autopilot? The reality is, the plumbing systems can’t handle large volumes of toilet paper. So pretty much everywhere, put your toilet paper into the trash cans that are universally located next to toilets.
- Drink the water.
- To close out, I’ll share some more good news. The tap water is totally fine to drink in Medellín. Many people use filters on their taps or fridges to purify it a bit more, but it’s generally quite fine to drink. You can certainly drink bottled water if you feel more comfortable, or tend to have a sensitive stomach. But locals and expats alike drink the water without issue. It’s a source of great pride for the city.
- This is another tip that is relatively unique to Medellín, as it’s pretty much the only place I’d 100% say it applies. I hear mixed things about Bogotá’s drinking water, but certainly most other places you will want to drink bottled water. For instance, you definitely should use bottled water in the coastal towns and cities. Take a quick look at grocery stores to see if they sell large bottles of water for cheap. That will help you gauge what locals do. If even locals are drinking bottled, go with that!
Those are our top tips for visiting Medellin.
I hope that helps first time visitors get the basic idea for some of the most important day-to-day needs!
If you’re about to visit, what questions do you still have?
If you live here, what else would you add to share with family and friends?
Share in the comments!
