Tour info

Transport

4 domestic flights;  2 scenic private road journeys (5 hours + 8 hours), 2 public boat transfer on the Amazon River (90 mins)

Accommodation

You will stay at small, mid-range, friendly hotels, colonial or modern in style with well-equipped rooms, private bathroom and heating or air-conditioning. In the Amazon you stay at a beautifully crafted rustic jungle lodge.

Meals

Breakfast daily; full board days 10 & 11.

Guides

We carefully select our local partners, most of whom we have worked with for many years. Their English-speaking guides understand the expectations of our clients very well, and are consistently singled out for praise by clients on their return. Owing to the underdeveloped tourist infrastructure in these emerging destinations, you may have a translator as well as a local guide. In the Amazon you have the attention of an English speaking guide to accompany you on your adventures who will also translate for local indigenous guides.

Summary Of Nights

12 days, 11 nights: Villa Vieja 1; San Agustin 3; Popayan 2; Bogotá 2; Amazon 3.

Currency

The unit of currency in Colombia is the Colombian peso.

How To Take It

Cash machines are available in all major cities and towns of Colombia, and so taking a debit or credit card with a PIN number is the most convenient way of withdrawing money while on your trip, and in most shops and restaurants you can also pay by card. However, since cards can get lost, damaged, withheld or blocked, you should not rely exclusively on a card to access funds.

We recommend that additionally you take a reasonable quantity of US dollars cash which you can exchange into local currency. Dollar bills should be in good condition, soiled or torn bills may be refused. You can take sterling, but the exchange rate is not always competitive or even available, restricting the number of places where you can change money. Never change money on the street.

Daily Spend

It is very difficult to give a guideline for essential expenses but a budget of around US$45 per day should cover the cost of meals not included in the holiday itinerary, drinks and the odd souvenir. Eat at the best restaurants and you will pay considerably more.

Tipping

Tips are welcomed and local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income. For a guide who is with you the whole day, a tip of about $US 25 pp each (if there are two of you) is appropriate. Your driver would normally expect half that amount. If you have the same driver for several days, maybe $US50pp for the period would be appropriate.

Most service industry workers will expect a tip of some kind and so it is useful to have spare change for hotel porters, taxi drivers and the like. It is common to leave 10 – 12% in restaurants.

Insurance

Travel insurance is essential.

Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.

Airport Taxes

If you have purchased your flights through Journey Latin America, the international departure tax is usually included in the ticket.

Trip Suitability

Generally this holiday is suitable for most visitors, including families with children. Walking around the archaeological site at San Agustin does involve some steep hills on rural paths which can become slippery after rain. so you should be fit enough for a 4 hour exploration. Should you have a disability, please contact us. Wheelchair ramps are gradually being inserted at San Agustin.

Climate

The dry season in highland Colombia is from December until March and then June to September. Bogotá has a spring-like climate and can be chilly at night.and the San Agustin area can be hot during the day, up to 28°C; it can rain at any time of year. In the Amazon, the wettest period is October – June, also the period of highest cloud cover, but it can rain at any time. The sunniest but also the hottest weather is in June-September. Temperatures throughout the year seldom fall below 30°C, with occasional lows of 20°C

Altitude

The only day when you are at an altitude of over 2.500m is when you are in Bogota. You may notice the effect of high altitude; symptoms vary: most common are mild headaches and breathlessness. If you drink plenty of water and allow your body to acclimatise  – don’t over exert yourself – you will minimise your chances of being adversely affected.

Clothing And Special Equipment

Temperatures will be relatively high throughout this holiday. Bring plenty of light clothing and good, comfortable walking shoes. A couple of warm items and a good waterproof jacket or umbrella are also useful. We suggest that you plan to ‘layer’ your clothing; it is easier and more efficient to put on a couple of light layers than one thick jumper. Sandals are a good informal option for evenings. Protection against the sun (sunblock, sun hat) and mosquito repellant are essential and you should bring swimwear.

Please get in touch with the office before departure if you have any doubts.

Vaccinations

Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following: typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. You should consult your GP for specific requirements, including advice on yellow fever and malaria tablets.

You can also find helpful information on the Masta Travel Health website.

Visas

Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.

If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.

Country info

When is the best time to visit Colombia?

The country is an all-year destination. The highlands have a permanent spring-like climate. The Caribbean coast is mostly dry and hot with plenty of sun, at its driest Dec-Mar. The Amazon jungle is hot and humid all year. Beach resorts can be very crowded at weekends, national holidays and Dec-Feb.

For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.

What is the official language in Colombia?

The official language in Colombia is Spanish.

What is the official currency in Colombia?

The official currency of Colombia is the Peso. Notes can be withdrawn from ATMs in larger towns and cities using a UK credit or debit card, though you may have to advise your bank first and amounts that can be withdrawn may be lower than in the UK. Banks will offer advances on a credit card. Money exchanges (casas de cambio) change US dollars cash (very few accept euros or sterling and the rate will be poor).

What is the time difference between Colombia and UK?

The time difference between the UK and Colombia is GMT -5 hours.

Do I need a visa for Colombia?

Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.

What vaccinations do I need for Colombia?

Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.

What places combine well with Colombia?

A trip to Colombia combines brilliantly with many destinations in Central and South America, due to great flight connections from Bogota. Some of the most popular combinations include Peru, Ecuador and Panama.

What are the festivals, cultural and sport events in Colombia?

Hay Festival take place in January in Cartagena. An offshoot of the famous literary festival in Hay-on-Wye, it attracts Latin American and international writers and intellectuals of international renown.

Carnival takes place countrywide in Feb-Mar. The most famous and extravagant carnival takes place in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla, with frenetic dancing and parades of revellers wearing extravagant costumes.

Easter (Holy Week) is also celebrated countrywide in Mar-Apr: Many Colombians spend this week away at beaches and other popular destinations.

The Flower Fair takes place on Medellin in August. This is a sumptuous floral celebration with displays of artistic creativity.

International Jazz Festival happens in Bogota in September. World renowned artists will perform in front of thousands of jazz enthusiasts.