Travel Insurance for Colombia

Last updated on 09/29/2023

Travel Insurance for Colombia Trips

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Colombia?

Colombia is beloved by visitors for its diversity in population and nature alike. This South American country offers excellent scenery, vibrant cities, and a welcoming atmosphere, so it's no wonder travelers keep coming back. Though Colombia does not require travel insurance for entry, it is highly recommended to protect your trip from unnecessary financial burden. Travel insurance for Colombia may reimburse travelers or pay for a range of expenses if things go awry, from flight delays to emergency medical events.

Perhaps the most common reason travelers choose travel insurance for Colombia is to be covered by medical benefits while abroad. Many travelers have domestic health insurance from their home country, but most domestic health insurers can only offer assistance in a citizen's home country. International insurance for Colombia can keep a traveler protected in case medical treatment becomes necessary during the trip.

How Much Does Colombia Travel Insurance Cost?

Every trip is different, and the details of a trip will influence the price of travel insurance for Colombia. For example, the number of travelers being covered by the plan and their ages typically affect the overall cost of a plan. Covering more travelers or older travelers, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, may be a little more expensive. Similarly, the duration of a trip to Colombia plays a part in the total cost, as shorter trips usually cost less to protect. Adding more coverages or higher coverage limits can also increase the cost of Colombia trip insurance but may prove to be well worth it in the event of a covered emergency. Travelers may also choose to insure their total trip cost in case of a cancellation.

What Does Travel Health Insurance for Colombia Cover?

Travel medical insurance provides various coverages to help travelers who get ill or injured during a trip. Depending on the plan, travel health insurance for Colombia can cover emergency evacuation, medical and dental treatment, trip interruption due to illness or injury, and more. These medical coverages can be purchased as a freestanding plan or as part of a comprehensive travel insurance plan to include travel-related benefits like transportation delays, lost baggage, or trip cancellation.

Additional coverages can often be added to Colombia travel medical plans to address a variety of personal concerns. For example, travelers who may be concerned about the possibility of cancelling a trip may consider a coverage like trip cancellation or Cancel For Any Reason.

Activities like diving, boating, and climbing may be on a Colombian itinerary. However, injuries from sports and other recreations considered “high-risk” are not covered by all travel insurance plans. Travel Insurance for adventure activities in Colombia may include a hazardous sports rider to keep travelers protected while making memories.

What is the Best Travel Insurance for Colombia Trips?

Colombia travel protection is most always unique to the travelers and trip being covered. For that reason, the “best” Colombia travel insurance may be a plan that most fits a traveler's personal concerns, itinerary, and budget when planning a stay overseas. InsureMyTrip recommends travelers to compare between travel insurance providers and coverage levels to identify plans that suit your next Colombia trip.

Travel Tips & Safety for Colombia

Money & Currency Exchange

Colombia’s official currency is the Colombian peso (currency code: COP). Prices of goods and services will typically be listed in Colombian peso, even if you see the $ symbol. As such, expect to see the $ or COP$ symbols when shopping and remember that in Colombia this will most likely mean the price in Colombian peso. Colombia uses banknotes and coins, with banknotes available in values of COP$1,000, $2,000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, and $100,000. Coins are available in values of COP$50, $100, $200, $500, and $1,000.

Major tourist destinations and cities like Bogotá, Santa Marta, San Andrés, Medellín, and others are more likely to contain businesses that accept credit and debit cards like Visa and Mastercard. Cash in Colombian pesos may be necessary when shopping at small and local businesses or stalls.

In Colombia, it may be best to exchange your home currency for Colombian peso using a hotel ATM or something similar. Street vendors may appear to offer desirable exchange rates, but counterfeit cash has been reported and may continue to circulate on the streets.

Transportation

Colombia offers travelers a nice variety of transportation options. Buses and shuttles tend to be an efficient, on-time, and affordable means of public transportation. For longer distances, some major cities like Bogotá are connected by domestic flights, usually just about 1 hour in duration. Longer distance routes like Bogotá to the Amazon or San Andres Archipelago may take about 2 hours. In some cases, travelers may prefer private charter planes or helicopter transportation. Travelers may also be able to rent a car if they possess a valid driver's license from their home country.

The ever-popular taxi is widely available in cities in Colombia. In Bogotá, Cartagena, and Medellin, taxi drivers may rely on meters or be open to negotiating a price. If you prefer one method over the other, just keep looking until you find the type of driver/vehicle you're looking for. Some companies in Colombia may provide private vehicles and drivers if you'd like to plan your rides in advance and travel with a dedicated personal driver during your trip.

Risk & Crime

Like most countries, some parts of Colombia are considered riskier to visit than others. For example, rural towns and roads may expose travelers to more safety concerns, while major tourist hotspots are generally safer overall. That being said, thieves are sometimes more likely to target foreigners because they expect travelers to carry more cash, valuables, and important documents. Combat this risk by only carrying what's essential and hiding all personal items so strangers can't tell you have them on you at all. If applicable, use your hotel safe to store your valuables. Bright, public places are generally the best places to be for safety.

Colombia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, so earthquakes and volcanic activity are somewhat common within the country. Two rainy seasons (March-June and September-November) and a hurricane season (June-November) may cause cancellations or delays in some parts of Colombia. Be sure to have a back-up plan in case of bad weather if your trip will take place during these months.

Top 10 Travel Destinations & Tourist Attractions in Colombia

  1. Bogotá
  2. Medellín
  3. Cartagena
  4. Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona (Tayrona National Natural Park)
  5. San Gil
  6. Leticia
  7. La Guajira Peninsula
  8. Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
  9. Providencia
  10. Villa de Leyva

U.S. / Colombia Embassy and Consulate Locations

U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Colombia

  • U.S. Embassy in Bogotá
    Carrera 45 No. 24B-27
    Bogotá, D.C. Colombia
    Phone: 57.1.275.2000
  • The U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla
    Calle 77B # 57-141, Oficina 511
    Centro Empresarial Las Americas
    Barranquilla, Colombia
    Phone: 57.5.353.2001

Colombian Embassy and Consulate in USA

  • Washington DC — Colombian Embassy
    2118 Leroy Place NW
    Washington DC 20008 United States
    Phone: 1.202.387.8338
  • Los Angeles, California — Consulate General of Colombia
    8383 Wilshire Boulevar, Suite 420
    Beverly Hills, CA 90211 United States
    Phone: 1.323.653.4299
  • San Francisco, California — Consulate of Colombia
    595 Market St, Suite 400
    San Francisco, CA, 94104 United States
    Phone: 1.415.495.7195 / 1.415.495.7196
  • Miami, Florida — Colombian Consulate General
    280 Aragón Avenue
    Coral Gables, FL 33134 United States
    Phone: 1.305.448.5558
  • Atlanta, Georgia — Colombian Consulate General
    1117 Perimeter Ctr W N401
    Atlanta, GA 30338 United States
    Phone: 1.888.764.3326
  • Chicago, Illinois — Colombian Consulate General
    500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2040
    Chicago, IL 60611 United States
    Phone: 1.312.923.1196
  • Boston, Massachusetts — Consulate General of Colombia
    31 St James Ave, Suite 960
    Boston, MA 02116 United States
    Phone: 1.617.536.6222
  • New York, New York — Colombian Consulate General
    10 East 46th Street
    New York, NY 10017 United States
    Phone: 1.212.798.9000
  • Houston, Texas — Consulate General of Colombia
    2400 Augusta Drive, Suite 400
    Houston, TX 77057 United States
    Phone: 1.713.527.8919
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico — Consulado General De Colombia
    Edificio Mercantil Plaza, Suite 814
    2 Av. Ponce de León, Hato Rey
    San Juan, PR 00918
    Phone: 1.787.754.6885

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article serves as a general overview of benefits and should only be used for informational purposes. Refer to your individual certificate of insurance for specific coverages, exclusions, and benefits. When in doubt, please contact one of our licensed agents for additional assistance.