The Colombia Business Travel Guide provides a range of valuable travel information to assist business travellers. The guide contains facts on Colombia, visa information, business customs, useful tips and other resources. An understanding of other cultures, languages, customs and traditions can extremely useful to business travellers and give a real advantage to ensuring a successful business trip.
Colombia Guide
Quick Facts on Colombia
Colombia Travel Advice
Visa Requirements
Business Customs and Etiquette
Travel Advice and Tips
Public Holidays
Colombia Map
Colombia Weather
Currency Converter & Travel Money Exchange
Colombia Flights
Travel Insurance
Quick Facts on Colombia
Country: Colombia
Capital: Bogotá
Currency: Colombian Peso (Col$)
Population: 43 Million
Area total: 1,141,750 sq km
Languages: Spanish, indigenous American Indian languages.
Time Zone: GMT -5
Electricity: 110V 60Hz
Dialling Code: 57
GDP: USD 285bn (2010)
Religion: Predominately Christian with traditional faiths.
Political System: Republic
Internet Domain: .co
Colombia Travel Advice
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office offers travellers useful advice when travelling to Colombia. You can find more information on entry requirements for Colombia, advice on local laws and customs, health considerations, useful tips on safety and security and the address and contact details of the British Embassy in Colombia. The information is regularly updated making it a good resource to consult for both business and leisure travellers when searching for the latest travel advice and information on Colombia. For more information please see: Colombia Travel Advice
Visa Requirements
No visa requirement for nationals of UK, many EU member states, Canada, USA and many others for tourist visas. If visiting Colombia on business a visa will be required. Visa requirements are subject to change with changes in requirements and rules for further information please see: Colombia Visa Requirements
Business Customs and Etiquette
Business dress is smart and conservative. Usual greetings are with a handshake, smile and appropriate greeting for the time of day. Men should wait for a woman to extend her hand when meeting. People should be addressed with their full honorific titles and surnames and should wait to be invited to more to first names. Business cards are then exchanged, the cards should be treated with respect as they are highly regarded. There is often small talk on general matters of family and health before actual business matters are discussed.
Business is done with people that are trusted and a rapport has been established, it can take a few meetings for this to come about. In meetings be aware the agenda might not always be followed, a lot of indirect communication is used so look out for body language, facial expressions and hand gestures to get an insight in to what is actually being said.
Travel Advice and Tips
Most trips to Colombia for both business visitors and tourists are incident free each year. However you should be aware of areas to avoid and areas with high crime. You should keep valuables out of public view and ensure you are vigilant at all times to your surroundings and environment. There have been cases of kidnappings of visitors, pick pockets and street crime, thus it is advisable to get expert advice on which areas to avoid to minimise the chances of getting caught up in any incidents.
Use pre booked official taxis and avoid going to areas specified on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website as ones to stay away from. With a security situation that is liable to change at short notice it is important to be fully aware and informed of the latest developments and advice, that will hopefully ensure your stay in the country in a pleasant and incident free one.
Travel Checklist: See our Checklist for Travellers containing useful tips and reminders to ensure you have everything you will need on your trip.
Travel Vaccinations: It is recommended you check with your GP whether you require any travel vaccinations up to eight weeks before you travel. For more information and advice on travel vaccinations please see the NHS Fit for Travel website.
Tipping: If service charge is not included usually around 10%
Hours of Business:
For Businesses:
08.00 to 12.00 then 14.00 to 18.00 Monday to Friday
For Shops
10.30 to 20.00 Monday to Saturday
For Banks:
09.00 to 15.00 Monday to Friday
09.00 to 12.00 for the last working day of the month.
NOTE: Many supermarkets are open for longer hours and some are open 24 hours.
Public Holidays
Public Holidays (2012):
Jan 1: New Year’s Day
Jan 6: Epiphany
Mar 19: St Joseph’s Day
Apr 5: Maundy Thursday
Apr 6: Good Friday
May 1: Labour Day
May 17: Ascension
Jun 7: Corpus Christi
Jun 30: Sagrado Corazon
Jul 3: St Peter and St Paul Day
Jul 20: Independence Day
Aug 7: Battle of Boyacá
Aug 15: Assumption
Oct 8: Columbus Day
Nov 1: All Saints’ Day
Nov 11: Independence of Cartagena City
Dec 8: Immaculate Conception
Dec 25: Christmas Day
Colombia Map
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Related Resources
Colombia Weather
Disclaimer: The information given in on this website is given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. If there are any discrepancies in no way do we intend to mislead. Important travel details and arrangements should be confirmed and verified with the relevant authorities.
