Time Difference
Colombia is five hours behind GMT
Money
The national currency is the Colombian Peso. Notes in Colombia are in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, and 100,000. Coins are in 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 denominations. Pesos can be ordered in the UK prior to travel to Colombia. If you plan on taking cash to exchange out in Colombia, take US dollars. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in major cities but may be less prevalent in more rural areas. Banks generally open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 11:30 and 14:00 to 16:00.
Electricity and Plugs
110 volts and US plugs
Local Amenities
Shops are generally open from 08:30 to 18:30 (closed on Sundays). Museums are closed on Mondays.
Media
El Tiempo (Bogota), El Mundo (Medellin), El País (Cali) are some of the major daily newspapers in a media landscape that is pretty saturated. The weekly social, political and economic-focused magazine, Cambio, is owned by famous Colombian novelist, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Colombia national television offers 14 channels, mostly showing melodramatic soap operas, football and Hollywood movies.
Post
The Colombian postal system is not famed for it’s expediency… in fact you’re better off posting your cards when you’re back in the UK.
Phone
To phone Colombia from the UK, add 00 57 to the front of the number you’re dialling (removing the first zero from the number you’re dialling). To call the UK from Colombia, use 00 44 before dialling the number (again, without the first zero).
Internet and Mobile Coverage
Colombia has decent 4G coverage and mobile data coverage, although less so in the more rural areas.
Currency
COP
