On your trip to Colombia, you can enjoy stunning cities like Bogotá, Medellín, Cali or Cartagena, delight in the colorful Barranquilla Carnival and soak up the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range and Tayrona National Park. To make the most of your stay, let's get familiar with some of the practicalities that will help you navigate the country and its culture.

International System of Units

Colombia uses the International System of Units (SI), the successor of the Decimal Metric System. This is very important for understanding sizing and distances, since instead of inches, feet or miles, you'll be using centimeters, meters and kilometers.

Mass is measured in grams, kilograms and tons; speed is measured in kilometers per hour (km/h) and the temperature in degrees Celsius or centigrade (°C).

Electricity

In Colombia, you'll find the following power outlets: flat 2-prong sockets or sockets with a third, round prong. But don't worry; it's easy to find power adapters and voltage regulators at any hardware store or department store.

Bear in mind that the domestic power supply in Colombia is 110 volts of alternating current or 60 hertz (110V AC, 60Hz).

Tourist Information Points (TIPS)   

Colombia has a National Network of Tourist Information Points, which was set up in 2006 to provide a comprehensive tourist information service for the entire country.

Since 2010, the National Network has been managed by the National Tourism Fund (Fontur) and has facilities in a wide range of regions across the country. The main cities like Bogotá and Medellín have multiple Tourist Information Points (TIPS) dotted throughout their districts.

Our tourism offices around the country are at your complete disposal. They'll gladly help you out and provide you with great tips to make the most of your visit. Find them all here!