Colombia sits four hours from Miami and still feels like a different world: Caribbean colonial cities, coffee farms in the Andes, and a food scene that keeps winning international awards. This guide gives US and Canadian travelers the real numbers, written by a Colombian agency based in Bogotá.
The short answer
US and Canadian citizens enter Colombia without a visa and receive a 90-day tourist stamp on arrival. A valid passport with 6 months validity and the free Check-Mig online form, completed 1 to 72 hours before your flight, are the two requirements. A tailor-made 10-day package with domestic flights, boutique hotels, private guides and transfers runs USD 2,400 to USD 4,800 per person, excluding international airfare. The best months are December to March and July to August.
Entry requirements for US and Canadian passports
| Requirement | Practical detail |
|---|---|
| Visa | Not required for tourism, 90 days on arrival |
| Passport | Valid at least 6 months from date of entry |
| Check-Mig | Mandatory free online form, 1 to 72 hours before each flight |
| Yellow fever | Required only if arriving from countries with active transmission |
| Extension | The 90 days can be extended once, up to 180 days per calendar year |
Check-Mig is completed on the official Migración Colombia website at no cost. Entry rules change, so verify your specific case at the IATA Travel Centre, the same Timatic database airlines use at check-in: iatatravelcentre.com.
CocoVolare tip: complete Check-Mig for both directions as soon as your flights are ticketed. It takes three minutes and saves the airport line entirely.
What a Colombia package really costs
Colombia offers a rare combination: world-class boutique hotels at a fraction of Caribbean prices. These are real per-person ranges in double occupancy for 10 days, excluding international flights:
| Component | Range per person |
|---|---|
| Boutique hotels, 9 to 10 nights | USD 900 to USD 2,200 |
| Domestic flights between regions | USD 250 to USD 450 |
| Private guides and entrances | USD 500 to USD 950 |
| Private transfers and drivers | USD 400 to USD 750 |
| Experiences: coffee farm, cooking class, sailing | USD 350 to USD 700 |
A well-built trip with boutique hotels in Cartagena’s walled city, a coffee estate in the Quindío and a design hotel in Medellín typically lands near USD 3,400 per person. International airfare from Miami adds USD 350 to USD 700, and from New York or Toronto, USD 500 to USD 950.
Flight times from North America
Colombia is the closest South American country to the United States, which is exactly what makes it work for a 10-day trip:
- Miami to Cartagena: 2 hours 45 minutes, several daily flights
- Miami to Bogotá: 3 hours 30 minutes
- New York to Bogotá: 5 hours 45 minutes
- Toronto to Bogotá: 6 hours 15 minutes
- Los Angeles to Bogotá: 8 hours, usually with one connection
Bogotá’s El Dorado is the main hub, and Cartagena, Medellín and Barranquilla all receive direct international flights, which lets an itinerary start on the coast and finish in the Andes without backtracking.
Best time to visit Colombia
Colombia sits on the equator, so temperature depends on altitude rather than season. What changes is rainfall:
- December to March: the driest and sunniest stretch nationwide. Peak season on the Caribbean coast, ideal for Cartagena and Tayrona.
- July and August: a second dry window, perfect for the coffee region and Medellín. The Feria de las Flores fills Medellín in early August.
- April to June and September to November: greener landscapes, fewer travelers and better hotel rates. Rain usually arrives as short afternoon showers.
- Year-round: Medellín holds 22 degrees Celsius almost every day, which is how it earned the name city of eternal spring.
A proven 10-day route
- Days 1 to 3 · Cartagena: the walled city, Getsemaní street art, a sunset sail through the Rosario Islands.
- Day 4 · Tayrona or Barú: Caribbean beach day, jungle meeting the sea.
- Days 5 to 7 · Coffee region: a working coffee estate in Salento, the Cocora Valley wax palms, willys jeeps and small colonial towns.
- Days 8 and 9 · Medellín: Comuna 13 with a local guide, the metrocable over the valley, Guatapé and its painted village.
- Day 10 · Bogotá: La Candelaria, the Gold Museum and Monserrate before flying home.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Colombia?
No. US and Canadian citizens travel to Colombia without a visa and receive a 90-day tourist stamp on arrival. A passport valid for 6 months and the free Check-Mig form, completed 1 to 72 hours before departure, are the requirements. Verify your case at the IATA Travel Centre.
How much does a trip to Colombia cost?
A tailor-made 10-day package with boutique hotels, domestic flights, private guides and transfers runs USD 2,400 to USD 4,800 per person in double occupancy, excluding international airfare. International flights from Miami add USD 350 to USD 700 and from New York or Toronto, USD 500 to USD 950.
Is Colombia safe for American tourists?
The tourist corridor of Cartagena, the coffee region, Medellín and Bogotá receives millions of international visitors every year and is where travel operates normally. Some border regions carry travel advisories and stay outside any itinerary we design. Our honest region-by-region safety guide covers this in full.
What is Check-Mig and is it really required?
Check-Mig is a free online pre-registration form from Migración Colombia, mandatory for every traveler entering or leaving Colombia by air. It is completed between 1 and 72 hours before each flight on the official government website, takes about three minutes, and no third party needs to charge you for it.
How many days do you need in Colombia?
Ten days cover Cartagena, the coffee region and Medellín comfortably. Seven days work well for two regions, typically the Caribbean coast plus Medellín. Fourteen days add Bogotá, Tayrona and the Guajira desert or the Amazon without rushing.
What currency is used and can I pay by card?
The Colombian peso is the local currency. Cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops across all tourist areas, and ATMs are plentiful. Carrying some cash helps in small towns, coffee farms and local markets.
How we design it at CocoVolare
We are a Colombian agency, registered under tourism license RNT 256778, which means the hotels, guides and drivers in your itinerary are people we work with directly. Your trip starts with a conversation, becomes a written proposal with itinerary, hotels and budget, and gets refined with you before anything is confirmed. While you travel, a 24/7 concierge on WhatsApp knows your itinerary by heart.
Want your tailor-made Colombia proposal? Write to us and receive it within 24 hours. You can also browse our complete Colombia guide to see everything we design there.