Often a victim of its reputation as a country with violence and drug cartels, many tourists have avoided Colombia. However, if you are a curious traveller, you will not find your stay uninteresting.

Colombia offers exciting sights and activities that can be enjoyed by parents and kids alike. From fascinating museums such as the Museo de Oro in Bogotá, to parks, city tours, horse riding and snorkeling, there is always something for your little ones to enjoy. This article covers the best sights and activities for families.

• There was a time when travelers avoided the country due to its ugly association with cartels and violence. That has largely disappeared and what remains is a vibrant country with spectacular scenery, friendly people and a rich culture. In fact, some areas in Bogota, like the sophisticated and electric Zona-T, feels like any other cosmopolitan city from the developed world. The public transportation of Medellin, a city that has emerged from the shadows of drug cartels, the Medellin Metro is a thing of beauty and is one of the most successful in the world.
• Bring a Spanish phrase book. Pack for a range of weathers – Bogotá can be quite cold in the evenings whilst Santa Marta and Cartagena get hot hot hot! Pack mosquito spray if you are going to Tayrona or other jungle regions, and prepare for slight altitude feelings if you fly into Bogotá and are not used to high altitude places.
• Enjoy Colombia, but do not use drugs. Penalties for selling and using drugs in Colombia are severe, including jail time.
• Check your passport validity: you will need 6 months validity to enter Colombia.
• Only use official hostels and hotels and go on recognised tours to get the most out of the city.
• At night, enjoy Colombia’s restaurants and nightlife responsibly, respecting local laws and customs. Do not leave drinks unattended. Also, Colombians never walk home at night, so always call a registered taxi./li>
• Beware of hagglers: if interested in buying something, always agree on a price first. And remember, there is no such thing as a free trial!.
• Plan your itinerary: it is a large area, so plan ahead and consider how you will move around. If using public transport, check information on routes and use reputable companies.
• While exploring, make sure to stay hydrated, use insect repellent and sunscreen, wear comfortable clothes and carry a torch – it can get dark fast!
• Keep an eye on your belongings: As in most big cities, pickpocketing and bag snatching are common. Take
  care especially on public transport.
• Don’t resist if you’re robbed: This is another one that might seem obvious, but you’d be amazed how many people put up a fight when a thief steals their brand new iPhone and then end up regretting it – nervous people with guns are not the right folks to tangle with.
• Best time to go: When is the best time to visit Colombia? This country can be visited year-round, however, families may need to plan their trip around school holidays and time off. The December holiday period is a great time to visit Colombia.
• Traveling with kids to Colombia: Colombia is a safe destination for families, as long as you practice the usual safe and smart travel habits. Hiring a guide is a good idea, as this lets you keep an eye on the kids while someone else does all the heavy navigating and logistics.
• Check ATMs for tampering: First of all, avoid using ATMs on deserted streets or at night. But, whenever you use one, give it a quick once-over to make sure that it hasn’t been tampered with – there is a scam that involves installing fake keypads on ATMs and then cloning the cards. If the keypad seems loose or misaligned then move on to another one.
• Be aware of the altitude; altitude sickness can kick in anywhere from around 2,500m, which includes Bogotá. If trekking in the mountains, take time to acclimatise, drink plenty of water, take it easy and descend if you feel ill; even a couple of hundred metres can help. Alcohol makes symptoms much worse.
• At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often… other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.
• Monitor the local security situation: The main tourist areas of Colombia have been considered largely safe and secure for several years now, but if you are planning to go off-the-beaten-track then do your homework first. Although Colombia has signed a peace agreement with the FARC guerrillas, some armed groups are still active in extremely rural areas and cities on the Pacific coast. Check online and ask the locals about the security situation before ploughing off into the unknown.
• It’s Important to Understand the Colombian Peso: The local currency is the Colombian Peso (COP$) and the denominations are in mil, Spanish for thousand. Menus at restaurants and cafes might list a cappuccino for $5.000 – this means the cost is 5mil. In common parlance, the mil is often dropped. Frequently used notes come in denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 50000 and 100000 pesos.
• Flights might be the best option for inter-city travel, especially when you have to cover so much in little time – and it’s not expensive. Go to the local sites of LAN, Avianca or Copa for better deals.

Tours & Tickets in Colombia

General Information About Colombia: National symbols of Colombia – Colombia: living history – Geography of Colombia – Economy of Colombia – Languages of Colombia

Practical information about Colombia: Climate – How to get to Colombia – Visa, Customs, Documentation and Taxes – Embassies and consulates in Colombia – Health and vaccination – Emergency numbers – Culture of Colombia – Measures and Electricity – Currency of Colombia

Tourist Information about Colombia: General Information – Practical information about Colombia – Adventure Colombia – Hotels and accommodations in Colombia – How to Get to Colombia – Gastronomy in Colombia – Colombia’s Best Festivals and Carnivals – Tourist Attractions in Colombia – Foreign Embassies and Consulates in Colombia – Tips and advice for travel in Colombia – Top 10 Colombian Travel Destinations – Natural regions of Colombia – Cultural Tourism in Colombia – UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists – UNESCO Heritage Sites in Colombia – Top 10 amazing places to visit in Colombia – Colombian Cuisine – Tourism of Nature

Travel Guide of Colombia: Colombia Travel Guide – Amazonas – Antioquia – Arauca – Atlántico – Bolivar – Boyacá – Caldas – Caquetá – Casanare – Cauca – Cesar – Chocó – Córdoba – Cundinamarca – Guanía – Guaviare – Huila – La Guajira – Magdalena – Meta – Nariño – Norte de Santander – Putumayo – Quindio – Risaralda – San Andrés y Providencia – Santander – Sucre – Tolima – Valle del Cauca – Vaupés – Vichada

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Flights, Cheap Airfare Deals & Plane Tickets

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