How much to Budget for a trip to Colombia for one month

International flight budget

First off flights depending where you are travellign from. We have budgeted 800 gbp each as it is peak season and we are flying from the North of the UK, yes it is cheaper from down south but we don't want to do a 6 hours plus journey back from the airport like we done from Costa Rica when we were so tired. Find your cheapest flight on skyscanner

A lot of people don't include this in their budget and have a separate budget for this when we have watched videos on social media. So this will probably be the biggest cost, actually getting there. Also please note we don't really drink alcohol but we love activities so our budget will be larger than most for our activities as we don't want to miss anything off.

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Accommadtion costs

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Our accommodation for the full month came to £458.50 staying in private rooms with shared or private bathrooms as we are a couple and wanted some privacy. All of our recommended accommodation is in our guide and that includes hostels with dorm rooms and private rooms. It will be cheaper to stay in dorms.

Our budget was £500 each for this so we are below budget.

Activities Budget

First of all I think it is best to show you a list of our bucketlist experiences we could not miss then it will help you to understand the costs and also you can make your own and then total up the minimum about you will need then add a little on for wiggle room the same as us. Please see the bottom of this page for bucketlist ideas.

Transport budget

Traveling in Colombia is extremely easy and convenient and there are plenty of options available to you. The most popular ways to get around are by bus, taxis, and planes – all of which offer competitive rates and reliability.

It is a relatively large country so sometimes it makes the most sense to take planes and thankfully this is a budget friendly option. Flights in Colombia are surprisingly affordable and you can find some great deals if you book ahead of time. As an example, a ticket from Cartagena to Medellin, which would take around two hours on the plane, costs around $50 USD one way.

If you’re looking for a unique adventure, then why not hop on the bus? Bus travel is by far the most popular mode of transportation in Colombia. From luxurious overnight buses crossing highways to small and rowdy chiva buses navigating through mountainous backroads, there’s a bus going just about anywhere you want.

Bus tickets are often much cheaper than flights, but depending on the route and time of day you’re traveling, it can take significantly longer to get from point A to B. For example, a bus ticket from Bogota to Medellin takes about 10 hours and usually costs around $20-$30 USD. But this allows you to make stops along the way and see some of the unique cities and towns Colombia has to offer.

When it comes to visiting Colombia, Expreso Brasilia, and Expreso Bolivariano are the best bus companies for tourists. Bolivariano might be slightly more luxurious and come with a higher price tag, but both of these options offer travelers safety as well as reliability.

MEDELLIN → BOGOTA: 85000 COP – $22.31 USD

MEDELLIN → CALI: 75000 COP – $19.69 USD

BOGOTA → SALENTO: 50000 COP – $15.00 USD

BOGOTA → CARTAGENA: 105000 COP – $27.56 USD

CARTAGENA → SANTA MARTA/TAYRONA NP: 48000 COP – $12.60 USD

It’s so nice to know you can travel the country without breaking the bank.

Once you’re in the cities you’ll most likely be catching some form of a taxi and yes — Uber is available in Colombia… well kind of, technically it’s illegal but everyone still uses it because it’s the safest and cheapest option. Everyone just recommends memorizing your Uber driver’s name in case you get pulled over and the cop wants to “confirm” you are friends. They will also usually ask you to sit in the front seat.

If you choose to grab the old school yellow taxis from the road the price is determined by the meter, but you should always negotiate with the driver to get a better deal and MAKE SURE the meter is on before leaving. A taxi shouldn’t cost you more than $5 for a 10–15-minute ride.

Opting for a Colectivo (shared taxi) is an excellent way to save money and is also sometimes easier when you’re in remote areas. You might come across a car, bus, or minibus and you can easily hail them anywhere in the country. There are fixed rates per ride and usually, these vehicles wait at popular destinations until they get the desired number of passengers anywhere from six to 12 years old.

One thing I really loved about Medellin is their train system, the Metro de Medellin. It’s a really unique way to see some of the city’s hidden gems and it only costs around 2,650 COP ($0.70 USD) for one ride or 10,000 COP ($2.50 USD).

It’s safe and clean as Colombians really take pride in their public transportation as it’s the only one in the whole country. It’s the best way to get a good overview of the city but keep in mind it’s still Colombia and pickpocketing does happen on public transportation.

Overall, whatever means of transportation you choose in Colombia you will be able to find something that fits your budget and needs. Just remember that safety always comes first, so make sure to do your research before leaving and don’t take any unnecessary risks!

With adequate time to explore, taking the Gringo Trail is an ideal way to discover all of the nation’s gems – it has become a popular route among travelers. This famed path starts in Bogota and offers stops in Medellin, Cali, Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Tayrona National Park. But depending on your route and length of stay, you may have to plan out a few side trips to really explore Colombia’s hidden gems.

If you have time to spare, a two-week exploration of the area is ideal for seeing all of its attractions; however, if you are pressed for time, it’s possible to experience the main highlights in just one week. If three weeks is your allotted time frame? Lucky you! You’ll be able to take things more slowly and truly appreciate everything without feeling rushed.

The average cost of transportation is: $15/ £12 per day

Food budget

We aim to spend 9-15 gbp per day on food each, this should give us the option to have cheaper options as well as mid range options as we like to eat. If you eat at cheap local restaurants you can do this a lot cheaper.

So total for the month would be £261- £435 each

We did not intend to spend this much but wanted to over budget incase we wanted to treat ourselves or add it to our activities budget.

Colombia bucketlist activities we could not miss

1 Piedra El Peñol, Guatapé -

this can be done as a day trip from Medellin or you can stay here. Check out the itinerary for more information.

2. Tour through Comuna 13 Medellin-

where the history of the cartel and the lawlessness took place.

3.Guatavita Lake

- an Easy day trip from Bogota

4.Villa de Leyva

- you will find alsorts in the town from fossils to waterfall to beautiful cobbled streets

5 Monserrate, Bogotá

- take a cable car up from Bognota on a clear day for amazing views

6.Cartagena:

Walled City & Getsemaní - this can be a stop for cruise ships so be sure to get there early it can be a little hustle and bustly.

7.Isla Barú and the Rosario Islands

- there are so many trips available here. Instead of a day trip I recommend staying a night or two instead. Do some research as there is lots to do. A lot of snorkeling and kayaking is available to if this is your thing.

8. Parque Tayrona

- without a doubt the most beautiful beaches and when you see people camping in a hammock in colombia this is the most popular place to do it. You can either hire a boat or you can walk for a couple of hours to reach the best beaches.

9.Minca

-seen all those pics on Instagram of good-looking millennials chilling out on a large net hanging over the jungle? That’s Minca, baby. Not far from Santa Marta, Minca is a little step into the jungle of the North coast, where there’s not much to do other than hike to waterfalls and relax with a beer.

10. La Cuidad Perdida-

this is a 4 day trek. I’ve yet to meet someone who did do it and didn’t love it. Said to be the Machu Picchu Inca Trail of Colombia, this trek takes you through villages, to lakes and into jungles until you reach the so-called ‘Lost City’; ruins of an ancient city that was only discovered in 1972.

11. Salento & Valle de Cocora

- A brightly-painted town in the lush green mountains of Colombia’s coffee region. Not to be missed is a coffee farm tour and hike through the Cocora Valley, where you’ll see the world’s tallest wax palm trees. While Salento can no longer be called sleepy, there are still a few places to go in Colombia’s coffee region for some peace and quiet, such as the nearby town of Filandia.

12. Leticia

- Right on the tri-border where Colombia, Peru and Brazil meet, Leticia is the gateway to the Amazon. From here, you can explore the sights, sounds and wildlife of the rainforest, and even catch a 4-day boat down the Amazon river to Manaus. It’s yet another totally different view of Colombia, and one that will have you so enthralled that you might just forget the rest of the world actually exists.

13. Tatacoa Desert

- While this lesser-visited of the Colombia must-see is actually just an arid area and not technically a desert, it sure does resemble one! Tatacoa’s moon-like landscape are a wonder to behold, especially if you camp there under the stars at night. Every year there is a huuuuuge electronic music festival there in October where things get pretty wild, but otherwise it’s a serene place to get lost in the orange rockiness.

14. San Gil

The adventure capital of Colombia! San Gil is one of the top places to go in Colombia for adrenaline junkies who want to try their hand at level 5 white water rafting, paragliding or waterfall rappelling, to name just a few activities on offer in the area. Plus, the town gives you fascinating insight into Santander life.

15.Chocó

Anybody like whales? Yeah?! Whales?! Get yourself down to the Pacific region of Chocó (in towns such as El Valle, Bahia Solano or Nuquí) between June and October to catch sightings of humpback whales coming to breed and raise small young all along the coast. Whales aside, the Pacific coast also has a totally different vibe to the rest of Colombia, maybe due to the fact that the coastal towns don’t have any roads connecting them to the country. Jungle hits black-sanded sea in this beautiful part of the world. If you are travelling these months then dont miss this.

16. Quebrada Las Gachas, Guadalupe

Ok, so you know I absolutely rave about this place. It’s actually getting a little embarrassing now, but QUEBRADA LAS GACHAS IS INCREDIBLE AND IF YOU WERE TO CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF THE PLACES TO GO IN COLOMBIA IT SHOULD BE THIS ONE. Honestly, I’m not sure if it even deserves to be called off the beaten path anymore with the amount I’ve been spreading the word about it, but these natural plunge pools deep in a purple-algae river are something that I’ll never forget.