Travelers must complete Migración Colombia’s online Check-Mig form (https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/check-mig) within 72 hours of boarding an inbound or outbound flight from Colombia.
The currency in Colombia is Colombian pesos ($). Denominations are in the thousands. Lately, the conversion rate has been 3,900 COP to 1 USD. Most common bills are 2, 5, 10 and 20 thousand pesos. There are also coins for 100, 200, 500 pesos if you get change. There are 2 other bills which correspond to 50 and 100 thousand pesos - try to avoid having these unless shopping, as they are hard to break for change when needed. While many places accept credit card, there are also places that only accept cash, so we would suggest visiting an ATM upon arrival and having some cash on you at all times. Use ATMs within grocery stores, malls, and shopping centers - not on the street. As an additional safety measure, don't go extract cash from an ATM and leave right away (in case not so nice people are watching for people to take a lot of money and head out of the mall) - walk/shop around a bit after you withdraw. With currency rate 4 to 1, public bus or metro will cost you less than a dollar. Most uber rides will be less than 3 USD. Cost of food varies, but meals can be anywhere from 3-10 USD/person, unless you are eating somewhere fancy.
It’s no secret that Medellin has a dark past with cartels/drug wars for which it became infamous during the 80’s and 90’s. The city has changed much since then and is now a very touristic city in Latin America. It is recognized as one of the best cities for Americans to retire due to the weather & affordable cost of living. That said, just as in other big cities, you have to be cautious. Most robberies happen around transportation, so avoid hailing cabs from the street, and when inside any public transportation, avoid having your window down, playing with your phone, or having valuables like jewelry/cash in plain sight. Scams are uncommon in Medellin, unlike other places in the Caribbean part of the country. However, taxis may try to overcharge. Most taxis should have meters to track your route’s expense. Make sure you have change or the amount you need - drivers may not have change for high denominations. Don’t walk around at night, use an Uber or taxi. Travel in groups. Just practice good common sense travel safety.
Tipping in Colombia is not required like in the US. However, if you are served well, it is common courtesy to leave anywhere from 5-10% at most.
Colombia is the "City of Eternal Spring" and has only rainy and dry seasons. Temperatures will fluctuate between the mid 60’s and 80’s. Sunrise/sunset are approximately around 6 am/pm. Despite the nice warm weather, please keep in mind that people in Colombia, especially in Medellin and the capital, dress more formally than Americans. It is rare that people go out in athletic shorts, T-shirts or what is considered a typical American stereotype: flip flops. To avoid looking too much like a tourist, consider wearing nicer shorts, or jeans with a polo shirt or t-shirt. A dress-code is more relevant based on what you are doing: if you are just walking through the streets and wandering throughout the city, then wearing comfortable clothes (such as shorts) is fine. But, if you are heading out for a nice meal, or going out at night or visiting a mall, then a better dress code is suggested.
Food in Medellin is a farmer's diet developed for a simple palate revolving around beans, rice, and meat. The most famous dish in Medellin is Bandeja Paisa, which consists of beans, rice, several kinds of meat, a fried egg, french fries, a small side salad, and a fried or grilled plantain. Other popular dishes are Sancocho, which is a meat stew with pieces of plantain, potato, and yuca. Empanadas are a staple in Medellin; made of cornmeal dough stuffed with meats, potatoes, or sweets. Ask for Aji, a spicy salsa, to enjoy it with. Arepas are one of the most versatile foods from Medellin. Arepas are a type of cornbread that are made of corn flour and grilled. Many dishes, especially breakfasts, are served with an arepa alongside them. They can be plain or stuffed with food like cheese. Try the wide variety of tropical juices - lulo, maracuya (passionfruit), pina (pineapple), mango, mora (blackberry), guanabana (soursop), guarapo (sugar cane drink), and the local liquor called "aguardiente" or a rum such as Ron Medellín.
For the welcome party on October 18th, you can wear dressy casual attire to be comfortable (jeans with a nice shirt, slacks, dresses, skirts, etc.). The wedding is a Formal event. Please keep in mind that the ceremony will take place outside on grass. Not required, but feel free to show up wearing colors that match our wedding palette. This includes jewel tones such as deep purples, navy and turquoise blues, fuchsias, and emerald greens.