A few words from Anthony Bourdain on Colombia: "It’s ludicrous that this place exists and everyone doesn’t want to live here. Have I said yet how beautiful the place is? It’s incredible. It’s fun. And, yes, it’s safe. If you want to find bad people in Colombia, you can surely find them, as you could in New York or Los Angeles. But nowhere have my crew and I been treated better or with more kindness and generosity. I’d bring my family on vacation there in a heartbeat. And hope to soon. As I said before: Colombians are proud. Let them show you what they are proud of."
See U.S. Embassy's Colombia website for most up to date information: https://co.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
We recommend Western Union to transfer money to yourself ahead of time. You should do this as early as you can, as it can take up to 5 business days to process with your bank. You can send money now and it will be available for at least 90 days for you to pick-up. We think sending about $600 USD (about $2,300,000 COP) will be more than enough for each couple to cover cash expenses for the week. The main things you will need cash for are the boat day (pesos at the island), beers/food on the street, and any items you want to buy from street vendors. Cash will be necessary for this. Check out this article to give you an idea of costs etc. https://passportaction.com/cost-to-visit-cartagena-colombia/ All the restaurants and stores in the Old City should accept credit cards and we recommend using your CC when it’s the available option. Check ahead of time that you have a CC with no foreign transaction fees (they can add up quickly). You may have to notify your CC company that you’re traveling ahead of time so please check. Create a Western Union Account: https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/send-money-to-colombia.html https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=COP
The average temperature in Cartagena in January is 87-75°F and sunny. Don't forget to wear sunscreen! The ceremony will be outside so please plan accordingly.
Summer Formal! For women, we suggest colorful, long dresses. For men, we suggest formal lightweight linen, cotton, or seersucker suits.
No need to worry. Cartagena is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Colombia, well-equipped to handle visitors from all over the world. While English is widely spoken throughout the city, be prepared for some restaurants, shops, and street vendors that only speak Spanish.
The Old City is full of tourists and the locals know it. You will be approached by some street vendors. It's inevitable. They'll try to sell you hats, sunglasses, tobacco, etc. At times, it can seem a bit overwhelming but all you need to do is keep walking, look straight ahead, and say "no gracias". They'll move onto the next customer. To the extent you want to buy a souvenir, remember EVERYTHING is 100% negotiable!
Weddings in Colombia last past midnight. Ours will be until 2am! At midnight we'll have “la hora loca” or “crazy hour”, which marks the end of the wedding and the start of the after party.
- If you want a beer, you say = una cerveza por favor - Hello/good morning/afternoon/night = Buenas - No, thank you = No, gracias - If you think something is cool = Bacano - "Guaro" - you'll know this one by the end of your trip - as this is the short version of "Aguardiente", which literally means "Burning Water". And we will have tons of it! It's our staple liquor.