FAQs

Question

What documents do you need to travel to Colombia?

Answer

All U.S. citizens who do not also have a Colombian passport will be required to present a valid U.S. passport to enter and exit the country. Keep in mind that you should have 6 months or more from you passport expiration date to ensure travel approval. Additionally, Colombia requires each passenger to fill out and either print or have a digital copy of the Checkmig form for both entering and exiting the country (see link https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro/en). Please make sure you either use this link or the link provided to you by your airline. This is a free form and there should not be any costs associated with filling it out. You can only fill it out a certain number of days in advance, so just fill it out the day before you fly. United States passport holders do not need a visa to enter Colombia for tourists staying 90 cumulative days or less.

Question

Is Santa Marta safe for tourists?

Answer

Santa Marta is safe to visit and very tourist friendly with over 3 million visitors per year! The town is known for its diverse tourist activities, ranging from walks on the beach to climbing the Sierra Nevada mountains, as well as walking its streets full of history. There are general common sense rules to follow just like you would do visiting any new country. Do not try to draw extra attention to yourself through your jewelry, keep an eye on your personal items, do not put expensive items in easy to grab places, and do not travel alone at night. Pay attention to your surroundings. Additionally, at the beach do not leave valuable items unattended. Please reach out to Daniel or I with any questions you may have. We want everyone to feel comfortable and safe when traveling. See below for several links on fun facts and safety tips: https://colombia.travel/en/santa-marta#:~:text=Santa%20Marta's%20beautiful%20terrain%20is,Marta%20a%20must%2Dsee%20destination. https://aldianews.com/en/culture/destinations/visit-santa-marta https://travelsnippet.com/south-america/colombia/is-santa-marta-colombia-safe/ https://medellinguru.com/is-santa-marta-safe/#:~:text=Take%20care%20even%20in%20upscale%20neighborhoods%20like%20Rodadero.,to%20go%20in%20the%20water.

Question

Transportation from airports and within city

Answer

For anyone wanting transportation arranged from the airport to their hotel, please send me (Madelyn) your flight itineraries and our wedding planner will coordinate and provide the details on where to meet your driver. The downtown area of Santa Marta is very walkable and tourist friendly; however, if you need a taxi you can ask your hotel to call you one or use the Hey Taxi Santa Marta or Buen Taxi Santa Marta apps.

Question

Are vaccines needed to enter the country?

Answer

No vaccines are required to enter into the Bogota, Cartagena, Barranquilla, or Santa Marta airports.

Question

What currency is used in Colombia?

Answer

Colombian pesos (COP) is the currency used throughout the country. The U.S. dollar is not accepted in towns and cites. We recommend converting $200-$300 USD either prior to travel or at one of the Colombian airports. Check the conversion rate by typing into Google USD to COP and it will give you the current conversion. If possible try to get smaller bills such as the 2 mill, 5 mil, 10 mil, or 20 mil pesos for tipping and cab fares. Currently $1 USD is worth about 4,000 pesos.

Question

Should you carry cash?

Answer

Most places accept credit cards; however, some places do not. Therefore, it is a good idea to have at least 100-200 mil pesos with you.

Question

What is the local language?

Answer

The official language of Colombia is Spanish. It can be hit or miss if people speak English so we recommend downloading a English to Spanish translator app on your phone just in case you need it!

Question

What are some useful applications to download to your phone?

Answer

Whatsapp is the most common way that people and businesses in Colombia (and throughout the rest of the world) communicate. You are able to call, video call, and message through the app. An additional benefit is you can communicate using WIFI and do not have to have cell phone service to make calls/message. A currency converter app going from USD to COP would also be useful so you are aware of how much items costs and to make sure you are not being ripped off. Additionally, if you do not know Spanish, we suggest having an English to Spanish translator app on your phone. If you want to call your own taxi either then the following apps are used in Santa Marta: Hey Taxi Santa Marta or Buen Taxi Santa Marta apps. Uber is not used in Santa Marta but is used in Cartagena.

Question

What is the weather like in Santa Marta in February?

Answer

Due to Colombia's proximity to the equator, the weather has minimal variation from month to month. The average highs are 88°F and lows of 76°F. If you have lived in Florida the weather is very similar to the Florida spring/early summer. There is little to no precipitation in the month of February (which is why we chose it for the wedding date)! The sunrise is just after 6 AM and the sunset is around 6 PM. There is usually a breeze considering Santa Marta is directly on the coast. The water temperature in February typically is between 78°F-79°F.

Question

Can you drink the tap water in Santa Marta?

Answer

No, you should not drink the tap water in Santa Marta. It is safe to either drink filtered water or bottled water. Filtered water in Spanish is agua del filtro or agua purificada

Question

Will my phone work in Colombia?

Answer

Most U.S. based phone carriers will work in Colombia usually with a daily fee. We recommend contacting your provider prior to the trip for details and costs. Additionally, if you are having trouble gaining service after landing, we recommend restarting your phone. Lastly, remember that whatsapp and imessage can work with WIFI without having cell phone service. Please note that the country code for Colombia is +57.

Question

Will children be attending the reception?

Answer

While we love kids, we request that the reception is an adult event only. We will be providing baby sitters for anyone that is interested.