At long last, my South American adventure begins—with Colombia as the first stop. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the warmth and friendliness of the people here. My journey starts in Bogotá, the capital, where the airport offers a convenient free yellow fever vaccination upon arrival.
1. **Visa Requirements**: For Hong Kong passport holders, Colombia offers 180 days of visa-free travel. However, there’s a catch: they require proof of an onward ticket. This came as a surprise to me, as no other visa-free destination I’ve visited has asked for this. Additionally, you’re supposed to complete the CheckMig form 24 hours before entry. In my experience, though, no one actually checked it—so who knows if it’s still necessary?
2. **Vaccination**: To get your yellow fever vaccine, head to the second floor of the departure hall via Gate 5 (refer to image 2). Hand over your passport and join the queue—it takes around 10 minutes. You’ll receive a small yellow booklet certifying lifelong immunity. While Colombia doesn’t strictly require the vaccine, it’s highly recommended if you plan to visit the rainforest. As someone who seems to attract every mosquito within miles, I decided to get vaccinated just to be safe.
3. **Exchange Rate**: Currently, 10,000 Colombian pesos equals roughly 16-17 RMB. For cash withdrawals, ATMs are plentiful at the airport. Bancolombia stands out as the most cost-effective option, allowing you to withdraw up to 2 million pesos at once, with a fee of only 22,500 pesos.
4. **Language Barrier**: English isn’t widely spoken across South America. Fortunately, at Bogotá’s airport, friendly volunteers approach foreigners to lend a hand. When we arrived, a volunteer even helped us purchase tickets for our trip to the historic district. A rechargeable bus card is a practical choice for getting around, though taxis are also available. If you prefer ride-sharing, note that you’ll need to exit the airport to call an Uber.
5. **SIM Card**: The hostel we stayed at conveniently sold SIM cards. Once you have yours, you can top it up at any OXXO convenience store, choosing from various plans offering different durations and data allowances.
6. **City Safety**: Generally speaking, the northern parts of Bogotá are safer than the south, which is home to many slums. The north is wealthier and has several BnBs, though these tend to be farther from tourist attractions. We opted to stay in the tourist area, where police patrols are frequent. That said, don’t mistake their presence for a guarantee of safety—I’ll elaborate on this later 😂
