90 Days in Colombia: Complete 2026 Guide for Americans
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services I personally use and trust.
90 days in Colombia gives you time to experience more than just Medellín — to understand the country’s extraordinary geographic diversity, deepen your Spanish, explore the Coffee Region and Caribbean coast, and genuinely evaluate whether Colombia could be a long-term base.
Key Takeaways
📋 WHAT’S IN THIS GUIDE
- Americans get 90 days on arrival, extendable to 180 days — a 90-day stay is fully covered without any visa strategy
- A 90-day stay in Colombia costs $2,500–$6,000 total — among the lowest of any expat destination of equivalent quality
- Three months unlocks significantly better direct rental rates vs. Airbnb
- Medellín is the best single-city base; split stays with Cartagena or the Coffee Region are popular
- Spanish proficiency improves rapidly at 90 days — Colombia has some of the clearest Spanish in Latin America
Visa Rules for 90 Days in Colombia
Americans receive a free 90-day tourist visa on arrival. Unlike the Schengen Area, Colombia’s 90-day allowance is specifically per entry (not within a rolling window), and it can be extended once through Migración Colombia for up to 180 days total. For a straight 90-day stay, there is nothing to arrange before departure and no border-run strategy required.
How Much Does 90 Days in Colombia Cost?
| Expense | Budget (Medellín) | Mid-Range (Medellín) | Comfortable (Bogotá) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (3 months) | $900–1,500 | $1,600–2,500 | $2,500–5,000 |
| Food (3 months) | $450–700 | $750–1,200 | $1,200–2,400 |
| Transportation | $100–200 | $200–350 | $300–500 |
| Coworking (3 months) | $180–300 | $300–480 | $450–750 |
| Health Insurance | $120–180 | $120–180 | $180–350 |
| Misc and activities | $300–600 | $500–900 | $800–1,500 |
| 90-Day Total | ~$2,050–3,480 | ~$3,470–5,610 | ~$5,430–10,500 |
Most Americans doing 90 days in Medellín spend $2,500–$4,500 total — one of the lowest costs for a major-city 90-day stay anywhere in the world. See our Moving to Colombia guide for full detail.
Recommended 90-Day Itinerary for Colombia
The most popular structure: 5–6 weeks in Medellín (base for coworking, social scene, and day trips to the Coffee Region and Guatapé), then 3–4 weeks in Cartagena (Caribbean coast experience), with remaining time in Bogotá (museums, restaurants, cultural depth) or the Coffee Region (Salento, Jardín). Colombia’s internal flights are affordable ($30–$80 one-way between major cities), making multi-city splits practical even for a 90-day stay.
📌 Save this guide for later! Pin it to your travel or move abroad board so you can find it when you need it.
Hover over any image in this post to pin it directly to Pinterest.
Best Cities to Spend 90 Days in Colombia
Colombia is large and varied — coast, mountains, coffee region, Amazon — and a 90-day stay almost always works better split across two or three cities than rooted in one. The strongest combinations for Americans:
Medellín
The default first base for most American newcomers and remote workers. Spring-like weather year-round, an extensive metro and cable-car system, and the country’s largest digital-nomad community concentrated in El Poblado and Laureles. Furnished one-bedrooms run $700–$1,500/month in El Poblado and $500–$1,000 in Laureles for similar specs.
Cartagena
The Caribbean coast counterpoint — hot, humid, colorful colonial old town, and a much slower pace than Medellín. Best for 3–4 weeks of a 90-day itinerary rather than the entire stay. Getsemaní and Bocagrande are the two neighborhoods most Americans choose, with Bocagrande offering modern high-rises and Getsemaní offering walkable colonial character.
Bogotá or the Coffee Region
Bogotá is cooler, higher altitude (8,600+ feet), and feels like a real Latin American capital — bigger food scene, more museums, less polished than Medellín. The coffee region (Salento, Manizales, Pereira) is the rural alternative: green mountains, small towns, and the country’s most photographed landscapes. Either makes a strong 2–3 week third leg.
What to Pack for 90 Days in Colombia
Colombia’s microclimates make packing tricky. Medellín is mild year-round, Cartagena is hot and humid, Bogotá is genuinely cold at night, and the coffee region rains often. Pack layers and quick-dry fabrics rather than season-specific clothing.
- A light insulated jacket — essential for Bogotá evenings and coffee-region mornings
- Quick-dry clothing — humidity in Cartagena and rainfall in the coffee region make cotton uncomfortable
- A small daypack and crossbody bag with anti-theft features for everyday city walks
- An unlocked phone — Claro or Movistar SIMs with 90 days of data run $20–$35
- A spare debit card from a separate bank, stored separately, for backup if the primary is skimmed
- Modest, broken-in walking shoes — most Colombian cities are walkable but the sidewalks can be uneven
Common Mistakes Americans Make on 90-Day Colombia Trips
The patterns that derail first-time Colombia stays are usually the same ones experienced visitors warn about:
- Booking 90 days of Airbnb at U.S. tourist prices. Colombia has a deep monthly-rental market on Facebook Marketplace and via local realtors. Spend the first 1–2 weeks in an Airbnb, then negotiate a furnished rental locally for 30–50% less.
- Underestimating altitude in Bogotá. Arriving from sea level into 8,600 feet hits hard for the first 2–3 days — slower walking, more water, less alcohol, and a forgiving first-day itinerary all help.
- Showing up without basic Spanish. Colombia is welcoming to non-Spanish speakers, but everyday life — pharmacy interactions, taxis, restaurants outside tourist zones — runs much smoother with a working vocabulary. Even 30 days of Duolingo before arrival pays back fast.
- Ignoring the unwritten safety rule of “no dar papaya.” Translated literally as “don’t give papaya,” it means don’t make yourself an obvious target — phones out on the street, expensive watches, bags hanging loose. Petty theft drops sharply when you blend in.
- Counting on the 90-day visa extension as automatic. Colombia allows extending the tourist stamp by another 90 days through Migración Colombia, but the application has to be submitted before the original stamp expires. Plan the paperwork by day 60, not day 89.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does 90 days in Colombia cost?
Budget in Medellín: around $2,000–$3,500 total for 90 days. Mid-range: $3,500–$5,500. Comfortable Bogotá lifestyle: $5,500–$10,000.
Can I stay 90 days in Colombia without a visa?
Yes. Americans receive a free 90-day tourist entry on arrival. No advance visa is required, and the stay can be extended to 180 days through Migración Colombia.
Is Medellín still the best base for 90 days in Colombia?
For most remote workers, yes. Best cost-to-lifestyle ratio, largest expat community, best coworking infrastructure, and easiest connectivity for US time zone calls (UTC-5). Bogotá is equally viable for those wanting a larger urban experience.
Ready to plan your stay? Start with our Start Here guide and Resources page. Read our full Moving to Colombia as an American guide.
For official visa and immigration information, visit Migración Colombia.
Ready to plan your stay? Start with our Start Here guide and Resources page. Read our full Moving to Colombia as an American guide.
For official visa and immigration information, visit Migración Colombia.
📌 Save this guide for later! Pin it to your travel or move abroad board so you can find it when you need it.
Hover over any image in this post to pin it directly to Pinterest.
Thinking about moving abroad? Book a Move Abroad Planning Call for personalized guidance on your relocation.
Continue Planning Your Move
Everything you need is in one place.
