Colombia on a budget

Cheapest months to go

Peak is December, January, February, March, July, August. The weeks either side of that window usually carry most of the weather with much less of the price.

Getting around for less

Realistic options in Colombia:

• Domestic flights are frequent and inexpensive, and save very long road days between regions
• Long-distance buses connect most cities, but mountain routes are slow
• Shared jeeps (Willys) serve the coffee-region villages and farms
• Cities use a mix of metro (Medellín), bus rapid transit and ride-hailing apps
• Boats are the practical transport in the Amazon and along parts of the Pacific coast

Where to base yourself

Fewer bases means fewer paid transfers. Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena cover a lot between them.