Colombia offers very different family travel experiences within one country, from high-altitude cities and Caribbean beaches to historic centres, coffee-growing landscapes and nature. For families travelling with autistic children, choosing the right destinations and keeping the itinerary realistic can make the trip much easier to manage.
Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena all have different sensory environments. Traffic, crowds, heat, altitude, music and long domestic journeys can add demands, while parks, outdoor attractions and slower days can provide useful recovery time.
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This page is your step-by-step Colombia planning guide. It walks you through how to plan a trip to Colombia with autistic children. From practical preparation and airport logistics, to choosing the right area, selecting suitable activities and reducing day-to-day uncertainty.
Quick wins for visiting Colombia with autistic children:
- Choose a small number of bases rather than trying to cover the whole country
- Allow recovery time after international and domestic flights
- Research altitude before including Bogotá or other high-elevation destinations
- Use pre-booked transport when predictability is important
- Prepare for major differences in temperature between destinations
- Watch recent videos of airports, accommodation and attractions before travelling
Step 1: Planning Your Colombia Trip With Kids – Practical Information
Before booking flights, there are a few practical details to check.
Entry Requirements for Colombia and Passport Validity
Entry requirements depend on nationality and the purpose and length of your trip. British citizens should check current UK government and Colombian immigration guidance before travelling, including passport validity, visa requirements and any arrival or departure formalities.
Do not rely on requirements from a previous trip because immigration rules can change. You can also read my guide to passport validity rules for travellers.
Healthcare in Colombia and Travel Insurance
Arrange comprehensive travel insurance for everyone travelling. Check that your policy covers declared medical conditions, prescribed medication, planned activities and any specialist mobility or communication equipment you take with you.
If your child depends on particular medication, food, continence products or sensory supplies, take enough for the trip plus a sensible contingency rather than assuming the same product will be available locally. If you need extra luggage allowance due to medical issues you can look into the possibility of taking medical luggage with you.
Vaccinations for Visiting Colombia
Travel health recommendations for Colombia depend on the areas you plan to visit, your activities and your individual health. Some mosquito-borne illnesses and yellow fever are relevant to particular parts of the country, while high-altitude destinations create different considerations.
Check current NHS Inform travel vaccine information and TravelPro travel vaccine information well before departure and seek individual medical advice where appropriate. Your itinerary matters because recommendations for a city stay may differ from those for rural, jungle or lower-altitude areas.
Currency Used in Colombia
Colombia uses the Colombian Peso (COP). Cards are widely used in larger cities and tourist areas, but cash can still be important for smaller businesses, local transport and purchases away from major tourist centres.
Keep a backup payment method and check the currency and amount carefully before approving card or ATM transactions.
If you would like to explore a card that reduces the risk of frozen or rejected payments while you travel, you can use my referral link to read more about Wise: Wise referral.
Language Spoken in Colombia
Spanish is the main language used throughout Colombia. English may be spoken in some hotels and tourist businesses, but families should not assume that everyone they meet will speak English.
Save important phrases on your phone and keep a written explanation of disability, allergies or medical needs if this would help your family. My guide to disability and illness travel phrases can help you prepare.
When travelling I like to keep a copy of important translations and paperwork in a Google Drive. Keeping backup travel documents in Google Drive means you can access important information even if the paper copies are lost or damaged.
SIM Cards and eSIM for Colombia With Autistic Children
Mobile data can be particularly useful when your child relies on communication apps, visual schedules, familiar videos, music or online maps. Check whether your UK plan includes Colombia or compare local SIM and eSIM options before travelling.
I use Trip.com eSIMs for short stays and Airalo for regional coverage. If you want to try Airalo, you can use my referral code (NATASH7173) for £2.50 off your first eSIM.
Medication Rules for Visiting Colombia
Keep prescription medication in its original labelled packaging and carry supporting documentation where appropriate. Check the rules for your specific medicine before travelling, particularly if it is controlled or you need to carry a larger supply.
My guide to what to include in a doctor’s travel medication letter explains what information may be useful. Families travelling with ADHD medication can also read my guide to travelling internationally with ADHD medication for more advice specific to ADHD travellers.
Time Difference in Colombia
Colombia uses UTC-5 throughout the year and does not observe daylight saving time. The difference from the UK therefore changes when the UK moves between GMT and BST.
If changes to sleep, meals or medication routines are difficult for your child, plan a gentle first day and consider how you will shift routines before departure.
Step 2: Travelling to Colombia and Managing the Airport
Colombia has several international airports. Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport is the country’s major hub, while Medellín and Cartagena are also important gateways. Domestic flights are often used when combining destinations because Colombia is large and road journeys can be lengthy.
For an autistic child, multiple flights can mean repeating check-in, security, waiting, boarding and baggage routines. Build recovery time into the itinerary rather than treating every travel day as a sightseeing day.
When planning a trip to Colombia with autistic children there are some things to consider:
- Booking airport and airline special assistance in advance where it meets your child’s needs
- Using the DPNA code with your airline if relevant
- Preparing visual supports for check-in, security, immigration, baggage reclaim and transfers
- Checking terminal and domestic connection arrangements before departure
- Pre-booking onward transport when predictability is important
- Keeping essential sensory and communication items in hand luggage
Helpful guides for managing the airport during a trip to Colombia with autistic children:
- How to get help at the airport as a disabled person
- Airport assistance for those with hidden disabilities
- What is the DPNA code?
- What does PRM mean?
- Airport and airline disability codes
- The Sunflower Lanyard
- What is medical luggage?
- Medical luggage policies for the world’s top 25 airlines
Step 3: Where to Stay in Colombia With Kids
Choosing the right base matters because Colombia’s main destinations have very different climates, altitudes and sensory environments.
Bogotá offers:
Bogotá is a large, high-altitude capital with museums, parks, shopping and cultural attractions. Traffic and busy urban areas can be demanding, while the cooler climate may suit families who struggle with tropical heat.
Medellín offers:
Medellín combines a major city with a milder climate and a public transport network that includes metro and cable-car services. Choose accommodation carefully to reduce unnecessary daily journeys through busy areas.
Cartagena offers:
Cartagena offers Caribbean weather, historic streets and coastal activities. Heat, humidity, crowds and busy tourist areas are important sensory considerations, particularly around the historic centre.
The Coffee Region offers:
The Coffee Region can suit families looking for greener landscapes, outdoor experiences and a different pace from the major cities. Transport planning is important because attractions and accommodation can be spread across the region.
How to Choose the Best Area in Colombia to Stay With Autistic Kids
- Choose Bogotá for museums, parks and a cooler city break
- Choose Medellín for a city stay with extensive public transport and a milder climate
- Choose Cartagena for Caribbean atmosphere, historic sightseeing and coastal activities
- Consider the Coffee Region for nature and a less city-focused itinerary
- Check altitude, temperature and transfer times before combining destinations
- Prioritise accommodation with enough space for downtime and access to familiar food if these are important to your child
Step 4: Getting Around Colombia With Kids
Colombia’s size means families may use a combination of domestic flights, private transfers, taxis, app-based transport and local public transport.
Bogotá has an extensive bus-based public transport system, while Medellín has metro, tram and cable-car services. Public transport can be efficient but busy periods may be difficult for children who struggle with crowds, waiting, noise or close physical proximity.
For airport transfers and some day trips, pre-booked private transport can give you more control over departure times, stops and the number of transitions involved.
When planning journeys between cities, compare realistic road times with domestic flights. Avoid assuming that destinations that look relatively close on a map will be quick to reach.
For accessible route planning generally, my guide to setting up the accessibility feature on Google Maps may be useful.
Step 5: Things to do in Colombia With Kids
The best activities depend on your child’s interests and sensory profile. Colombia makes it possible to mix city attractions with parks, nature and slower outdoor days.
Bogotá:
- Museums and cultural attractions
- Parks and gardens
- Family attractions and interactive spaces
- Viewpoints, where altitude and cable-car journeys should be considered in advance
Medellín:
- Parks and botanical spaces
- Science and family attractions
- Metro and cable-car journeys for children who enjoy transport
- Day trips into the surrounding region
Cartagena and the Caribbean coast:
- Historic streets and fortifications
- Beaches and swimming
- Boat trips
- Short coastal excursions
Coffee Region:
- Nature and countryside
- Family-friendly farms and outdoor attractions
- Scenic towns
- Wildlife and botanical experiences
When choosing activities to do in Colombia with autistic children, consider:
- Check expected noise levels
- How long may be spent queing
- If there is any shade available during the activity
- Toilet access
- Altitude
- What the walking surfaces are like
- How easily you can leave if needed
Boat trips and cable cars can be excellent for some autistic children but difficult for others, so show the complete experience in advance rather than relying on promotional photographs.
Step 6: Visual Planning and Familiarisation
Visual preparation can make unfamiliar parts of a Colombia holiday more predictable. Before travelling to Colombia with autistic children, look for recent photographs and videos showing:
- The airports you will use
- Your accommodation and surrounding streets
- Domestic aircraft or buses if your itinerary includes them
- Public transport you expect to use
- Restaurant and supermarket layouts
- Major attractions on your itinerary
- Colombian currency
- The weather and clothing likely to be needed in each destination
Google Maps, accommodation photographs and recent traveller videos can help. Include the waiting and transport stages of each day so your child sees the complete sequence rather than only the attraction itself.
Step 7: Visual Supports and PECS
If your child uses visual communication, prepare in advance for your trip to Colombia by downloading some of our travel and destination PECS cards.
- Bumper pack of travel PECS
- Colombia PECS – coming soon
- Free travel PECS pack
You can create simple sequences such as:
Airport → Plane → Immigration → Bags → Transfer → Hotel
For a domestic travel day:
Breakfast → Airport → Plane → Bags → Transfer → New Hotel
Breaking a travel day into individual stages can make a complicated journey easier to understand.
Affiliate and Booking Information
Disclaimer: this page may include affiliate links. If you use one to make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
My guide to GetYourGuide explains more about the booking platform and includes information about accessing my available discount.
Colombia With Autistic Children FAQ
Is Colombia good for autistic children?
Colombia can work well for autistic children when the itinerary matches their sensory and support needs. The country offers cities, parks, nature and coastal destinations, but traffic, crowds, altitude, heat and domestic travel can add demands.
Which part of Colombia is best for families with autistic children?
There is no single best area. Bogotá suits families wanting museums and cooler weather, Medellín combines city attractions with a milder climate, Cartagena offers a Caribbean experience, and the Coffee Region can provide a more nature-focused trip.
Should I worry about altitude in Colombia?
Altitude is relevant in some Colombian destinations, particularly Bogotá. Families should research the elevation of each destination and seek medical advice if anyone travelling has a condition that may be affected by altitude.
Is Colombia easy to get around with children?
It depends on your itinerary. Major cities have public transport and taxis, while domestic flights can reduce long overland journeys. Pre-booked private transfers may make some journeys more predictable for autistic children.
What should I prepare an autistic child for before visiting Colombia?
Prepare for airports, transfers, different temperatures, busy roads, accommodation, public transport and the attractions you plan to visit. If your itinerary includes several cities, explain that there will be more than one airport or hotel sequence.
Does Colombia use daylight saving time?
No. Colombia uses UTC-5 throughout the year, so the time difference from the UK changes when the UK moves between GMT and British Summer Time.
This Colombia with autistic children guide is designed to help you turn a large and varied destination into a manageable plan. Choose a realistic number of bases, account for altitude and journey times, and protect enough downtime for regulation and recovery.
For a list of everything we have written about visiting Colombia with autistic children head over to our Colombia archives.
Continue Planning Your Accessible Trip to South America
- Start with planning your overall South America family trip, including choosing destinations that suit your child’s needs and planning a manageable itinerary
- Considering Argentina as part of your trip? Explore Argentina with autistic children for practical planning information and ideas for your family
- Spending time in Buenos Aires? Find out what to expect when visiting Buenos Aires with autistic children, including family activities and sensory considerations
- Planning a trip to Brazil? Start with my guide to Brazil with autistic children to help plan your family trip
- Heading to Rio? Discover Rio de Janeiro with autistic children, including ideas for exploring the city as an autistic family
Continue Planning Your Next Trip With Autistic Children
- Find out about the help available if you are travelling through an airport
- Discover whether a cruise with an autistic child would work for your family
- Find out how to make travelling with ADHD manageable
- Learn more about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard
- Check out guides to different destinations for autistic children
- Learn step-by-step how to set up the accessibility feature on Google Maps
- Learn more about our favourite sensory toys for travelling
- Discover an app that helps you locate a playground anywhere in the world
- Use this guide to find a toilet anywhere with an app
Continue Planning Your Accessible Travels Using My Guides
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