Useful tips and information for your off-road trip through Colombia

We're your local contact. We speak Spanish, English and German, and you can reach us by phone, email and WhatsApp. Our full-coverage insurance covers almost the entire country and we can fix almost any breakdown within hours. We offer safe transfers from the airport or your hotel in Bogotá, we help you plan a safe route through Colombia, and if you prefer, we answer all your questions beforehand on a call or video call.

Today Colombia is, for the most part, a safe country for tourists, with breathtaking nature and a vibrant culture that welcomes travellers with open arms. Unfortunately, the 1990s image of the “most dangerous country in the world” still lingers in many people's minds. The situation has improved considerably, though: as long as you don't venture into certain border areas or take risks like driving at night, Colombia is as safe as any other country in Latin America.

The same general precautions as anywhere else: don't leave valuables visible inside the car, don't pick up hitchhikers, and park the vehicle somewhere safe and locked. One thing that matters especially on your road trip: avoid driving at night. Beyond missing the scenery, rural roads have few signs and there are sometimes unmarked landslides.

We don't recommend travelling to Colombia's border areas, as a fair amount of smuggling goes on along those frontiers — many of them deep in the jungle. The remaining 500,000-plus square kilometres offer more than enough nature, culture and experiences. We're glad to help you plan your route.

Roads in Colombia are generally safe, but with so many mountains there are often landslides that can leave a route impassable for hours or even days. Rural communities are open and willing to help, and we're not far either: our workshop is in Bogotá and our office in Cali. From there we can reach you within hours if there's a breakdown or a problem.

Nothing to worry about: Colombia has one of the best healthcare systems in Latin America, and health tourism is a significant part of the economy. Every major city has world-class hospitals.

Write or call us: we're available by phone, email and WhatsApp. Our workshop is in Bogotá and our office in Cali, and from those two locations we can reach you within hours. We fix almost any breakdown the same day. Our full-coverage insurance covers almost the entire country.

It happens, especially in the rainy season: Colombia is a mountain country and a road can be closed for hours or even days. Write to us and we'll help you rework the route with alternatives we know. That's why we recommend not cutting the last day too fine.

Colombia is worth visiting all year round. The best times, generally, are December to March and June to August. Depending on your destination you'll want to factor in the dry and rainy seasons. Tell us your plan and we'll advise you.

The standard vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and hepatitis A are recommended. For longer stays of more than 3 months, vaccination against hepatitis B and typhoid is also advised. A yellow fever vaccination is recommended as well. Don't forget insect repellent. Check with your doctor or health provider before travelling.

Yes. If you come as a tourist, your home licence is valid in Colombia for the first 6 months of your stay — you don't need to obtain an international licence for that period.

There are traffic rules that mostly follow international standards, although they aren't always fully observed. Most roads are in good condition, though there are potholes and unpaved stretches here and there. The “Pico y Placa” rule restricts certain vehicles on certain days and hours according to the number plate; each city has its own rules and they change every 6 months — we're glad to help you with this before your trip.

Write to us on WhatsApp, by email or use the contact form and request a vehicle with a rooftop tent. Once you arrive in Colombia, we help you arrange transport to our base near Bogotá. Our local team shows you how to set up and pack down the rooftop tent so you see it working and can do it easily yourself afterwards.

You can return the car clean Monday to Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Please bear in mind Colombia's national holidays.

Tableware, portable stove, portable cooler, hammock, chairs, table, gloves and emergency first aid kit.

To avoid any confusion, these are on you: towels, sleeping bags, torch, kitchen supplies (napkins, bin bags, etc.) and food and drink.

The security deposit is charged to a card. It covers the excess in case of damage to the vehicle during your rental and is released once you return the car in good condition.

Of course. If your group needs several vehicles, write to us and we'll organise the booking together — we coordinate the number of cars, dates and special conditions for groups.