Staying Healthy in Colombia

Staying Healthy

Some travelers to Bogota, the capital, experience altitude sickness (the capital is located at 8,600 feet above sea level). To avoid symptoms, stay hydrated and avoid strenuous exercise and alcohol the first day you arrive. The US CDC’s general advice for travelers is to choose factory-sealed drinks wherever tap water might be contaminated, and to skip ice where clean water is a concern. In restaurants, bottled water usually arrives sealed and the server opens it in front of you. To order a drink without ice, ask for it “sin hielo.” Dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever (especially in forests along the Atlantic Coast) can be cause for concern in some regions; consult your doctor or the World Health Association website about vaccinations and other travel-related medical recommendations. Please note that our travel consultants cannot give medical advice.