How to travel in Colombia without knowing the language
When traveling to any part of the world, language is usually a big issue. It’s important for getting around a city, and also for your safety.
If you are wondering how to travel in Colombia without knowing the language, pay attention to these tips on how to communicate and learn some tools that may help you.
1. Traveling to the Caribbean
You may be wondering how much Spanish you’ll need to come to the country. It depends on the places you are planning to visit. The capital, Bogotá, as well as many other main cities, has a large percentage of English users.
Also, if you are traveling to the Caribbean, there are some area where English is widely spoken: San Andres Islands and Cartagena for example. The San Andres Islands have a legacy of colonization, which has allowed them to become bilingual. Here you can find people everywhere that speak English and Spanish.
Cartagena is one of the most touristic cities in Colombia, and is visited by thousands of foreigners, coming from all over the world, annually. The city has adapted to this, and so nowadays you can find many establishments where English is well spoken: in restaurants, hotels, shops, etc.
2. Why not use an app?
If you are ready to travel but learning languages is not your thing, maybe you can try a translation app. Nowadays, there are multiple apps like Google Translate or Babylon Translator that offer translation. Using these tools can help you to communicate and ask for information when needed.
These apps allow you translate basic phrases in real time. Some other apps that you can try are TripLingo, Speak and Translate and Way Go. Most of them are available for Android and iOS and are free. Click this link to find out more. If you are thinking of living in Colombia we recommend you to learn the language through one of these apps.
3. Hire a Spanish guide
Another option, if you are thinking about how to travel in Colombia without the language, and you want to feel super safe, is to hire a tour guide. There are many ways in which to find this kind of service. For example, in some cities like Medellín you can find many free tours in the town squares.
These tours have been created for foreigners, so most of the guides speak English. On the website “Marca Colombia” there is tourist directory where you can find different guided tours and all-inclusive trips to Colombia. In the airport, there are some agencies where you can find different guides for driving around Colombia without worrying about the language or anything else. In this way, getting to know the country can be so much easier.
4. Pay attention to some key phrases you should learn
If you are concerned about how to travel in Colombia without the language, we have some key Spanish phrases for you to learn so that you don’t feel totally lost.
Greetings: these simple phrases will allow you to communicate in different scenarios.
- Hello: Hola / Buenos días
- Goodbye: Adiós / hasta luego
- How are you? ¿Cómo estás?
- Take care: Que estés muy bien/cuídate
- Nice to meet you: Un gusto conocerte
Ask for directions: this can be very important if you are trying to find places.
- Excuse me: Disculpa
- Where is…? ¿Dónde está…?
- The bus station: La estación de bus
- Where can I find a taxi? ¿Dónde puedo encontrar un taxi?
- How do I get to the airport? ¿Cómo llego al aeropuerto?
- Where is the bathroom? ¿Dónde está el baño?
In public places: when you are visiting restaurants, shops, bars or any other public place, there are some phrases that can help you to communicate easily:
- Would you please give me: ¿Me puedes regalar…?
- Can I have a beer? ¿Puedo pedirte una cerveza?
- Can I see the menu? ¿Puedo ver el menú?
- I would like…: Yo quisiera…
- How much is it? ¿Cuánto es?
Conclusion
When getting around Colombia, speaking some Spanish can be very useful and can make your life easier. So, the best advice is to pick up some language before starting your trip.
If you need help or guidance with the planning process of your trip to Colombia, don´t hesitate to contact us. We have a team of travel experts looking forward to help you have the best holiday of your life.