You can get by in Colombia with very little Spanish, but a small working set of phrases changes how smoothly the trip goes and how warmly people respond. This guide gives you the phrases that come up most on a solo trip, grouped by situation, with a few notes on tone.
Greetings and Basics
- Hola (OH-lah): hello
- Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches: good morning / afternoon / evening
- Por favor / Gracias / De nada: please / thank you / you’re welcome
- Disculpe / Perdón: excuse me / sorry
- Mucho gusto: nice to meet you
- ¿Habla inglés?: do you speak English?
- No entiendo / Más despacio, por favor: I don’t understand / slower, please
Use “usted” (the formal “you”) with strangers, older people and service staff by default. “Tú” is for friends or once someone invites the casual form. In Colombia, “usted” reads as polite, and some people use it even with friends and family.
Directions and Transport
- ¿Dónde está…?: where is…?
- ¿Cómo llego a…?: how do I get to…?
- ¿Cuánto cuesta?: how much does it cost?
- ¿Puede llevarme a…?: can you take me to…?
- ¿A qué hora sale el bus?: what time does the bus leave?
- ¿Me lo puede mostrar en el mapa?: can you show me on the map?
Showing your phone’s map while asking solves most direction confusion without relying on pronunciation. For transport planning, see how to get around Colombia alone.
Restaurants and Shopping
- Quisiera…: I would like… (a polite way to order)
- ¿Qué me recomienda?: what do you recommend?
- Una mesa para uno, por favor: a table for one, please
- Sin picante / sin carne: not spicy / without meat
- La cuenta, por favor: the bill, please
- ¿Aceptan tarjeta?: do you accept cards?
Check the bill for “servicio incluido” before tipping further. If a tip is not included, around 10% is customary. For food ideas, see Colombian foods for solo travelers.
Emergencies and Health
- Necesito ayuda: I need help
- Llame a la policía / Llame a una ambulancia: call the police / call an ambulance
- Me robaron: I was robbed
- Estoy perdido / perdida: I’m lost (perdido if male, perdida if female)
- Necesito un médico: I need a doctor
- Soy alérgico / alérgica a…: I’m allergic to…
Colombia’s national emergency number is 123. Save it before you land.
Setting Boundaries
“No, gracias” is a calm, clear way to decline vendors or unwanted attention. “Estoy viajando sola / solo” (I’m traveling alone) can explain why you are declining plans, though you are never obliged to explain. A firm, repeated phrase plus moving toward a busy, public space works better than a long explanation.
Small Talk That Opens Doors
- ¿De dónde eres? / ¿De dónde es usted?: where are you from?
- Me encanta Colombia: I love Colombia
- ¿Qué me recomienda hacer aquí?: what do you recommend I do here?
Asking for recommendations is one of the easiest ways to start a conversation. See meeting locals while traveling solo.
On Translation Apps
Apps are useful for menus, signs and complex situations, but they can miss slang and tone and may not work without a data connection in remote areas. Download offline language packs before you travel, and pair the app with the phrases above. Locals generally respond better to an attempted phrase than to a phone held between you.
To Wrap Up
You do not need fluency, only enough to use these phrases without checking your phone each time. Greetings, directions, restaurant basics and emergency phrases cover the overwhelming majority of situations on a solo trip through Colombia.
FAQ
Q: Do I need to speak Spanish to travel solo in Colombia?
A: No, but basic phrases make interactions easier and are warmly received. English is more common in tourist areas than elsewhere.
Q: Should I use “tú” or “usted”?
A: Default to “usted” with strangers, older people and service staff, until someone invites you to use “tú”.
Q: What is the single most important phrase?
A: “Necesito ayuda” (I need help), alongside knowing the emergency number 123. For everyday use, “¿Cuánto cuesta?” comes up most.
Q: Are there good ways to practice before I go?
A: Language apps, short lessons and practicing out loud help. Once in Colombia, language exchanges in cities such as Medellín are a social way to improve.
Q: Do Colombians understand other Spanish accents?
A: Generally yes. Speaking slowly and clearly helps, and Colombian Spanish is often described as easy to follow.
I’m Luciana, a travel writer from Bogotá, Colombia, and yes, I know exactly what it’s like to be a solo female traveler in a country the world still misunderstands.
I’ve been travelling independently for 10 years, completing 50+ solo trips across Colombia, Mexico, Central America, Argentina, Peru and the United States. I write in both English and Spanish, and I also contribute to allaboutcolombia.com where I cover my home country in depth — from the coffee region to the Caribbean coast to the Andes.
My speciality is Latin America: the neighbourhoods the guidebooks skip, the buses that are actually fine to take, the hostels that feel like home, and the restaurants where locals actually eat. I’ve hitchhiked across Patagonia, navigated Medellín’s metro system at rush hour, and camped solo in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. I know this region the way you only can when it’s yours.
I also cover the US for solo travelers, having spent time road-tripping through the Southwest, the Pacific Coast and the Deep South.
