Travel Etiquette
Colombia
Currency
Colombian Peso
Official Language
Spanish
Dress
Conservative business dress in dark colors
is most appropriate in Columbia.
Meetings
Punctuality is quite relaxed in Colombia,
but you should arrive on time. Lunch is
the main meal of the day, so meetings
often take place at that time.
Gifts
Gift giving is not common for business
in Colombia.
Hand Gestures and Body Language
Colombian women will often hold
forearms instead of shaking hands.
It is impolite to yawn in public.
Tapping your fingers on your elbow
indicates someone is a miser and two
pointer fingers held out parallel to each
other is considered very rude.
Formalities
Use a person’s professional title if
addressing them such as: Doctor,
Professor, Lawyer or Architect. Use titles
when addressing people - Señor (Mr.),
Señora (Mrs.) and Señorita (Miss) followed
by their surname.
Have business cards printed in English on
one side and Spanish on the other and
present it Spanish side up to your host.
