I’ve to be fair with you guys. When I booked my flight ticket for traveling to Colombia, I wasn’t thinking

– “hm, should I take travel Insurance for Colombia or not?”

Insurance is a word that gives you goosebumps, except if you work in an insurance company. When you’re a kid, your parents pay for it. Then it’s your boss. In the end, it’s like unicorns. You’ve heard about it many times, but you’ve never seen one.

Nevertheless, insurances (and unicorns) are important. We don’t realize it because they’re part of our daily life. If you buy a car, you take car insurance. If you buy a house, you take home insurance. And, you also pay for health and liability insurance.

But did you know that most of the time, you’re not covered 100 % when traveling abroad?

If you plan to visit Colombia soon, you should seriously think about travel insurance.

Pick your travel insurance in 2 minutes

Do you already know why you need travel insurance? Here are our three favorite travel insurance for Colombia:

• You’re from Europe: Chapka. It’s easy to subscribe to, affordable, and they offer a good cover. I used them for 3 years, and they always reimbursed me – If you follow the procedures.
• You’re NOT from Europe, or you’re already traveling: Worldnomad. They’re a bit expensive, but you’ve got an excellent cover. Moreover, you can subscribe to their Extreme activities travel insurance.
• You’re a digital Nomad or you’re living in a foreign country: SafetyWing. They listened and understood the Digital Nomad’s issues to offer kick-ass travel insurance. It’s exactly what we need right now. It’s maybe your case too.

👉 You want to know more about Colombia ? Answer your questions about safety, budget, accommodations and transportation? Find where to travel and book the best experiences? Read our Colombia Travel tips.

Why Do You Need Travel Insurance For Colombia?

In short, travel insurances for Colombia serve about two things:

• To reimburse your bookings in case of unforeseen problems.
• To pay or reimburse your medical issues (in case of emergency)

The two important words you have to remember are unforeseen and emergency. Travel insurance is not health insurance. They won’t reimburse your teeth whitening.

In case you are living abroad (Expat), there is a second option. It’s the Global health insurance.

Let’s find out the different uses of travel insurance for Colombia.

Trip cancellation or interruption coverage beyond your control

The travel insurance company could reimburse the non-refundable booking of your canceled Colombia trip.

Examples:

• Death of a relative: Yes.
• Break up with your girlfriend: No.

Travel accident or Medical emergency while traveling to Colombia

You’re injured in an accident and need emergency medical treatment. The travel insurance will cover your expenses.

Examples:

• You break your arm: Yes.
• A painful toothache: Yes.
• Health checkup or a vaccine: No.

Medical repatriation from Colombia

You’ve got a serious accident, and you need a medical evacuation.  Your Colombia travel insurance takes care of everything.

Examples:

• Helicopter evac: Yes.
• Medical expenses at home: No.

Somebody steals your luggage in Colombia

You can ensure your expensive electronic stuff.

Examples:

• Someone stole your computer: Yes.
• You forget your computer on a table: No.

Liability insurance

In case you damage a good/propriety or hurt someone by accident.

Car insurance for Colombia

If you have an accident while driving in Colombia.

But first, you have to know if you’re already covered. It would be silly to pay twice, isn’t it?

Are You Already Insured Abroad?

1# Make a list of your different insurances

First, you have to make a list of all the insurances you’re already paying for:

• Health insurance. If you’re an employee, it’s probably paid by your company
• Credit card insurance
• Liability insurance
• House and car insurance

Then, call them to know:

• If you’re still covered while traveling to Colombia for the different situations mentioned in the previous section
• for which maximum amounts (spending limits)

2# Main information about Credit Card Insurances

• Almost all credit cards have insurances.
• You can rely on credit card insurance only if you use it for your purchase! (Not because you have it in your wallet)
• You can ask for an upgrade before paying for your trip. Thus, your Credit Card insurance will improve – like Visa and MasterCard.
• Limits are usually low.
• You’re covered for a maximum of 90 days abroad.

👉 Learn more about Credit Card Travel Insurance.

Which Travel Insurances For Colombia

1# What will be your needs?

You have to define your needs. Otherwise, you won’t be able to compare the different travel insurance. What’s your plan for your trip to Colombia?

• Do you book all your accommodations, transport and activities in advance?
• Do you love extreme sport?
• Do you want to volunteer somewhere? Rent a car?
• Do you travel with expensive electronic stuff?
• How long for? If you travel for more than 3 months, it could be cheaper to pay for backpacking travel insurance

2# Are you a Digital Nomad?

Nowadays, more and more people decide to go with the flow. After all, we only live once.

Thanks to the internet, many new businesses have been created online. These entrepreneurs – like myself – can work wherever they want! They just need an internet connexion.

If it’s your case, you absolutely need travel insurance! And it can be super expensive.

Fortunately, SafetyWing came to our rescue. They offer you travel + medical insurance for less than 40$/month. It’s like a phone subscription.

Their service proposal is even more favorable for families! 1 young child per adult, up to 2 per family, age between 14 days and 10 years old, can be included on your insurance without added cost.

Our favorite travel insurances for Colombia

3# Which activities are covered in your Colombia Travel insurance?

In Colombia, there is no ski station or famous deep blue hole in the ocean. It’s something less to worry.

Usually, travel insurance does not cover accidents in case of official competition or race. And they have different policies regarding the practice of extreme sports. It may happen that travel insurance companies propose various plans.

With Worldnomads, you’ve got the choice between “Standard” and “Explorer”. Find the list of the different extreme sports they cover.

Chapka offers only one plan for its Cap Assistance 24/7. They cover a bunch of sports except:

• Official competition, trials or race during motorsport practice
• If you drive a 125cm3 or more engine
• Bobsleigh/ Skeleton/Luge sport/Rock climbing/Alpinism/Aerial sport

SafetyWing covers a wide range of activities. However, some extreme sports like paragliding and bungee jumping are not covered.

4. What are the limits of the reimbursements

Medical expenses / Evacuation / Repatriation in Colombia

In Colombia, There are 20 of the top 49 hospitals and clinics in Latin America, and it’s a lot cheaper than in Europe or the United States. However, you still have to put some money up.

But you don’t need to get a 1 trillion dollars coverage.

Important, they don’t cover pre-existing conditions.

The cost of medical repatriation to your home country following a serious accident or repatriation following a death varies depending on the insurer. Again, be careful about the options offered to you.

Colombia trip cancellation/ Delay / Interruption

If you’re a traveler who likes to book everything in advance, it might be something you would like to think of, especially if you pay expensive deposits.

Cancellation, delay, or interruption have to be beyond your control. You can’t ask for a reimbursement if you decide to go back home because you don’t like the country.

Luggage

The limits included in the initial plans are low. It could be enough if you don’t travel with expensive electronics stuff.

However, if you are a digital nomad who loves photography or a musician with a fantastic guitar, you could be interested in more specific travel insurance for South America.

You have to check the total limit, the per-article limit and the exclusions.

The insurance won’t pay back if you’re responsible for the damage or the loss.

5. The policy excess

It’s like a deductible. It’s the amount you are required to pay for each claim arising from any event.

It will depend on your country of residence and the travel insurance company.

6. The Not Covered section

There are exclusions for every type of insurances. But there is also a general not covered section. There are inside the terms and conditions PDF file. Read them all. Be brave.

In short, the travel insurance won’t pay you back if you’re:

• Drunk or on drugs
• Arrested by the police

7. How to subscribe and renew travel insurance for Colombia

For how long maximum can you be covered.

• Cap Assistance Chapka: Max 90 days | If you need a long-term travel insurance for backpacking, you should check Cap Adventure: 3 Months to 1 year
• Worldnomads: Max 1 year
• SafetyWing: As long as you want!

Do you have to subscribe before going on a trip to Colombia

• Chapka: Yes
• Worldnomads: No need
• SafetyWing: No need

Is it possible to renew by email

• Chapka insurance: Yes – But only once
• Worldnomads: Yes – As many times as you wish
• SafetyWing: You can choose the option “Auto-Renewal”.

Be careful. In the case of renewal, the injured or diseases that occurred before the new contract’s date would be considered pre-existing medical conditions. It’s not the case with the “Auto-Renewal” option with SafetyWing.

How To Involve Your Colombia Travel Insurance In Case Of Problem

Once you’ve got travel insurance for Colombia, you generally hope for one thing only.

To not use it.

Unfortunately, shits happen sometimes. And travel insurances are strict and heartless with procedures. You HAVE TO follow their guidelines if you want to be reimbursed.

👉 Worlnomad explains you everything here.

1# Call first in case of Serious Medical issues

For serious medical issues, you have to call the 24 hours of assistance services. Travel insurance can:

• Help you to deal with the hospitals.
• Advance the payment.
• They have to agree to the medical care and transportation.

It’s why you should write down on your phone/notebook:

• The name and telephone number of your Travel insurance.
• Your policy number.

2# Fill a complaint with the police in case of robbery

• Worldnomads: Within 24 hours
• Chapka: Within 48 hours
• SafetyWing: 60 days

3# You always need proof

In any case, you have to proof that:

• You have been a victim of an accident.
• The costs incurred => Receipts are keys, guys.

Regarding your valuables, the best is to take pictures of the receipts and the serial number before going on a trip to Colombia.

Important: In any case, you should call your travel insurance within 24 hours to know all the procedures to follow

Our favorite travel insurances for Colombia

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