Colombian Manners and Etiquettes You MUST Know

Traveling to another country is always exciting. You look forward to seeing new faces, hearing different music, and experiencing another culture.

Most of us enjoy learning as we see and do things for the first time.

However, it can also be intimidating. As a tourist, you’re oblivious to the place you’re visiting, including its culture, beliefs, and the people. Because of this, you feel conscious of your behavior.

You might be encountering all these thoughts as you plan your trip to Colombia. Whether the reason for your visit is to explore the country as part of your bucket list or to meet beautiful Colombian women, give yourself enough time to learn a few important things.

Make your trip a memorable one by learning everything there is to know about Colombian culture.

Basic Etiquette to Get Around Colombia

Knowing and applying basic etiquette promotes respect and thoughtfulness. As a result, we are more aware and considerate about how others would feel.

It’s one of the things that helps us all get along, no matter where we are from. It gives value to a country and its culture altogether.

Below are some basic tips to keep in mind when it comes to Colombian etiquette:

1. If you’re a man, holding doors open for women is appreciated.
2. Slamming doors is frowned upon.
3. Always cover your mouth when yawning.
4. Avoid slouching and leaning against things. It’s bad posture.
5. When dating in Colombia, know that men are expected to pay the bill.
6. Avoid passing objects to people by throwing them in their direction.
7. Don’t speak with your hands inside your pockets. It’s rude.
8. When you chew gum, keep your mouth closed.
9. When inviting people to dinner, you are expected to pay for it. In instances where no one is specifically invited, the highest-ranking person pays.

Giving Gifts the Colombian Way

Understanding Colombian culture includes knowing about their gift-giving traditions.

In some countries, you can easily gift others with something you know they’ll like. But in Colombia, they respectively follow what they were taught.

In Colombian society, here’s how they give gifts:

1. A girl’s 15th birthday is considered a milestone, and it’s tradition for people to give her something gold on her special day.
2. Money given as a gift is placed inside an envelope which people call “Lluvia de Sobres.”
3. If you want to give flowers, don’t choose marigolds, sunflowers, lilies, or other yellow-colored ones. They are mainly used for funerals.
4. Colombia’s national flower is the carnation, and it is only used for patriotic events.
5. Don’t give a Colombian woman a bouquet with an even number of flowers. It should always be odd.
6. Avoid opening gifts in front of the person who gave them to you.
7. If you find it hard to gift someone, choosing expensive chocolates, imported spirits, or other luxury products unavailable in the country make the best ones.

Visiting Colombian People

The culture of Spain in the 16th century and the country’s native civilizations play an important role in most aspects of Colombian culture.

Regional traditions and beliefs are varied, and there’s a broad range of distinctive groups that have varying accents, customs, adaptations, and social patterns.

Adding up to this, their geographical location makes the country diverse as a whole.

If you visit someone in Colombia, it’s helpful to remember the following:

1. It’s alright to visit someone without giving prior notice if you happen to be good friends. Otherwise, an invitation is usually given.
2. When you visit someone for the first time, bringing cakes, desserts, or traditional bread is considered polite.
3. Offering a cup of coffee, or “tinto,” to guests is customary.
4. Colombians love music and have strong enthusiasm for it, so most of their gatherings and visits are entertaining.
5. Turning down an invitation is interpreted as a lack of interest in building a personal relationship with others.

Eating with Colombians

Table manners are some of the most important things we have to learn.

It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, but having good manners when at the table reflects your character.

Just like all other cultures, Colombia follows its own table etiquette.

1. Resting your elbows on the table is disrespectful. Always keep your hands visible while eating.
2. When offered to try a dish, always take a bite. It’s polite.
3. Colombians say “buen provecho,” which means enjoy, before they start eating.
4. If you feel the need to use a toothpick, don’t do it while seated at the table.
5. Getting drunk is not what Colombians are used to. Rather, they drink while eating at a more relaxed pace.
6. Leaving a little piece of food on your plate after eating indicates you’re full.
7. “Salud,” which means “To your health,” is the most widely used toast.

Bonus Facts about Colombia

Other than the aforementioned manners and etiquettes, here are a few more things to keep in mind:

1. Colombians love using hand gestures. As communicators, they are expressive and can always make the conversation exciting. For almost every situation, a Colombian will have a hand gesture to go along with what they’re saying.

2. They are clean eaters. It’s rare for you to see them eating with their hands. Most of the time, they enjoy eating food using utensils.

How about when they eat fruits or french fries? Well, they still don’t use their hands. However, they make an exception with fried chicken, which they eat with plastic gloves to avoid getting their hands all greasy.

3. They find it rude to open other people’s refrigerators. True, it’s basic etiquette. Being at someone’s home and going through their fridge is usually not tolerated, unless you’re very close to them.

But in Colombia, you should never think of rummaging through a kitchen as if it’s your own.

Learning, Exploring, and Falling in Love with Colombia

Colombia is more than just lively music, rich culture, and beautiful women. When you visit the country, you get a chance to see what tourists and foreigners love so much about it.

Being voted one of the best holiday destinations in the world, its major cities are full of energy and a festive atmosphere, making them ideal places for you to enjoy and explore. Because almost everything there is vibrant, Colombia can always offer you something you’d love as a traveler.

Make your travel experience even greater through good interactions with the locals. Knowing Colombian etiquette by heart helps you become a polite traveler, one that you should always be.