Etiquette in Colombia: greetings, meals and everyday manners

I lived and worked in Colombia, and the part that took longest to learn was not the paperwork. It was the rhythm of everyday courtesy. Colombians are, in general, warm and formal at the same time, and Americans who expect either pure casualness or pure formality tend to misread situations. This guide covers greetings, forms of address, meals, time, holidays and how to deal with offices, so you can settle in without stepping on toes.

Most of what follows is general observation of daily life, not law. Where something is a rule (a holiday, a payment method, a government practice), the source is named.

Greetings set the tone

In Colombia a conversation rarely starts with the request. It starts with a greeting. Walking into a shop, a pharmacy, a taxi or an office, people usually say "buenos días," "buenas tardes" or simply "buenas" before anything else. Skipping it and going straight to "do you have...?" comes across as abrupt, even if your Spanish is perfect.

A few general patterns:

• Men usually greet each other with a handshake. Among friends it often turns into a hug or a pat on the back.
• Women commonly greet friends, and often new acquaintances in social settings, with a single light kiss on the right cheek. In business settings a handshake is the safe default until the other person signals otherwise.
• When you arrive at a small gathering, people tend to greet each person individually rather than giving one wave to the room. The same goes for leaving.
• "¿Cómo está?" is a real question in many settings. A short answer and a question back is normal.

You will also hear a set of polite phrases used constantly: "con mucho gusto" in reply to thanks, "a la orden" from shop staff, and "¿me regala...?" (literally "will you gift me...?") as a normal way of asking for something you are paying for. None of these mean anything unusual. They are simply the polite register.

Usted, tú and titles

Colombian Spanish uses "usted" much more than many Americans learn in school. In parts of the country, including Bogota and much of the Andean region, people use "usted" even with family and close friends. Using "usted" with strangers, older people, officials and service staff is never wrong. If someone switches to "tú" with you, you can follow.

Titles matter in professional settings. "Doctor" or "doctora" is commonly used for lawyers, physicians and senior professionals, and sometimes simply as a mark of respect toward someone in a position of authority. "Don" and "doña" before a first name show respect to older people, building staff or the owner of a small shop. Using them is a small gesture that people notice.

Indirect answers and saving face

In general, Colombians avoid a flat "no" in face-to-face conversation, especially with people they do not know well. You may hear "de pronto" (maybe), "vamos a ver" (we'll see) or "ahorita" (in a little while) where an American would say "probably not" or "I don't know when." It is useful to confirm commitments in writing, by WhatsApp or email, with a specific day and time.

Raising your voice or criticising someone in front of others usually backfires. A calm, friendly tone and a bit of patience often get better results with a landlord, a bank clerk or a contractor than a firm complaint.

Time and invitations

Social time and business time work differently. For a dinner or party at someone's home, arriving exactly on the hour can be early. Guests commonly arrive somewhat later, and hosts expect that. For business meetings, medical appointments, government appointments and anything with a booked slot, be on time. Government offices, banks and consular appointments run on the clock.

If you are invited to someone's home, it is a nice gesture to bring something: dessert, wine, flowers or something from the US. Expect to be offered food and drink, and accepting at least a little is polite.

Meals and the table

Lunch ("almuerzo") is traditionally the main meal of the day. Many neighbourhood restaurants serve a set lunch, often called "corrientazo" or "menú del día," with soup, a main plate and a drink. Dinner tends to be lighter.

Table manners are broadly similar to the US, with a few habits worth knowing:

• Wait for the host to start or to say "buen provecho" before eating. People also say "buen provecho" to others when they leave a table or pass people eating.
• Keep your hands visible on the table rather than in your lap.
• In restaurants the waiter usually will not bring the bill until you ask for it ("la cuenta, por favor"). Lingering is normal.
• Many restaurant bills show a suggested voluntary service amount ("propina" or "servicio"). It is your choice whether to pay it, and staff will ask whether you want it included.

Coffee is a point of national pride, and "tinto" (a small black coffee) is offered in offices, homes and shops. Accepting one is a friendly way to begin a meeting.

Dress and appearance

People in Bogota and Medellin generally dress more formally than in many US cities, especially for work, banks and government offices. Shorts and flip-flops in the city can mark you as a tourist. On the Caribbean coast dress is lighter because of the heat, but neat clothing is still expected in offices. Bogota is cool year-round because of its altitude, so a jacket is normal.

Holidays and long weekends

Colombia has many public holidays, and several of them move to the following Monday, creating long weekends called "puentes." Travel, traffic and prices rise around them, and offices close.

The US Embassy in Bogota publishes a calendar of the days it closes for both US and Colombian holidays. Its 2025 list of Colombian holidays includes Three Kings Day (January 6), Saint Joseph's Day (March 24), Maundy Thursday and Good Friday (April 17 and 18), Labor Day (May 1), Sacred Heart / Saint Peter and Saint Paul (June 30), Battle of Boyaca Day (August 7), Assumption (August 18), All Saints' Day (November 3), Cartagena Independence (November 17) and Immaculate Conception (December 8). Dates change each year, so check the calendar before you book an appointment around a holiday.

Christmas season starts early. Many families mark "Día de las Velitas" on the night of December 7 with candles, and gatherings continue through the novena in the days before Christmas.

Dealing with offices and officials

A few practical customs apply to banks, notaries and government offices:

• Bring originals and copies of everything. Offices commonly ask for photocopies of your passport and your Cédula de Extranjería if you have one.
• Expect to take a number and wait. Patience and a polite greeting help.
• Check payment rules ahead of time. Migración Colombia states on its site that since June 1 it accepts payments only with Visa and Mastercard cards, and no longer accepts American Express or Diners Club.

One custom that confuses newcomers involves the US Embassy itself. Colombians often use a formal "derecho de petición" (right of petition) to get an answer from an institution. The embassy states that, under international rules on immunity, it does not respond to a derecho de petición or a "tutela" and asks people to use its online Navigator instead. Registering in the State Department's STEP programme is the simplest way to receive embassy safety messages.

Money, tipping and gifts at work

Paying with cards is common in cities, but small shops, markets and some taxis still prefer cash. It is polite to have small bills, since vendors often cannot break large ones.

In offices, small gestures matter more than expensive gifts. Bringing a box of pastries to share, greeting colleagues each morning and remembering birthdays are common habits.

Topics to handle with care

Colombians are generally proud of their country and open about its history, but outsiders joking about drugs or violence is widely considered offensive. Politics can be a heated topic, so listen more than you speak until you know people well. Football, food, music, family and travel inside Colombia are easy and welcome conversation topics.

Common questions

Do Colombians kiss on the cheek when greeting? Commonly, yes, a single light kiss on the right cheek between women, and between men and women in social settings. Men usually shake hands with other men. In business, start with a handshake and follow the other person's lead.

Should I use usted or tú in Colombia? Use usted with strangers, older people, officials and service staff. In Bogota and much of the Andean region many people use usted even with friends and family, so it is never rude. If someone switches to tú, you can switch too.

Is tipping expected in Colombian restaurants? Many restaurant bills show a suggested voluntary service amount, and staff usually ask whether you want it included. Paying it is your choice. In small neighbourhood places without table service, tipping is less common.

Where can I find which days are holidays in Colombia? The US Embassy in Bogota publishes a holiday calendar listing both US and Colombian holidays on which it is closed. Several Colombian holidays move to Monday, creating long weekends called puentes.