How To Call Colombia From US
How to Call a Landline in Colombia
Calling a Colombian landline from the United States changed significantly in 2021. You now need to include a prefix after the country code. Follow these steps:
- Dial the US exit code: 011
- Dial Colombia's country code: 57
- Dial the new landline prefix: 60
- Dial the Colombian Indicativo (single-digit area code)
- Dial the local phone number (typically 7 digits)
For example, if you're calling a landline number in Bogotá (Indicativo 1), you would dial: 011 57 60 1 XXXXXXX.
It is crucial to remember the 60 prefix must be dialed after the country code 57 and before the single-digit Indicativo when calling any Colombian landline from abroad. This unification measure ensures all numbers dialed have a consistent length.
Dialing a Colombian landline:
How to Call a Mobile Phone in Colombia
Calling a Colombian mobile phone from the US is more straightforward and does not use the 60 prefix:
- Dial the US exit code: 011
- Dial Colombia's country code: 57
- Dial the full 10-digit Colombian mobile number (these almost always start with the digit 3).
For example, if the Colombian mobile number is 315 123 4567, you would dial: 011 57 315 123 4567 from the US.
Remember, mobile numbers in Colombia are 10 digits long and typically begin with '3'. Do not add the '60' prefix required for landlines.
Dialing a Colombian mobile:
Colombian City Area Codes
Below are the area codes for major Colombian cities and areas. When calling a landline, remember to use the format: 011 + 57 + Area Code + Local Number.
| City/Area | Area Code |
|---|---|
| Apartadó | 604 |
| Armenia | 606 |
| Barrancabermeja | 607 |
| Barranquilla | 605 |
| Bello | 604 |
| Bogotá | 601 |
| Bucaramanga | 607 |
| Buenaventura | 602 |
| Cali | 602 |
| Cartagena | 605 |
| Cartago | 602 |
| Cúcuta | 607 |
| Dos Quebradas | 606 |
| Envigado | 604 |
| Facatativá | 601 |
| Florencia (Caquetá) | 608 |
| Floridablanca | 607 |
| Girón | 607 |
| Ibagué | 608 |
| Itagüí | 604 |
| Manizales | 606 |
| Medellín | 604 |
| Montería | 604 |
| Neiva | 608 |
| Palmira | 602 |
| Pasto (San Juan de) | 602 |
| Pereira | 606 |
| Piedecuesta | 607 |
| Popayán | 602 |
| Riohacha | 605 |
| Santa Marta | 605 |
| Sincelejo | 605 |
| Soacha | 601 |
| Soledad | 605 |
| Tunja | 608 |
| Tuluá | 602 |
| Valledupar | 605 |
| Villavicencio | 608 |
| Yopal | 608 |
Mobile Phone Networks
Colombian mobile numbers are 10 digits long and start with '3'. While number portability allows users to keep their number when changing providers, certain prefixes were originally assigned to specific networks:
| Network | Common Prefixes (Starting with 3) |
|---|---|
| Claro (Comcel) | 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 320, 321, 322, 323 |
| Movistar | 315, 316, 317, 318 |
| Tigo (UNE EPM) | 300, 301, 302, 304, 305, 324 (new) |
| WOM | 302, 324 (new ranges, also uses others via portability) |
| Virgin Mobile | Uses Movistar's network |
| Móvil Éxito | Uses Tigo's network |
Remember to dial 011 + 57 + 10-digit Mobile Number regardless of the network.
Time Difference
Colombia operates on Colombia Time (COT), which is UTC-5 year-round. Colombia does not observe Daylight Saving Time.
This means the time difference with the United States varies:
Eastern Time (ET): Same time as EST (UTC-5). Colombia is 1 hour behind EDT (UTC-4).
Central Time (CT): Colombia is 1 hour ahead of CST (UTC-6). Same time as CDT (UTC-5).
Mountain Time (MT): Colombia is 2 hours ahead of MST (UTC-7). 1 hour ahead of MDT (UTC-6).
Pacific Time (PT): Colombia is 3 hours ahead of PST (UTC-8). 2 hours ahead of PDT (UTC-7).
Check the current time difference before calling, especially when the US is observing Daylight Saving Time (roughly March to November).
Colombia's Phone System
Colombia has a well-developed telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in major cities like Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali. Mobile phone penetration is very high. Landline connections are reliable in urban areas. Internet-based communication like WhatsApp is extremely popular for both text and voice calls among Colombians.
Best Times to Call
Given Colombia shares the same time zone as US Eastern Standard Time (EST), coordinating business calls is often straightforward during standard US business hours (when the US is not on DST).
Typical Colombian business hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM COT. Some businesses close for an hour at lunch. Many operate on Saturday mornings.
Aim for mid-morning to mid-afternoon Colombian time for the best chance of reaching someone. Remember the potential 1-hour difference if the US ET zone is on Daylight Saving Time.
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|---|---|
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| US$ 20.00 | 7h 13min |
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| Price | Talk Time |
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| US$ 10.00 | 1h 46min |
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| US$ 50.00 + US$5.00 bonus | 9h 43min |
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Dial local access number
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Enter your PIN
Input your unique 10-digit PIN when prompted
Dial Colombian number
Follow the format based on your destination:
For Landlines: 57 + 60 + Indicativo + Local Number
For Mobiles: 57 + 10-digit Mobile Number
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