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How to Call Colombia From the US: Complete Guide (+57)

How to Call Colombia From the US: Complete Guide (+57)
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How to Dial Colombia From the US

Colombia uses the country code +57. Whether you are calling family in Bogotá, business contacts in Medellín, or friends in Cali, the dialling format is the same from any US phone.

Dialling Format

From a US phone, dial: 011 + 57 + 10-digit local number

From a mobile with + dialling: +57 + 10-digit local number

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Colombia moved to 10-digit local numbers in 2021. Old 7-digit numbers now have a city prefix added automatically.

Example Calls

Colombian Area Codes

Colombia has regional area codes for landlines and a unified 3XX prefix for mobile phones:

  • 601 — Bogotá
  • 602 — Cali, Valle del Cauca
  • 604 — Medellín, Antioquia
  • 605 — Barranquilla, Caribbean coast
  • 606 — Bucaramanga, Santander
  • 607 — Manizales, Caldas
  • 608 — Neiva, Huila
  • 3XX — All mobile phones (Claro, Movistar, Tigo)

Cost Comparison: Calling Colombia

Rates vary widely depending on how you call. Here is what you will actually pay per minute in 2026:

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BubblyPhone costs $0.01/min with no monthly fees — the cheapest paid option for calling Colombian landlines and mobiles.

Best Time to Call Colombia

Colombia is in the Colombia Time zone (COT, UTC-5), which is the same as US Eastern Time (EST). During US daylight saving time, Colombia is 1 hour behind Eastern.

  • Same as ET (Nov-Mar): 9 AM in New York = 9 AM in Bogotá
  • 1 hour behind ET (Mar-Nov): 9 AM EDT in New York = 8 AM in Bogotá
  • Business hours: Call between 8 AM - 6 PM COT for businesses
  • Personal calls: Evenings after 7 PM COT are best for personal calls

Tips for Calling Colombia

  • Mobile vs landline: Most Colombians use mobile phones. Landline use is declining, especially outside major cities.
  • WhatsApp first: Colombians heavily use WhatsApp. For informal calls, try WhatsApp voice/video first — it is free over WiFi.
  • City prefix required: Always include the city prefix (601, 602, etc.) even for landlines. The old 7-digit format no longer works.
  • Emergency numbers: 123 (police/fire/ambulance) from within Colombia.

Summary

To call Colombia from the US, dial 011 + 57 + 10-digit number (or +57 from a mobile). BubblyPhone offers the cheapest rates at $0.01/min. Colombia shares a similar time zone to the US East Coast, making it easy to call during normal hours.

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