A Colombian flag flying over the old town of Bogotá.

Sending a Postcard from Colombia: Postage, Stamps & Delivery

From the colorful alleys of Cartagena to the coffee plantations of the Eje Cafetero – here's how to send greetings from the land of a thousand colors without them getting stuck in the 4-72 postal queue.

Photo by Flavia Carpio on Unsplash

Colombia, the land of "mil colores" (a thousand colors), has long been one of the most exciting travel destinations in South America. Whether it's the vividly colored houses of the Getsemaní neighborhood in Cartagena, the endless coffee plantations of the Eje Cafetero, or the buzzing nightlife of Medellín – vacation photos from Colombia are guaranteed refrigerator magnets of the highest order.

The good news: Colombia has a functioning national postal service called 4-72 (Servicios Postales Nacionales). The less good: branches are often small and hidden, stamps are not sold anywhere else, and regular postcards can easily take 3 to 5 weeks to reach Europe. This guide covers current postage rates, where to find stamps, and how to send your colorful greetings straight from your smartphone instead.

Last updated: May 2026

Sending Postcards from Colombia

Between colonial architecture, coffee farms, and Caribbean beaches – here's how to navigate the Colombian postal system.

Exterior of a 4-72 post office branch (Oficina de Correos) in Cúcuta, Colombia.

Photo by EEIM on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The 4-72 System: Small but Everywhere

Colombia's national postal service is called 4-72 (Servicios Postales Nacionales) – named after the country's geographic centre coordinates (4°N, 72°W). Branches often look like small stationery shops and hide in shopping centres or along main streets. Look for the yellow-and-black 4-72 logo. Stamps (Estampillas) are sold here and only here – souvenir shops sell postcards but not stamps, and supermarkets don't stock them either.

Classic red pillar-box style mailbox on a street in Bogotá, Colombia.

Photo by Anfecaro on Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Red Mailboxes: Rare but Real

In Bogotá and other major cities you'll occasionally come across classic red pillar-box mailboxes – a relic of the colonial era. They do exist, but they're few and far between and hard to spot without local knowledge. Don't rely on finding one on your holiday. Your safest bet is to hand your stamped card directly to a 4-72 branch.

Colorful street scene in the Getsemaní neighborhood of Cartagena, Colombia, with cars parked in front of green and white buildings.

Photo by Leandro Loureiro on Unsplash

The Reception Desk Trick

In tourist-heavy areas – especially the boutique hotels of Cartagena's old town – many reception desks will accept stamped postcards and pass them on to the next postman. A small tip (1–2 USD) ensures your card actually makes it out, and saves you the hunt through the labyrinth of cobbled streets.

Phrasebook: Spanish at the Post Office

Spanish is the official language – and with a few friendly phrases you'll track down even the most hidden 4-72 branch.

Good morning / afternoon!

🇨🇴¡Buenos días / tardes!

🗣️Bwe-nos dee-as / tar-des!

Where is the post office?

🇨🇴¿Dónde está la oficina de correos?

🗣️Don-de es-ta la o-fee-see-na de ko-re-os?

I need a stamp.

🇨🇴Necesito una estampilla.

🗣️Ne-se-see-to oo-na es-tam-pee-ya.

To Germany, please.

🇨🇴Para Alemania, por favor.

🗣️Pa-ra A-le-ma-nia, por fa-bor.

How much does it cost to send this to Europe?

🇨🇴¿Cuánto cuesta enviar esto a Europa?

🗣️Kwan-to kwes-ta en-bee-ar es-to a Eu-ro-pa?

Thank you very much!

🇨🇴¡Muchas gracias!

🗣️Moo-chas gra-see-as!

How much is the postage from Colombia to Europe?

Current prices for shipping via Correo Normal to Europe. (As of: 2026)

Local Facts (4-72)

📮

Postcard (souvenir shop)approx. €0.50 – €1.50

Stamp (approx. 10,000 COP)approx. €2.00 – €2.50

Total cost per cardapprox. €2.50 – €4.00

Effort on vacationFinding a 4-72 branch (not sold in supermarkets!)

Delivery time (based on experience)Officially 10–12 business days, realistically 3–5 weeks

Don't feel like waiting 5 weeks?

Photo by lo lindo on Unsplash

Photo by Michael Barón on UnsplashPhoto by Michael Barón on UnsplashPhoto by Kevin Bluer on Unsplash

The Smart Alternative: SlickPostcard

Skip the search for a 4-72 branch in the maze of the old town. Turn your best Cartagena photo into a real postcard – printed in Europe and delivered in days, not weeks.

Your own Cartagena shots or coffee-farm selfies turned into a real postcard
Fixed price €3.49 incl. worldwide shipping – no COP exchange-rate risk
Printed & shipped from Europe: delivered in days, not 5 weeks later
No hunting for a 4-72 branch – just design and send from the beach-club Wi-Fi

Design Postcard Learn More

📸

Your Own Photos or Pro Motifs?

The fortress shot came out blurry? On Unsplash you'll find stunning Colombia motifs you can use for free on your card. Check out our step-by-step guide for details!

Directly to Image Search:

Colombia Cartagena Medellín Valle del Cocora Coffee Colombia

Design Postcard

✍️

Inspiration: Greetings with a Latin American flavour

"Hello from Cartagena! The old town looks like a painting – colorful houses, bougainvillea walls, music everywhere, and the Caribbean Sea just a few steps away. We're fairly certain we never want to leave."

"Greetings from coffee country! The coffee here ruins every supermarket cup forever. And the wax palms in the Valle del Cocora? Completely surreal – like a set from a fantasy film."

"Medellín, the City of Eternal Spring – and it lives up to the name! Perfect weather every day, wonderfully warm people, and the cable car over the neighbourhoods offers a view that takes your breath away. ¡Qué bacano!"

Let our AI write a colorful greeting from Colombia for you!

Dein Text mit

Frequently Asked Questions about Postcards from Colombia

How long does a postcard from Colombia to Europe take?

The official 4-72 estimate is "10 to 12 business days." In practice, you should plan for 3 to 5 weeks – meaning you'll almost certainly be back home before the card arrives. Some cards show up after two months, and unfortunately some never arrive at all. The registered option (Correo Certificado) is more reliable but usually overkill for a postcard.

Where can I buy stamps in Colombia?

Stamps (Estampillas) are sold exclusively at branches of the state postal service 4-72 (Servicios Postales Nacionales). Unlike in Europe, they are not available in supermarkets or newsstands. A common misconception: souvenir shops sell postcards but not stamps – you still need to find a 4-72 branch. Look for the yellow-and-black 4-72 logo on small shopfronts or in shopping centres. It's easier in tourist-friendly cities like Cartagena or Bogotá than in rural areas.

How much does it cost to send a postcard from Colombia?

Postage for a standard postcard via Correo Normal to Europe is currently around 10,000 COP – roughly €2.00 to €2.50 depending on the exchange rate. Add the cost of the card itself (usually €0.50 to €1.50) and you're looking at a total of about €2.50 to €4.00 per card.

Are there mailboxes on the street in Colombia?

In Bogotá and other major cities you'll occasionally spot classic red pillar-box mailboxes – a legacy of the colonial era. They're rare and hard to find without local knowledge, so don't count on stumbling across one. It's more reliable to hand your stamped card directly to a 4-72 branch. Hotels in tourist areas, especially in Cartagena's old town, often accept stamped postcards at reception – a small tip helps.

Is the postal service in Colombia reliable?

For postcards, Correo Normal is fine – there's no material value to lose if one goes missing. Infrastructure works noticeably better in well-touristed cities like Cartagena, Bogotá, and Medellín than in remote areas or the Amazon region. For anything important, use Correo Certificado with tracking.

Where can I find free Colombia photos for my postcard?

Did the selfie in front of the fortress turn out blurry? No problem! Unsplash has thousands of free professional shots of Cartagena, the Eje Cafetero, and the Valle del Cocora. Search for "Cartagena Colombia", "Coffee Colombia", or "Valle del Cocora". Our free motifs guide walks you through exactly how it works.