Technical Specifications & Standards
Official chronometric properties, ISO standards, and international database registry identifiers for Colombia Time:
Daylight Saving Time (DST) Transitions
⬆️ Spring Forward (Clocks Advance)
None (Equatorial geography provides roughly twelve hours of daylight year-round)
⬇️ Fall Back (Clocks Return)
None
Observing Jurisdictions & Subdivisions
1 Sovereign NationsSovereign nations, administrative subdivisions, and regional territories officially operating under COT:
Regional Subdivisions & Territory Details
Financial Markets & Trading Hours
Bogotá operates in direct alignment with Wall Street financial hours throughout the year, facilitating continuous trading in coffee, energy, and government bonds.
Local Hours: 09:30 - 16:00 COT
UTC Window: 13:00 - 21:00 UTC
Major Cities in COT
Primary metropolitan centers and financial hubs observing this time zone:
Adoption History & Astronomical Facts
Year Established: 1914
Adopted in 1914 based on the 75th meridian west, which cuts directly through the central Colombian coffee axis near Manizales. In 1992, during a severe drought triggered by El Niño that crippled hydroelectric dams, President César Gaviria introduced a temporary daylight saving shift known as 'Hora Gaviria' (UTC-4) to cut electricity consumption. The measure was discontinued nine months later.
Because Colombia is on UTC-5 year-round, its clock time matches New York during North American winter (EST), but matches Chicago and Dallas during North American summer (CDT).
Frequently Asked Questions about COT
Does Colombia observe Daylight Saving Time?
No. Colombia has not changed its clocks since 1993. Sitting close to the equator, sunrise and sunset vary by only about 20 minutes throughout the entire calendar year.
What is the time difference between Bogotá and New York?
During winter (when New York uses EST), there is no time difference between Bogotá and New York. During summer (when New York uses EDT), New York is one hour ahead of Bogotá.
Does Colombia share its time zone with other South American nations?
Yes. Peru (PET) and mainland Ecuador (ECT) also operate on UTC-5 year-round, meaning Bogotá, Lima, and Quito share the exact same time every day of the year.