Introduction
Begging to be discovered, Colombia's got everything but crowds. Vibrant cities with soaring skyscrapers, elegant port towns cut by cobbled alleys and bougainvillea-shrouded balconies, spectacular national parks from tropical to heavenly-high-alpine, cruise boats, party buses, late-night salsa dancing and glorious shopping. This is Colombia we're talking about!
On the surface, Colombia is a seemingly untroubled country. Media reports, however, still speak of coca fields, violent crime and kidnappings. Beyond the headlines is a thriving society with a rising middle class, some of the best health care and universities in South America, and improved security.
'The basic dream of many Colombians is to have a secure nation, without exclusions, with equity, and without hatred.' - Alvaro Uribe Velez
Geography:
Colombia is the fourth-largest country in South America and the only one with coasts on both the Pacific and Caribbean. It shares borders with Panama (to the northwest), Venezuela (east), Brazil (southeast), Peru (south) and Ecuador (southwest). Colombian territory also includes the San Andr é s and Providencia island groups, 750km (435mi) northwest of the mainland, in the Caribbean Sea. The archipelagoes are 230km (140mi) east of Nicaragua. The western part of the country is mostly mountainous: the 8000km (5000mi) Cordillera de los Andes runs the length of South America and, on reaching Colombia, splits into three ranges (Cordilleras Occidental, Central and Oriental). Two valleys - Valle del Cauca and Valle del Magdalena - are sandwiched between the three cordilleras; their rivers flow northwards, more or less parallel, until the Cauca River joins the Magdalena and flows into the Caribbean. Apart from the three Andean chains, Colombia boasts the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the highest coastal mountain range in the world. Over 50% of the territory east of the Andes is lowland or covered by thick rainforest crisscrossed by rivers and their tributaries. Among Colombia's geographical curiosities are deserts in the northeast; the jungle of the Pacific coast (which holds a record for highest rainfall); and the Serran í a de la Macarena, an isolated mountain formation rising 1000m (3000ft) from the eastern plains. Protected areas cover 8.5% of the country. This includes 38 National Parks, 12 sanctuaries for flora and fauna and four other natural reserve areas. Colombia also has a network of more than 120 private reserves. These consist of small tracts of land, often less than 25 ha (62 acres), protected by conservation groups that bought the land to save it from logging. Unfortunately many of the more remote natural areas are not safe to visit due to the ongoing civil conflict, however the security situation has improved, and a number of parks are now accessible but not overrun with tourists.
Destination Facts
Capital: Bogotá
President: Á lvaro Uribe V é lez
Government: republic
Time zone: GMT -5
Area: 1141748
Population: 43000000
People: 58% mestizo (European-Indian descent), 20% European descent, 14% mulatto (African-European descent), 4% African descent, 3% African-Indian descent, 1% indigenous
Languages: Spanish is the official language; there are also about 65 indigenous languages.
Catholic (90%), with the remainder a mixture of traditional, Episcopal & Jewish faiths
Currency: Colombian Peso (Col$)
GDP: Approx. Col$105500000000
Major industries: Textiles, coffee, oil, narcotics, sugar cane, food processing, chemicals, gold, emeralds
Major Trading Partners: USA, Venezuela, Mexico, China, Brazil, Ecuador
Daylight Saving: From not in use to not in use
Country Dialing Code: 57
Getting there
The most pleasant time to visit Colombia is in the dry season, between December and March or July and August, particularly if you plan on hiking. It also gives visitors a better chance to savor local cultural events, as many festivals and fiestas take place during these times. Apart from the weather, you might also consider Colombian holiday periods. There are basically three high seasons when Colombians rush to travel: from late December to mid-January, during Semana Santa (Holy Week; March or April), and from mid-June to mid-July. Also take note of three-day weekends, when urban dwellers rush to rural getaways, such as Villa de Leyva; and regional celebrations, such as Carnaval in Barranquilla. During these periods transport gets more crowded, hotels tend to fill up faster and prices may rise, so you'll have to pre-plan your trip and do more legwork to find somewhere to stay. But you'll also enjoy more contact with traveling Colombians, whose relaxed, holiday spirit is infectious.
Getting there and away
Colombia has good and relatively cheap air links with Europe and North America. Most visitors use Colombia's major international airport in Bogot á - others include Cartagena, Barranquilla, Medell í n, Cali and San Andr é s. Departure tax is usually included in the cost of the flight. There are road connections with Venezuela and Ecuador only, which are popular and easy. It's now also possible to cross the border to Panama on a small ferry that skirts the shore. You can't continue by land into Panama, though; the only option is to take a plane from there to Panama City. Travelers planning to cross at Arauca-El Amparo de Apure or Puerto Carre ñ o-Puerto P á ez should consult their embassy for security information. Ports on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts make it possible to arrive or leave by boat. Sea traffic is busier on the Caribbean side: ports there include Baranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta and Turbo; its major Pacific port is Buenaventura.
Getting around
Avianca is Colombia's flagship airline. Others include AeroReb ú blica, Aires and Satena. Fares can be high but newer airlines offer cheap promotions. Reconfirm your booking 72 hours in advance. There's an airport tax on domestic flights. Although buses are slow and crowded, they provide the main form of transport and are cheap, efficient and extensive. Taxis are good value and can be chartered for long trips. Car and motorcycle travel can be expensive and dangerous, with theft the main problem. Water transport is irregular and primitive. When visiting Bogot á , use TransMilenio - a fast urban bus service. In Medell í n, use the city's high-speed metro. Cycling isn't easy in Colombia. Road rules favor drivers and you'll fight traffic on main roads. However, most roads are paved and security is improving. Bike rentals are uncommon but you can buy one almost anywhere. For something different, try a chiva (an old-style, wooden bus) or collectivo (a cross between a bus and taxi).
Visa:
Nationals of some countries, including most of Western Europe, the Americas, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, don't need a visa to enter Colombia. It's a good idea to check this before leaving, though, as visa regulations change frequently. All visitors get an entry stamp or a print in their passport from DAS (the security police responsible for immigration) upon arrival at any international airport or land border crossing - it says how many days you can stay in the country. The maximum allowed is 90 days, but DAS officials often stamp 60 or even just 30 days. Make sure you get an entry stamp or you'll have troubles later. Official money changers and banks will want to see your entry stamp, as will police if there are any problems. When departing the country, you'll also have to pay a fine and get a salvoconducto from a DAS office if you don't have a stamp. Similarly, make sure you have a departure stamp oryou'll have trouble the next time around. You're entitled to a 30-day extension on your stay, which can be obtained from DAS in any departmental capital. The additional 30 days begin from the end of the visa already stamped in your passport (so there's no need to wait to the last minute). Most travelers apply for an extension in Bogot á .
Customs:
Customs procedures are usually a formality, both entering and leaving the country. However, thorough luggage checks can occur, more often at airports than at overland borders, and they can be very exhaustive, with a body search included. They aren't looking for your extra iPod, but for drugs. Trying to smuggle dope across the border is the best way to spend some years seeing what the inside of a Colombian jail looks like. Traveling with large sums of cash will also arouse suspicion.Customs regulations don't differ much from those in other South American countries. You can bring in personal belongings and presents you intend to give to Colombian residents. The quantity, kind and value of these items shouldn't arouse suspicion that they may have been imported for commercial purposes. You can bring cameras (still, video and movie), camping equipment, sports accessories, a laptop computer and the like without any problems. On departure, you may be asked for receipts for emeralds, antiques and articles of gold and platinum purchased in Colombia.
Weather
Colombia's proximity to the equator means its temperature varies little throughout the year. However, the temperature does change with altitude, which creates various climatic zones ranging from hot lowlands to freezing Andean peaks - you can experience completely different climates within just a couple of hours of travel. As a general rule, the temperature falls about 6 º C (43 º F) with every 1000m (3281ft) increase in altitude. Colombia has two seasons: verano or la sequia (summer, or dry), and invierno or temproada de lluvia (winter, or wet). The pattern of seasons varies in different parts of the country, and has been greatly affected over recent years by El Ni ñ o and La Ni ñ a. For example, in the Andean region there are two dry and two rainy seasons per year. The main dry season falls between December and March, with a shorter and less dry period between July and August. This general pattern varies throughout the Andean zone. The weather in Los Llanos has a more definite pattern: there is one dry season, between December and March, while the rest of the year it's wet. The Amazon doesn't have a uniform climate but is generally quite wet year-round.
Places of Interest
Colonial towns, mountain vistas, ancient sites and lazing by the beach. Colombia has an amazing diversity of attractions. Step into a storybook: whitewashed colonial villages virtually unchanged over two centuries, or the burial sites of lost civilizations. National parks range from jungle to mountains, volcanoes to beaches, bays and Caribbean islands. Vibrant cities with soaring skyscrapers, elegant port towns cut by cobbled alleys and bougainvillea-shrouded balconies, spectacular national parks from tropical to heavenly-high-alpine, cruise boats, party buses, late-night salsa dancing and glorious shopping. This is Colombia we're talking about!
On the surface, Colombia is a seemingly untroubled country. Media reports, however, still speak of coca fields, violent crime and kidnappings. Beyond the headlines is a thriving society with a rising middle class, some of the best health care and universities in South America, and improved security.
Warning
Travelers should exercise vigilance at all times due to the level of violent crime. Although kidnapping and homicide rates in urban areas have dropped in recent years, they remain high. Check out Safe Travel or the Thorn Tree travel forum for advice from travelers.
Begging to be discovered, Colombia's got everything but crowds. Vibrant cities with soaring skyscrapers, elegant port towns cut by cobbled alleys and bougainvillea-shrouded balconies, spectacular national parks from tropical to heavenly-high-alpine, cruise boats, party buses, late-night salsa dancing and glorious shopping. This is Colombia we're talking about!
On the surface, Colombia is a seemingly untroubled country. Media reports, however, still speak of coca fields, violent crime and kidnappings. Beyond the headlines is a thriving society with a rising middle class, some of the best health care and universities in South America, and improved security.
'The basic dream of many Colombians is to have a secure nation, without exclusions, with equity, and without hatred.' - Alvaro Uribe Velez
Geography:
Colombia is the fourth-largest country in South America and the only one with coasts on both the Pacific and Caribbean. It shares borders with Panama (to the northwest), Venezuela (east), Brazil (southeast), Peru (south) and Ecuador (southwest). Colombian territory also includes the San Andr é s and Providencia island groups, 750km (435mi) northwest of the mainland, in the Caribbean Sea. The archipelagoes are 230km (140mi) east of Nicaragua. The western part of the country is mostly mountainous: the 8000km (5000mi) Cordillera de los Andes runs the length of South America and, on reaching Colombia, splits into three ranges (Cordilleras Occidental, Central and Oriental). Two valleys - Valle del Cauca and Valle del Magdalena - are sandwiched between the three cordilleras; their rivers flow northwards, more or less parallel, until the Cauca River joins the Magdalena and flows into the Caribbean. Apart from the three Andean chains, Colombia boasts the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the highest coastal mountain range in the world. Over 50% of the territory east of the Andes is lowland or covered by thick rainforest crisscrossed by rivers and their tributaries. Among Colombia's geographical curiosities are deserts in the northeast; the jungle of the Pacific coast (which holds a record for highest rainfall); and the Serran í a de la Macarena, an isolated mountain formation rising 1000m (3000ft) from the eastern plains. Protected areas cover 8.5% of the country. This includes 38 National Parks, 12 sanctuaries for flora and fauna and four other natural reserve areas. Colombia also has a network of more than 120 private reserves. These consist of small tracts of land, often less than 25 ha (62 acres), protected by conservation groups that bought the land to save it from logging. Unfortunately many of the more remote natural areas are not safe to visit due to the ongoing civil conflict, however the security situation has improved, and a number of parks are now accessible but not overrun with tourists.
Destination Facts
Capital: Bogotá
President: Á lvaro Uribe V é lez
Government: republic
Time zone: GMT -5
Area: 1141748
Population: 43000000
People: 58% mestizo (European-Indian descent), 20% European descent, 14% mulatto (African-European descent), 4% African descent, 3% African-Indian descent, 1% indigenous
Languages: Spanish is the official language; there are also about 65 indigenous languages.
Catholic (90%), with the remainder a mixture of traditional, Episcopal & Jewish faiths
Currency: Colombian Peso (Col$)
GDP: Approx. Col$105500000000
Major industries: Textiles, coffee, oil, narcotics, sugar cane, food processing, chemicals, gold, emeralds
Major Trading Partners: USA, Venezuela, Mexico, China, Brazil, Ecuador
Daylight Saving: From not in use to not in use
Country Dialing Code: 57
Getting there
The most pleasant time to visit Colombia is in the dry season, between December and March or July and August, particularly if you plan on hiking. It also gives visitors a better chance to savor local cultural events, as many festivals and fiestas take place during these times. Apart from the weather, you might also consider Colombian holiday periods. There are basically three high seasons when Colombians rush to travel: from late December to mid-January, during Semana Santa (Holy Week; March or April), and from mid-June to mid-July. Also take note of three-day weekends, when urban dwellers rush to rural getaways, such as Villa de Leyva; and regional celebrations, such as Carnaval in Barranquilla. During these periods transport gets more crowded, hotels tend to fill up faster and prices may rise, so you'll have to pre-plan your trip and do more legwork to find somewhere to stay. But you'll also enjoy more contact with traveling Colombians, whose relaxed, holiday spirit is infectious.
Getting there and away
Colombia has good and relatively cheap air links with Europe and North America. Most visitors use Colombia's major international airport in Bogot á - others include Cartagena, Barranquilla, Medell í n, Cali and San Andr é s. Departure tax is usually included in the cost of the flight. There are road connections with Venezuela and Ecuador only, which are popular and easy. It's now also possible to cross the border to Panama on a small ferry that skirts the shore. You can't continue by land into Panama, though; the only option is to take a plane from there to Panama City. Travelers planning to cross at Arauca-El Amparo de Apure or Puerto Carre ñ o-Puerto P á ez should consult their embassy for security information. Ports on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts make it possible to arrive or leave by boat. Sea traffic is busier on the Caribbean side: ports there include Baranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta and Turbo; its major Pacific port is Buenaventura.
Getting around
Avianca is Colombia's flagship airline. Others include AeroReb ú blica, Aires and Satena. Fares can be high but newer airlines offer cheap promotions. Reconfirm your booking 72 hours in advance. There's an airport tax on domestic flights. Although buses are slow and crowded, they provide the main form of transport and are cheap, efficient and extensive. Taxis are good value and can be chartered for long trips. Car and motorcycle travel can be expensive and dangerous, with theft the main problem. Water transport is irregular and primitive. When visiting Bogot á , use TransMilenio - a fast urban bus service. In Medell í n, use the city's high-speed metro. Cycling isn't easy in Colombia. Road rules favor drivers and you'll fight traffic on main roads. However, most roads are paved and security is improving. Bike rentals are uncommon but you can buy one almost anywhere. For something different, try a chiva (an old-style, wooden bus) or collectivo (a cross between a bus and taxi).
Visa:
Nationals of some countries, including most of Western Europe, the Americas, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, don't need a visa to enter Colombia. It's a good idea to check this before leaving, though, as visa regulations change frequently. All visitors get an entry stamp or a print in their passport from DAS (the security police responsible for immigration) upon arrival at any international airport or land border crossing - it says how many days you can stay in the country. The maximum allowed is 90 days, but DAS officials often stamp 60 or even just 30 days. Make sure you get an entry stamp or you'll have troubles later. Official money changers and banks will want to see your entry stamp, as will police if there are any problems. When departing the country, you'll also have to pay a fine and get a salvoconducto from a DAS office if you don't have a stamp. Similarly, make sure you have a departure stamp oryou'll have trouble the next time around. You're entitled to a 30-day extension on your stay, which can be obtained from DAS in any departmental capital. The additional 30 days begin from the end of the visa already stamped in your passport (so there's no need to wait to the last minute). Most travelers apply for an extension in Bogot á .
Customs:
Customs procedures are usually a formality, both entering and leaving the country. However, thorough luggage checks can occur, more often at airports than at overland borders, and they can be very exhaustive, with a body search included. They aren't looking for your extra iPod, but for drugs. Trying to smuggle dope across the border is the best way to spend some years seeing what the inside of a Colombian jail looks like. Traveling with large sums of cash will also arouse suspicion.Customs regulations don't differ much from those in other South American countries. You can bring in personal belongings and presents you intend to give to Colombian residents. The quantity, kind and value of these items shouldn't arouse suspicion that they may have been imported for commercial purposes. You can bring cameras (still, video and movie), camping equipment, sports accessories, a laptop computer and the like without any problems. On departure, you may be asked for receipts for emeralds, antiques and articles of gold and platinum purchased in Colombia.
Weather
Colombia's proximity to the equator means its temperature varies little throughout the year. However, the temperature does change with altitude, which creates various climatic zones ranging from hot lowlands to freezing Andean peaks - you can experience completely different climates within just a couple of hours of travel. As a general rule, the temperature falls about 6 º C (43 º F) with every 1000m (3281ft) increase in altitude. Colombia has two seasons: verano or la sequia (summer, or dry), and invierno or temproada de lluvia (winter, or wet). The pattern of seasons varies in different parts of the country, and has been greatly affected over recent years by El Ni ñ o and La Ni ñ a. For example, in the Andean region there are two dry and two rainy seasons per year. The main dry season falls between December and March, with a shorter and less dry period between July and August. This general pattern varies throughout the Andean zone. The weather in Los Llanos has a more definite pattern: there is one dry season, between December and March, while the rest of the year it's wet. The Amazon doesn't have a uniform climate but is generally quite wet year-round.
Places of Interest
Colonial towns, mountain vistas, ancient sites and lazing by the beach. Colombia has an amazing diversity of attractions. Step into a storybook: whitewashed colonial villages virtually unchanged over two centuries, or the burial sites of lost civilizations. National parks range from jungle to mountains, volcanoes to beaches, bays and Caribbean islands. Vibrant cities with soaring skyscrapers, elegant port towns cut by cobbled alleys and bougainvillea-shrouded balconies, spectacular national parks from tropical to heavenly-high-alpine, cruise boats, party buses, late-night salsa dancing and glorious shopping. This is Colombia we're talking about!
On the surface, Colombia is a seemingly untroubled country. Media reports, however, still speak of coca fields, violent crime and kidnappings. Beyond the headlines is a thriving society with a rising middle class, some of the best health care and universities in South America, and improved security.
Warning
Travelers should exercise vigilance at all times due to the level of violent crime. Although kidnapping and homicide rates in urban areas have dropped in recent years, they remain high. Check out Safe Travel or the Thorn Tree travel forum for advice from travelers.
0 comments:
Speak up your mind
Tell us what you're thinking... !