Colombia Hall

Panoramic view of Bocagrande, Cartagena

Botero Square and Museum of Antioquia at back (Medellin)

Basic info

Colombia is the 26th largest nation in the world and the fourth largest in South America, with an area more than twice than France. Colombia is bordered on the northwest by Panama, on the east by Venezuela and Brazil, and on the southwest by Peru and Ecuador. Through the western half of the country, three Andean ranges run north and south. The eastern half is a low, jungle-covered plain, drained by spurs of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, inhabited mostly by isolated tropical-forest Indian tribes. The fertile plateau and valley of the eastern range are the most densely populated parts of the country.

Population> 45.013.674h
Capital> Santa fe de Bogota (7.594.000h)
Language> Spanish
National holiday> Independence day (20 July)
Religion> Roman Catolic (90%)
Currency> Peso (COP)
Timezone> UTC-5
Calling code> +57

Bogota D.F. (Capital city of Colombia)

Weather

Colombia has a tropical climate characterized by stable temperatures throughout the year. The Andes have divided the country in the following climates.

Warm (altitudes lower than 1.000 meters, temperatures higher than 24°C, covers 80% of the country.)

Temperate ( altitude between 1.000 and 2.000 m., temperature between 17°C and 24°C, 10% of the country)

Cold ( altitude from 2.000 m to 3.000 m., temperatures between 12°C and 17°C, 8% of the country)

Tree Line ( altitudes of 3.000 meters and temperatures lower than 12°C).

So please get info about the zone you are going to visit, depending that you have to pack some stuffs.

You can see Colombia weather forecast clicking here!

West Cali rainbown (Cali is one of main cities in Colombia)

How to arrive

By A I R

The international airline company of Colombia that also operate on international levels is Avianca.

Other companies that flies to Colombia from international destination are: COPA, British Airways, Continental Airlines, American Airlines, Varig, Iberia, Mexicana de aviacion, Iberia, Aerolineas argentinas and Air Canada. There are many direct flies from Panama, Lima, Madrid, Montreal, Toronto, New York and Miami to Bogota.

If you are coming from Southeast Asia, you could have a stop on LA airport before take another plane to Colombia.

Approximate flight time from some cities to Santa Fe de Bogota:

New York 4h50'

Los Angeles 8h15'

Miami 3h30'

Toronto 5h05'

Paris 12h

Dependig your final destiny you could arrive to El Dorado International Airport in Bogota (BOG), Jose Maria Cordoba in Medellin (MDE), Palmaseca in Cali CLO), Ernesto Cortissoz in Barranquilla (BAQ) or Crespo Airport in Cartagena (CTG).

An exit tax of US$ 66 must be paid by all Colombian citizens and foreigners whose stay in Colombia was longer than two months. In the case of shorter stays, the exit tax for foreigners is US$ 33. Depending on the itinerary, some airlines, such as Air France, American Airlines and Avianca, include the cost of the tax in the cost of the ticket.

The exit tax must be paid at the airport, at the time of departure, in cash and in only one currency (Colombian pesos or US dollars, excluding US$100 bills).

By L A N D

There are highways between Colombia and Venezuela and Colombia and Ecuador. Both are served by national and international bus companies. Just go directly to any Terminal Terrestre de Transporte (Land Bus Terminal) ubicaded in any city, and you can find there many bus companies that could get you directly to border pass.

But if you prefer to rent a car, there are many companies around the country that could give you this service. Be cautios because authorities should ask you for your passport, driver's licence, car insurance and properties car card.

By S E A

There are many maritimes companies that stop on Colombia, from cargo to cruise ships. You can contact many cruise companies that arrive to Cartagena as French Line, Italian Line, Pacific Steam Navigation, Royal Netherlands SS Company.

Barranquilla: 'The Colombia Golden Gate'

Some things you must know before coming

Tourist Visa

If you live in a country that have a restriction please go firts to any colombian consulate or embassy in your countr. For more info please visit: www.cancilleria.gov.co.

But if you are European, American, Canadian, Japanese or Australian, don't worry, you don't need any visa, and you can stay here by 90 days. Enough time!

You can extend your stay in Colombia, just go directly to office of Immigrations Affairs, in Calle 100 No. 11-27, Bogota.

Don't forget to bring with you papers as

Studend card, International driver's licence, Vaccination certificates, travel or medical insurance.

Currency and Currency Exhchange

The official currency of Colombia is peso ($). Entering or taking out money, in this denomination or in any other, is restricted and should be declared on entering or leaving the country.

The exchange of foreign currency should be made exclusively in hotels, banks and bureaux de change, never on the street. The exchange rate fluctuates from day to day and has the U.S. dollar as the official reference rate, which is also the currency most used in the market. Payment is made on the basis of the official daily rate, after discounting commissions and services, which vary between 2 and 3%.

Please use this tool to convert!

Debit and Credit Cards

Larger stores, supermarket, gas stations, shops, malls, hotels and restaurants, accept such cards. The most frequent Credit Card is Visa and Mastercard, some places accept Dinners and American Express.

Traveler's Check

Before acquiring them in the country of origin, it is advisable to check on the existence of representations or branches in Colombia. The traveler’s checks most used are those of American Express and Citicorp. In the more exclusive hotels you can make payments with them but they are not commonly used in commercial establishments. To be honest, no advisable.

Telecomunications

International calls dial 00 + (9) or (7) + country code + area code + number.

National calls dial 0 + (9) (5) or (7) + city code + number.

Around all Colombia will you found CyberCafe, a place where you can rent a computer by 15' 30' 45' or 60' by a modest price. In this places you can make national and international calls too.

Health tips

If you are thinking to spend some time on any capital city inside Colombia, you probably don't gonna have any problem with your health, but if you want to go to any forest or Pacific or Amazonian zone please be sure to to get yellow fever and tetanus vaccines at least 15 days in advance.

Upon Arrival

Customs

When you arrive, you will receive a Baggage and Currency Form Declaration, you have to fill it and sign it. In this form you must to declarete your personal effects, merchandise and currency amount that it's bringing to the country.

Duty-free entry of merchandise

The traveler may bring duty-free merchandise into Colombia in addition to his personal effects.

Conditions of duty-free merchandise:

Permanence abroad: any length of time.

Value of merchandise in US dollars: $1.500

Type of goods: for personal and family use.

Maximum quantity: non-commercial quantities.

Type of baggage: accompanied

For further information, inquire at the Airport Services Headquarters, Tel: (+571) 425.1000 ext. 2588 and 2083, or fax (+571) 413.9459.

Transport of pets

The requirements for transporting pets on international flights are:

Health certificate issued a maximum of eight days previously and signed by a vet.

Valid vaccination certificate.

Take the pet to the office of the Institute of Agriculture and Livestock, ICA, (Sanidad portuaria at El Dorado International Airport), 24 hours before traveling.

For national flights you should request:

An internal waybill, once you have presented a valid vaccination certificate issued by a vet.

For further information, call 425.1000 ext. 2297 – 2330.

And finally... Prepare a camera and Enjoy!

Metropolitan Basilic of Medellin

Some things you must buy before leaving

Emeralds

Coffee

Jewelry

Crafts

Security

Many people does have a mistaken idea about how is truly Colombia. News and Tv show us a very troubled and dangerous country. After 2002, when Alvaro Uribe Velez rises as a new President of Colombia, established a new Democratic Security Policy. After this, Colombia started a new age; kidnapping, murders, robery and more were controled.

In the last years it have been demostrated that if you are a traveler that is going spend one or two weeks visiting Colombia, it archeological zones, Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, Santa Marta, Volcanos or the Amazonia, is very probable that nothing happens to you.

In Colombia the tourist never has been declare target of none armed groups into Colombia as FARC or ELN.

In fact, move around the country requires some precautions, inside the country have been development a security culture, very advanced than many other countries. Colombians are usual to see preventive measuring against terrorism.

At this time, tourism foment it turned as a state policy; this policy has been very succesful, and many colombians and forein people has taken colombian highways, and finally they feel ver safety.

Summary, it's perfectly possible to trip for many zones inside Colombia, with an apropiate advice and normal warnings.

However you must to have some precaution, please read this and your stay in this country will be more pleasent.

Inside main cities, there are not conflicts with guerrillas, almost shocks between colombian army and FARC are at selvatic zones, main cities are very safety about this point.
It's not advisable to take a cab on the streets, not to all zones of the main cities, but if you are on a hotel, residence, motel and so on, please contact a cab companie. Check out our Directory and find one.
Don't show in public big quantities of money, jewelry or expensive electronic devices.
Put all your value holding on your safety box room's.
Place all valuables in the hotel or motel's safe deposit box.
Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
If you see any suspicious activity, please report your observations to the management.
Discretely carry a map and be familiar with the area you are visiting. Plan trips in advance.
Don't leave purses or pocketbooks on the back of a chair when dining out; keep them in your lap and insight.
Keep your wallet in the front pocket of pants or a jacket pocket, not in the rear pocket.

Rembember, if it surge some emergency call 123, it's Nationa Emergency Number.

Please check this site for more information.

Our forces are always preparted to serve