Colombia

From MaxTravelz

South America : Colombia
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Image:co-flag.png
Quick Facts
Capital Bogota
Government republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Currency Colombian peso (COP)
Area total: 1,138,910 km2
land: 1,038,700 km2
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank
water: 100,210 km2
Population 41,008,227 (July 2002 est.)
Language Spanish
Religion Roman Catholic 90%

Colombia is the only country in South America with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Lying to the south of Panama, Colombia controls the land access between Central and South America. With Panama to the north, Colombia is surrounded by Venezuela to the east, Brazil to the southeast, Ecuador and Peru to the south west.

Contents

Map of Colombia
Map of Colombia

Regions

Administrative divisions 
32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital);

Cities


Ports and harbors 

Other destinations

  • San Agustín and Tierradentro - archeological sites in south-western Colombia
  • Zona Cafetera - coffee region (Risaralda, Caldas, Quindío)
  • El Parque Tayrona - Tayrona Park is an incredible place to visit if you have the chance while in the Santa Marta area on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. This little delightful spot is located about 30 minutes from the city of Rodadero. You have to hike for about 20 minutes from the parking area, but it is well worth it. Once there, you have beautiful beaches, hammocks to rent for the night, food, water and surf (be careful though, there is a strong riptide - experienced surfers only!). Additionally, you can get a guide to take you to a native village in the nearby mountains for a truly cultural experience and insight into the life of the native South Americans of Santa Marta. A must see if you can!
  • Boyacá - Wonderful cold climate high-altitude mountains close to Bogotá by road, and one of the few departments completely safe for tourists. Highlights include Villa de Leyva, the Natural Sanctuary of Iguaque and the small 1658 hotel at Hacienda Baza, in Tibaná.
  • Isla Gorgona - This former prison island in the Pacific Ocean is now a nature reserve open for visitors. There is abundant wildlife like monkeys, snakes, whales and seaturtles. It offers excellent diving conditions.
  • Ciudad Perdida is pre-Columbian city located in the Colombian jungle close to Santa Marta. Built between the eighth and the fourteenth century by the Tayrona Indians. Nowadays only stone circular shaped terraces covered by jungle remain.

Understanding Colombia

Although there is a certain amount of violence in remote areas, the actual government has increased its presence in the countryside and guerrilla attacks on small towns, which used to occur on a regular basis, are now far less common. It is now possible to travel by road and explore areas that would have been closed to tourists in the past, especially for natives.

Travelling in Colombia is definitely worthwhile. From Bogota, with a temperate climate 2,600 m (8530 ft) above sea level and at a constant temperature of 19 degrees Celsius, a drive of one or two hours North, South, East or West can take you to landscapes which are as diverse as they are beautiful. To the East are the oriental plains which stretch out far beyond the horizon with little modulation. To the North are the more rugged contours of the higher Andean region. To the South the weather is sub-tropical and has flora and fauna concomitant with this, and to the West you can find the [Magdalena River] valley and its hot weather. Colombia is one of the equatorial countries of the world, but unique in its extreme topography and abundance of water.

Climate

Tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands; periodic droughts

Terrain

Flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains

Natural hazards 
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes
Highest point 
Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m (18950 ft)
note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar has the same elevation

History

Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and Venezuela). Panama declared its independence from Colombia in 1903 with the support of the United States of America. A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the rural countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. Illegal anti-insurgent paramilitary groups have grown to be several thousand strong in recent years, challenging the insurgents for control of territory and illicit industries such as the drug trade and also the government's ability to exert its dominion over rural areas. While Bogota continues to try to negotiate a settlement, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.

Warnings

Keep to the safe and tourist areas and you'll be fine, if you want to do some more extra exploration on your own, ask someone about the conditions before you step ahead.

Get in

By plane

There are regular international flights into major cities including Barranquilla, Cartagena, Cali, Medellin and Bogota as well as to other smaller cities in the borders with Venezuela and Ecuador.

There are daily direct flights to and from the U.S, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Spain, France, and South America.

Bogota's international airport, Aeropuerto El Dorado, has two terminals that is serviced by domestic and international carriers. Taxis are regulated, reasonably priced and safe from the airports. A taxi ride from the airport to the central bussines district takes approximately 20 minutes.

By car

Only from Venezuela and Ecuador.

By bus

Connections can be made from the Caracas main terminal to most cities in Colombia. From the main terminal, Maracaibo (Venezuela) you can find buses that run to the cities (Cartagena, Baranquilla, Santa Marta) on the coast. The border at Maicao provides a relatively easy, straightforward entry into Colombia from Venezuela.

It is very straightforward to enter Colombia from Ecuador. Travel to Tulcan, where you can get a taxi to the border. Get your exit stamps from the immigration offices and take another taxi to Ipiales. From there you can travel further to Cali, Bogotá, ...

You can't cross from Panama to Colombia by bus--the Darien Gap begins at Yaviza, where the Interamericana runs out.

Visa

Most Western countries don't need a visa. Irish citizens need to apply for a visa at a Colombian embassy and can't extend their visa.

On entering, you get a print or a stamp in your passport. It lets you stay anywhere from 15 to 90 days--depending on the mood of the immigration officer.

Visa Extension

You can apply for a one-month visa extension at a DAS-office in most cities, which costs around COP $60.000. You need two copies of your passport's main page, two copies of the page with the entrance stamp, two copies of a ticket en route out of the country, and four photographs. The procedure takes some time and includes taking your fingerprints.

Get around

By plane

There are six domestic carriers in Colombia. AeroRepublica, Avianca, Aces, Satena, Sam and Aires have well kept fleets and regular service to major towns and cities in Colombia. The major Colombian airports have been certified as "Highly Safe" by international organizations.

By train

There is limited train service in Colombia. There is metro service in Medellin and its surroundings. There is a very limited inter-city service around Bogota and Cali.

By car

Steering wheel is on the left. Most cars have standard transmission ("stick shift"). Colombia's fleet is composed mainly of cars with 4-Cylinder engines and that are of European and Japanese manufacture. Foreign visitors may drive if they show an international driver's license (a multilingual endorsement card issued by automobile and driver's clubs around the world). Insurance is cheap and mandatory. The speed limit in residential areas is 30 km/h (19 mph), and in urban areas it is 60 km/h (37 mph). There is a national speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph). The country has a well-maintained network of roads that connect all major cities in the Andean areas, as well as the ones in the Caribbean Coast. There may be significant landslides on roads and highways during the rainy season (November to February), by which traffic gets interrupted. This usually is resolved within 6 hours to 4 days. There are many toll crossings; the fee is about US$3.00. There are also plenty of dirt roads of variable quality. International land travel is only possible to Ecuador and Venezuela.

By bus

Travel by bus is widespread and has different levels of quality. The longer the distance, the newer and more comfortable the service is. In Bogotá you can find the Transmilenio, a highly efficient and neat bus transit system that is spreading to other cities. It is highly recommended that you keep an eye on your belongings and that you do not carry valuables, excess cash (more than $20,000 COP visible) or unnecessary items. Never accept food or drinks from strangers. Avoid talking to strangers at bus stops or terminals. It's best to travel together with Colombian friends. It is possible you may be stopped at police check points. A calm attitude is the best key to avoid inconveniences. Long-distance trips rarely cost over US$55.00 (one way).

By metro

There is only one metro system in Colombia. It is in Medellin, in the Antioquia department. It connects the cities that make up what is known as "Medellin" - some stations include Niquia (at one end), Itagui (at the other), Bello, Envigado, and Hospital. The metro is made up of two light rail lines (one east-west line, and one north-south line), and one line called the MetroCable. Riding it is a unique experience, as passengers travel up the mountains in gondolas. The MetroCable has four stations, including the transfer to the north-south line. There is a military presence in each metro station; however, they are usually very courteous towards tourists. Beware, however, the Metro police do not like anyone, even "turistas," to take pictures of the Metro, and may even go so far as to confiscate your camera. Ask a policeman if it's permissible before breaking out your camera; he/she may be in a good mood that day, and look the other way.

By Taxi

The taxi networks in big cities such as in Bogota are extensive and very cheap. A taxi journey across Bogota, can take up to a day but cost less than 15 dollars. During the day it is not necessarily safe to hail any taxi, but specially during the night. It is reccomended to phone a company, they will then give you a security code to confirm with the driver. This is a common practices so it shouldn't be a problem at all. During the day some taxi ranks outside hotels, office buildings and government offices will only allow certified drivers and companies and will also take your name and details when you board the taxi. Taxis from city to city are easy to arrange by phoning ahead and agreeing the price, it will still be cheap by western standards and is safe and quite agreeable.

Talk

Languages 
Spanish.

If you've recently learned Spanish, its a relief to know that the Colombian variety is clear and easy to understand. The Spanish does vary, however, from Cartagena to Bogota to California. Generally the Spanish on the coasts is spoken more rapidly, and Spanish from Medellin has its own idiosyncrasies.

English is taught in school, and Colombians are often exposed to subtitled Hollywood films, so, while shy, many Colombians know at least a few basic phrases in English. Expect to meet teenage Colombians who will want to practice their English skills with you.

Colombians from more affluent backgrounds will have lived and worked in the U.S., Canada, England and possibly Australia for a period of three to 24 months in order to learn English. Many university text books are in English, and the majority of high ranking professionals, executives and government workers in Colombia speak English.

French and German are also spoken to a much lesser extent. Colombians have a very unusual mannerism of pointing to objects with their mouths. This is because pointing with the finger is considered a rude gesture in Colombia.

Buy

The Colombian textile industry is well-recognized and reputable around South America and Europe. Clothing and lingerie are particularly regarded as high quality and very affordable. Leather garments, shoes and accessories are also of interests for foreigners.

Colombian emeralds and gold (18k) jewelry can also be very attractive for visitors. A very Colombian style of jewelry is the copies of precolombian jewelry, which are fabricated with gold, silver and semiprecious stones.

The "mochila" is a traditional, hand-woven Colombian bag, normally worn over the shoulder. They are commonly sold in shopping malls, especially in the Santa Marta/El Rodadero area. Mochilas used to come in three sizes - a large one to carry bigger things, a medium one to carry personal belongings, and a small one to carry coca leaves. Coca leaves were carried by the natives to eliminate hunger, and to combat altitude sickness.

Handicrafts such as intricately designed jewellery are commonly sold in markets and on street corners. Many street vendors will approach people, selling t-shirts, shorts, glasses, bracelets, watches, necklaces, souvenirs, and novelty photographs. If you want to buy something, this is a good time to exercise your bartering skills. Usually you go down by 2,000 to 3,000 pesos, however 2,000 is the generally accepted rule. For example, if someone is selling a shirt for P$10,000, try asking if you can pay P$8,000. Go from there.

If you don't want to buy anything, a simple "Gracias," ("thank you") and a non-committal wave of your hand will deter would-be sellers.

Eat

In many areas of Colombia, especially the coast and Medellin, it is common to have buñuelos (deep fried balls with cheese in the dough) and arepas (rather thick corn tortillas, often made with cheese and served with butter) with scrambled eggs for breakfast. Bogota has its own breakfast delicacy of tamales - maize and chopped pork or chicken with vegetables and eggs, steamed in banana leaves, often served with home-made hot chocolate.

Empanadas, made with potato and meat with a pouch-like yellow exterior, are delicious and entirely different from their Mexican counterparts. Pastry is prevalent, both salty and sweet, including Pan de Bono, Pan de Yuca, Pastel Gloria, and Roscon. These vary in quality--ask the locals for the best niche places to indulge.

For lunch, especially on Sundays, you should try a sancocho de gallina (rich chicken soup, served with part of the chicken itself, rice and vegetables/salad). Sancocho is widespread throughout the country, with countless regional variants. On the coast it features fish, and is highly recommended. Another soup, served in Bogota and the periphery, is Ajiaco (chicken soup made with three different kinds of potato, vegetables and herbs, served with rice, avocado, corn, milk cream and capers).

"Bandeja paisa" is common in most places, though it originates from Medellin. This includes rice, beans, fried plantain, arepa, fried egg, chorizo, chicharrón (pork crackling) with the meat still attached. It's a very fatty dish, but you can leave what you don't like, and if you're lucky enough, you could find a gourmet bandeja paisa in a good restaurant in Bogotá or Medellin. They are lighter and smaller.

There are a few chains throughout the country. In addition to worldwide franchises (McDonald's, Subway, T.G.I.F., which are specially focused on Bogotá and other big cities), Colombian chains are very strong and located in almost every city. El Corral and Presto serve burgers, Kokoriko makes broiled chicken and Frisby specializes in broasted chicken. Crêpes and Waffles, as the name indicates, is an upscale breakfast/brunch restaurant with spectacular... crêpes, waffles and ice cream. There are many international restaurants, including rodizios (Brazilian steak house style), paella houses, etc.

A great variety of tropical fruits can be tasted, and the corresponding variety in juices, from some of the oddest ones you can find around the globe (really) to the sweetest ones. You just must know how to find and prepare them. Anyway, anyone would be pleased to teach you. Some examples of those exotic fruits include: tamarindo, mangoes, guanabanas, lulo, mangostinos (really great and rare even for Colombians), and a great variety in citrus. In addition, you can find some of those rich and strange flavors in prepared food like ice cream brands or restaurant juices.

In Colombia there are a great variety of "tamales" if you like them, but be aware they are very different from their most famous Mexican cousins. They differ from region to region, but all of them are delicious. They are called "envuelto", the sweet tamale made of corn.

Regarding coffee, you can find a lot of products that are both made commercially and home-made from this very famous colombian product, like wines, cookies, candies, milk-based deserts like "arequipe", ice-cream, etc.

Colombians are famous for having a sweet tooth, so you are going to find a lot of deserts and local candies like "bocadillo" made of guayaba (guava fruit), or the most famous milk-based "arequipe" (similar to its Argentinian cousin "dulce leche" or the french "confiteure du lait"). That just covers the basics, since every region in Colombia has its own fruits, local products, and therefore its own range of sweet products. If you are a lover of rare candies, you could get artisan-made candies in the little towns near Bogotá and Tunja.

Organic food is a current trend in big cities, but in little towns you can get fruits and veggies all very natural and fresh. Colombians aren't used to storing food for the winter, since there are no seasons in the traditional sense. So don't ask them for dried items like dried tomatos or fruits. All you have to do is go shopping at the little grocery stores nearby and pick up the freshest of the harvest of the month (almost everything is available and fresh all year). As for pickles and related preserved food, you can find them in supermarkets, but they are not common in family households.

Concerning potatoes, you must know the pre-Columbian civilizations had about 200 varieties of this plant. Well, Colombia as an Andean country, is not the exception. Even McDonalds recognized the quality of this product and buys them. But while you are there you don't want to go to McDonalds--you've got to try the local preparations like "salted potatos" (papas saladas) or "stewed potatos" (papas chorriadas).

All in all, in Colombia it can be fun to have the ingredients and the preparation of a lot of exotic recipes explained to you.

Drink

Colombia offers an enormous variety of fruit and hence fruit juices. Do not miss them!

For breakfast, take a home-made hot chocolate. It is generally prepared with panela (dried cane juice), cinnamon and cloves, which gives it a special taste.

Concerning alcoholic beverages, the most common is beer, rum (a peculiar and excellent one it is made in Caldas) and aguardiente.

Colombia's national alcoholic beverage, Aguardiente tastes strongly of anise, and is typically bought by the bottle or half bottle. Drink it in shots or sip on it with ice.

Of course, prepare your palate to drink bottled water in any city or place you visit. An advice make sure you do not use ice cubes, or drink any beverage that might obtain no distilled water.

If you are lucky enough, and if you are staying in a familiar "finca cafetera" (coffee plantation) you can ask your colombian friends not only for the selected coffee (quality export) but for the remaining coffee that the farmers leave to their own use. This is manually picked, washed, toasted in rustic brick stoves and manually ground. It has the most exquisite and rare flavor and aroma ever found.

Commercially you can find a lot of products made out of coffee too like wines, ice-creams, soda-pops and other beverages.

Sleep

In Colombia you can find a range of options, from hostals to five-star hotels. Look for different options on the internet. There are several websites that would give you a good guidance on the city that you plan to visit. It is important to find different sites to make sure that you are not falling for a crappy place with an excelent website. I will probably recommend to go to AVIATUR's main website (www.aviatur.com.co). AVIATUR is the largest travel agency in Colombia. From their website you can find a good guide to hotels in Colombia. If you have any question, send them an email. Nevertheless here are some things to keep in mind:

BOGOTA - CUNDINAMARCA: If you are going to stay in Bogota, keep in mind the location. There are several hotels around the most "fashion" areas (i.e. Zone "T", Park of 93rd Street, etc). Always keep in mind that those hotels would be always a little bit pricey. Nevertheless you won't have any problem hailing a taxi at 6am in the morning because your hotel would be around the corner of the nightclub. On the other hand you can find low to medium price hotel around downtown or near universities (i.e. Chapinero Neighborhood).

BOYACA: Hacienda Baza in Boyacá offers very good food, and a colonial hotel experience as authentic as possible. The Hotel has 12 rooms built in what was a Dominican Monastery. Every room has its own chimney, ensuite and all modern facilities. It is surrounded by wonderful gardens and mountains. Walking and horseriding are the activities, apart from resting and sampling very good food. Rates are low, ranging from 40 to 80 US dollars a day. See http://www.haciendabaza.com/ for details.

VILLA DE LEYVA: In Villa de Leyva, hostería Duruelo offers very good facilities and food, with the attractive of the city.

CARTAGENA: The most famous hotels in Cartagena are Hotel Santa Clara and Hotel Santa Teresa. Either of them have fabulous facilities. Expect prices like Monaco.

Learn

The Colombian Spanish is considered by many around the world as the purest in Latin America and there are many universities and language schools that have language programs.

Colombia Education is generally strict and is kept to high standards. Most Colombian degrees can be legalized in foreign countries. You can find several programs in different universities around the country. You can also find programs with Language Institutes that could offer a variety of courses.

Work

If you want to work for a national company, such as Bancolombia/Conavi, Avianca, or Presto, you must be able to speak Spanish with near-native fluency. Depending on your qualifications, companies may offer Spanish lessons, however always make sure that you are indeed eligible for the position advertised. You can teach English for extra money, especially in smaller cities where the "English demand" is high. Also you could work for a NGO.

Stay safe

Colombia suffers from a terrible reputation of dangerous and violent country. However the last few years the safety has increased dramatically. For South American standards Colombia is relatively safe and more and more people come to discover that.

Guerillas

Colombia's ongoing civil war is over 40 years old, and doesn't show any signs of stopping soon. An agreement between para-militaries and the goverment resulted in the disarmament of 80% of the paramilitaries in 2005. Most of them found a new job in the regular army, and with combined forces, guerillas are being pushed back along the Pacific coast and into the llanos and the Amazon. Outside these areas you're unlikely to meet either guerillas or paramilitaries.

Most of the Pacific coast and the Amazon region as well as Darien gap near Panama are dangerous areas. Very few travellers go there, and you should be well informed before setting off to these regions. River police, highway police, newspapers and fellow travellers can be a useful source of information.

Colombia has the highest kidnapping rate in the world. However, kidnappings of travellers is nowadays relatively rare. Politicians, rich Colombians and foreign executives are the main targets; however, if you stay near the main cities and always travel by plane, there is virtually no chance you'll get kidnapped.

Crime

Like most South American countries it suffers from a high crime rate, mainly in the big cities. Take the usual precautions and you should be fine. Keep your eyes open and don't wear jewellery. Take taxis at night, but ask for them using a phone service, because in recent years there have been reports of scopolamine being used in powdered form against unwary tourists. It can be blown into the victim's face or placed on a piece of paper which is handed to the victim and absorbed through the skin. Scopolamine makes the victim highly open to suggestion, allowing the attacker to rob you easily.

Drugs

It may be cheaper to smoke marijuana than tobacco but Colombia's variety it is not as potent as its American cousin. Cocaine seems to cost next to nothing. The law recognizes the right to carry personal doses. Be aware that street vendors that sell drugs could be setting you up with police officers.

Stay healthy

Drink only bottled water outside the major cities. The water in major cities is safe. Anywhere else, never get drinks with ice cubes in them, and always make sure that the water you are served in restaurants comes from a bottle (they should open it in front of you). Doing anything else may result in you hugging the crapper for a few days.

If you're staying with relatives or friends especially you could ask for boiled water since families are used to having it around.

In cities like Bogotá and Manizales, the quality of the water is optimum. In Manizales for example, the water, besides being processed, comes from pristine natural sources near a nevado. In Bogotá, the water comes from the high mountains, 3,330 meters above sea level.

In the coastal cities you had better watch what you drink in streets or beaches.

Respect

Generally avoid discussing politics or the present war in public, except with well-known acquaintances or relatives that have your trust and confidence. In general, the hearts of Colombians suffer great pain remembering all the victims of the political and narcotics wars of past and current conflicts.

Always say "please" ("Por favor," or "Hagame el favor") and "thank you" ("muchas gracias") for anything, to anyone. Colombians, at least in Bogota, tend to be very polite and formal, and explicitly good manners win the approval of those around you. Sometimes it can sound rude to Bogotans if sombody calls you and you answer with just an "Ehhh?"--the proper response being "Señora?" or "Señor?", depending on who's calling you.

In addition, Colombians tend to speak their minds and opinions quite freely. They are also not shy of asking questions about health, salary or social status and thinking--topics that coud be offensive to others or considered personal information.

Most Colombians are naïve regarding racist issues, since white or creole persons blend naturally with natives and Afro-Colombians in everyday life (education, living, politics, marriage). So the word "negro" can be used regardless of who's saying it, or who is being referred to in this way. You can hear expressions like "negrito" or "mi negro" in a restaurant or on the street. You could hear someone calling "negra" to a woman, regardless of the race of the person. And in general, Afro-Colombians don't find it offensive.

Some differences between Brits and Americans are not perceived by most Colombians. Don't let this offend you as an English-speaking visitor.

Regarding table manners, a lot of the more traditional elder Colombians hate when the guest leaves some of the food uneaten on the plate. This sometimes can be uncomfortable to visitors due to the "exotic" food that can be served, like tamales (with the green wet leaves envelope). However, you can explain your fears regarding certain foods--they'll understand. When you are eating with young people, you can negotiate and even ask what is going to be eaten in the first place.

Colombians like to dance a lot. It's part of the cultural ancestry. And as in another Central and South American countries, it's very common to hear and feel rhythmic music such as salsa, son, merengue, cumbia or reggae-ton. Despite what you might think of all the sensual movements of men and women, people just enjoy music and dancing and not always are used for sexual encounters or as sexual signs. Here you could find salsa in children "piñata" parties, or even in parties for old people. North Americans and Europeans could find this odd or confusing because of the use of salsa and Latin rythms in The West. A Colombian dancing innocently could be missinterpreted, and in general, Colombian women (or men) are not "easy" just because of the way they dance. It is applied in the same way as in Brazi--an almost-naked "garotta" dancing samba in the carnival is not inviting you to have sex with her but inviting you to enjoy, to be happy, to join to the celebration, to join the exuberant disinhibition and to be part of a free life (sort of a ritual thing imprinted in the Colombian genes).

Regarding religion, most Colombians are Catholic, and it´s important to them to keep certain ceremonies and respect for all things related to religion. You could visit great architectural churches, even going inside, but taking pictures may be considered disrespectful. Young people are more open to learning about other religions and debate on this subject.

Colombians are very conservative about homosexual issues, so it's not common to find a couple of men kissing in the street. Young people are more open-minded, but don't expect too much.

Colombians use their hands to show the height of people and animals in a different way. Avoid using your hand with the palm facing down to describe the height of another person; it is used for animals and may be insulting. If you must describe the height of another person, use your hand with the palm facing inward.

If you have to beckon someone, wave your fingers palm facing down; NEVER crook your index finger palm facing up. Try to avoid beckoning to older persons.

Contact

Colombian Newspapers

Colombian Magazines


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