You can explore many centuries in a single day at the fabled Gold Museum in Bogota. This is where thousands of pieces of pre-Incan jewelry, fashioned by the Chibcha and Quimbay tribes will dazzle your imagination. You can ride a cable car almost to the sky at Mount Montserrate on the edge of Bogota. The underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, a short drive from Bogota, is a trip to another world. Colombia can be found at the walled fortress of Cartegena, the seaside resort of Santa Marta and the snowcapped mountain in the distance. Colombia is Amazon safaris, San Andres Island, gorgeous Tequendama Falls. Colombia is more than enough for a dozen vacations.
Capital: Bogota
Population: 37,800,000
Area: 440,210 square miles
Language: Spanish
Time: Same time as New York
Electricity: 110 volts AC / 60 Hz. Same plus as US
Geography: Colombia is the only South American country to have coastlines on both the Pacific and the Caribbean. It is the 4th largest country in South America and is bordered by Panama to the north, Venezuela to the east, Brazil and Peru to the south and Ecuador to the southwest. 45% of all the land is mountainous. 50% of the land east of the Andes is lowland.
Tipping: It is customary to tip 10% in restaurants. Porters and taxi drivers should get small change.
Shopping: Stores are open by 9:30 am and close at around 6 pm. Most stay open until 1 pm on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays.
Food and Drink: Restaurants are in abundance here and offer a wide range of tastes and budgets including the usual Gringo style emporiums. Coffee is the main drink in Colombia. A small cup of black coffee is known as "tinto" is most common. Regular tea is not the best but herbal teas are gaining in popularity. Beer is abundant and inexpensive. Wine from Colombia is not up to par with other countries in South America.
Social: The ethnic mixture of Colombia has helped to even out the social and economic conditions of the population as a whole with 75% of mixed blood. The people are friendly but one should use caution as in any situation. Many in the capital speak English but this is not so in other areas of Colombia. Do be careful of pickpockets and even outright robbery. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry and watches.
Business: Business suits and business cards are standard. Appointments should be made well in advance. Do not depend on you counterpart to speak fluent enough English to carry your discussions well. Best if you speak Spanish or have an interpreter available.
Banking: Banks are open weekdays from 8: 30 am to 11:30 am and then 2 - 4 pm. On Fridays banks are open one half hour longer in the afternoons. Banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Currency: Peso ($)
Money Exchange: Allow plenty of time to exchange money in banks. You may have to stand in several different lines and have photocopies taken of your passport. If cashing a Travelers Check bring along proof of their of purchase. "Casa de Cambios" will change money immediately but will not change travelers checks.
Credit cards: Visa, Master Card are most accepted in Colombia. They can be used at ATMs. American Express and Diners Club are also honored in many places especially hotels and upscale shops.
Climate
Colombia's position relative to the Equator means that it has little in the way of seasonal changes. Altitude, however, is the main factor in weather here in Colombia. As you gain in altitude the cooler it gets and usually an increase in precipitation. The dry season comes between December and March and the rainy season between July and August. The Amazon area is wet year round. Changes in altitude account for temperatures ranging from very hot in the lowlands to year round snow in the mountains. | 