Colombia

Colombia Flag

"Gateway to South America" 

Why visit Colombia?

Adventurous travelers seeking beaches, boating, canoeing, colonial villages, culture, deserts, festivals, fishing, hiking, historical sites, horseback riding, jungles, kayaking, mountains, national parks, rafting, rainforests, restaurants, rock climbing, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, trekking, volcanos and wildlife.

Bogotá (Capital), Colombia. Photo Credit: German Rojas/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Souvenirs to Buy: Ceramic toy vehicles, coffee, emeralds, hammocks, straw goods, hats and wool poncho.
  
• Local Cuisine to Try: Ajiaco (soup). Almojábana (bread). Arepas (corn cakes). Bandeja Paisa. Buñuelos (fried dough ball). Carimañola (meat pie). Chicharron (fried pork rind). Cuchuco (soup). Hormegas Culonas (roasted ants). Sancocho de Gallina (chicken soup). Ternera llanera (BBQ).
• Local Drink to Try: Aguapanela (sugar cane juice). Chapil. Cholado (fruit juice). Lulada (fruit juice). Colombiana (champagne soda). Colombian Coffee.
  

Mesa de Los Santos ( Eastern Cordillera), Los Santos, Colombia. Photo Credit: Jorge Guillen/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• Since 12,000BCE, inhabited.
  
• In 1499, Spanards arrived (La Guajira).
• In 1525, Santa Marta founded.
  
• In 1533, Cartagena founded.
  
• In 1810, became independent.
  
• During 1900's, a 632 carat emerald was discovered (Boyaca).
  
• In 1903, Panama severed from them.
  
• Mid 1970s, drug cartels largely exported cocaine, illegal drugs and marijuana. 
  
• In 1992, Miguel Caballero, Designer founded Miguel Caballero S.A.S. (Bogotá) after his graduation project. Fashionable bullet protection garments used by the military and presidents.
  
• In 2017, bomb at Andino Shopping Center (Bogota) killed three.
  
• In 2018, a driver and two journalists were kidnapped and killed.
  
• In 2019, a car bomb (Bogota) killed 22 and injured 68.
  
• Compared to any other country, it has the most bird species.
• Known for the highest rainfall in a year's span (Quibdo).
• Our nation's largest importer of coal and flowers.
• World's leading producer of emeralds.
  
• Name derives from Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), Italian Explorer.
• Part of the Ring of Fire subject to earthquakes and volcanoes. 
  
• One of six countries with renewable freshwater supply.
• Second most biodiverse country in the world.
  
• Country with the most butterfly species.
• First country with the highest number of orchid species.
  
• Birthplace to the first external artificial pacemaker with internal electrodes and laser vision correction (LASIK).
  
• Amongst the Americas oldest collection of archeological art.
• Home to "The New Salsa Capital of the World" (Cali).
• Considered the world's largest consumers of fruit juices.
  
• Produces 11.5 billion of coffee beans annually.

Cartagena (Caribbean Coast Port City), Colombia. Photo Credit: viajeminuto/Pixabay 

Special Holidays/Occasions

• Annual Events: (January) Cartagena Festival Internacional de Música, Hay Festival, Festival de La Panela, Carnavales de Ocaña, Carnaval de Blancos y Negros, Festival de la Miel, Fiesta de las Corralejas, Carnaval de Riosucio, Pubenza Festivities, (February) Carnaval de Barranquilla, Festival del Corrido Llanero, Festival de la Subienda, Carnaval del Fuego, (March) Carnaval del Fuego, Exposición Internacional de Orquídeas, Festival de Música Religiosa, Festival de la Canción Llanera, Cartagena Film Festival, (April) Festival de Luna Verde, Festival Internacional de la Leyenda Vallenata, Festival del Cangrejo, Festival de Cine Eurocine, Vallenato Legend Festival, (May) Festival de Interpretes de la Canción Mono Nuñez, Fiestas del San Pedro y Festival del Bunde Tolimense, Festival de la Cultura Wayuú, Festival de la Cachama, Festival de la Arepa de Huevo, Baum Festival, (June) Festival del Mono Nuñez, Festival Folclorico y Reinado Nacional del Bambuco, Festival Folclórico del Caqueta, Festival Internacional de Tango, Festival Nacional del Porro, Festival Folclórico, Festival del Mango, Festival y Reinado del Divivi, Festival Internacional de Jazz, National Festival of the Dividivi, (July) Festival de la Feijoa, Fiestas del Mar, Festival del Sol y del Acero, Festival de la Cumbia, International Poetry Festival of Medellín, (August) Festival de Verano, Festival de Tiple y la Guabina, Festival de Cometas, Festival de la Bahía, Boyacá International Cultural Festival, Harvest Festival of Pereira,Bogotá Film Festival, (September) Boyacá International Cultural Festival, Festival Latinoamericano de Teatro, Festival de la Talla en Piedra, Festival de Música Folclórica, Festival Cuna de Acordeones, Green Moon Festival, Festival de la Trova, Festival Internacional del Jazz del Teatro Libre, Estéreo Picnic Festival, (October) Festival de Cine, Festival Nacional de Gaitas, Festival Latinoamericano de Danzas Folclóricas, Festival y Reinado Nacional del Carbón, Jeep Parade, (November) Festival Internacional Folclórico y Turístico del Llano, Festival del Caballo, Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente, (December) Festival de Arte "Memoria e Imaginacion", Festival de Luces, Candles & Lanterns Festival, Joropo National Festival, and Fiesta de Velas y Faroles. 
• Holidays: New Year's Day, Epiphany, Easter Sunday, Saint Joseph's Day, Good Friday, Labour Day, Ascension of Jesus, Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart, Saint Peter & Saint Paul, Declaration of Independence, Battle of Boyacá, Assumption of Mary, Columbus Day, All Saints’ Day, Immaculate Conception and Christmas.
  

Urrao, Colombia. Photo Credit: William Pomares/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• Airport Inspectors do not usually speak English.
  
• There's no passenger rail service. 
  
• Avoid all demonstrations/protests.
  
• Avoid using street ATM instead use indoors at banks (protected area).
• Colombian Law forbids export of pre-Columbian goods.
  
• Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria, Yellow Fever and Zika are present.
• Children under 10 are not permitted to sit in the front seat of vehicles.
• Colombian Law requires motorists to remain at an accident without moving vehicles until the police arrive.
  
• Due to rough seas between December - January small tourist boats are known to sink along the northern coast.

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas (Fortress), Cartagena, Colombia. Photo Credit: miguelmontesc/Pixabay 

This international destination requires:

• A valid passport and one blank page for entry stamp.
• Tourist VISA not required for visits under 90 days.
• Required Vaccination from select countries. 
• Currency Restrictions for Entry/Exit: $10,000USD.

On August 4, 2020 Level 4 Do Not Travel Advisory due to crime, kidnapping and terrorism.

• Best Time to Visit: December - March
• Coldest Month: December - March
• Hottest Months: June - August
• Peak Season: December - March

Tayrona National Park, Magdalena, Colombia. Photo Credit: andresmauricioconde/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Chiribiquete National Park "The Maloca of the Jaguar", Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia, Historic Centre of Santa Cruz de Mompox, Los Katíos National Park, Malpelo Fauna & Flora Sanctuary, National Archeological Park of Tierradentro, Port Fortresses & Group of Monuments Cartagena, Qhapaq Ñan Andean Road System and San Agustín Archaeological Park.   

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"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page" ~ Saint Augustine

                                

                                          All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice.