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Useful Facts About Colombia

 

Useful Facts About Colombia

 

Don't travel to Colombia without reading this important information! These are all the useful facts you need to know about language, transport, exchanging money, safety, health and more! This handy information will help you avoid any unnecessary surprises so that you can simply enjoy your vacation to Colombia!

 

㊣ LANGUAGE

 

The official language in Colombia is Spanish and an overwhelming proportion of the population speak it as their first language. There are, however, 80 other languages that mostly belong to the indigenous Chibchan, Arawak, Cariban and Quechua linguistic families, which are spoken by an estimated 800,000 people throughout the country, although mainly in the Andes region. There are also a few Creole languages, such as the Spanish-based Palenquero.

Colombians are said to have one of the most neutral and clearest Spanish accents in the Spanish-speaking world. They use the traditional pronoun ‘usted’ for ‘you’ (rather than Argentine or Uruguayan ‘vos’) and speak relatively slowly and clearly, which is always helpful for tourists whose ‘por favor’ and ‘gracias’ are not yet perfected. Colombia is a great destination to learn Spanish for these reasons.

 


 

☼ WEATHER

 

Colombia is located in the Equatorial region therefore it does not have distinct seasons. Instead, seasons are characterised by the wet and dry season. The variation in weather across Colombia can be attributed to altitude.

The different regions that characterise Colombia’s climate are: Tropical Rainforest, found in the Amazon, Pacific Coast and the departments of Chocó and Magdalena, with hot temperatures and high humidity; Tropical Savanna, found in the Llanos (Eastern Plains) and areas of the Caribbean coast, semi-humid with average temperatures between 24° and 27°C with a dry and rainy season; Tropical Steppe, in northern Guajira, the plains of Bolívar and the Orinoquía region, has minimal rain and a long dry season; Desert, found in Tatacoa and Guajira, an average temperature of 29°C; and Mountain, along the Andes and Sierra Nevada, which has the coldest temperatures, with variations depending on altitude. High altitude parts of this region receive snow.

When planning your travels in Colombia, pay attention to the regions you plan on visiting and pack accordingly. Bogotá is cool year round, with greatly varying weather throughout the day, so a warm coat and umbrella are essential. Medellín, on the other hand, is nicknamed the city of eternal spring, with pleasantly warm weather year round, while the Caribbean coast is home to high temperatures.

 


 

⌚ TIME

 

Colombia's time zone is GMT -5. As Colombia is situated on the equator the daylight hours remain approximately the same throughout the year, with sunrise at around 6 am and sunset just after 6 pm.

 


 

☑ WORKING HOURS

 

Typical working hours in Colombia are Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm. Some businesses take an extended lunch between 12 and 2 pm. This varies across the country. Bogotá tends to have longer hours, with people working from sunrise to sunset, whereas things are more relaxed on the coast.

Banks are typically open from 8 am to 3 pm, and again from 5 pm to 8 pm, with shorter hours on the last working day of the month.

Shops tend to open 9 am and close around 7 or 8 pm. Most businesses are closed on Sundays and holidays, although some commercial shops remain open.

See the following link for a full list of Public Holidays in Colombia.

 


 

۞ RELIGION

 

Catholicism was the official religion of Colombia from the Spanish colonisation until the Colombian Constitution of 1991 abolished the Roman Catholic institution as state church to provide freedom of worship and religious equality to all its citizens. However, Catholicism is still the main religion in Colombia with an estimated of 80% of the national population identifying as Catholic, although the number of practising Catholics is lower.

Catholicism still plays a big role in education in Colombia. Many private schools are Catholic schools, segregated into girls only and boys only schools. There are also private universities managed by Catholic religious orders.

Like many places in Latin America, a popular form of Catholicism is practiced, blended with indigenous, African and Spanish customs. There are many adapted and local practices, especially in the celebration of patron saints. About 1% of Colombians adhere to indigenous religions and less than 1% to Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

 


 

☈ BANKS AND MONEY EXCHANGES

 

Money can be exchanged at banks or casas de cambios (currency exchange places). Typically the rate at casas de cambios is slightly better than banks. Dollars are the preferred currency and will generally yield a better rate than other currencies. The best rate, however, can be found by drawing your money from ATMs.

Keep in mind that ATMs have a low limit per transaction as well as a daily limit, regardless of your bank’s own limits. The limit is usually around COP $300,000, depending on your card’s origins. This amount varies depending on the bank and the origin of you bank card. With certain banks, it is possible to withdraw up to COP $800,000.

It is a good idea to only draw money from ATMs off the street, such as in a mall. Most ATMs should accept foreign transactions. You will find banks such as Bank of America, Citicorp or Citibank, Seribanca, Bancolombia, BBVA, Banco Santander Rio and Banco Occidente. Always avoid taking out money at night and do your transactions in private. If you require assistance, talk to an official employee of the bank, and never accept help from strangers.

Major debit and credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars, and stores in Colombia’s cities. Visa, Cirrus and Mastercard are most commonly accepted and American Express and Diners less so. You may be required to show some form of ID when paying with a credit card.

Visa cards tend to have the least hassles. Note that most machines require debit cards with a chip, so you may have difficulties if your debit card does not have a chip.

When paying with a credit card in a restaurant, never let the waiter take your card away from you. It is a requirement that POS transactions are performed in front of the customer so that you can see exactly how much you are being charged and to make sure your credit card doesn't leave your sight.

 


 

① CURRENCY

 

Colombia is in a relatively stable economic situation and has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America. The local currency is the Colombian Peso (CPO). Check the latest exchange rate here.

The peso is distributed in the following denominations:
Bills: 1000 (mil), 2000 (dos mil), 5000 (cinco mil), 20000 (viente mil), 50000 (cincuenta mil).
Coins (Centavos): 50 (cincuenta), 100 (cien), 200 (doscientos), 500 (quinientos)

 


 

↑ ↓ TAX FREE SHOPPING

 

The VAT in Colombia is 16%. When making purchases in stores with the sign “Tax Free”, you can request a form that will refund you the tax when you leave the country. The process is simple: fill out the form and hand it over at the ‘tax free office’ at the airport, accompanied by the receipts/invoices or proof of purchase. Your refunded money will be accredited to a debit or credit card. Note that the refund does not apply to food, restaurants, accommodation, medical or entertainment costs. The refund is only for purchases made with a credit card.

 

✈ AIRPORTS

 

The largest and busiest airport in Colombia is El Dorado International Airport, which serves as the main international gateway to the country, and is the hub for Avianca (Colombia’s national carrier), Copa Airlines Colombia, LAN Colombia, Satena and EasyFly, among other companies. 1 km from El Dorado is the Puente Aéreo terminal which is used exclusively for Avianca flights. If your flights to Colombia are with Avianca, or you have a transfer in Bogotá, please check your ticket carefully to make sure you go to the right place.

Other major airports in Colombia are José María Córdova International Airport in Medellín, Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali, Rafael Núñez International Airport in Cartagena, and Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla.

International Airlines that fly to Colombia include, British Airways, US Airways, United, American, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, Air Canada, Air France, Lufthansa, Iberia, TAM, AeroMexico and LAN.

Baggage trolleys in Bogotá’s airports cost USD$2. This is refundable if you present your ticket when returning the trolley. There are also airport porters available to help you with your luggage. Depending on how much luggage you have, you should tip these porters between USD$5 and $10.

 


 

☸ TRANSPORTATION

 

There are many options for getting around Colombia. Travelling within urban areas, most major cities have integrated public transport systems. Bogotá has the Transmilenio, a bus rapid transit (BRT) system. Medellín has the Metro (an urban rail system) and Metro Cable (a gondola lift system), while many other cities have integrated bus systems.

Taxis can be used in all cities. Taxis in most cities use metres, except for Cartagena and surrounding coastal areas, where you will have to agree on a fixed price for a journey. Due to security problems with taxis, especially in Bogotá, the safest way to hail a cab is to use a radio taxi or an app like Tappsi or Easy Taxi

To travel between cities in Colombia, it is important to keep in mind the distances and the mountainous terrain. The quickest way to get around is flying. Colombia has a number of airlines that service the domestic routes. You can fly with Avianca, COPA, LAN Colombia, Satena, or the local budget airlines EasyFly or VivaColombia.

Travelling by bus is also popular. Be sure to check the length of the journey before booking your ticket. It is always worth comparing bus and air fares for your route. Book your tickets at the bus terminal. If you are planning to travel over a long weekend or holiday, you will need to book your bus tickets in advance.

Stick to reputable bus companies when booking. Bolivariano is one of the best, however they don’t service the Caribbean coast. Good alternatives for this region are Brasilia and Copetran.

For more details on transport, read our guide to getting around Colombia.

 


 

☏ PHONES AND CODES

 

Throughout cities in Colombia it is possible to find public phones that operate with coins or prepaid cards. However, it is far more common to find a ‘human pay phone.’ These are people who offer the use of mobile phones (attached to their bodies by a chain), charging reasonable rates. This phenomenon started when Colombian telecom companies start offering unlimited usage plans, making traditional pay phones less common. These people can be found all over the place, usually carrying a sign saying “minutos” followed by the name of the mobile company (eg. “Minutos Movistar”), perfect for anyone who has run out of credit or battery.

To dial a number, Colombia’s country code is 57. You’ll also need to put in the number of the provider, followed by the area code and the phone number.

There is a national and international direct dial, operated by three companies:

ETB-007 (07 for national calls and 007 for international calls)
- Orbitel (05 for national calls and 005 for international calls)
- Colombia Online (09 for national calls and 009 for international calls)

To dial numbers within Colombia, you will need to enter the dialling code of the cellphone or telephone operator.

You can buy a cheap cell phone in Colombia, or use your own phone with a local sim card. There are 3 mobile networks to choose from: Claro, Movistar and Tigo.

 


 

ϟ ELECTRICITY

 

Most plug outlets in Colombia are the same as those in the United States, type A and type B with 110 - 120V output, however there are two potentially important physical differences where you may need an adapter: grounding and/or polarisation.

Grounding is created by the addition of a third, round pin beneath the two vertical blades on the plug, while polarisation is achieved through the left vertical blade being taller than the right, so that the plug can't be inserted upside down. It is required that sockets in the U.S. and Canada are both grounded and polarised but it is not a requirement in Latin America so the majority of these sockets may not accept the taller blade and/or the third grounding pin.

 


 

☢ HEALTH

 

Public health standards in Colombia have improved greatly since the 1980s, especially since the 1993 reform, which transformed the structure of public health-care funding by shifting subsidy from providers to users, obliging employees, together with their employers, to pay their own money into health plans leading to a higher quality of service and well-trained doctors.

Private hospitals offer excellent health care with more modern, comfortable facilities containing the necessary equipment for every health and cosmetic need. For this reason there has been a recent boom in health tourism in Bogotá where it is possible to have anything done, from teeth whitening to nose jobs to critical surgery for relatively cheap in comparison to the same procedures in the US or the EU. However, for general health, hospitals and health clinics in Colombia are not cheap so don’t skimp on the extra cost and make sure you buy the appropriate health insurance before leaving for your trip to cover the worst-case scenario. For cheaper options you can search for a university hospital where the doctors may still be in training but are as just good as fully trained doctors.

The water in most large cities, such as Bogotá and Medellín, is considered safe. However along the coast, including Cartagena, Santa Marta and Barranquilla, it is best to buy bottled water.

Travellers to Bogotá should note that altitude sickness is a problem for some tourists due to the high altitude. It is recommended to spend your first few days in the city avoiding difficult physical activity or to slowly acclimatise by travelling to a mid-altitude city such as Medellín first. Be sure to talk to a doctor before your travels if you have heart disease or respiratory conditions.

All travellers should visit either their personal physician or a travel health clinic 4-8 weeks before departure to receive advice on the protective vaccinations you may need for your upcoming vacation. Hepatitis A and B, and Typhoid are recommended for all travellers, including the Yellow Fever vaccination with exceptions to those travellers whose itineraries are limited to the cities of Bogotá, Cali, and Medellin, which are lower risk zones. The Yellow Fever vaccine must be administered at an approved Yellow Fever vaccination center, which will give you a fully validated International Certificate of Vaccination that you may need to present to country officials when entering high-risk zones, or when re-entering your own country after returning from a high-risk zone.

The rabies vaccination is also recommended for travellers spending a lot of time outdoors, at high risk from animal bites, or involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats. However, this vaccine does not protect you from the rabies disease but rather only decreases the immediate effects, allowing you more time to get to a hospital and receive the required treatment.

Some areas of the country are at risk at certain times of the year for malaria and dengue fever. Risk-free zones for Malaria are Bogotá, regions at high altitude in the Andes, and Cartagena. Precautions against mosquito bites should be taken in all other destinations in Colombia.

 


 

SAFETY

 

Colombia has in recent years managed to shake off its reputation as a violent and dangerous place. While the situation is not yet perfect, thousands of tourists travel safely in Colombia each year. The key to staying safe in Colombia is exercising caution and following basic guidelines.

The most important thing you can do to stay safe is to stick to the established tourist routes in Colombia. The major cities and popular regions such as the Coffee Triangle and the Caribbean Coast are perfectly fine to visit. Rural areas, particularly in the south and on the Pacific Coast are still considered dangerous. The port of Buenaventura in the department of Valle de Cauca and the port of Tumaco in the department of Nariño are considered highly dangerous and should not be visited. When travelling between cities, try to travel during the day only if possible.

In the cities, exercise the same precaution as you would in any large city. Never flash your wealth, and don’t carry more than you need to on any given day. Leave your passport and other valuables in your hotel safe, and keep a copy of your passport with you at all times.

Listen to local advice about which areas are dangerous and which ones are safe. You’ll notice that in cities such as Bogotá, there are few people on the streets at night and you should follow suit. Take a safe radio taxi (hailed by telephone or with a phone app) to get around at night.

For more advice, read our top safety tips for travelling in Colombia.

 


 

☺ PEOPLE

 

The population of Colombia is incredibly diverse, with a mixture of groups of rich ethnic diversity. The main groups, Amerindians, Europeans, and Africans, have mingled over the years creating a large Mestizo population. According to the 2005 census, the nation is 49% Mestizo (European and Amerindian), 37% white (European), 10.6% Afro-Colombian and 3.4% Amerindian.

No matter the heritage or the background, the people of Colombia are known as being some of the friendliest people in South America. Family is very important for Colombians. It is common for children to live at home until they marry. The society is typically hierarchical, with the elderly revered and respected.

 


 

♨ CUISINE

 

Typical Colombian cuisine is both healthy and filling, full of particular flavours that vary between its many distinct regions. The food in Bogotá, for example, has warming food for the colder climate, whereas the cuisine on the coast has a heavy focus on fresh seafood. Soup is a staple of the cuisine across the country, regardless of weather.

A typical breakfast in Colombia is arepas, a type of cornmeal flatbread. A favourite at breakfast time is the arepa de huevo - an arepa with a fried egg inside. Another popular breakfast in some regions is Calentado, literally meaning heated, where the previous day’s rice and beans are reheated and served with an arepa, an egg, chorizo (a sausage) and whatever else you can heat up.

Lunch is the biggest meal in Colombia, beginning at 12 pm. Many eat an ‘almuerzo ejecutivo’ or executive lunch: a feast of traditional food including a soup starter, a main dish with rice and vegetables, and a fresh natural juice. You’ll be able to smell the fabulous cooking aromas wafting through the streets from early in the morning to be ready for the 12 pm lunch rush. Dinner tends to be lighter and is usually eaten at 7 pm.

Ajiaco: a delightful soup prepared with chicken, a variety of potatoes, corn and guascas (a spice), usually served with sour cream and capers. Exclusive to the Savannah region.
Tamale: a masa paste made with rice, meat or chicken, chickpea, carrot, and spices, wrapped in plantain leaves and steam cooked.
Sancocho: a soupy stew made from meat, chicken or pork (or a combination of the 3), or fish, with large pieces of plantain, potato, yuca (cassava) and/or other vegetables. Typical of the Caribbean coast.
- Empanada: a stuffed pastry that is fried. The filling can vary according to the region, but will usually contain components such as rice, beef or ground beef, shredded chicken, boiled potatoes, cheese, hard-boiled eggs and peas. Colombian empanadas are usually served with Aji (also called Picante and Ají Pique by some people), a sauce made of coriander, green onions, red or black pepper, vinegar, salt, lemon juice and, often, bits of avocado pear.
- Breads: Colombia offers a variety of different kinds of breads and pastries made from yuca (a root), corn and other flour. Some of the most popular include arepas, bollos buñuelos, pan de yuca and roscón.

Even though the water in Colombia’s big cities is safe to drink you may find it a little plain in comparison to some of the national cocktails on offer! Some of the traditional spirits are: 

- Aguardiente (literally translated as firewater), a traditional drink that is made from sugar cane molasses and distilled to a mouth explosive 60% alcohol proof liquor. More sugar is then added to give Aguardiente its trademark sweetness. A popular mixed drink is Canelazo – mixture of aguardiente, sugar, lemon, water and panela.
- Rum in Bogotá is good and cheap; the most popular brands are the Ron Viejo de Caldas, Ron Tres Esquinas and Ron Medellin Añejo. Colombians drink it with Coca Cola or straight. White rum is often drunk with Cuatro, a grapefruit soda.
Chicha, made with base of corn that has been mixed with sugar. After the mixture is fermented it becomes a very strong alcoholic beverage.

 


 

<<Check out all our Travel Guides about Colombia>>

 

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