Social ConventionsNormal courtesies should be observed. It is customary to offer guests black Colombian coffee, well sugared, called
tinto. Spanish style and culture can still be seen in parts of the country, although in Bogotá, North American attitudes and clothes are becoming prevalent. Casual clothes can be worn in most places; formal attire will be necessary for exclusive dining rooms and social functions. Smoking is allowed except where indicated. The visitor is advised that many of the main cities in Colombia are notorious for street crime, particularly at night.
Drug-related crimes are a serious problem throughout the country and the visitor should be wary of the unsolicited attention of strangers.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline is
Avianca (AV) (website:
www.avianca.com) which runs direct flights from Madrid and New York to Bogotá. There are no direct flights from the UK.
Air Passesoneworld Visit South America Pass: valid within Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines are
Aer Lingus (EI),
American Airlines (AA),
British Airways (BA),
Cathay Pacific (CX),
Finnair (AY),
Iberia (IB),
LAN (LA) and
Qantas (QF). The pass must be bought outside South America in the country of residence. It allows unlimited travel to 34 cities. A minimum of three flights must be booked, with a maximum of 20; prices depend on the amount of flight zones. For further details, contact one of the participating airlines.
Departure TaxUS$28. Transit passengers are exempt. Passengers who have stayed in Colombia for more than two months must pay an additional US$19
Main AirportsBogotá (El Dorado International Airport) (BOG) is situated 12km (8 miles) east of the city.
To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available to the city center (journey time – 30 minutes).
Facilities: Bank, ATMs, duty-free shop, bars, restaurants, tourist information, pharmacist, car hire and Internet access.
Barranquilla (Ernesto Cortissoz) (BAQ) (website:
www.baq.aero) is 10km (6 miles) from the city.
To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available.
Facilities: Car hire is available.
Cali (Alfonso Bonilla Aragón) (CLO) is 19km (12 miles) from the city.
Cartagena (Rafael Nuñez) (CTG) is 2km (1 mile) from the city.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Cartagena,
Baranquilla,
Santa Marta and
Turnaco (Caribbean coast) and
Buenaventura (Pacific coast). Many
ships and
cruise lines visit these ports from the USA, Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean Islands.
Leticia is the upper Amazonian port, from where boats travel into Brazil and Peru.
Getting There by RailThere are no international rail connections.
Getting There by RoadColombia can be reached from Panama via the Darien Gap, but the route is not advised as it can be long, arduous and dangerous. There are also road links with Ecuador and Venezuela, although travelers should check with their local embassy about the safety of roads before crossing the border to Venezuela.
Coach: Ormeño (website:
www.grupo-ormeno.com) runs coach services to Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru.
OverviewThe following goods may be taken into Colombia by people 18 years of age and older without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes and 50 cigars and up to 500g of tobacco;
two bottles of alcoholic beverage;
a reasonable quantity of perfume.
Ammunition and firearms, unless prior authorization has been obtained, and
item(s) are declared on arrival. Vegetables, plants or plant material; meat and food products of animal origin.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirThere is an excellent internal air network connecting major cities, including those in the Caribbean coastal area. There are also local helicopter flights. Flights between the mainland and the islands of San Andrés and Providencia operate from most major Colombian cities. The main domestic carriers are
AeroRepública (website:
www.aerorepublica.com.co),
Avianca (website:
www.avianca.com),
Aires (website:
www.aires.aero) and
Satena (website:
www.satena.com).
Air PassesAvianca AirpassThe
Avianca Airpass is valid for one month on domestic flights; a minimum of three flights must be booked. The pass must be bought before traveling to Colombia, although the international flight does not need to be taken with
Avianca.
Getting Around by WaterThere is a ferry service between the mainland and the islands of San Andrés and Providencia, leaving from the Muelle de los Pegasos. The journey is long (72 hours) but cheap. Information about other sailings to San Andrés can be obtained from the Maritima San Andrés office.
The Magdalena River is the main artery of Colombia. Some cargo boats take passengers, though this is a slow way to travel. It is possible to hire boats for particular trips. Paddle steamers no longer run services up and down the river and hiring can be expensive.
From Leticia, on the Peruvian border, a number of operators run sightseeing tours and jungle expeditions up the Amazon. It is necessary to make enquiries locally, and wise to shop around before booking on any one trip.
Getting Around by RailAlthough trains still carry freight, inter-city passenger services are virtually non-existent. A restored steam train,
Turistren, runs from Bogotá to Zipaquirá and Cajicá (tel: (1) 375 0557; website:
www.turistren.com.co).
Getting Around by RoadA good highway links Santa Marta in the east with Cartagena, and passes Barranquilla en route. The Trans-Caribbean Highway has placed Barranquilla only 5 hours away from Venezuela. Northeast of Santa Marta, in the Guajira Peninsula, roads are usually passable except during rainy periods. There is highway transportation between the coastal cities and the capital and other cities of the interior, but much of the highway is rutted. Travelers are advised against driving in rural areas as guerilla and paramilitary groups have a strong presence. Traffic drives on the right.
Bus: The long distances make air travel advisable. Among the best bus lines are
Flota Magdalena (website:
www.flotamagdalena.com),
Expreso Bolivariano (website:
www.bolivariano.com.co) and
Expreso Palmira (website:
www.expresopalmira.com.co). There are also
collectivos (taxi-buses) for shorter distances.
Car hire: The major international companies have offices, but driving in cities is not recommended.
Regulations: Seat belts in the front seats are mandatory; however, car seats for children are not. Children under 10 cannot sit in the front seat. The urban speed limit is 45-60kph (28-37mph), and the rural speed limit is 80kph (50mph).
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesBogotá’s bus service,
TransMilenio, is the most efficient way to travel round the capital. There are also shared taxis (
buseta) which are not expensive and stop on demand. Taxis are fairly cheap; passengers should insist that meters are used. Drivers are generally not tipped. Medellín, Colombia’s second largest city, has a metro train service. The newest addition to the system is
MetroCable, a cable car.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times from
Bogotá (in hours and minutes) to other major towns/cities in Colombia.
| Air |
| Barranquilla | 1.15 |
| Medellín | 1.15 |
| Manizales | 1.00 |
| Cali | 1.00 |
| Leticia | 2.00 |
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