Highlights

Bogota

The vibrant high-altitude capital city, is known for its colonial architecture, cobbled downtown streets of La Candelaria, pre-Colombian art collections made in gold, splendid colonial churches and magnificent museums.

Tayrona National Park

Located along the country's Caribbean coast, Tayrona is home to beautiful beaches, lush tropical rainforest, azure waters and rich biodiversity. The rainforest is brimming with wildlife such as howler monkeys, capuchins and agouti.

Caño Cristales

Known as the “river of five colours” Caño Cristales earns its nickname from a unique natural phenomenon that occurs when the algae forms an underwater blanket of bright red, creating a spectacular sight.

Cartagena

The jewel of the Caribbean Coast. Lying within 13km of centuries-old colonial stone walls, the vibrant Old Town of Cartagena is a maze of cobblestone streets and colourful houses and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Coffee region

Colombia's Coffee Triangle is located around the temperate slopes of the Andean mountains, where some of the finest coffee in the world is produced. The colonial, coffee town of Salento charms with its colourful buildings.

Amazon

While a third of Colombia is made up of the Amazon rainforest, the region still remains a largely unexplored area. From Leticia, travellers can discover the unique wildlife, pristine jungle and fascinating indigenous cultures of Colombia’s Amazon.

Useful information

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Communications

Country Code for Colombia: +57

All Emergency Services - 123. Police and Fire only - 112. Ambulance only - 132. Emergency services may not always have English speaking staff. In this case, you should request for your hotel or local guide to call on your behalf or contact the Australian Embassy.

Customs

Colombian culture is very diverse, and some customs may be appropriate in some regions and areas and not others. Overall, Colombians are extremely proud of their country and customs and place a great deal of importance on family. Locals are very welcoming and friendly, and if invited to visit someone in their home it is considered appropriate to bring a small gift, and politeness, good manners and courtesy will be well received.

Electricity

Electrical Plug type: USA and Japanese (Type A & B)
Voltage: 110V
Modem Plug: American (same as Australia)

Getting around

In Bogotá, TransMilenio offers a rapid transit bus service which runs throughout the city along dedicated lanes to and from specially designed stations which allow safe access via bridges and pedestrian tunnels. Cali and Bucaramanga also have similar bus systems. Medellín operates the only rail-based public transport network in the country. Taxis are cheap and convenient and in most big cities operate on meters. The price will usually be the same, regardless of the number of passengers, though some drivers may demand more if you have a lot of luggage. In smaller towns the prices are usually fixed depending on the destination, so it is best to agree on a price before getting in. There are taxi apps which you can download on your mobile phone like TAPPSI, EASYTAXI or UBER which you can use to call a safe taxi.

Language

Spanish is spoken by the majority of the population, however there are over 60 Amerindian and Creole languages and dialects also spoken in various regions of the country.

Health

Please consult a medical practitioner or contact The Travel Doctor for your specific risk and requirements when travelling to Colombia. Australians travelling to Colombia should also ensure that they have adequate travel insurance to cover the length of their stay. For further information please visit the Smartraveller website  

No vaccines are required to gain entry to Colombia. However, if you wish to visit tourist sites such as the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park, Tayrona National Park or the different Amazon reserves, the Colombian authorities will require that you are properly vaccinated against yellow fever. For a list of all areas in which yellow fever vaccination is mandatory, please consult the following link:  https://www.minsalud.gov.co/salud/publica/PET/Paginas/Fiebre-amarilla.aspx 
Other recommended vaccines include immunisation against Hepatitis A and Typhoid fever, and malaria pills, which are advisable if visiting the rainforest regions, where the use of insect repellent and mosquito nets is also recommended.

Tipping

A 10% tip is usual in restaurants, as long as the service is good. Drivers and guides should also be tipped – the recommendation is 5 USD per person for the guide per day and about 3-5 USD per person for the driver per day.

Shopping

Medellín leads the way with a fashion-forward reputation for design, and is considered Colombia's shopping city. The upmarket district of El Poblado has a number of malls with a range of big brands. For unique and eclectic local fashion, Via Primavera is a quaint tree-lined street famed for its market stalls and independent shops. Bogotá’s artisan markets, located in the heritage district are a treasure trove of handmade leather goods, woven textiles and art products, along with gourmet coffee. Cartagena is best known for gemstones and also local sweets or candy.

Visas

The Travel Corporation has partnered with the company Sherpa to provide travellers with the latest government and health restrictions. Simply enter the country you want to travel to for information on safety regulations, border closures, quarantine requirements, your travel visa and more using the Sherpa travel tool.

FIND OUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR YOUR TRIP


Official travel advice is available by visiting the SmartTraveller Website

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