Colombia

Colombia is rapidly changing its negative image as a hotbed of criminal 'bounty' kidnappers, drug overlords and gangsters, and travellers are returning to this rewarding country crowning the continent of South America. While both the US State Department and British Foreign and Commonwealth Office still advise against travel to Colombia, the country is statistically safer than most countries in the region. Those intrepid and curious travellers and tourists who do venture here are rewarded with the most diverse destination in South America: an exhilarating fusion of shabby, colourful towns, Caribbean and Pacific coasts, Andean valleys, Amazonian jungle, and wide plains.

Most visitors see the capital, Bogota, the legendary resort town of Cartagena and the duty-free offshore island province of San Andres. In recent years Cali and Medellin are also popular stopovers. Wherever one chooses to explore, a fascinating, exciting and trouble-free experience is likely to be had.

The fortunes of modern Colombia had their foundations laid in the coffee plantations, but the onset of political violence and civil war in the 1950s effectively cauterised the industry. The exception to this can be found in the pretty hilly Quindio province, where many former farmers have turned their traditional red-tile roofed homesteads into good quality bed and breakfast establishments, set among exotic gardens and rows of leafy coffee bushes.

Urban Colombia centres on Bogota, home to about 20 percent of the country's inhabitants. This ancient city was the pre-Columbian capital of the Chibcha Indians and remains a blend of old and new, teeming with Spanish colonial buildings and plazas alongside modern skyscrapers. Beggars rub shoulders in the streets with smartly dressed business people, while mule trains wind their way through the traffic jams.

A major drawcard for tourists is the Spanish colonial port of Cartagena with its spectacular walled old town, a medieval wonderland of palaces, monasteries, plazas and overhanging balconies. To the south of the town are Colombia's major seaside holiday resorts with excellent beaches and scuba diving opportunities.

The country's equatorial rainforests clothe the river valleys, riddled with magnificent airplants, vines, creepers and brilliant flowers and birds. The Los Katios National Park in Choco contains hundreds of species of plant and animal life that have yet to be listed. The country's jungles also shelter wondrous archaeological treasures, like the ancient city of La Cuida Perdida and the monuments, tombs and burial mounds at San Augustin and Tierrodentro.

Colombia is a gem of a destination slowly starting to shed its unpalatable reputation to reveal its unique beauty.

Climate

Generally the climate is wet and tropical. Summer is the principal rainy season although there is no specific dry season. The eastern Caribbean and Pacific coastal lowlands experience an equatorial climate with high temperatures and high humidity all year round, with rainfall averaging 40 inches (1,000mm) a year. In the mountainous parts conditions are cooler and can be changeable depending on prevailing winds, altitude and topography.

Money

The unit of currency is the Colombian Peso (COP), which is divided into 100 centavos. Banks have no fixed policy on exchanging cash and travellers cheques. Some provide the service, some not, and different banks can differ on this from day to day. Generally foreign exchange is only offered in the early morning. Cash can be exchanged at casas de cambio, or money exchange bureaux, located in cities and border towns. US Dollars are preferred for both cash and travellers cheque exchanges. Travellers cheques are difficult to exchange outside of Bogota. Visitors are warned to beware of fake US Dollars, which are printed in Colombia. Credit cards, especially Visa, are becoming more widely accepted and are welcome at top hotels and restaurants, travel agents and car rental agencies. In the main towns and cities ATMs are becoming more prevalent, but cards should be used with caution for security reasons.

Passport Visa

All tourists visiting Colombia must hold valid passports, tickets and documents for onward or return travel, and sufficient funds to cover their stay. Those who plan to visit coffee plantations must apply to 'Vegetable Sanitary Control' at the airport on arrival, or to a Columbian consulate or embassy in advance. Extensions on visas are possible.

Entry Requirements

• US nationals must have a passport but do not require a visa for touristic stays of up to 90 days.
• British nationals must have a passport but do not require a visa for touristic stays of up to 90 days.
• Canadians must hold a passport but do not require a visa for touristic stays of up to 90 days.
• Australians must have a passport and do not require a visa for touristic stays of up to 90 days.
• South Africans must have a passport, but do not require a visa for touristic stays of up to 90 days.
• Irish nationals must have a passport but do not require a visa for touristic stays of up to 90 days.
• New Zealanders require a passport, but no visa is necessary for a touristic stay of up to 90 days.

Health

Mosquito borne illnesses like dengue fever and malaria are prevalent in Colombia. In 2007 there was a dengue fever outbreak, infecting 40,000 people. Travellers to Colombia must be sure to take preventative measures, pack enough mosquito repellent and wear concealing clothing. A yellow fever vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Visitors should not drink tap water, unbottled beverages or drinks with ice. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled, cooked and eaten while piping hot. Avoid undercooked meat or fish. Medical care is adequate in major cities but varies in quality elsewhere. Medical insurance is essential.

Embassy Consulates

• Embassy of Colombia, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 332 7476.
• Embassy of Colombia, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7589 9177.
• Embassy of Colombia, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 230 3760.
• Consulate-General of Columbia, Sydney, Australia: +61 (02) 9955 0311.
• Embassy of Colombia, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 0211.
• Consulate of Colombia, Nelson, New Zealand: +64 (0)3 545 1154.

Foreign Embassies

• United States Embassy, Bogota: +57 (0)1 315 1566.
• British Embassy, Bogota: +57 (0)1 326 8300.
• Canadian Embassy, Bogota: +57 (0)1 657 9800.
• Australian Consulate, Bogota: +57 (0)1 694 6320.
• South African Embassy, Caracas, Venezuela (also responsible for Colombia): +58 212 952 0026.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Bogota: +57 (0)1 446 6114.
• New Zealand Consulate, Bogota: +57 (0)1 633 1322.