Colombia

The Basics:

Colombia officially known as the Republic of Colombia is in north east South America bordered by Venezuela – the longest border, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil and Panama. Twice the size of France, with more than 52 million people it is a country of many contrasts. The two biggest cities are Bogota with more than 12 million people and Medellin with 3mm

Its location near the Equator, creates an extraordinary range of climates, vegetation and soils,resulting in a broad array of crops. The volcanoes (Galeras is one of Colombia’s most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010) and mountains of the Andes make up the center of the country and the tropical beaches of the Caribbean and Pacific lie to the north and west.The highest mountain is Pico Cristobal Colon at 5,730 m. There are impressive deserts in the north and extensive grasslands, known as Los Llanos, in the east.

Colombia’s Amazon Basin which takes up nearly the country’s entire southern half, are dense rain forests.

The ride Cantering through north east Colombia takes place east of the most eastern fork of the Andean range, where it splits into 3 distinct ranges: two rivers, the Magdalena and the Cauca, separate them and provide access from the Atlantic coast into the heart of the country.

It is estimated that the current population is Mestizo and White 87.6%, Afro-Colombian (includes Mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 6.8%, Amerindian 4.3%, unspecified 1.4%. Spanish is the official language with more than 65 indigenous languages still spoken. The resulting culture is a rich blend in art, music, food and politics

Natural resources, petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds and hydropower contribute to a growing economy.

Colombia has suffered much as a country, from the Spanish to civil wares to violent drug related cartels, but now stability seems at hand and as a result tourism is starting to boom

Currency :

Colombian Peso

Language:

Spanish, indigenous languages and some English

Religion:

Primarily Catholic

Time Zone:

The same as Texas, GMT + 5 hours.

Visiting

Getting there: Served by major airlines from around the world it is easy to get to Bogota, and there are also many that fly to Cartagena and Medellin

Destination ( 1 week +) ? =

Colombia has much to offer the visitor: big cities such as Bogota and Medellin offer restaurants, museums and galleries, but for the outdoor enthusiast the coast and mountains are the main draw.

it’s inexpensive – hotels (except the 5 star international chains) are reasonably priced
food is inexpensive and interesting
there are interesting hikes (and biking paths) in all the regions offering different experiences
the Pacific and Caribbean coasts are beautiful
2 days in Bogota is probably enough
there are amazing well preserved colonial towns, such as Barichara
birding is impressive
bike riding is very popular, there are lots of bike paths even in Bogota
culture tours – weaving, coffee growing and roasting, horse riding (nose to tail)
explore Colombia on a horse Cantering through North East Colombia

You can see many types of architecture throughout Colombia. Preserved colonial villages, adobe houses and pressed earth are all preserved. Modern buildings often use local brick, especially in Bogota as it is made close to the city.

Churches abound, in every small town and all the large cities there are churches, cathedrals and cemetries

Spend the day in Bogota

Book a walking eating tour – in addition to trying many fabulous local fruits and foods you will learn some history, try exqusite coffee and burn off some calories while doing it
Visit the flower market, Colombia is the 2nd largest flower exporter in the world
Visit the Gold museum. No visit to Bogota would be complete without this experience. In addition to the spectacular collection of historic gold you’ll learn a lot about the history of Colombia
Colombia’s most famous artist is Botero, don’t miss the museum with his collection, where you can also see Picassos, Renoir, Dali and more
Bogota has a enormous graffiti, street art culture – it’s legal – so take a walking tour to learn about the stories behind the art.
If it isn’t foggy you can take a tram up to the Sanctuary of Monserrate for a view over the city
Visit the salt cathedral

Explore the great outdoors

Colombia has enormous biodiversity so if you are a nature lover it’s a great place to see native species
Go birding – apparently there are 1900 species of birds to be found. In addition there are butterflies galore
Orchids – yes, Colombia has more orchids than anywhere else
Along the coast there are thousands of fish to be seen, go snorkeling or diving
Bike riding – road and mountain bike are all accepted
Hike the amazing trails – eco lodges are starting to appear
Go horse riding
- See Cantering through north eastern Colombia

What to eat and drink

The food in Colombia is excellent – though probably best appreciated if you are a carnivore

Beef- every cut you can imagine
Goat – excellent bbq’d
Soups – these are a staple and mostly delicious
Breads and roots – corn, casava and more. Of course Arepas, which vary by cook and locale
Fruits and vegetables – everything you can imagine from tropical rain forest to multiple types of potato
Coffee – the best, not over roasted like European / American coffees so you can taste the nuance of the beans
Aguadiente – local fire water
Rum – Colombia makes superb rum
Colombians have a sweet tooth, a serious love of sugar: fruits, cakes, arepas, breads, hot chocolate

What to bring home:

Coffee
Chocolates
Woven baskets, bags and hats
Clothing

What you should know before you go

Electricity – flat 2-prong sockets or sockets with a third, round prong.
Traffic is awful in Bogota – allow extra time for everything
Americans do not need a tourist visa
Climates range by locale – Bogota is mostly cool and damp; the pacific and caribbean coast are warm.
Credit cards are ok in the cities, cash/pesos will be needed in the country and some towns
Hire a guide in Colombia, it’s not expensive and you will be safer
Book a car to pick you up from the airport
Allow extra time to clear Bogota immigration upon arrival