Suggested length of stay
Spend a month in Colombia and you will barely scratch the surface, such is the wealth of natural attractions to explore! However, to take in the recognised highlights of Bogota, the Coffee Region, Cartagena and coast, you will need a minimum of 10 days. Three extra days will open up a side trip to the picturesque, colonial town of Villa de Leyva while an additional week or so will enable you to visit Popayan and the fascinating pre-Incan sites of San Agustin and Tierradentro south of the capital.
Bogota 2-3 nights, Villa de Leyva 1-2 nights, The Coffee triangle 3-5 nights, Cartagena 3-5 nights, Santa Marta & Tayrona 3-6 nights, Popayan & San Agustin 5 nights
Modes of transport
Road
Travelling the length of breadth of Colombia by road is not an option. Colombia is a huge country and although the highway infrastructure is good on the whole, there are isolated pockets which are still off limits for visitors. Fortunately, Colombiaās key towns and cities are connected by an excellent network of airlines and journey times by road should be no longer than 4 hours. As ever, more isolated destinations such as Mompox and San Agustin will involve greater travel often along bumpier roads. However, the magnificent scenery and fascinating insight into village life will more than make up for any potential discomfort.
Air
Colombia has a comprehensive network dominated by the national airline Avianca while the regional giant Latam (result of the recent merger between Lan and Tam) is also beginning to make inroads. All itineraries will involve a number of flights, more often than not routing through the main hub Bogota. If you are considering combining Colombia with its regional neighbours, please do contact Oasis Travel for more information regarding South American airpasses.
Rail
Historic railroads once ran through parts of the country but long fell into disrepair, the state owned āNational Railways of Colombiaā finally going bankrupt in the late 20th century. Remnants of the āBogotĆ” Savannah Railwayā is still in operation, lovingly rescued and restored by four train aficionados, and operates a magnificent steam driven locomotive as far as ZipaquirĆ”, just outside the capital.
Trekking
Colombia is dominated by the spectacular snow-capped Andes which offers wonderful hiking opportunities throughout the country. Spanning 3 departments – BoyacĆ”, Casanare and Arauca ā the breathtaking peaks of the La Sierra Nevada de Cocuy attract hikers from far and wide and is Colombiaās trekking capital. Further south, the lush valleys of the Cocora Valley are ringed with colourful coffee estates and provide a gentler, lower altitude destination for walking. However, most famous of all is the hike to the Lost City, Colombiaās very own Inca trail. Nestled high in the coastal range just outside Santa Marta, the extraordinary Kogi site was only rediscovered in the 1970ās and is reached via an arduous 5 day jungle trek that culminates in 1200 stone steps to reach the citadel at the top. Challenging certainly yet the views are breathtaking and the site beautiful and enigmatic!
Geography
Sitting on the shoulder of South America just across the narrow isthmus from Central America, Colombia is South Americaās fourth largest country. Bound by Ecuador and Peru to the south, Brazil to the east and Venezuela to the north, Colombia covers some 2 million kmĀ² of breathtaking jungle, mountains, coast and wetlands. The majestic snow-capped peaks of the Andes run through the spine of the country and splits into three parallel ranges ā the Cordillera Occidental, the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Oriental. East of the mountains, the land plunges down through lush cloud-forest into the steamy āllanosā plains of the Orinocco headwaters. South of the plains, Colombiaās Amazon stretches to the borders with Peru and Brazil, an endless sea of green that covers some 30% of the country. On the western flank of the Andes, the Occidental range drops into jungles, swamps and the lushly forested hills of Colombiaās Pacific. In marked contrast, the isolated peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range overlook the breathtaking turquoise waters and dreamy islands of the Caribbean. Surrounding the Sierra Nevada, well-watered channels and swamps support banana and cotton plantations and culminate in the desolate coastal plain of the Guajira Peninsula just across the water from Venezuela. And finally onto the Darien Gap ā one of South Americaās last great wildernesses! The Darien spans the narrow isthmus bordering Panama and is an inhospitable wasteland of swamps, forests, indigenous tribes and paramilitaries – not for the faint-hearted!
Food
Colombiaās rich cuisine makes the very best use of its heady range of landscapes; the freshest fish and seafood from Pacific and Caribbean coast; highland staples of maize, quinoa and potatoes from the Andes and tropical fruits and plantain from the lowlands and Amazon Basin. And everywhere you go ā meat and more meat from beef, pork and lamb to guinea pig, fried intestines and even ants! Throughout the country, Arepa corn cakes together black beans provide the accompaniment to most meals. Traditional favourites range from Bandeja Paisa and Fritanga, huge platters of fried meat, red beans and banana chips, to lighter Changua, Cuchuco and Puchero soups and broths. On the coast, yam and coconut milk rice are enjoyed alongside seafood, chicken and even turtle (which we strongly advise against!) while in the highlands chicken, plantain and potato āsancochoā broths take pride of place alongside stuffed corn cake Tamales.
Drinking water
Water is treated but to be on the safe side, it is not advisable to drink tap water in Colombia. Bottled water is very cheap and widely available in all areas of the country.
Money
The local currency is the Colombian āPesoā. ATMās are common throughout and credit cards are also widely accepted though often discounts will be offered for payments made in cash. However, once you leave the main hubs and head into the local villages and markets, it is important to have small denominations of local currency. Travellerās Cheques are still accepted though commissions vary between one agency to another and are often more of a burden.
Tipping is common throughout Colombia and as a guideline, you should allow US10 for a half day guided tour (US20 for the full day) while for the driver US5 (US8 full day). Of course, only pay for good service. For general transfers, there is no need to tip unless of course they have gone out of their way to help you (ie stopped at a local pharmacy en route).
Inoculations & health precautions
Please consult with your doctor at least 6 week before travel to Colombia. For visits to Santa Marta, Tayrona and the Amazon, both ant-malarials and a yellow fever jab are required.
The standard of medical facilities and care in Colombia are generally very good in the key towns and cities. There are foreign private medical clinics and hospitals throughout the country with facilities and services comparable to Australian standards. Medical facilities and care at most public hospitals are also good though medical evacuation to a major centre may be required for minor operations. Most hotels work with a private doctor who will visit you at your room, however, both doctors and hospitals will expect cash payment prior to providing medical services, including for emergency care.
It is vital to have good medical insurance before you travel.
Visas
No visas are currently required for travel to Colombia by Australian citizens
The Australian embassy in Santiago, Chile is responsible for matters relating to Colombia
Australian Embassy
Isidora Goyenechea 3621, 13th Floor
Las Condes
Santago
Telephone +56 2 2550 3500
Facsimile +56 2 2550 3560
Website http://www.chile.embassy.gov.au
Electricity
Argentine electrical current is 120 volts at 60 cycles. Plugs are 2 flat pins. Some isolated estancias or rainforest lodges run off generators and it is recommended you bring along a small torch.
Getting there
Colombia is best accessed via Santiago, the capital of Chile. Qantas offers a direct service from Sydney to Santiago three times a week while Latam (Lan) offers daily flights which touch down in Auckland en route. There are other routes available via the US but only one-world partners Qantas and Lan entitle you to discounted fares for the Lan dominated internal flights within South America.
Non-stop flight time Sydney – Santiago approximately 14 hours
Non-stop flight time Santiago ā BogotĆ” approximately 6 hours
Time difference
GMT – 5 hours
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