Colombia Country & Tourist Information

Location
Northwest South America.

Area
1,141,748 sq km (440,831 sq miles).

Population
45 million (2008 estimate).

Population Density
39.4 per sq km.

Capital
Bogotá.
Population: 7.1 million (2007 estimate).

Government
Republic. Colombia declared its independence from Spain in 1810; however, it was proclaimed the Republic of Gran Colombia in 1819.

Language
Spanish is the official language. Local dialects and some English, French, German and Italian are also spoken.

Religion
Christianity, with 90% Roman Catholic; small Protestant and Jewish minorities.

Time
GMT - 5.

Electricity
Mostly 110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs.

Head of State
President Álvaro Uribe since 2002.

Recent History
President Uribe comfortably won a second four-year term in the May 2006 presidential elections, following constitutional change allowing him to stand. The pro-US, right-leaning president has overseen a dramatic reduction in murder and kidnapping rates. His hard-line stance against left-wing guerillas and right-wing paramilitaries has also seen positive results. In 2008, the biggest guerrilla group FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) was weakened by the death of several leaders: some killed in military raids, and others turned on by their own men in return for a state reward.

Telephone
Country code: 57. Most public telephones take phone cards, which can be bought in many shops and kiosks.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to urban areas.

Internet
There are Internet cafes in most towns and cities.

Media
For many years Colombia was a dangerous place for journalists who faced intimidation by drug traffickers, guerrillas and paramilitary groups. In the 1990s, over 120 journalists were killed, many for investigating drug trafficking and corruption.


Post
The postal service is not reliable, and travelers are advised to use couriers if sending important documents or packages. There are no traditional post offices, but hotels in major cities offer a postal service.

Press
• Spanish dailies include El Tiempo, El Espacio, El Nuevo Siglo and Vanguardia Liberal.

Radio
• There are hundreds of stations.
• The main networks are state-run Radio Nacional de Colombia, Cadena Super (including Radio Super and Super Stereo FM), Caracol and Radio Cadena Nacional (RCN Radio).


Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan* Epiphany.
19 Mar* St Joseph's Day. 
9 Apr Maundy Thursday. 
10 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
21 May* Ascension.
11 Jun* Corpus Christi.
30 Jun* Sagrado Corazon (Sacred Heart).
3 Jul* St Peter and St Paul.
20 Jul Independence Day.
7 Aug Battle of Boyacá.
15 Aug* Assumption.
12 Oct* Columbus Day.
1 Nov* All Saints' Day.
11 Nov* Independence of Cartagena City.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan* Epiphany.
19 Mar* St Joseph's Day.
1 Apr Maundy Thursday.
2 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
13 May* Ascension.
3 Jun* Corpus Christi.
30 Jun* Sagrado Corazon (Sacred Heart).
3 Jul* St Peter and St Paul.
20 Jul Independence Day.
7 Aug Battle of Boyacá.
15 Aug* Assumption.
11 Oct* Columbus Day.
1 Nov* All Saints' Day.
11 Nov* Independence of Cartagena City.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
* When they do not fall on a Monday, these holidays are observed the following Monday.

Contact Information:

Tourism Promotion Fund of Colombia
Calle 69, No 11-16, Bogotá, Colombia
Tel: (1) 212 6315.
Website: www.turismocolombia.com

Colombian Consulate in the UK
3rd Floor, 35 Portland Place, London W1B 1AE, UK
Tel: (020) 7637 9893.
Website: www.colombianconsulate.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1330 (personal callers); 1500-1700 (telephone enquiries).

Embassy of the Republic of Colombia in the USA
2118 Leroy Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 387 8338.
Website: www.colombiaemb.org


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