Colombia Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Northwest South America.

Language

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

Area

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

Time Zone

GMT - 5.

Electricity

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

Population

45.5 million (2010).

Population Density

40 per sq km.

Capital City

Bogotá. Population: 7.1 million (2007).

Government

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

Head of State

President Álvaro Uribe since 2002.

Religion

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

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.

Communications

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).

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan *Epiphany
19 Mar *St Joseph’s Day
21 Apr Maundy Thursday
22 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
2 Jun *Ascension
23 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
10 Oct *Columbus Day
1 Nov *All Saints’ Day
11 Nov *Independence of Cartagena City
8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan *Epiphany
19 Mar *St Joseph’s Day
5 Apr Maundy Thursday
6 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
17 May *Ascension
7 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
8 Oct *Columbus Day
1 Nov *All Saints’ Day
11 Nov *Independence of Cartagena City
8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day
* 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