Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [1]
Percentage of vote President Uribe won in the 2006 election: 62.35%
Life expectancy: 69 years (men), 77 years (women)
Internet country code:.co
Number of ‘u’s in the country’s name: zero
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Getting Started
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WHEN TO GO
IS IT SAFE?
COSTS & MONEY
TRAVEL LITERATURE
INTERNET RESOURCES
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Off the tourist radar for so long, Colombia is only just getting used to receiving tourists again.
On the one hand, this means Colombia is relatively uncrowded and still good value. On the other hand, few people speak English. You’ll enjoy your holiday a great deal more if you speak some Spanish. If nothing else, bring a phrasebook, a smile and some courage – Colombians will forgive bad grammar if you make an effort.
The majority of foreign travelers in Colombia are backpackers, and there is a growing network of foreign-owned hostels. The budget traveler will find the country pleasantly easy on the wallet. There are plenty of dorm beds on offer, buses are cheap and efficient, and budget meals are never more than a short walk away.
The midrange and top-end traveler looking for greater creature comforts and good service will find them, although there may be fewer options. While all the major cities boast four-star hotels, and the Caribbean and Pacific coasts are home to quality, all-inclusive resorts, the midrange category is almost nonexistent in Colombia. That said, Colombia’s best hotels and resorts are significantly cheaper than rivals in more touristy destinations, making Colombia a bargain no matter how you look at it.
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WHEN TO GO
Colombia has no high and low season, per se. The peak seasons are Semana Santa (Holy Week), December and January, and all puentes (three-day weekends), when bus transport can be crowded and some hotels full. Mid-June to mid-July are also crowded during school holidays.
Situated right at the equator, the weather in Colombia fluctuates very little, meaning that anytime is a good time to visit the country. There are two pronounced rainy seasons between December and March and in July and August, but it can (and does) rain at any time of the year.
December through to January is a period of almost nonstop partying in Colombia and is a good time to visit if you want to attend the maximum number of festivals on offer (Click here).
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See Climate Charts Click here for more information.
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IS IT SAFE?
Short answer: yes.
Fine print: anything can happen. Just as anything can happen in your home country, so too it can happen in Colombia.
Compared with neighboring countries, in particular Venezuela and Ecuador, Colombia is much safer. The average traveler visiting the destinations included in this book will run little risk. The principal concern should be safety in the cities. A street-savvy traveler who keeps their wits about them is unlikely to be mugged, and if they are, coughing up what small amount of cash is on hand (try to head out with no more than COP$50,000 in your wallet) should avoid any further confrontation.
The risk of kidnapping or guerrilla-inspired violence is negligible. Are you a celebrity, diplomat or uniformed member of the US Armed Forces? If so, perhaps you should reconsider your trip. Remote pockets of the country, especially the high mountains and the deep jungle, continue to be controlled by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) and/or paramilitaries. These regions include the Chocó, parts of Nariño, Putumayo, and the jungle area east of the Andes (except for Los Llanos and the area around Leticia). The Pacific coast remains borderline, but is well patrolled by the Colombian marines.
Conditions in Colombia could, at least in theory, change rapidly. If you are concerned, check conditions online before going. A good place to start is Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree forum (thorntree.lonelyplanet.com).
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COSTS & MONEY
By Latin American standards, Colombia is cheap. A