Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [253]
Peru Bogotá (Map; 1 257 0505; Calle 80A No 6-50); Bogotá (Map; 1 257 6846; Calle 90 No 14-26); Cali ( 2 660 2052; Av 7N No 24N-57); Leticia (Map; 8 592 7755, 9 592 7204; Calle 11 No 5-32)
Spain (Map; 1 618 1288, 622 0090; Calle 92 No 12-68, Bogotá)
Switzerland (Map; 1 349 7230; Carrera 9A No 74-08, oficina 1101, Bogotá)
UK Bogotá (Map; 1 326 8300; www.britain.gov.co; Carrera 9 No 76-49, piso 9); Cali (Map; 2 660 1031; Calle 22N No 6-42, oficina 401).
USA (Map; 1 315 0811; Calle 22Dbis No 47-51, Bogotá)
Venezuela Barranquilla (Map; 5 358 0048; Carrera 52 No 69-96); Bogotá (Map; 1 640 1213; Carrera 11 No 87-51, piso 5); Bogotá (Map; 1 636 4011; Av 13 No 103-16); Cartagena ( 5 665 0382; Carrera 3 No 8-129); Cúcuta ( 7 579 1956; Av Camilo Daza); Medellín (Map; 4 351 1614; Calle 32B No 69-59)
Return to beginning of chapter
FOOD
Colombia offers good, stomach-filling food at great prices (although don’t expect much in the way of gourmet). Standards of hygiene in food preparation are high.
There are plenty of budget places serving meals for less than COP$10,000. Lunch is the easiest budget meal to find; a cheap breakfast and dinner can be a little bit harder to track down, as most Colombians eat these meals at home.
Midrange restaurants (COP$10,000 to COP$20,000) tend to be a step up in quality and service. You can get a good steak or chicken dinner in this category.
Top-end restaurants generally cost more than COP$20,000. You can (should) expect superb cooking with creative flair at this price. Don’t hesitate to complain – if you don’t like it, send it back. COP$25,000 is a lot of money for a meal in Colombia.
Return to beginning of chapter
GAY & LESBIAN TRAVELERS
Compared to some Latin American countries, homosexuality is well tolerated in Colombia. There is a substantial gay undercurrent in the major cities and as long as you don’t broadcast the fact in public (holding hands, kissing, etc) you are unlikely to be harassed.
In a quirk of law, Colombia recognizes same-sex couples. The law regarding de facto couples does not specify gender, and many gay couples have exploited this loophole to register their civil unions with the government.
Bogotá has the largest and most open gay and lesbian community, and therefore is the best place to make contacts and get to find out what’s going on. Check the website www.gaycolombia.com for more information.
Gay bars, discos and other venues are limited to the larger cities, and come and go frequently. Again, Bogotá offers the largest choice. Click here for some gay hangouts.
Return to beginning of chapter
HOLIDAYS
The following days are observed as public holidays in Colombia.
Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day) January 1
Los Reyes Magos (Epiphany) January 6*
San José (St Joseph) March 19*
Jueves Santo & Viernes Santo (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday) March/April (Easter). The following Monday is also a holiday.
Día del Trabajo (Labor Day) May 1
La Ascensión del Señor (Ascension) May*
Corpus Cristi (Corpus Christi) May/June*
Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (Sacred Heart) June*
San Pedro y San Pablo (St Peter and St Paul) June 29*
Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) July 20
Batalla de Boyacá (Battle of Boyacá) August 7
La Asunción de Nuestra Señora (Assumption) August 15*
Día de la Raza (Discovery of America) October 12*
Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day) November 1*
Independencia de Cartagena (Independence of Cartagena) November 11*
Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception) December 8
Navidad (Christmas Day) December 25
When the dates marked with an asterisk do not fall on a Monday, the holiday is moved to the following Monday to make a three-day long weekend, referred to as the puente (bridge). Any holiday falling on a Tuesday (or Thursday) also turns the preceding Monday (or following Friday) into a holiday as well.
Return to beginning of chapter
INSURANCE
Ideally, all travelers should have a travel-insurance policy, which will provide some security in the case of a medical