Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [261]
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WOMEN TRAVELERS
Women traveling in Colombia are unlikely to encounter any problems.
The usual caveats apply: bring your street smarts, don’t wander alone in dodgy neighborhoods after dark, and keep an eye on your drink. Female travelers are also more likely to be victims of a bag-snatching or mugging attempt, as you will be perceived as less likely to fight back. You should also be careful taking taxis alone after dark – while rare, there have been reports of taxi drivers raping single female passengers.
Those who wish to avoid attention from local men should dress modestly and consider wearing a cheap wedding band.
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WORK
There is a small but growing demand for qualified English-language teachers in Colombia. Some schools may be willing to pay cash-in-hand for a short period of time, but for longer-term employment you will have to find a school willing to organize a work visa. As a general rule, the more popular the city is among travelers, the harder it will be to find employment – for example, Medellín is crammed with English teachers, while Cali goes lacking. Don’t expect to get rich teaching English: you’re unlikely to make more than a few million pesos a month, and usually much less.
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Transportation
CONTENTS
* * *
Getting There & Away
Entering The Country
Air
Border Crossings
Organized Tours
Getting Around
Air
Bicycle
Boat
Bus
Car & Motorcycle
Hitchhiking
Local Transportation
Organized Tours
Train
* * *
GETTING THERE & AWAY
* * *
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ENTERING THE COUNTRY
Most travelers will arrive in Colombia by plane, or overland from Ecuador, Venezuela or Brazil. There are also numerous sailboats that bring travelers from Panama via the San Blas Islands.
You’ll need a valid passport (with at least six more months of validity) and some nationalities will need a visa. Most travelers will get a 60-day tourist visa, which can be extended up to six months per calendar year. When arriving by plane (but not overland) you’ll be given a customs form. You’re supposed to keep this and return it at the time of your departure (or face a stiff fine), but no one we know has ever been asked for this form when they left the country. Keep it with your passport just in case, though.
For information on visas, Click here.
Flights and tours can be booked online at www.lonelyplanet.com/travel_services.
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AIR
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Airports & Airlines
Colombia’s biggest international airport is Bogotá’s El Dorado (BOG; 1 413 9053, 1 425 1000; www.bogota-dc.com/trans/aviones.htm). Other airports servicing international flights include Cartagena’s Rafael Nuñez airport (CTG; 5 359 6273), Barranquilla’s Ernesto Cortissoz airport (BAQ; 5 334 8052; www.baq.aero), San Andrés airport (ADZ; 8 512 6110), Medellín’s Jose Maria Codova airport (MDE; 4 601 1212), Pereira airport (PEI; ( 6 326 0021) and Cali’s Alfonso Bonilla Aragón airport (CLO; 2 442 2624). Charter airlines also fly package tourists into Cartagena and San Andrés.
Avianca (AV; 1 404 7862; www.avianca.com), Colombia’s flagship airline, connects Bogotá with Europe (Madrid), North America (New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Mexico City), Central America (San José and Panama City) and South America (Caracas, Quito, Guayaquil, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro). It has a well-serviced fleet and a reasonable safety record.
Other airlines flying to and from Colombia include the following. Bogotá addresses for these airlines can be found on Click here.
Air France (AF; Bogotá 1 413 0505; www.airfrance.com) Hub Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris.
American Airlines (AA; Bogotá 1 439 7777, 1 744 9955; www.aa.com) Hub Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.
British Airways (BA; 1 800 934