Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [262]
Continental (CO; 1 800 944 0219 toll free; www.continentalairlines.com) Hub George Bush Airport, Houston.
Copa (CM; Bogotá 1 623 1566; www.copaair.com) Hub Panama City.
Iberia (IB; Bogotá 1 610 5066; www.iberia.com) Hub Madrid Barajas Airport.
Spirit Air (SA; Bogotá 1 800 672 6717, 1 547 8309; www.spiritair.com) Hub Miami.
TACA (TA; Bogotá 1 637 3900; www.taca.com) Hub San Salvador Airport.
Return to beginning of chapter
* * *
THINGS CHANGE…
The information in this chapter is particularly vulnerable to change. Check directly with the airline or a travel agent to make sure you understand how a fare (and ticket you may buy) works and be aware of the security requirements for international travel. Shop carefully. The details given in this chapter should be regarded as pointers and are not a substitute for your own careful, up-to-date research.
* * *
Return to beginning of chapter
* * *
CLIMATE CHANGE & TRAVEL
Climate change is a serious threat to the ecosystems that humans rely upon, and air travel is the fastest-growing contributor to the problem. Lonely Planet regards travel, overall, as a global benefit, but believes we all have a responsibility to limit our personal impact on global warming.
Flying & Climate Change
Pretty much every form of motor travel generates CO2 (the main cause of human-induced climate change) but planes are far and away the worst offenders, not just because of the sheer distances they allow us to travel, but because they release greenhouse gases high into the atmosphere. The statistics are frightening: two people taking a return flight between Europe and the US will contribute as much to climate change as an average household’s gas and electricity consumption over a whole year.
Carbon Offset Schemes
Climatecare.org and other websites use ‘carbon calculators’ that allow jetsetters to offset the greenhouse gases they are responsible for with contributions to energy-saving projects and other climate-friendly initiatives in the developing world – including projects in India, Honduras, Kazakhstan and Uganda.
Lonely Planet, together with Rough Guides and other concerned partners in the travel industry, supports the carbon offset scheme run by climatecare.org. Lonely Planet offsets all of its staff and author travel.
For more information check out our website: lonelyplanet.com.
* * *
Return to beginning of chapter
Tickets
Colombia requires, technically at least, that visitors have an onward ticket before they’re allowed into the country. This is quite strictly enforced by airlines and travel agents, and none will sell you a one-way ticket unless you already have an onward ticket. Upon arrival in Colombia, however, hardly any immigration officials will ask you to present your onward ticket.
The trick, of course, is to purchase a fully-refundable ticket with your credit card and request a refund upon arrival in Colombia. If arriving overland, a printout of an unpaid reservation may also be sufficient to get past the border guards. Scruffy looking travelers are more likely to be asked to show an onward ticket than those neatly attired.
Return to beginning of chapter
Australia & New Zealand
Unless you have an around-the-world ticket, the best way to get to Colombia is via Argentina or Chile. Your second best option is to fly via Los Angeles – Avianca now offers nonstop flights from LAX to Bogotá. Some online fare-compare sites will try and route you through New York or Miami – unless you want to spend 48 hours on a plane, avoid this option.
Lan Chile (www.lan.com) flies from Sydney via Auckland to Santiago, and has flights on to Bogotá. Expect to pay between A$3000 and A$3500 for the Sydney–Bogotá return flight. The Auckland–Bogotá fare will be only marginally lower. Aerolíneas Argentinas (www.aerolineas.com.ar) flies three times a week between Auckland and Buenos Aires, and has arrangements with other carriers to cover the Auckland–Australia leg. Aerol