Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [270]
ORGANIZED TOURS
Aviatur (Map; 1 286 5555; www.aviatur.com; Avenida 19 No 4-62, Bogotá) Colombia’s largest tourist company owns and operates resorts across Colombia. They principally cater to the domestic market. They have offices in all the major cities.
Colombia 57 ( in UK 0800 078 9157, in Colombia 313 401 5691; www.colombia57.com) This British-owned, Manizales-based tour operator specializes in custom-tailored midrange and top-end tours countrywide.
Colombian Journeys ( 1 618 0027; www.colombianjourneys.com; Calle 81 No 11-68, oficina 208, Bogotá) Bogotá-based company offering multilingual tours countrywide.
De Una Tours ( 1 368 1915; Carrera 26A No 40-18 Ap 202, La Soledad, Bogotá; www.deunacolombia.com) This Dutch-owned company offers tours nationwide, including many off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Ecoguías (Map; 347 5736, 212-1423; www.ecoguias.com; Carrera 3 No 55-10, Bogotá; 9am-5:30pm Mon-Fri) A long-standing British-owned adventure travel company, Ecoguías focuses on ecotourism trips to various regions of the country, such as Ciudad Perdida, the coffee region and the Pacific coast Click here.
Promotora Neptuno ( 1 520 5620; www.neptuno.org; Carrera 7bisA No 123-15, Bogotá) A German-owned tour company based in Bogotá.
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TRAIN
Colombia has a nationwide network of train track that is largely unused. The Tren Turístico Café y Azucar (coffe and sugar tourist train) out of Cali now offers occasional excursions into the mountains, and can also serve as infrequent transport between La Tebaida, near Armenia, and Cali, and also El Cumbre, on the road to Buenaventura, and Cali. Click here for more details.
Those visiting San Cipriano, just off the Cali–Buenaventura highway, can enjoy the novel sensation of traveling on a railroad handcart powered by a motorcycle.
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Health David Goldberg MD
CONTENTS
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BEFORE YOU GO
INSURANCE
RECOMMENDED VACCINATIONS
MEDICAL CHECKLIST
INTERNET RESOURCES & BOOKS
IN TRANSIT
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT)
JET LAG & MOTION SICKNESS
IN COLOMBIA
AVAILABILITY & COST OF HEALTH CARE
FUNGAL INFECTIONS
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
TRAVELER’S DIARRHEA
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
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Most visitors travel to Colombia without incident, but there are certain medical conditions to be aware of and several things you can do to prevent sickness. Most illnesses are the result of Colombia’s tropical-zone location. If traveling anywhere along the coast or jungle, you can bank on little tropical nuisances – infected bug bites, rashes or heat exhaustion. Other, more dangerous afflictions, including malaria and yellow fever, can strike travelers who get further off the beaten track or spend a lot of time trekking through national parks. Dengue fever is a risk in lowland population centers. Other problems can occur in the mountains, including soroche (altitude sickness). The good news is that Colombia has some of the best medical care in South America. Prices for treatment are usually reasonable and the local pharmacy network is developed and extensive: even in small towns there are droguerías (pharmacies), and those in the cities are usually well stocked.
BEFORE YOU GO
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If you require a particular medication take an adequate supply with you; it may not be available locally. Take the original prescription specifying the generic rather than the brand name; this makes getting replacements easier. It’s also wise to have the prescription with you to prove you’re using the medication legally. You can register online with the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT; www.iamat.org).
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INSURANCE
Buying a travel insurance policy to cover medical problems is recommended. There is a wide variety of policies and your travel agent will have recommendations.
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RECOMMENDED VACCINATIONS
Yellow-fever vaccine is required for visitors to the national parks along the coastal regions. Travelers limiting their visit to the main cities and