Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

Tourist information is limited to a few general websites and to information issued by Colombian consulates. The Colombian Embassy in Washington has a website at www.colombiaemb.org, with travel, business, health, and visa information. The site www.virtualtourist.com has a hotel and destination guide for Colombia. It is important that you keep abreast of the ongoing conflicts in Colombia before you go, and you can do so by consulting a news service such as CNN at www.cnn.com or government travel warnings (see "Safety," below).

Entry Requirements

Travelers need a valid passport and proof of return or onward travel. No visas are required for stays of up to 60 days. If your passport is lost or stolen, you must obtain a new passport from the local embassy and present it, together with a police report, to the main immigration office in Bogotá to obtain permission to depart. There is an airport departure tax of $25 to $31, depending on your destination. Visitors who have stayed longer than 2 months must pay an additional tax of $19. Ask for a tax stamp when you arrive to reduce your exit tax.

Colombia requires children under 18 traveling alone, with one parent, or with a third party to present a copy of their birth certificate and written authorization by the absent parent(s) or legal guardian granting permission to travel alone, with one parent, or with a third party. The authorization must be notarized before a Colombian consulate officer in your home country. For more details, contact your local Colombian embassy or consulate.

Colombian Embassy Locations

In the U.S.: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/387-8338; fax 202/232-8643; www.colombiaemb.org)

In Canada: 360 Albert St., Suite 1002, Ottawa, ON K1R 7X7 (tel. 613/230-3760; fax 613/230-4416; www.embajadacolombia.ca)

In the U.K.: Flat 3A, 3 Hans Crescent, London SW1X 0LN (tel. 020/7589-9177; fax 020/7581-1829; mail@colombianembassy.co.uk)

In Australia: 101 Northbourne Ave., Turner, ACT 2612 (tel. 02/6257-2027; fax 02/6257-1448; emaustralia@dynamite.com)

Safety

Plenty of travelers, Europeans especially, travel to safer areas in Colombia without incident. Keep in mind, though, that kidnapping remains a possibility and, though urban areas are decidedly safer now than a few years ago, crime still thrives in non urban areas.

The U.S. State Department and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs continue to warn against travel to Colombia -- but the U.S. State Department relaxed its travel warning in early 2006, stating that violence has noticeably decreased in the country. Check for updated advisories on their websites at http://travel.state.gov and http://voyage.dfait-maeci.gc.ca, respectively. Travel advice is also available from the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk/travel) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (www.dfat.gov.au/consular/advice). Although many a seasoned globetrotter will scoff at these warnings as exaggerations, there's no denying that these are dangerous times for Colombia-bound travelers. This is especially true if you're an American, due to the United States's Plan Colombia and the perception that money used to eradicate drugs kills legitimate crops in the process, and might be used to fund paramilitary death squads or other nefarious political activities.

Foreign Embassies in Colombia -- It is recommended that you check in with your embassy upon arrival. In the event of an emergency, you'll need the reassurance that they have a copy of your travel itinerary on hand. International representatives in Colombia include: U.S., Calle 22D-Bis no. 47-51, Bogotá (tel. 1/315-0811 or 315-2109 on weekends and weekdays after 5pm); Canada, Carrera 7, no. 115-33 (at Calle 116), Bogotá (tel. 1/657-9800); U.K., Edificio ING Barings, Carrera 9, no. 76-49, Piso 9, Bogotá (tel. 1/317-6423). Australian citizens may go to the Australian consulate at Carrera 18, no. 90-38, Bogotá (tel. 1/218-0942).

Kidnapping, Crime & Scams -- Colombia is the only Latin American country still embroiled in a full-scale civil war. There are not one but two guerrilla groups (FARC and ELN) that have elevated kidnapping to a fine art. Colombian business executives are the main targets; however, foreigners are also targeted, mostly in rural areas. According to the U.S. State department, at least five Americans were kidnapped in 2004, and at least one in 2005

Hijackings, bombings, and kidnappings are real dangers, but a tourist's principal concern is street crime, especially at night. Major cities are rife with pickpockets and thugs. Do not call attention to yourself by wearing flashy clothing or jewelry, and do not carry expensive items with you. At night, keep your amount of time on the streets to a minimum, or don't go out at all.

Scam artists have been known to lace drinks, cigarettes, and gum with burundanga, a narcotic drug that causes its victim to lapse into unconsciousness long enough to be robbed of everything. Keep a wary eye open if a stranger pays you undue attention, regardless of how well dressed or legitimate the person appears to be. The same could be said for police officers, who often are as corrupt as the criminals they're hired to arrest. Some tourists have reported cases of phony policemen who have "confiscated" their possessions and disappeared. If a policeman stops you, always ask that he return to your hotel with you to clear matters up there.

Drugs -- Colombia produces an estimated 80% of the world's supply of cocaine, and accordingly, drugs are cheap and plentiful here. The Colombian drug industry is ruthless, and it goes without saying that no traveler should accept or attempt to buy illegal drugs. The danger of getting mixed up in a serious situation here is almost guaranteed.

Medical Safety & Evacuation Insurance -- Colombia's rural areas are home to cholera, yellow fever, malaria, and typhoid. Short-term visitors who confine their stays to the coast or major cities are not at risk for these diseases, but always double-check with a medical specialist for updates. A tetanus shot and hepatitis A and B inoculations are often recommended. To protect yourself from intestinal bacteria, always drink bottled water, and eat only vegetables and fruit that are cooked or can be peeled.

Hospitals and clinics in major cities are good, but service in rural areas can be limited or poor. Review your medical insurance to verify that you're covered, and search for a comprehensive evacuation plan that can get you out of the country in a hurry.

Getting There

By Cruise Ship -- Many cruise lines, specifically those that sail to the Caribbean and the Panama Canal, include a stop in Cartagena. Travelers are restricted to only 1 day to explore this beautiful coastal city, but shore excursions are generally conducted in safe, guided tours. Princess and Carnival cruise lines both include Cartagena in their Panama Canal itineraries. A travel agency can help you find the lowest fares on cruises.

By Plane -- Visitors to Colombia who are not traveling by cruise ship will almost always enter Colombia by plane, usually at Bogotá's Aeropuerto El Dorado, about 11km (7 miles) east of the city. Avianca (www.avianca.com), Colombia's national airline, serves Bogotá, as do American, Continental, Delta, Air France, and the Costa Rican airline Lacsa. British Airways provides service from the United Kingdom. There are no direct flights from Canada or Australia; travelers will need to connect with one of the airlines above via the United States or Mexico. Arrange a transfer with your hotel or take a taxi -- but always insist that a driver use the meter, or agree on a fare beforehand. The safest way to hire a taxi is with your hotel rather than by flagging one down on the street.

By Organized Tour -- There are very few tour operators offering trips to or within Colombia. Your hotel should be able to arrange a day tour for you, or at least someone to accompany you while you walk the streets. You might give FreeGate Tours a try at 585 Stewart Ave., Suite 310, Garden City, NY 11530 (tel. 888/373-3428; www.freegatetours.com).

Getting Around

By Plane -- Colombia is a large country, and this, coupled with dangerous travel conditions, makes flying the quickest and safest way to get around. The national airline is Avianca (which has emerged from bankruptcy after restructuring in 2004), but you might find cheaper fares by going with Satena airlines. Or ask about cupones, which Avianca often offers to foreigners if bought outside Colombia. Prices are subject to change; contact Avianca in the U.S. at tel. 800/284-2622.

By Car -- Avis, Hertz, and Dollar have car-rental desks at the airport, but it is not recommended that you drive anywhere in Colombia, due to hold-ups, hijackings, and shady roadblocks. Additionally, the nation's highways and roads are in a wretched state.

By Bus -- Bus service in Colombia is comfortable, plentiful, and cheap, and you'll often see a backpacker or two traveling from place to place using this form of transportation. However, we really wouldn't recommend that you travel by bus -- and neither does the U.S. State Department. The element of danger is lower than if you were driving your own vehicle, but air travel is still the recommended form of domestic travel.