Because Colombia's tourism infrastructure is extremely underdeveloped, traveling here can be a bit tricky, especially if you don't speak Spanish. Except for Cartagena and some parts of the Atlantic Coast, many sections of Colombia have seen only a trickle of foreign visitors in the last few decades. Although tourists are generally treated formally and with polite curiosity, don't expect to find an overwhelming amount of tourist information. Remember that a visit to Colombia requires patience and a sense of humor. One of the best ways to prepare for your trip to Colombia is on the Internet, where you will find plenty of useful information, especially from fellow travelers. The following websites contain useful information about Colombia.
- www.iexplore.com/dmap/Colombia/Travel+and+Trips: Dedicated to adventure travel, this site provides valuable country, etiquette, and excursion information.
- poorbuthappy.com/colombia: A great traveler-created site where you can find information, ask questions, and do research. Especially good for the younger, back-packer crowd.
- www.roadjunky.com/guide/298/colombia-travel-guide-online: An okay country guide with basic information.
- www.colombiaemb.org: Colombia's embassy in Washington. A good place to start exploring the country.
In Colombia
The Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo is Colombia's National Tourism Ministry. The main office is located at Calle 28 no. 13A-15 (tel. 1/606-7676 or 419-9450), but don't expect them to be very helpful or speak much English. In fact, good luck even getting into the building. But if you read Spanish, you may want to check out their website (www.mincomercio.gov.co/eContent/home.asp).
Colombia's most popular tourism agency, Aviatur (tel. 1/286-5555 or 234-7333; http://site.aviatur.com/portal.htm), will book tours all over Colombia, usually including transportation, lodging, and most meals. The main office in Bogotá is located at Ave. 19 no. 4-62. There are offices throughout Bogotá and all large Colombian cities as well.
Tourism companies frequently come and go, so if you're looking for eco-adventure tours and travel, your best bet is the local tourism office, which can give you information on local tours and tourism agencies, or your hotel, which should also be able to guide you.
