Colombia - Country Information

Film Commissions

Colombian Film Commission
Tel: 1 287 0103 Fax: 1 288 4828
E-mail: info@proimagenescolombia.com
Website: www.proimagenescolombia.com

General Information

Location: South America
Local Time: GMT -5
Capital City: Bogota
Population:
Area: square km, square miles.
Language(s): Spanish
Dialling Code: 57
Emergency: Police: 112. Fire: 119. Ambulance: 2319008 (Cruz Roja)
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the right. International Driving Permit recommended
Electricity: 110/120V 60Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Colombian Peso (COP 1 = 100 Centavos)
Notes: COP: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000
Coins: COP: 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards are generally accepted but travellers cheques can be difficult to exchange outside main towns therefore it is recommended to take USD

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1500 Mon-Fri
Office: 0800-1200 & 1400-1700 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0900-1200 & 1400-1830 Mon-Sat

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Jan 6 Epiphany, Mar 19 St. Josephs Day, Mar 20 Maundy Thursday, Mar 21 Good Friday, May 1 Labour Day, May 1 Ascension Day, May 22 Corpus Christi, Jun 30 Sacred Heart, Jul 3 St. Peter & St. Paul Day, Jul 20 Independence Day, Aug 7 Battle of Boyaca Day, Aug 15 Assumption, Oct 12 Colombus Day, Nov 1 All Saints Day, Nov 11 Independence of Cartagena Day, Dec 8 Immaculate Conception, Dec 25 Christmas Day
Holidays falling on Sat/Sun will be observed on the following Mon

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in Spanish, some executives speak English. At the start of meetings it is customary to offer coffee to visitors. This should be accepted. Smoking is permitted except where indicated. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be reasonably punctual. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 16 years

Tipping: If there is no service charge, 10% tip is customary. Taxis are not tipped

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera*, diphtheria*, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies for travellers visiting the middle valley of the Magdalena river, eastern & western foothills of the Cordillera Oriental from the frontier with Ecuador to that with Venezuela, Uraba, foothills of the Sierra Nevada, eastern plains (Orinoquia) & Amazonia.
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria risk is high all year in rural/jungle areas below 800 metres, especially in the municipalities of the regions of Amazonia, Orinoquai, Pacifico & Uraba-Bajo Cauca. Transmission intensity varies from department to department with the highest risk in Amazonas, Choco, Cordoba, Guainia, Guaviare, Putumayo & Vichada. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Holders of a Colombian Travel Document issued to alien residents of Colombia
2) For a stay up to 90 days by holders of National Identity Cards issued to nationals of Ecuador
3) Nationals of Trinidad & Tobago with proof of citizenship provided travelling as tourists in an organised group of at least 20 persons

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for 3 months beyond intended length of stay

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Colombia
2) Holders of an entry permit valid for 90 days issued on arrival to nationals of:
a) United Kingdom
b) Nationals of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Rep, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Rep of, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea (South), Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, United States, Uruguay & Venezuela

Air Transit

Required by all except:
1) Persons continuing their journey to a third country by the same or first connecting aircraft within 12 hours without leaving the transit area of the airport, provided holding confirmed tickets & documents for next destination (except nationals of Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Rep, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Congo Dem Rep, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Korea (North), Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe & holders of Palestinian documents)

Exit Permits

Special Notes

Climate

Colombia is a large country with a varied climate. Pacific coastal areas and lower western slopes of the Andes are generally hot and humid throughout the year and can experience downpours at any time. The Caribbean coast has a drier season between Dec-Mar. Colombia's interior is mountainous, where temperatures are governed by altitude and the tallest peaks are snow covered for most of the year. Bogota, which is at middle altitude, has a pleasant climate with no extremes, warm days and cool nights. Rain can fall at any time but tends to be heavier in western ranges. This is especially so in lowland areas of the Amazon Basin where there is no real dry season producing hot and sticky conditions

Clothing

Light cottons for trips to coastal areas. For mountain regions warm to heavy clothing with rainwear

Charts for Bogota

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 19 20 19 19 19 18 18 18 19 19 19 19 Min Temp (C) 9 9 10 11 11 11 10 10 9 10 10 9 Humidity am (%) 84 83 83 84 85 83 83 82 86 88 88 85 Humidity pm (%) 51 53 54 57 58 56 56 54 54 61 64 56 Rainfall (mm) 58 66 102 147 114 61 51 56 61 160 119 66

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

Embassy
Embassy of Colombia
Suite 3a, 3 Hans Crescent
London, SW1X 0LN
tel: +44 20 7589 9177, 7589 5037
fax: +44 20 7581 1829, 7589 4718
e-mail: mail@colombianembassy.co.uk

Consulate General of Colombia
3rd Floor, 35 Portland Place
London, W1B 1AE
tel: +44 20 7637 9893
fax: +44 20 7637 5604
e-mail: info@colombianconsulate.co.uk
website: www.colombianconsulate.co.uk
hours: 0930-1330 (Mon-Fri)