Colombian Travel Tips, more to come
Here are a few useful or completely useless things one should know before visiting
Colombia.

  • When entering Colombia the immigration agent can give you a tourist visa for anything up to 90 days. It is best to ask for as much time as
    possible as most people end up staying in Colombia more time than they had anticipated. So when you are filling out your Colombian
    arrival form write that you want to travel in the country for over two months.

  • When taking long distance buses in Colombia you should negotiate the price. If the journey is over a few hours you can always save some
    money by bargaining!

  • Always carry a copy of your passport when travelling in Colombia. The police will often stop people in the road (Colombians and
    foreigners) and ask for there documentation. Also a copy of your passport is an absolute must if going to clubs and the like.

  • In Medellin all taxis drivers must use there meter for the taxi fare. Make sure the driver turns on the meter at the start of the ride. Do not pay
    more than the meter says. There are no nightly or weekend surcharges on taxis in Medellin. However remember that the minimum fare is  
    3.200 pesos!

  • In terms of staying out of danger in Colombia you are most likely to run into trouble on the streets of Bogota. In La Candelaria pickpocketing
    is quite prevalent. Be very mindful of those around you when walking around especially at night.

  • Colombia is a very good place to buy dollars. Why? Because of the huge amount of blackmarket dollars coming into the country from sales
    of cocaine abroad there are way to many dollars in the country. As such one can buy dollars cheaper than the market price. Conversely
    Colombia is not such a good place to bring dollars to buy pesos. Better to take the money out of an account or use travellers checks. In
    summary  NEVER change dollars to pesos in Colombia

  • When entering and leaving a taxi in Colombia NEVER slam the door. This is about the most offensive thing you can do. Shut the door
    gently the driver will really appreciate it.
These are my highlights of Colombia. There are a hell of a lot. Good luck.

Arboletes - the biggest mud volcano in Colombia. 10,000 square metres of mud. Makes a joke of the little mud volcano near Cartagena that
everyone goes to.

Barichara - small colonial town near San Gil. Worth a visit but not necessarily the night

Cabo de la Vela - desert type landscape near Venezuela with beautiful beaches, sunset, seafood and a majority indigenous population. Not
so easy to get to which helps maintain the charm of this place

Capurgana - near the border of Panama on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Only reachable by plane or boat. Beautiful jungle backed beaches.
Opportunity to cross over into Panama

El Valle - Pacific coast beach town one hour south of the more sizeable airport town of Bahia Solano. No roads to here, only light planes or a
boat ride from Buenaventura. The combination of isolated beaches and rainforest down to the coastline makes this a spectacular place. Also
whales from June - October

Finca Villa Maria - in my top three places in Colombia. This is a 80 acre working coffee farm in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region. There
are four private rooms with bathroom available to travellers. Normally the place is empty. On offer is beautiful scenery, a swimming pool, horse
riding. Bring your own wine, you’ll need it. A great place to go with your better half. This will score you the big points.

Isla Gorgona - Colombia’s answer to Alcatraz. A former prison island with 2000 of Colombia’s most dangerous inmates is now a nature
reserve. This is a fantastic place to get away from it all for a few day. Hiking, great beaches, whales (in season) interesting former prison ruins and
no shops, electricity. The island is also home to monkeys, snakes and big lizards.

Mompos - another colonial gem on the Madalena river several hours bus/boat journey from Cartagena. From this town Simon Bolivar recruited
the men that lead to the independence of northern South America from the Spaniards. The town is a pretty special place and the river winding
alongside it adds a great deal to the atmosphere of the place.

Rio Claro - Spectacular river in the middle of the jungle. No window cabanas available for sleeping. Tubing down the river, swimming, jungle
walks, caving. A great place to get away from it all for a few days.

San Andres - Colombia’s small Caribbean island nearer Nicaragua than Colombia is a great place to take a package holiday to. Beautiful
beaches, friendly English speaking Caribbean people, day trips to beach fringed islands. Package all inclusive (all the drink and food you want)
run at about US$400 for four nights. Airfare included.

Salento - very typical Colombian town. Great plaza, specialty food - trout. Good hiking available from a few hours walk to treks up to the
snowline.

Sierra Nevada del Cocuy - One of South Americas most spectacular mountain ranges and a great seven day hike. Uncrowded, free to
do and gorgeous valleys, lakes, mountain pases etc. The towns either end the trek, Guican and El Cocuy also deserve a few days in there own
right. Great people everyone wearing woollen ponchos and a different way of life from the big cities.

Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal - If you like soaking in hot pools surround by jungle and waterfalls this is the place for you. The pools
are open to midnight every day and you can buy drinks/ food. Sit in the hotpools with a cold Poker beer in the evening. Heaven. Also plenty of
nearby accommodation options.

Villavicencio - only two hours southeast of Bogota this is the main town in Colombia Llanos territory. Numerous surrounding villages, great
people, rivers, complete lack of tourists, pumping discoteques and great festivals as well as the tradition meat on a stick restaurants make this a
great place to spend a few
Travel Tips