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Colombia, Colombia Vacations

Strolling through colonial Cartagena, or heading off for an excursion in the Andes — this is what Colombia has to offer. Discover the exotic beaches of San Andrés, with their crystal clear Caribbean waters; Santafé de Bogatá, the fascinating capitol nestled in the Andes; or the Amazon River, where you’ll spot freshwater dolphins.
Colombia is one of the equatorial countries of the world, but unique in its extreme topography and abundance of water. From Bogota, a drive of one or two hours North, South, East or West can take you to landscapes which are as diverse as they are beautiful. To the East are the oriental plains which stretch out far beyond the horizon with little modulation. To the North are the more rugged contours of the higher Andean region. To the South the weather is sub-tropical and has the accompanying flora and fauna, and to the West you can find the Magdalena River valley and its hot weather. A few islands can also make it the perfect beach holiday.
 
Although there is a certain amount of violence in remote areas, the current government has increased its presence in the countryside and in all major tourist areas, so whereas in the past travel might have been risky, this is no longer the case except in the areas of known guerrilla presence.
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Colombia is one of the equatorial countries of the world, but unique in its extreme topography and abundance of water. From Bogota, a drive of one or two hours North, South, East or West can take you to landscapes which are as diverse as they are beautiful. To the East are the oriental plains which stretch out far beyond the horizon with little modulation. To the North are the more rugged contours of the higher Andean region. To the South the weather is sub-tropical and has the accompanying flora and fauna, and to the West you can find the Magdalena River valley and its hot weather. A few islands can also make it the perfect beach holiday.

Although there is a certain amount of violence in remote areas, the current government has increased its presence in the countryside and in all major tourist areas, so whereas in the past travel might have been risky, this is no longer the case except in the areas of known guerrilla presence.

Colombia is an equatorial country, so there are no seasons in the common sense of the word. The striking variety in temperature and precipitation results principally from differences in elevation. The majority of the country which is in the hot zone (below 900m in elevation) sees a temperature range of 24 to 38 degrees Celsius. The rainy season is roughly from May through October. Rainfall in the hot zone is heaviest in the Pacific lowlands and in parts of eastern Colombia, where rain is almost a daily occurrence and rain forests predominate.
 
For temperatures charts please refer to your destination of choice.

The peso is the currency of the Republic of Colombia. You can exchange US money and traveler's checks for a small fee in banks, larger hotels, travel agencies, and money exchange offices. Other currencies are more difficult to exchange. Always keep your exchange receipts to protect yourself against fraud. A departure tax of around US $31, per person, must be paid when leaving the country. For long stays the departure may be higher, please verify.

Drink only bottled water outside the major cities. The water in major cities is safe but it's still advisable to stick with bottled water. Never get drinks with ice cubes in them, and always make sure that the water you are served in restaurants comes from a bottle (they should open it in front of you). It is advised to avoid uncooked foods or unpeeled fruits and vegetables.

Capital: Bogota
Currency: Colombian peso
Electricity: 110 V, 60Hz
Time Zone: GMT -5 hr. Daylight savings time is not applied.
Government: Republic
Land size: 1,138,910 km2
Language: Spanish, some English and Creole
Population: 43,600,000 approx
Religion: Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
 
Driver's License: International driver's license required.
 
Entry Requirements: A passport, valid 6 months beyond intended stay, and an ongoing or return ticket are required. No visa required for touristic stays of up to 90 days.

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