Colombia has long had a reputation as a dangerous country. Although dangers still exist in many forms, safety conditions for visitors have improved greatly in recent years thanks to efforts by the current government. Most crimes against tourists involve pickpockets and bag-snatchers and can be avoided with a bit of common sense. Don’t flash your valuables in public, keep your cash protected and out of sight and your bag slung across your shoulder and you should be fine. 

Be wary of any stranger who approaches you on the street, especially if they are overly friendly and well-dressed. There are dozens of scams in Colombia, and tourists are the only ones naive enough to fall for them.

Police: 156

The currency in Colombia is called the peso (COP), which has lost so much value in recent years that it’s no longer divided into centavos. Notes come in denominations of 50,000, 20,000, 10,000 and 5,000 pesos. Coins come in denominations of 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 pesos.

United States dollars and traveller’s cheques are the easiest to exchange and can be serviced at money exchange offices, travel agencies and larger hotels for a small fee. British, European and other currencies are harder to exchange. You will always get a better rate at a bank, but due to their limited hours this isn’t always convenient. Credit cards usually end up offering the best rates when you use them for cash advances. Your hotel is probably the most convenient place to exchange money, but they will invariably charge a higher fee and offer lower rates. Knowing the current exchange rates will help you avoid being ripped off by dodgy exchange offices.

There are no restrictions on the amount of local currency you can import or export. You can bring in as much foreign currency as you want, but you must declare it upon arrival. The export of foreign currency is limited to 25,000 US dollars.

Visitors can import up to 200 cigarettes, 250 grams of tobacco and 50 cigars, as well as 2 bottles of alcohol and a reasonable quantity of perfume. You can bring in any kind of electronic equipment as long as it’s obviously been used. 

Upon departure, if you purchased any gold, platinum or emeralds you must present proof of purchase. Colonial objects can be taken out of the country without any problem, but removing pre-Colombian artifacts is against the law. To find out precisely what you can take home from Colombia, contact your country’s Customs Service Office.

Electricity: 120 volts AC, the same as in North America and the wall sockets accept two-prong plugs.

Due to a long history of assimilation, Colombian manners have a strong European influence. Most people shake hands as a greeting; informal, mildly conservative clothing works best in most places; women should never wear shorts or short skirts outside of the beach resorts and men should stick to long trousers when not at the beach.

Chivalry still exists to a certain degree in Colombia. Men are expected to open doors and give up their seats for women on the bus, especially for the elderly. Colombians have a very relaxed attitude concerning punctuality. It is common for people to show up for appointments 30 minutes late, so if you arrive early be prepared to wait.

Colombia poses few health risks to visitors. Typical developing country diseases such as malaria, cholera and typhoid are present in the rural areas, but visitors who confine their trip to the coast or major cities are not at risk. Although no special vaccinations are needed, it’s always good to get a hepatitis and tetanus booster before you go to an unfamiliar part of the world.

The worst health problem visitors are likely to experience is a case of traveller’s stomach from exposure to new micro organisms in the food. The tap water is safe to drink in Colombia, although it’s heavily chlorinated in the cities. It’s advisable to use bottled water which is readily available all across the country. Avoid eating unpeeled fruit, uncooked vegetables and salads just to be safe.

If you do get really sick, the hospitals and clinics in the major cities are up to international standards, but there probably won’t be any medical service in the smaller towns and villages. Many doctors in Colombia speak English, but the cost of medical care is expensive. Visitors should make sure they have comprehensive medical insurance before leaving home.

Colombia has many pharmacies which are all very well-stocked. Most of them are open 24 hours a day and are usually busy. You can get a quick fix for simple illnesses such as a bad stomach or a cold quite affordably. Some visitors to Bogota may feel dizzy or experience headaches due to the elevation (9,000 feet). Until you acclimatise, avoid caffeine and alcohol and drink plenty of water.

Ambulance: 125
Simon Bolivar Hospital: +57 01 673 2600

Spanish is the official language of Colombia. Besides an estimate half a million individuals are Native American speakers.

Colombia levies a steep 16 per cent sales tax on most consumer goods, including the food you eat in restaurants. The only item not taxed is food you buy from a shop. Your hotel will add the 16 per cent tax onto your room bill and a small charge of 2,000 pesos or so is usually added for hotel insurance. Colombia charges a departure tax of US$20, or US$30 for stays over 30 days. The tax is payable upon departure in either US dollars or pesos.

In restaurants and bars, it is customary to tip 10 per cent and this gratuity is often included in your bill. If it is not, your bill will state servicio no incluido. In hotels and airports, porters are tipped 1,000 pesos per bag. Doormen and people who guard your car are expected to get at least 2,000 pesos for their efforts. Taxi drivers, however, do not expect to be tipped.

The country code for Colombia is +57. Telephone centres are available in most shopping malls. Most of the larger towns in Colombia have internet cafés, and many of the larger hotels also have their own internet service.

Time: GMT -5

The tourist visa requirements for Colombia vary for each country. Citizens from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States need only to show a valid passport to enter Colombia for up to 30 days. Visitors from other countries must apply for a tourist visa from the Colombian Consulate or Embassy in their home country before arrival. The fees for these visas vary between countries, but are valid for stays of up to 6 months. http://www.tramitefacil.gov.cl