As you know, the notoriety - times harder than good . Columbia in the mass consciousness now primarily causes associations with the "Colombian white", and only then (and then not everyone) will remember that there, it seems, also a whole bunch of natural attractions, ancient and still poorly studied Indian cities, as well as luxurious coastal resorts . But those who have already visited Colombia, remember a very different . About Cartagena with its colonial facades and small courtyards, about eclectic and contrasting Bogota, about fairy enebelnom beach resort of Santa Marta . And, of course, of the Andes with their infinite possibilities for ecotourism .
Capital - Bogota
Having arrived in this country, it is certainly worth visiting at least the most interesting of its numerous national parks
Expedition to a lost city: our experience
The most-most in Colombia. Unexpected Columbia: a miracle river, a miracle cathedral, whales, salsa, coffee, tribes, the gold of forgotten cities
Colombia in combination with the island of Easter and the Caribbean
Tour Bogota + Cartagena - from 62,900 rubles / person + flight
"Discover Colombia" - from 162,900 rubles / person + flight
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How to get to Colombia
There is no direct flight to Colombia from Russia and the CIS countries. You can use the flights of European airlines with docking in the cities of Europe. For example, Air France (via Paris) or Iberia (via Madrid). The duration of the flight without taking into account the docking is 16-17 hours
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Visa to Colombia
Citizens of Russia do not need a visa to enter Colombia if the period of stay in the country does not exceed 90 days. Citizens of the CIS receive a visa at the Consulate of Colombia in Moscow.
Customs
Import and export of national and foreign currencies is not limited. The amount of more than 10 000 USD or its equivalent in another currency must be declared.
Persons aged 18 years and over are allowed duty-free import of 250 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 50 g of tobacco, 2 bottles of strong alcoholic beverages, as well as perfumery - within personal needs.
It is forbidden to import vegetables, plants or materials of plant origin, meat and meat products, firearms and ammunition (necessary permission from local police authorities), as well as items and things representing a historical, artistic or archaeological FRESH value.
The export of drugs and narcotic substances, skins and stuffed animals, objects and things of historical, artistic or archaeological value is prohibited. When exporting products made of wool and leather, jewelry, local souvenirs, jewelry and emeralds, it is necessary to present a receipt from the store where these products were purchased, as well as the export mark (for emeralds and jewelry made of gold or platinum).
Useful telephone numbers
Embassy of Colombia in Moscow: ul. Burdenko, 20; tel .: (499) 248-30-17, 248-30-84; website
Russian Embassy in Bogota: Carrera 4, 75-02, Apartado Aereo 90600; tel .: (1) 212-18-81, 212-55-60; website
Unified Rescue Service: 119 or 112, police: 156, fire service: 119, first aid: 132
Safety of tourists in Colombia
The situation with security in the country is quite difficult. Colombia has for many years been kept by the sad "record" of the country with the highest number of kidnappings in the world. On the other hand, many foreigners live in the country without fear for their lives. The fact is that most local partisan groups kidnap people for political and economic reasons, so there is no use for kidnapping foreigners.
But still to ensure personal safety when traveling around the country, it is recommended not to leave the city (especially at night), and also not to travel around the country on evening or night buses. When traveling around the city in the evening it is better to use the services of officially licensed taxis. In addition, crowded places and street demonstrations should be avoided.
Across the country, spread all kinds of narcotic drugs, so you need to avoid at all costs "gifts" from strangers in the form of drinks or cigarettes: they can be filled with for illicit drugs or substances "borrachero" - a sedative commonly used to lull the victim for robbery
Finally, a few words about the natural dangers of Colombia waiting for tourists . The climate in the country is hot enough, and solar radiation, especially in mountains, very intensively . Therefore it is necessary to use sunscreen means, wear hats and light clothing from cotton . Fans of the underwater world should remember that in the waters off the coast of the country there are several varieties th sharks and a lot of poisonous sea creatures . When swimming is better to use wet suits, and before entering the sea on the "wild" beach always wear special shoes .
Colombia's climate
In most of the country the equatorial and subequatorial climate prevails with slight fluctuations in temperature throughout the year. In the highlands of the Cordillera, the climate is mountainous, in the foothills - close to the tropical (on the western slopes) and equatorial.
The average monthly air temperature in low-lying areas and on the ocean coast is about +29 ° C almost all year round, in mountainous regions 2000-3000 m) - from +13 to +16 ° C, higher up the slopes of the Cordillera - about +12 ° C in the summer months (from May to August), the rest of the time from +16 to +9 ° C.
In winter, Bogota is warm enough (the temperature in January is about +20 ° C, at night it can drop to +11 ° C) and dry. In summer (from March to October) it is relatively cool (+16 ° C) and rainy. At the end of the summer, frosts are frequent in the surrounding mountains, and hurricanes in the wind in August.
The temperature of the water on the coast of the Caribbean is from +20 to +26 ° C all year round. The Pacific coast is a little cooler - the average water temperature is from +18 to +25 ° C, depending on the region.
Actual information: weather forecast for the main resorts of Colombia for the next few days
| Highland Lake |
| National Capitol, Bogotá |
| Tayrona National Park |
Beaches
Ocean waters (especially cas the Pacific coast) are very restless - there are quite strong currents and many zones of turbulence. Therefore, choose places for swimming should be carefully. Also near the shores of Colombia are strong tidal currents. At low tide formed gently sloping zones with a bunch of shells, algae and just debris. In the Caribbean sea, tidal bands are usually quite narrow (from 0, 5 to 4-5 m), but on the Pacific coast they can reach 10-40 m wide.
Colombia hotels
There are hotels of different levels in the country, practically for every taste. It is best to choose from hotels that are members of the official Colombian Hotel Association (COTELCO, it uses an appraisal system similar to European "stars"). As a rule, in hotels there are two tariffs for accommodation: "European" (from May to November) and "American" (from December to April, higher by 25-30%)
Voltage in the electricity network - 110 V, 60 Hz . Sockets are usually American type with two pins, large hotels also have 240 or 220-volt sockets
Reserve a hotel in Colombia at the best price
Banks and exchange points in Colombia
You can exchange currency at numerous exchange offices, at the airport, banks, hotels, shops and transport agencies. In most places, a commission is charged - usually 4% of the transaction amount. The exchange rate in hotels usually slightly differs from banking, and in exchange offices, as a rule, coincides with it. In many places, USD is accepted for payment, but it is more profitable to pay with local money. When you exchange, you must have a passport with you!
Bogota banks usually work Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:00. In other cities of the country - from Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 11:30 and from 14:00 to 16:00, Fridays from 8:00 to 16:30.
Credit cards of major payment systems are accepted in the capital and large tourist centers, in the province of "credit cards" are practically useless. Traveler checks can be cashed in the offices of the capital Banco de la Republica (a photocopy of the passport is usually required), it is difficult to use travel checks outside Bogota. It is recommended to take checks with you in USD
Shopping and shopping
Colombia is a leading place in Latin America for gold and silver mining. In addition, this country is the world's largest exporter of emeralds. Accordingly, "for a long memory" from Colombia, you can bring products made of gold and silver with emeralds.
In addition, very interesting souvenirs "in Colombian" - the symbols of the ancient tribes of tumaco, nariño and maya, as well as various ritual masks, folk musical instruments, things from clay. Still from the country, quality textiles and fragrant Colombian coffee are brought in.
Cuisine and restaurants of Colombia
Colombia's national cuisine still keeps the culinary traditions of the peoples who lived here before the foot of the man who gave the country to the continent stepped on it present name. To them, of course, the "admixtures" of European immigrants and immigrants from the Asian continent are mixed. As in most neighboring countries, legumes and maize (maize), rice, potatoes, as well as a variety of vegetables and spices commonly used in the most unimaginable combinations with meat and seafood are widely used here.
It is worth trying: "Ahiko" (soup) with chicken, potatoes and vegetables, is popular in Bogotá), tortillas pies "arep", "arros-coco-coco" (rice cooked in coconut oil, delicacy on the coast), "bandeha-picea" (a dish of ground beef, sausages , beans, rice, bananas and avocados), stewed seafood "casuela de maricos."
Tradici Hot chocolate is considered a hot drink in the country. Also widely distributed are rum, beer, cane vodka "aguardiente" and "refresco" - various fruit waters
Columbia's entertainment, sightseeing and sightseeing
The business card of the Caribbean coast - vast plains, often swampy and overgrown light forests, as well as the ancient volcanic laccolith of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (5794 m). There, on the coast, are the most fashionable beach resorts - Santa Marta and Cartagena, as well as the "resort islands" of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina.
The Andes mountain system in Colombia is divided into three parallel mountain ranges Cordillera , forming extremely diverse natural conditions. There are snow-capped mountain peaks, and green valleys, and dense forests, and high-altitude steppes. Another treasure of the Andes is the great number of monuments of the ancient Indian civilizations, many of which are still very poorly studied
The colonial city of Gatawita (50 km from Bogotá) is famous for the ancient ritual center and the sacred lake of the Indians "muisk." Bucaramanga is simultaneously one of the most historical and one of the most modern cities in Colombia. Because of the large number of parks and scenic surroundings, it is often called La Ciudad Bonita, "Cute City."
Popayan is one of Colombia's most beautiful and well-preserved colonial cities, founded in the late 16th century. There are many churches there: the Iglesia de San Francisco, the Iglesia de Santo Domingo, the church and convent of San Agustin, the Iglesia de La Hermitage and others, as well as several interesting museums: the Museum of Colonial Art, Museum of Religious Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of the poet Guillermo Valencia, Museum of Natural History
Kali is the third largest city of Colombia, located in the southwestern part of the chain of the Western Cordillera, at an altitude of 995 meters above sea level . Its attractions : Church of Iglesia de L (The oldest in Cali), the Church of Iglesia de San Antonio, the Plaza de Toros de Canaberalejo (the site of the traditional corrida), as well as numerous museums . In the vicinity of the city you can see the Monument to the Monumento- one of the most beautiful colonial houses in the country, the Casadi Gordas hacienda, the Farralones de Cali national park and the Reserba-Natural-Ato Biejo reserve, as well as numerous old hacienda of sugar barons, which now have small museums .
Leticia - the main tourist center in the East full-time areas of Colombia. It is a small town on the shores of the Amazon, not far from the border with Brazil and Peru. The main local attraction is the Island of the Apes of Isla de Los Mikos, which is home to more than a thousand of these restless animals.
Events in Colombia
Colombians have much in common with other Hispanic nations of Latin America and Spain itself. In large cities, bullfighting is extremely popular, and, in addition, local residents are ardent admirers of all kinds of folk shows, especially bright and noisy costumed carnivals.
The most interesting events: the ceremony of the Coconut Coronation in San Andres and the National beauty contest in Cartagena November), Kali Fair in the same city (beginning of December - the end of January), carnival in Pasto (January), carnival of Barranquilla (February), Cartagena Film Festival (February - March), International Caribbean Music Festival and Latin American Fairy tival of theater in Cartagena (March), cycling race "Tour of Columbia" (March - April).
Photo Colombia (18)