A Practical Guide to Money in Colombia
When planning foreign travel, knowing the ins and outs of practical day-to-day money matters counts. Familiarizing yourself with the local currency and general exchange rates is key, as is knowing how to access your money, common methods of payment, and even banking laws and tipping customs.
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Where to Go in Norte de Santander, Colombia
This department in the northeast of Colombia borders Venezuela to the east and Santander to the south. The two main places of interest are Pamplona and Cúcuta, two very different cities. Pamplona is a charming and cool highland town that was important during the colonial era, though much of its co
The Little Witches of San Cipriano
A popular day trip from Cali is to take a ride on the brujitas, literally “little witches,” of San Cipriano. Train tracks run through the two villages of Córdoba and San Cipriano, although trains rarely pass by. Local entrepreneurs saw an opportunity here in providing a quick transportation altern
Planning Your Time in the Colombian Amazon and Los Llanos
The Amazon and Los Llanos cover the eastern two-thirds of Colombia, a vast territory with very little population. Topographically they are the same: low-lying undulating terrain that is periodically flooded. But because of soil and climate, they have evolved different vegetation: dense rainforest
Hiking to Laguna Verde
The hike up to the sulfurous Laguna Verde (3,800 meters/12,500 feet), a dazzling, emerald green crater lake on the north side of the dormant Volcán Azufral, is easy to make from Pasto. Laguna Negra is a smaller neighboring lake. A sacred site for the Pasto indigenous people, the volcano is part of
Where to Eat Colombian Food in Medellín
The revitalization and resurgence of Medellín that began in the early 2000s has also led to culinary revolution, with countless new dining options popping up throughout the city. The best neighborhoods for dining are Provenza and El Poblado and the Zona M in Envigado.
Medellín at night. Photo © Je
Traveling Barichara's Camino Real
A must-do activity in Barichara is to take the 5.3-kilometer (3.3-mile) Camino Real path to the pueblo of Guane. It’s a lovely path that zigzags down from the plateau of Barichara through farmland, affording nice views of the countryside and an excellent opportunity to burn off a few vacation calo
A Taste of Salsa in Cali
In Cali, there are many ways you can get a taste of (and very likely get hooked on) salsa.
Salsa Shows
A good way to observe the incredibly intricate and fast footwork of Caleño salsa dancers is to go to a performance of one of the big salsa shows in town. In this cabaret-style environment, you’ll
Plan a Visit to Colombia's Parque Nacional Natural Utría
Halfway between Bahía Solano and Nuquí, the Parque Nacional Natural Utría (8am-5pm daily, park entrance COP$37,500 non-Colombians, COP$14,000 Colombians and residents, COP$7,500 students with ID) has a spectacular location on the edge of the jungle but close to some great beaches. It encompasses o
Where to Eat in Cartagena's Old City
Seafood reigns supreme in Cartagena cuisine. Popular fish are pargo rojo (red snapper), corvina (sea bass), dorado (mahi mahi), and sierra (swordfish). Avoid mero (grouper) as it is threatened in the Caribbean waters. Shellfish include langosta (lobster), langostinos (prawns), and chipi chipis (ti
Tunja's Historic Churches
This university town (pop. 178,000), home to the Universidad de Boyacá, boasts some spectacular churches. Make sure you arrive during church visiting hours, as the city does not have much else to offer. As there are frequent bus connections with Bogotá and Santander, Tunja is a good base from whic
Colombian Food in Villa de Leyva
If you’re looking for a taste of deliciously authentic Colombian food, Villa de Leyva and the surrounding area play host to a plentiful array. While there are upscale restaurants in the area, sticking to the same path the locals tread gives you a chance to immerse yourself in the experience,
Discover Cali, Colombia
Cali’s relaxed place is evident everywhere you go in this diverse city of three million. It may be the infernal heat slowing everyone down, without regard to tinto (coffee) intake. Here in the Valle del Cauca, where sugarcane fields go on forever, you’re far removed from uptight Bogotá and over-am
Villa de Leyva's Dinosaur Museums
During the Cretaceous period (66-145 million years ago), the area around Villa de Leyva was submerged in an inland sea. Some of the marine species that lived in the area included the pliosaurus, plesiosaurus, and ichthyosaurus.
In 1977, locals made a fantastic discovery: a distant relative of carn
Diving Santuario de Flora y Fauna Malpelo
Covering around 900,000 hectares (2.2 million acres) of protected Pacific Ocean waters and the tiny Isla Malpelo in Colombia, the Santuario de Flora y Fauna Malpelo (COP$85,000-159,000) was established in 1995. The area was declared a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area by the International Maritime O
Colombia's Economy
Colombia has a thriving market economy based primarily on oil, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. The country’s GDP in 2013 was US$226 billion and per capita GDP was US$10,100, placing it as a middle-income country. Growth over the past decade has been a robust 4.7 percent. Inflation has aver
Doing business & staying in touch while in Colombia
Colombia: Doing business & staying in touch
Colombia Weather, Climate and Geography
Colombia Weather, climate and geography
Colombia History, Language and Culture
Colombia History, Language and Culture
Colombia Travel Guide and Travel Information
Colombia Travel Guide
