Colombia & the Tourists

Colombia tourists were once considered to be brave adventurers. Today, Colombia has lost much of its scary reputation and is now one of the top travel destinations in South America. In fact, more than 15 million tourists visited the city in 2006 and that number is growing annually. Below you will find some important and useful information about becoming some of these Colombia tourists yourself.

Know the Risks of Visiting Colombia

While Colombia tourism has been a growing industry since the 1940’s, the country does have its own civil problems and occasional outbreaks of violence. Thanks to increased government controls and policing in the main areas of the country, you are very unlikely to experience any of this negative side of the country. For your own protection, you should avoid going into remote areas of the country. The main cities and most of the countryside is protected but always make sure you take precautions before leaving the main parts of the country.

Traveling as Colombian Tourists

Colombia tourists will want to see as much of the country as possible so effective transportation is going to be an important part of planning your visit. Automobiles can be driven around the country which has a good network of roads and highways among the major cities and with the cities on the Caribbean coast. You will need an international driver’s license and insurance which is very affordable in the country. When driving between November and February, you should watch for landslides that could block the road. You should also be aware that you will only be able to drive your automobile into Ecuador and Venezuela from Colombia.

Taxi service is also available in many of the larger cities. This is an affordable and safe way to get from one place to another. The country does have one metro system connecting several cities which are collectively known as Medellin. One reason to take the metro at least once is that if you take the MetroCable line you will ride gondolas up the mountains. Plus, these lines are very safe because police are stationed in each of the four terminals.

Shopping in Colombia

Most people who come to Colombia on a visit do not leave without doing some shopping. Because of the popular textile industry in the country, you may be able to find some unique attire at affordable prices. Leather goods are one of the most popular choices. If you want something unique and special either to keep or as a gift, you can purchase jewelry that is recreation of Pre-Colombian pieces decorated with gold and occasionally Colombian emeralds.

Other items, such as the “mochila” which is a hand-woven backpack created in the indigenous style, are available throughout the country at reasonable prices. Negotiating the price is acceptable.

Drinking in Colombia

As a Colombia tourist, you will undoubtedly want to sample some of the country’s best beverages. The national alcoholic drink is called Aguardiente. You can purchase half or whole bottles of this drink. Although the flavor isn’t for everyone, you should try a shot of it once. Interestingly, each region of Colombia has its own version of this beverage so you may want to sample more than one version. You’ll also find some region-specific versions of rum, as well.

There is more to drinking in Colombia than alcohol, however. At breakfast, many Colombia tourists enjoy hot chocolate which is created with cane juice, cloves, and cinnamon. This combination of ingredients gives the rich chocolate drink a unique flavor. And, of course, you should consider drinking some coffee made from beans picked fresh from the coffee plantations in Colombia.

The Colombian Weather

No Colombia tourists should visit the country without becoming familiar with the weather he or she should expect during the visit. The country is located at the equator so there won’t be any seasons as there would be in North America. However, the country does have a rainy season between November and February. Bogota and some of the other cities are also known to dip below freezing temperatures during parts of the year which can come as quite a surprise to Colombia tourists.