TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
U.S
Driving Permit or International Driving Permit required |
| Currency |
(COP)
Colombian Peso |
| Electrical |
110 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 57, City Code Bolivar 2+7D, Balboa 28+6D, Pamplona 78+6D
|
Time:
GMT - 5.
Electricity:
Mostly 110/120 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs.
Telephone:
IDD service to most areas; calls to smaller centres must be made
through the international operator. Country code: 57. Outgoing
international code: 90. Many public telephones now work only with
phone cards produced by Empresa de Telefonos de Bogotá
(ETB), which can be bought in many shops and kiosks.
Climate:
The climate is very warm and tropical on the coast and in the
north, with a rainy season from May to November. This varies according
to altitude. It is cooler in the upland areas and cold in the
mountains. Bogotá is always spring-like, with cool days
and crisp nights.
Required
clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens with waterproofing
during rainy season in coastal and northern areas. Medium- to
heavyweights are needed in upland and mountainous areas.
Food
& Drink: Restaurants offer international cuisine
and table service is the norm. Local dishes are varied and tasty,
with a touch of Spanish influence. Recommended dishes are ajiaco
(chicken stew with potatoes, served with cream, corn on the cob
and capers); arepas (corn pancakes made without salt, eaten in
place of bread); bandeja paisa (meat dish accompanied by cassava,
rice, fried plantain and red beans), served in the area of Medellín.
Seafood (mariscos) is plentiful on the Caribbean coast, lobsters
in particular are renowned for their flavour.
It is safest to drink bottled water. Colombians rarely drink alcohol
with meals. Gaseosa is the name given to non-alcoholic, carbonated
drinks. For a small black coffee, you should ask for a tinto,
but this term is also used to describe red wine or vino tinto.
Colombian wines are generally of poor quality. Chilean and Argentinian
wines are available in restaurants at reasonable prices. Colombia
produces many different types of rum (ron). Canelazo, a rum-based
cocktail taken hot or cold, is recommended. There are no licensing
hours.
Shopping:
Special purchases include local handicrafts, cotton, wood and
leather goods, woollen blankets, ruana, and travelling bags. Hotel
shops carry excellent gold reproductions of ancient Colombian
jewellery. Colombia produces first-grade stones, and the emeralds
are among the most perfect in the world. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat
0900-1200 and 1400-1830.
Tipping:
Taxi drivers expect 10 per cent tips. Porters at airports and
hotels are usually given c. pesos500 per item. Many restaurants,
bars and cafes add 10 per cent service charge to the bill or suggest
a 10 per cent tip. Maids and clerks in hotels are also tipped.
Bogotá’s shoeshine boys live on their tips and expect
about 1000 pesos.
Currency:
Colombian Peso (peso) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations
of peso50,000, 20,000, 10,000 and 5000. Coins are in denominations
of peso1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50.
Currency
exchange: The exchange rate tends to be lower on the
Caribbean coast than in Bogotá, Medellín and Cali.
The US Dollar is the easiest currency to exchange at hotels, banks,
shops and travel agencies, but all establishments charge an exchange
fee.
Credit
& debit cards: All major cards are accepted, but
check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant
acceptability and other services which may be available.
