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Colombia country information

Colombia map
Republic of Colombia
Area: 1,141,748
Population: 44,087,000
Population density: 40
Capital: Bogotá
Passport & Visa
Visa Required?
British No
Australian No
Canadian No
USA No
Other EU No/1

Passports
Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 180 days except the following:
a) 1. nationals of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Slovenia.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.
Nationals will be issued with an entry stamp on arrival which will be valid for up to 90 days (nationals are often only given 30 or 60 days); extensions for up to a further 120 days are available from the Department of Administration and Security in Colombia; all nationals are permitted to stay for a maximum of 180 days in any 12-month period.

Validity
Tourist and Temporary Visitor: Valid six months (multiple entry). Business: Valid four years for multiple entries with maximum stays of six months each. Student: Valid five years with multiple entry.

Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy).

Working Days Required
Depends on the visa issued. Five for Tourist and Business visas; one week for Temporary Visitors Visas. It is generally advised to allow plenty of time for applications.

Getting there

By Air
The national airline is Avianca (AV)
Approximate flight times to Bogotá:
Istanbul: 18 hours and 30 minutes
London: 21 hours and 10 minutes
New York: 19 hours and 50 minutes
Dubai: 15 hours
Singapore: 7 hours and 50 minutes
Buenos Aires: 14 hours and 40 minutes

Main (international) airports

Departure Tax
Transit passengers are exempt. Passengers who have stayed in Colombia for more than two months must pay an adiitional US$ 19.

 


Getting There by Water

Main ports: Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta and Turnaco (Caribbean coast) and Buenaventura (Pacific coast). Many ships and cruise lines visit these ports from the USA, Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean Islands.

Leticia
is the upper Amazonian port, from where boats travel into Brazil and Peru.

Getting There by Rail

There are no international rail connections.

Getting There by Road

Colombia can not be reached from Panama by road, only by boat. There are road links with Ecuador and Venezuela.

Coach: Ormeño (website: www.grupo-ormeno.com .pe ) runs coach services to Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru.

AROUND THE (DARIEN) GAP !

If you are planning to go to Panama from Colombia, there are a few option:
Fly... easy option and can be quite cheap if you book early. Aires is by far the cheapest airline on this strech, so check out their website for more details.
Float... that is to say, if there is no wind... There are tonnes of sail boats crossing from Cartagena to the Panama coast, for example to San Blas or Portobello. Ask at your hostel in Cartagena and they will know who to contact. All boats charge the same ($375 per person for a 5 day trip, including stopover in San Blas islands, and including meals and drinks (non-alcoholic))

Cycling & Maps

Cycling in Colombia
Colombian roads vary greatly, but one thing you can be sure of is plenty of undulating cycling practice. In 2009, the Pan American Highway from Cartagena to Sincelejo and from Popayán through to the Ecuadorian border was in pretty poor state. In between these regions it wavered between immaculate with massive shoulder to mediocre. In and around cities and townships the road tends to disintegrate in condition and drivers attitudes less courteous. Beware of bus and taxi drivers pulling in front of you. If you can plan to enter or leave major cities on a Sunday, your mental health will be all the better for it.

Out on the highway, a shoulder is not always present but since there is a strong cycling culture in Colombia, traffic is more often than not, respectful of your space. You'll get plenty of welcoming toots and thumbs up from professional drivers with the odd exception from the impatient tour bus. On smaller, windy mountain paths however, any urgent honk will mean "get out of the way quick, I'm coming through". And be well assured, they will too!

Military check points are widespread throughout the entire country, though the police will rarely stop cyclists. If they do, it is generally more out of curiosity than anything else. The questioning usually goes along the lines of: "where have you come from?" and "where are you going to?" Ask them how far it is to your destination and you'll get everyone in on a lengthy debate. Stands to reason since road signage can be contradictory in Colombia. As a rule, the white kilometre markers are the most reliable, though you are never quite sure if the distance is a maeasurement to the outskirts of, the centre of or the turnoff to the town.

Street names are also infrequently displayed, which can make travelling through the larger cities a bit of a nightmare, if you don't know exactly where you are going. Nearly all of them are structured on a numbered grid system with the Calles running in one direction and the Carreras perpendicular.

The Mapas de Ruta, a bundle of 12 Colombian highway routes, obtainable from the Geographical Institute Agustin Codazzi in (among others) Cartagena, are about the best maps you'll find (see above for details). If you do decide to get off the beaten track and tackle the unpaved roads then expect all types of surfacing including rock quarry status. The Andes mountain range runs north-south in Colombia and has many high altitude passes. It is not uncommon to rise above 4000 metres, so it pays to take along some warm weather gear along with you. While the going is considerably tough in the out of the way places, the magnificent scenery and quiet roads are worth every single push of the pedal.

   

Xinhan Shen and Emilien di Gennaro published an extensive Colombia cycling guide with detailed GPS routes for free download.
Check it out on their website: http://ltc-travel.com/africamericabike/blog/?p=614

   
Mapas de Ruta, road maps Colombia

Mapas de Ruta
bundle of 12 Colombian routes, covering most of the countries infrastructure.
scale 1:750 000, includes altimetre and distance charts and tourist attractions.

Price (July 2009): 13,000 Colombian Pesos

available at:
Instituto Geografico Agustin Codazzi
Calle 34 no 3A-31 Cartagena (facing Parque de Bolivar in the old city)
Tel: 6644169-6644171
cartagena@igac.gov.co
for more info: www.igac.gov.co

Colombia Map
International Travel Maps
scale 1:2 000 000

waterproof

 

 

Cost of living
all prices in Colombian Pesos (COP)
drinks and snacks

food: local markets; restaurants; and stores

water (drinking)
water (drinking)
water (drinking)
juice
juice
soft drink (bottle)
soft drink (bottle)
soft drink (bottle)

350ml
1.5 litre
5 litre bag
200ml
1 litre
300ml
600ml
1.365 litre
200-400
2,000+
1,300-1,700
500+
3,000
1,150
1,500
2,260

bread loaf-white
bread loaf-whole grain
arepas-con queso
baguette
bread roll -small
croissant - small

500g
430g
500g - 6 piece
large
each
each
1,950
3,200
4,150
1,000+
500
300+

market-arepas + queso
desayuna-breakfast
comida vegetariano
Hari-Krishna meal
pizza -takeaway

each
one serving
one serving
3 course meal
med
1200
2-3,500+
4,500+
7,000
20,000+
beer - local
wine
wine
330ml
750ml
1 litre tetrapak
1,350
10,600+
10,200
tea
coffee (cafe / bar)
Nescafe instant
coffee - ground
20 bags
per cup
125g
250g
2,400
500+
3,450
3,000
rice (white)
pasta
eggs
tomato paste

kg
250g
per dozen
200g

2,000
700
3,550
2,000
milk
yoghurt / curd
cheese
Magnum icecream
900ml pack
150g
kg
each

1,800
1,300
9,450+
2,700

potatoes
onions
tomatoes
red peppers-large
kg
kg
kg
each
900
800
800
500
chips
salted peanuts
brazil nuts
sultanas
115g packet
400g
200g
200g
2,000+
2,500
4,750
1,550
avocado-medium
apples
oranges
bananas
each
each
kg
kg
1,000+
500+
2,000
1,000+

cornflakes
chocolate
museli bars
ponque-madiera cake
biscuits-plain
biscuits-chocolate

200g packet
2x100g block
6x40g
225g
200g packet
270g packet
3,950
5,950
4,700
1,600+
2,100
4,100
pineapple (can)
oil (corn)
280g can
500ml
3,500
3,150
peanut paste
jam
honey
510g jar
200g pack
360g
8,500
1,400
2,400
* Majority of prices obtained from the Exito and Olimpica Supermarket Chains. Street and market prices can be a bit cheaper.
accommodation personal
budget city hostel

budget city hotel
budget hotel
18,000+ per dorm bed
35,000+ double share bathroom
25,000+ double with ensuite
15,000+ double with ensuite
deodorant - roll-on
soap
shampoo

toothbrush
toothpaste
disposable razor
toilet paper
50ml
150g bar
200ml

each
100ml
2 pack
each
5,500
1,400
5,500

4,150
2,700
3,200
370
camping

Some national parks and recreational areas have camp areas for approximately 10,000 COP per person. Difficult to find wild camping spots.

internet 1,000-2,000 per hour

* tba = price to be announced
* June 2009: at time of writing 1.00 USD = 2,155 COP
all prices have been taken from internet resources such as wikitravel, hostel world, leading supermarket chains, travel blogs, forums and of course our own travel experiences and purchases of everyday products in food markets, bazaars and local shopping facilities. They are only an indication and designed to give you a general impression of the cost of living in Colombia. Items are geared towards the budget conscious traveller with an occasional craving for a bit of luxury.

A couple of extra tips:
*
Bargaining at markets when buying in bulk is commonly accepted. You can also try your haggling skills when purchasing souvenirs or cottage industry food products at roadside stalls.
*
To give a tip [propina] is not common practice in Colombia, except in upmarket hospitality establishments, where a suggested tip may be added to the bill.
*
Taxi drivers do not expect tips and price is normally negotiated before you step in.
*
Watch out for money changers in Cartagena They are not called magicians for nothing. The rate they offer will appear good, but their slight of hand trickery will undoubtedly leave you short-changed. Their method is simple: you'll be short-changed initially and as soon as you complain they will place the missing amount on top of the pile, while removing some of the larger notes from underneath. Deal is this: always count your money each time they have handled it and don't hand over your foreign notes until you are satisfied you have your full compliment of Colombian bills.
*
Apart from large supermarket chains and a few bakeries, most businesses shut down on Sunday.

*

Toiletries are relatively expensive in supermarkets and drogas [drug stores]. You are more likely to find cheaper prices in the bargain - dollar discount shops.
Accommodation

Finding accommodation in Colombia will probably end up being the easiest task in your travelling day. Every pokey little village on the highway network has at least one hospedaje or residencias. These places are generally the more budget option compared with a pension or hotel, though the distinction applies more in the bigger cities than in the countryside.

Another wonderful blessing for off the beaten track travellers is the highway petrol station hotel. In 2009, the price in these establishments ranged from 11,000 through to 24,000 COP for a double room with ensuite, fan and cable tv. They are safe, clean with modern facilities (private bathroom, cable tv) and much cheaper than heading to the town plaza or bus station where accommodation is generally pricier. Most of them are called Hotel La Bomba, after the same petrol station.

Always check your room first before paying and unless the hotel advertises agua caliente [hot water], you can be pretty well assured that one of the double taps doesn't work. Housing is constructed of thick cement and brick walls, so beware of choosing a room without a window: it can get almost unbearable on a hot balmy night. Mosquitoes and bugs can be a problem in some areas too and screens on windows are not a common commodity.

If you are on the lookout for an apartment it is better to just wander the streets and apply at any place where a "to let" sign is displayed, than try the classified section of the newspaper. Choose your area well and don't be afraid to ask locals for advice.

Hostel Trail is a Latin American hostel network which has a user friendly website listing many accommodation options for the budget traveller. Price information on the Hostel Trail site is not always kept up-to-date therefore it is wiser to visit the hostel's own website for a true indication of facilities and fees.

Camping is not a particularly big past time in Colombia, though there are a handful of official sites available, mostly in or close to National Parks or well frequented recreation spots. Wild camping is possible, though a large percentage of the land is owned and fenced off with barbed wire, which makes it difficult to find something suitable. Considering the inexpensive nature of official accommodation, it is not really necessary to go to the trouble of asking at a local village. They are bound to point you in the direction of a hospedaje down the road. Well off the beaten track and in mountain areas with few available facilities, it would pay to get permission to pitch your tent near a farmers house or village.

Useful links:
Colombia official tourism portal
Colombia Travel Guide

         
Acommodation we used while in Colombia (July 2009): (prices based on two people sharing)
Star system explained: from 0 to ***** where 0 is a total disaster and ***** is luxurious (and out of our price range)
         
City / town: Name accommodation: Our experience: Price: Stars:
         
El Bordo Hotel Juancho mini room, but cheap as chips COP 12,000 **½
Buga Hotel Avenida Real way too expensive for a box COP 40,000
Cajamarca Hotel El Nevado little box, clean though COP 20,000 **
Cali Iguana Guesthouse ok room, use of kitchen, WiFi COP 38,000 **½
Cano Hotel Oro Negro huge petrol station room COP 17,000 **
Cartagena Hotel Holiday friendly and accurate COP 30,000 ***
El Carmen de Bolivar Hotel Jhosan clean, friendly, expensive, aircon COP 40,000 ***
Caucasia Hotel El Remanso old, but clean and helpful COP 20,000 ***
El Crucero Hotel La Estacion adequate, but basic COP 19,000 **
Ibagué Hotel Vaticano big room, but old amenities COP 30,000 **
Ipiales Hotel Pasviveros beautifull & old & what a service COP 26,000 ***
Irrá Hospedaje El Bomba cheap, cheap, cheap COP 11,000 **
Lago Calima Camping Berlin everything on a slope... COP 20,000
Manizales Hotel Camelot grand room, grand price COP 40,000 **
Medellín Hotel Mageba right in the centre, very friendly COP 24,000 ***½
Murillo Hotel Posada del Turistica clean, weird set-up of rooms COP 16,000 **½
Pasto Hotel Atenas good room, city centre COP 30,000 ***
El Pedregal Hotel Esmeralda small bed, small price COP 15,000 **
El Pital Hospedaje Juliana adequate petrol station hotel COP 18,000 **½
Planeta Rica Hotel Bochico mediocre, rip-off restaurant COP 25,000 **
Popayan Hotel Cacique Real nice and safe, shared bath COP 22,000 **
El Remolino Hotel Oasis dirty grot box COP 15,000 *
Sahagun Hotel Emperador breath of fresh air COP 30,000 ***½
S Juan Nepomuceno Hotel Virgen del Carmen electricity? cleaning? maybe? COP 20,000 *
Santa Rosa de Osos Hotel Estacion del Rio best bet in town; wooden box COP 24,000 **½
Sincelejo Hostal Cattleya basic, loud, open air, but friendly COP 22,000
Tarazá Hotel La Bomba typical petrol station hotel COP 15,000 **½
Valdivia Hotel La Bomba basic, but sufficient COP 15,000 **
Venadillo Hotel Rest. Venadillo tiny sweatbox, swimming pool! COP 17,000
Yarumal Hotel Balcon del Paraiso hot shower, big room, WiFi COP 32,000 ***½
Food & drink

Though the Colombian kitchen utilises its fair share of potatoes, yuca [cassava], platano, beans, corn and rice it is one with a distinct preference for meat. Finding vegetarian options on any local menu, besides asking for the Bandeja Corrientes (see below for more details), without the animal elements is difficult. The non-meat eater looking to dine out will either have to fall back on the trusty Chinese Restaurant or Pizzeria: though both will only be available in larger townships.

Hare-Krishna canteens are also another option in major cities and HappyCow has a list of these as well as other vegetarian restaurants scattered across Colombia. The unfortunate trend with these eating establishments is that they are generally only open for lunch.

There are a couple of bonuses when coming to Colombia from Central America: firstly, the availability of vegetable stock cubes in supermarkets and secondly, the bakery finesse. However, vegans can start pulling their hair out now, because literally every bakery product, has at least one, if not a combination of the main dairy products.

The two most common bread types are pandeyuca [cassava bread]: often baked with cheese; and almojábana: the corn-flour bread staple of Colombia. And, if you happen past a panaderia [bakery] and see freshly baked trays of round balls the size of a fist, then don't hesitate to try one. Technically, pandebono [good bread] should be consumed direct from the oven with a cup of hot chocolate, so it is maybe worth sitting down in the adjoining cafe to enjoy this morning treat in traditional style.

 
VEGETARIAN TALK - Spanish
Soy vegetariano/a = I am vegetarian m/f
No como...ni... = I don't eat...nor...
Yo como...y... = I eat...and...
No quiero...o... = I don't want...or...
carne = meat
cerdo or puerco = pork
pollo [poh-yo] = chicken
pescado = fish
huevos = eggs
leche = milk
lácteos = milk products
queso = cheese

vedura = vegetables
fruta (fresca) = (fresh) fruit

par lleve = take-away
Quiero... = I want...
Quisiera un plato que lleve... =
I want a dish containing ...
por favor = please
gracias = thank you
de nada = you're welcome

Mantequilla [butter] is also readily used to cook street snack foods. So, again the strict vegan is going to have a hard time finding a suitable meal outside of self catering. Luckily, the larger supermarkets stock a generous variety of fresh and packaged products and organic-herbal health shops are a fast growing industry in Colombia.

Furthermore, the variety of exotic fruit available is simply staggering. You'll find all sorts of weird and wonderful tastes and textures and if you can eat them, then it stands to reason that you can juice them too. Colombian cities have an abundance of juice shops serving delicious fresh fruit drinks all day long. In fact, blended fruit juice is so fashionable, that every kitchen is not complete without a liquidiser.

Water from the tap in cities and towns is safe to drink and as a rule, restaurants and eateries serve bags or bottles of water to their customers. You'll even see the raspado man using frozen bagged water for his sweet icy treats. You might want to be a little wary of street juice vendors in smaller villages, but those in the city usually prepare their beverage with purified water. The only areas where you have to be careful are in the more remote regions, where locals use water direct from the mountain. Here, you will definitely need to boil, purify it or purchase bottled water only.

Home-made hot chocolate prepared with panela (dried sugar cane juice) and typically flavoured with cinnamon and cloves is often served for breakfast with arepas or pandebono bread. And as you would expect from a world player in coffee export, Colombian "tinto" is available far and wide: in cafes, restaurants, hotels, and on every street corner. Coffee plantations are spread across the Colombian highlands and if you get the chance to visit or stay at a finca cafetera [coffee plantation] you may also have the privilege to taste the farmers own special stash of beans. Adding to their delightfully unique aroma and taste, this coffee is hand-picked and traditionally prepared. A treasured experience you will not come across frequently. As well as a beverage, coffee is used to make many confectionary products including nougat, candy, ice-cream and cafe-arequipe [coffee-caramel spread].

On the alcoholic beverage side, Colombia's national drink is the fiery anise flavoured spirit derived from sugarcane: Aguardiente. Every region has its own variety and trade name, but all over the country it is commonly served in a shot glass with a generous squeeze of lime juice. Cerveza [beer] is sold literally everywhere and anywhere. Though nothing beyond the average lager, there are several brands to chose from: Aquila, Pilsen, Poker, Club Colombia and Costeña.

Why not try these for starters?

Sopa De Aguacate y Papas [Avocado Vichyssoise]
A basic but appetising soup of creamy potatoes, leeks, avocado and coriander. As with all soups in Central and South America, you will need to check if the stock is meat or vegetable based before ordering.

Aborrajado
Perfectly sweet and ripened platano bananas topped with blushing pink guavas and melted cheese. Served with traditional vinegar coleslaw and freshly baked pandeyuca [cassava bread] and you've got yourself a perfect lunch.
Papas Chorriadas
A hearty serve of baby boiled potatoes topped with a thick creamy cheese sauce flavoured with tomatoes, onion and cilantro. Great on its own or as a side dish for a more extensive meal.
Ensalada de Papas con Chimichurri [Chimichurri Potato Salad]
Traditionally served with meat, this versatile sauce can also transform your vegetable dish too. Mixed with cream or mayonnaise the cilantro, parsley, oregano and garlic in the chimichurri take on a more melodious and sweeter flavour and can really add a unique zap to your pasta sauce or zest up the common potato salad to premium food status.
Arepa Con Queso
Found from street vendors all over Colombia, this inch thick choclo [sweet corn] patty grilled with a coating of cheese until golden brown and crunchy on both sides is popular with young and old and at anytime of the day. Eat piping hot with a good swirl of honey on top.

Bandeja Corrientes
Every local eatery has there version of bandeja corrientes: translated literally as normal tray, but meaning daily or typical meal. Colombians love their meat and this dish will also include plenty of it, so as a vegetarian you will need to ask for it sin carne [without meat] or even better sin animal [without animal]. You could then expect any home-style variation of arroz [rice], patacones [deep fried platano fritters], ensalada [salad], huevos [eggs], queso [cheese], aquacate [avocado], frijoles [beans] or lentejas [lentils]. Again, you may have to be wary that the last two legume dishes often contain puerco [pork]; manteca de cerdo [pork fat ] or caldo de carne [meat stock]. It pays to check before ordering.

Frutas Exoticas
Colombia has just the right climate and conditions to grow some of the most exotic fruit types on this planet and not only is are they inexpensive but easy to find at roadside stalls and in mercados and supermarket chains.

Curuba: Also known as the banana passionfruit or banana poker: this fruit gets its name from its straight round-ended banana shape. When the fruit is yellow-orange in colour, it is ready to eat the pulp and crunchy black seeds: very similar to other passionfruit varieties such as the Granadillo and Maracuyá.

Mamoncillo or Mamón: This perfectly round drupe, similar to that of a lychee has a tight green layer of skin easily opened by piercing it with your teeth. The creamy texture of the tangy white pulp inside is attached firmly to a large centre stone. The most effective way to remove the fruit is to suck on the whole fruit, but be careful not to let any juice drip on your clothes: this was often used by indigenous tribes to dye cloth a dark brown colour.

Anón: Known in the west as the sugar apple, this green scaly skinned fruit is generally shaped like a large rounded pine cone. Inside a white to ivory coloured flesh covers long hard shiny black-brown seeds. The combination of a sweet smelling fragrance with a flavour similar to custard and a soft and gooey, but grainy texture make for a very unique and distinct taste sensation.

Mamey Sapote: Peach shaped with a furry skin to match, this kiwi-coloured fruit on the outside has a vibrantly bright orange flesh. Taste and texture cross paths with pumpkin, mango and avocado. It is not only eaten raw but used to enhance milkshakes and ice creams with its creamy sweet texture.

Hojuelas
Simple but mouthwatering delightful, these fried puff pastry squares are sugar-sweetened and drizzled with orange juice.
Roscón Arequipe O Bocadillo
You'll be as hooked on this sweet pastry as the Colombians are, after you've tried it once. Soft croissant-like pastry in a giant ring form and filled with either arequipe: the Colombian version of dulce leche [caramel spread] or bocadillo: a sweet filling of ripened guavas. Its available at local supermarkets and of course the nearest panaderia [bakery].
Colombian Chocolate
No breakfast is complete without a big bowl of home-made hot chocolate. Made from milk, water, blocks of semi-sweet chocolate, panela and spiced with cinnamon and sometimes cloves, this traditional beverage is expertly prepared using a metal pitcher for pouring at height and a molinillo [frothing paddle].
Aguapanela con Queso
A refreshing pick-me up drink at any time of day, aquapanela is derived from dissolving panela [dried sugarcane syrup] in water and adding a bit of zest in the form of lemon or lime juice. Native to basically all of southern Central America and northern South America, this beverage is consumed in copious amounts in Colombia. For a slightly different edge, try it served warm and with a piece of queso [cheese] allowed to melt in the liquid.

And should you want to take it even one step further, why not indulge in the alcoholic version: Canelazo. Aguapanela is spiced up with both cinnamon and a shot of aniseed flavoured aguadiente. Presented in a glass rimmed with sugar it is the perfect aperitif for a bit of an afternoon kick.

Bike shops
   
Armenia The Bikehouse and Welcome stores are both on Av. Bolivar; Bikehouse at no. 10N-11 Local 101 (tel: 745 0593) and Welcome at 9N-03 (tel: 746 2531). They stock the usual standard western gear. A good alternative in Armenia is:
   
  Bicicletas Sprint **
Carrera 15, no. 9-43
Opposite the Social Security Office
Armenia
tel: 745 2498
  Our experience: very friendly staff, good range of products (loads of tyres) and workshop at the back (August 2009)
   
Cali
There are several areas in town that have bike shops. The easiest is probably in the north of the city, on Avenida 8N between Calle 17 and 22. Here you will find two B.T.T. shops **, one Welcome store ** and a Bikehouse outlet **.
The B.T.T. shop at Av. 8N #17N-33 has probably the largest range in stock and rents out bicycles as well.
   
Cartagena de Indias Bicicletas Mountain-Bike *
Av. Pedro de Heredia, La Castellana
just up the road from Crossmoto
Cartagena de Indias
Tel: 6531174 ask for Juan
 
Our experience: shop with basic parts and friendly owner (July 2009)
   
Cartagena de Indias
there are a few more bike shops in this area, but most stock the same, basic, products. The big bike store opposite the stadium was closed for refurbishment when we visited...
   
Ibagué
The bicycle area in Ibagué is situated near and around the intersection of Carrera 5 and Calle 20. A few blocks full of shops.
   
Manizales Welcome - expertos en ciclismo **
Andrés Felipe Gómez Rodriguez
Carrera 23 # 55-37
Manizales
Tel: (6) 881 1301
Cel: 312 257 2688
Mail: felipegomez@todoterreno.com.co
 
Our experience: great little shop; modern, well stocked with western parts (July 2009)
   
Medellín Colbic - Hernando Otalvaro L. **
Carrera 52 no. 55 - 16/18
Medellín
Tel: 231 5551 / 513 0747
Fax: 512 9030
 
Our experience: best shop in the area; full Shimano range, great choice of forks, bars and other components (July 2009)
   
Medellín María Eugenia Otalvaro R. *
Carrera 52 no. 55 - 22/26
Medellín
Tel: 513 0752 / 511 3478
 
Our experience: sparsly decorated shop, basic parts, but occasional high end gear (July 2009)
   
Medellín
The area around the intersection of Carrera 52 and Calle 55 is full of bicycle shops. Some are better than others, but shopkeepers will generaly send you to the shop where they think you can find your much needed parts. Isn't that great service?!
   
Sincelejo Ciclo Bike La Mulita *
Calle 20 #22-30 Centro
Sincelejo Sucre
Tel/fax: 274 1219
 
Our experience: shop with basic parts, but very friendly and knowledgable owner Ariel (former amateur cycling champion) can find anything for you. Great workshop. (July 2009)
   
Bikehouse is a big brand in Colombia with many outlets throughout the country
Welcome - expertos en ciclismo has several shops in bigger cities all over Colombia
Climate
climate chart Bogota climate chart Cali
climate chart Cartagena
Road distances
Colombia road distance chart

Detailed distance chart from our trip through Colombia - July/August 2009 (km/alti)      
         
  altitude (in metres) in brackets
accomm.:
km
altimeters
  H= hotel / hospedaje . C= camping      
  unpaved in red      
         
Cartagena de Indias Turbana (175)
H
18
187
Turbana Arjona (60)
H
12
36
Arjona Cruz de Vizo (24)
H
20
41
Cruz de Vizo top climb (223)
23
258
top climb San Juan Nepomuceno (211)
H
15
143
San Juan Nepomuceno San Jacinto (285)
H
15
179
San Jacinto El Carmen de Bolivar (215)
H
16
187
El Carmen de Bolivar Ovejas (300)
H
27
288
Ovejas Los Palmitos (237)
H
22
151
Los Palmitos Corozal (226)
H
9
60
Corozal Sincelejo (270)
H
12
140
Sincelejo Sampués (225)
H
16
129
Sampués Chinu (190)
11
40
Chinu Sahagun (173)
H
23
95
Sahagun La Ye (234)
H
19
139
La Ye Pueblo Nuevo (226)
H
37
304
Pueblo Nuevo Planeta Rica (201)
H
16
156
Planeta Rica Buena Vista (166)
H
24
76
Buena Vista La Apartada (160)
H
26
94
La Apartada Caucasia (182)
H
16
131
Caucasia El Jardin (190)
H
32
180
El Jardin Tarazá (225)
H
32
214
Tarazá El Doce (197)
H
20
109
El Doce Puerto Valdivia (249)
H
22
106
Puerto Valdivia Valdivia (1126)
H
19
886
Valdivia Alto de Ventanas (2014)
H
16
910
Alto de Ventanas Mina Vieja (2422)
H
16
569
Mina Vieja Yarumal (2275)
H
6
34
Yarumal La Teresita (2560)
H
18
581
La Teresita Llanos del Cuiva (2721)
H
9
194
Llanos de Cuiva El Chaquiro (2720)
8
78
El Chaquiro Santa Rosa de Osos (2537)
H
15
163
Santa Rosa de Osos turn-off San Isidro (2452)
H
11
108
turn-off San isidro Riogrande (2050)
H
10
32
Riogrande Cruce Don Matias (2145)
H
6
167
Cruce Don Matias start downhill / Mirador (2245)
H
3
106
start downhill / Mirador valley floor (1400)
14
2
valley floor turn-off Girardota (1420)
8
60
turn-off Girardota Medellín centre (1542)
H
24
260
         
Medellín turn-off bridge Rio Medellín (1671)
16
156
turn-off bridge Rio Medellín Chaldas (1800)
H
9
225
Chaldas Alto de Minas (2475)
14
679
Alto de Minas Versalles (2274)
H
4
2
Versalles Santa Barbara (1871)
H
12
107
Santa Barbara La Pintada (670)
H
25
101
La Pintada El Crucero (665)
H
2
3
El Crucero Chirapotó (733)
H
25
258
Chirapotó turn-off Marmato (750)
H
10
42
turn-off Marmato La Felisa (818)
H
10
126
La Felisa turn-off to Supia (825)
2
9
turn-of to Supia Irrá (865)
H
16
144
Irrá turn-off Pereira / Manizales (1205)
H
33
702
turn-off Pereira / Manizales Manizales (2200)
H
23
1048
         
Manizales turn-off Termales / start 5005 (2121)
9
127
turn-off Termales Zona Aventrue Cumanday (2521)
C
7
400
Zona Aventura Cumanday La Margarita (3190)
12
669
La Margarita La Esperanza (3432)
4
242
La Esperanza Laguna Negra (3800)
C
7
353
Laguna Negra El Arbolito (3873)
H
3
107
El Arbolito turn-off Termales del Ruiz (3866)
0.9
89
turn-off Termales del Ruiz Brisas (Cerro Guali 4028)
2.8
82
Brisas turn-off Murillo (4008)
1.1
9
turn-off Murillo top climb 1 (4078)
6.8
200
top climb 1 top climb 2 (Alto de Sifon 4083)
2.4
53
top climb 2 top climb 3 (Laguna l. Nevados 4008)
8
136
top climb 3 Santa Barbara (start 'road' 3395)
16
46
Santa Barbara Murillo (3018)
H
8
9
Murillo Libano (1659)
H
23
0
Libano El Convenio (1350)
16
217
El Convenio turn-off Mariquita (453)
18
232
turn-off Mariquita Lérida (459)
H
12
100
Lérida Venadillo (467)
H
19
272
Venadillo Alvarado (532)
H
19
177
Alvarado Ibagué (1380)
H
41
847
         
Ibagué turn-off Toche / Paso Andes (1484)
9
229
turn-off Toche Coello (1247)
4
2
Coello Cajamarca (1923)
H
25
868
Cajamarca sign 'La Linea 5' (2898)
19
1000
sign 'La Linea 5' La Linea (3300)
5
402
La Linea Calarca (1563).
H
22
5
Calarca turn-off Cali (1247)
22
110
turn-off Cali La Tebaida (1230)
H
4
10
La Tebaida Quebradanueva (1090)
H/C
24
224
Quebradanueva La Paila (1005)
H
16
101
La Paila Uribe (1023)
H
9
36
Uribe Bugalagrande (1031)
H
7
19
Bugalagrande Tuluá (1070)
H
15
70
Tuluá Buga (1064)
H
29
105
Buga turn-off Buenaventura (991)
10
29
turn-off Buenaventura Puente Tierra (1523)
15
602
Puente Tierra Camping Berlin Lago Calima (1490)
H/C
26
387
Camping Berlin Lago Calima turn-off Buga (1530)
26
386
turn-off Buga turn-off Buenaventura (991)
13
67
turn-off Buenaventura Yumbo (1067)
H
42
267
Yumbo Cali (1067)
H
17
88
         
Cali turn-off Jamundi (1025)
H
24
107
trun-off Jamundi turn-off Santander (1080)
30
74
turn-off Santander Mondomo (1465)
H/C
21
487
Mondomo El Pital (1414)
H
7
130
El Pital Pescador (1595)
5
248
Pascador Tunia toll booth (1760)
H
14
334
Tunia toll booth Piendamó (1882)
H
7
184
Piendamó La Venta de Cajibío (1909)
7
194
La Venta de Cajibío turn-off Totoro (1875)
14
200
turn-off Totoro Popayán (1783)
H
13
68
         
Popayán Timbio (1803)
H
20
308
Timbio top 1st climb (1850)
10
238
top 1st cimb Valley floor / Rio Quilcace (1415)
9
-
Valley floor top 2nd climb (1799)
H
7
379
top 2nd climb Rosas (1738)
1
-
Rosas Rio Esmita (1062)
16
32
Rio Esmita top 3rd climb (1290)
4
224
top 3rd climb Piedrasentana (1240)
9
129
Piedrasentana El Bordo (1052)
H
13
75
El Bordo Patía (696)
13
8
Patía El Estrecho (720)
H
14
77
El Estrecho Mojarres (740)
H
14
191
Mojarres El Remolino (741)
H
38
617
El Remolino El Manzano (1227)
15
595
El Manzano El Tablon (1320)
H
4
97
El Tablon Alto Chapungo (1548)
6
220
Alto Chapungo Quebrada La Llana (1300)
H
6
7
Quebrada La Llana Tunel de la Llana (1165)
3
-
Tunel de la Llana Rio Juanambu (942)
H
4
-
Rio Juanambu Tunel de Peña Lisa (1424)
6
479
Tunel de Peña Lisa Cano (1770)
H/C
9
382
Cano Chachagüi (1972)
H
5
224
Chachagüi Alto de Daza (2793)
18
885
Alto de Daza Pasto (2536)
H
10
60
   
Pasto Alto (3155)
15
615
Alto Cebedel (2757)
8
-
Cebedel Tangua (2425)
6
-
Tangua El Pedregal (1874)
H
12
63
El Pedregal Funes (1865)
H
5
65
Funes San Juan (2484)
H
22
744
San Juan Altos de la Colina (2946)
8
448
Altos de la Colina Ipiales (2950)
H
8
48
         
Ipiales Rumichaca/border Ecuador (2829)  
3
11
   
   
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