VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in Colombia
On April 20, 2009, the government of Colombia decided to cancel visas for Russian citizens when they visit Colombia for tourism purposes for up to 90 days.
Import and export of national and foreign currencies is not limited, however, amounts equivalent to 10 thousand US dollars and more must be declared.
Persons over the age of 18 can import into the country without paying duties up to 200 cigarettes, up to 50 cigars or up to 500 gr. tobacco, up to 2 bottles of strong alcoholic drinks and a reasonable amount of perfume.
It is forbidden to import vegetables, plants or materials of plant origin, meat and meat products, firearms and ammunition without the appropriate permission from the local police authorities, as well as objects and things of historical, artistic or archaeological 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 wool and leather products, jewelry, local souvenirs, jewelry and emeralds, you must provide a receipt from the store where these products were purchased.
When departing from Colombia, an airport tax of USD 33 is charged for tourists who have stayed in the country for less than 2 months, and USD 66 for tourists who have been in the country for more than 2 months.
Colombia, Russian Embassy in the country:
Bogota, Apartado Aereo 90600, 75-02, Carrera 4.
Tel.: (+571) 212-1881, 212-5560.
Fax: (+571) 210-4694.
Communication in Colombia
Calls abroad can be made using street payphones, which can be seen everywhere on the streets of cities, or from public telephone offices and from hotel rooms. Payphones work both with coins and with phone cards, which are sold in shops and kiosks.
In order to call from Russia to Colombia, you need to dial 8 – 10 – 57 (country code) – area code – subscriber number. Bogota code – 1.
In order to call from Colombia to Russia, you need to dial 00 – 9 or 7 (codes of operators making the connection) – 7 (Russia code) – area code – subscriber number.
Emergency Phones in Colombia
Unified rescue service – 112
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
January 1st – New Year’s Day
May 1st – Labor Day
July 20th – Independence Day
August 7th – Anniversary of the Battle of Boyaca (Army Day)
September 20th – Friendship Day
October 12th – Columbus Day
November 11th – Independence Day Cartagena
December 25th – Christmas
Except Moreover, in Colombia, the main religious holidays are also non-working days. These include Theophany (January 6), St. Joseph’s Day (March 19), Holy Thursday and Good Friday (end of March-April), Ascension of the Lord (April-May), Feast of the Body of Christ (May-June), Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (June), the Day of Saints Peter and Paul (July), the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August) and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December).
The carnivals of the cities of Pasto and Barranquilla are very colorful, which are held in January and February (respectively) and are not inferior in scope to the Brazilian carnival, also the Film Festival is held in Cartagena in February, and in March – the International Caribbean Music Festival and the Latin American Theater Festival, in August in Medellin the Flower Show takes place, and in Santa Marta – the Sea Festival, in San Andres in November – the ceremony of the Coconut Coronation, and in San Martin – the National Folklore and Tourism Festival, in December-January a Fair is held in Cali.
USEFUL THINGS
In Colombia, cases of kidnapping are not uncommon, but most often this does not apply to tourists. Tourists are strongly advised not to carry large amounts of money, jewelry and documents, not to travel alone, to avoid night trips, to avoid demonstrations and manifestations, to verify the authenticity of money received from local residents, not to deal with drug dealers and not to consume drinks or foods. received as a gift from strangers.
Potentially dangerous areas for travel in the country are the departments of Putumayo and Nariño (there was a major eruption of the Galeras volcano in 2008) on the border with Ecuador; Arauca and Norte de Santader on the border with Venezuela; Cauca, Valle del Cauca (southern and western areas) and Choco (southern areas) on the Pacific coast; Cordoba, Sucre (northeast), Bolivar and Cesar (southern) on the Caribbean coast; Huila, where the famous village of Saint-Augustin is located in the mountains with archaeological sites from the pre-Columbian era; Boyaca (northeastern regions), Tolima (southern regions) and Antioquia (northwestern regions) in the Andes; Caquieta, Guaviarve and Meta (southern regions) in eastern Colombia and the Lost City in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Worth noting
Swimming is only allowed in specially designated areas. When resting outside the beach areas, it is necessary to protect your feet with durable shoes, as coral fragments and sea urchins are brought to the coast. Strong undercurrents pass along the Pacific coast, and strong ebbs and flows are observed on the shores, so you should be more careful when entering the water.
There are sharks and poisonous sea creatures in the coastal waters of Colombia, so it is worth consulting with guides or the local population about the presence of sea creatures dangerous to humans and you should not swim far from the coast.
SHOPS
According to lawschoolsinusa, shops are open from Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 20:00.
Prices in the capital’s stores are much higher than in the provinces.
TIPS
In restaurants, you can leave a tip of 10-15% of the amount indicated on the bill, in a taxi – in the amount of 10%, and in hotels for doormen and maids – up to 1 US dollar.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Colombians are friendly and hospitable, but initially they are wary of strangers.
ELECTRICITY
110V, 60Hz;
HEALTH CARE
International health insurance is highly recommended before traveling to Colombia. There is a risk of contracting yellow fever in the country (especially if your route is not limited to the cities of Bogota, Cali and Medellin), cholera, hepatitis A, B and C, rabies, tetanus, typhoid, American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), mucocutaneous leishmaniasis and measles. Throughout the year, in all areas located at altitudes below 800 m, there is a risk of contracting malaria, so it is worthwhile to carry out prevention before the trip, during the trip and after it.
It is recommended to use only boiled or bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice. Milk and dairy products, meat, seafood and fish should be consumed only after preliminary heat treatment, vegetables – thoroughly washed and scalded with boiling water, and fruits – peeled.
Most of the country’s large settlements are located in the mountains at high altitudes, so it is recommended to get used to the local conditions at lower altitudes within a few days.
Tourists are advised to take insect repellent and make sure that the windows in hotel rooms are protected with mosquito nets. Due to the strong insolation, tourists are advised to wear light cotton clothing that covers the entire body, hats, sunglasses, and use sunscreen.
