Officially dubbed as the Republic of Colombia, Colombia is a country located in the northwestern region of South America. It is the only South American nation with coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is known for its extraordinary biodiversity, with the Amazon rainforest covering about 10% of the country, and including the Andean mountains, tropical grasslands, deserts, and thriving coastal ecosystems. Culturally, Colombia is rich in Indigenous, Spanish, and African heritage, reflected in its music (such as cumbia and vallenato), festivals, cuisine, and vibrant regional traditions. And the country's economy is diverse, with major sectors including coffee, flowers, petroleum, mining, agriculture, and an expanding technology industry.
Bogotá, officially Bogotá, D.C. (Distrito Capital), is the capital and largest city of Colombia, located high in the Andes at about 2,600 meters above sea level. The city is the political, economic, and cultural centre of the country, known for landmarks like the historic La Candelaria district, the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro), Monserrate hill, and a vibrant arts and culinary scene. As a cosmopolitan hub, it hosts major universities, museums, theatres, and international businesses.
UTC-5.
Frequent floods, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
For driving/traffic violations;
Other offences to keep in mind are:
There have been increasing reports of scammers posing as police in major cities (e.g. Bogotá), claiming to inspect documents or money, then trying to demand on-the-spot fines. These may not be legitimate. If you are approached and asked for cash payments for a "fine", insist on being taken to an official police station — do not hand over money or documents in the street.
The official language of Colombia is Spanish, but English, along with many Indigenous and Creole languages, are also spoken.
Cars drive on the right-hand side of the road in Colombia. The minimum age to drive is 18, though rental companies usually require drivers to be at least 21 with at least one year of driving experience, often with higher minimums for larger vehicles, plus an extra fee for younger drivers under 25 years. UK drivers can drive in Colombia as a tourist with only their valid licence, but it's highly recommended to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) for rentals and police checks.
Be extra cautious on rural or mountain roads: many remote areas in Colombia have less well-maintained roads. So, if you plan to explore outside cities, consider renting a sturdy or 4x4 vehicle. In big cities (especially Bogotá), there are driving restrictions like Pico y Placa — a traffic-management scheme where depending on your car licence plate number, you might be banned from driving in certain hours/days to reduce congestion.
Colombian gas stations usually offer Corriente (regular unleaded petrol), Extra (premium unleaded/higher octane), and diesel. They are generally full-service where cash is always accepted, and card is widely accepted in major cities and highways. However, be sure to keep doors locked and windows mostly up in busy urban areas, do not valuables visible in the car, choose well-lit, brand-name stations at night, and for rentals, always keep the fuel cap key or remote handy. Also, rental companies usually ask for the same fuel level as at pickup. Therefore, get a receipt if you return the car full as some agencies will verify it.
The BAC limit is 0.02%, but some sources say that Colombia has a zero-tolerance policy.
Mandatory for everyone, front and back.
Children under 10 generally must ride in the back. Under 2s must use an approved child restraint (car seat) in the back seat, even if they are the only passenger.
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