Colombia
Cities
Bogota
Santa Fe de Bogota is affectionately known as the Athens of Latin America due to its educated and polite citizens.
Latest stories
Bogota, Colombia named ‘city of music’ by UNESCO
Bogota, in Colombia, has been named the ‘music city’ by UNESCO General Director Irina Bokova – in recognition of the city’s growing music industry and the importance of music in local culture.
Colombia whale watching tours for UK travellers
Whale watching holidays in Colombia are set to become a more accessible option for Britons following an initiative to make trips in the country available to UK operators.
Discover Colombia
The Lost City of Gold, El Dorado, may have eluded explorers for centuries but there's still plenty for modern-day travellers to discover on a journey across Colombia.
Colombia tourism booming
Colombia is becoming an increasingly popular South American holiday destination, with arrivals up 10.7 per cent for 2009 year on year.
Landslides in Colombia
Colombia's rainy season has seen a number of serious and fatal landslides across western and central parts of the country and travellers should avoid going to the affected areas, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns.
Colombia is increasingly being seen as a hidden gem in South America; moving away from the image of a country run by drug cartels.
Colombia has a plethora of sights and delights for holidaymakers to discover. Its towns and cities are a varied metropolis of skyscrapers, port towns with cobbled streets, lush greenery and feel-good party culture and its countryside is exotic and laid-back, with an abundance of pristine, Caribbean-style beaches.
Colombia Essential Information:
Capital: Bogota
Major cities: Cali, Medellin and Bucaramanga
Major resorts: San Agustin, El Parque Tayrona and Ciudad Perdida
Time Zone: GMT -5
Language: Spanish. Learn the basics of Portuguese at www.bbc.co.uk
Currency: Chile uses the Colombian Peso (COP). For up-to-date exchange rates see: www.xe.com/ucc
International dialling code: +57
British Embassy: visit the website for information
