Colombia Fact File
Country name: Republic of Colombia
Area: 1.14 million sq km , Same as (California + Texas) or (France + Spain + Portugal)
Terrain: Flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains, Amazon rainforest
Population: 46 million
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.3%, 15-64 years: 64.5%, 65 years and over: 5.2%
Life expectancy at birth: 71 years
Ethnic groups: Mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-amerindian 3%, amerindian 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Literacy: 93%
Capital: Bogota
Languages: Spanish, 60 indigenous languages
Government type: Republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Currency: Colombian peso
National Parks: 9
Flora: 130,000 plant species, 45,000 endemic
Fauna: 350 mammal species, 18% of the world’s birds, 15% of the world’s primates
Neighbours: Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama
Main exports: Petroleum, coffee, coal, gold, bananas, cut flowers, chemicals, emeralds, cotton products, sugar, livestock
Overseas visitors in 2006: 1,050,000
Climate
Medellin deserves it’s nickname “City of Eternal Spring”. With it’s close proximity to the equator and altitude of 1500mts, the temperature hovers between 18c (64f) and 26c (79f) throughout the year. There are no seasons, but there tends to be more rainfall from March to May and September to November.
Colombia Facts
Firstly, forget everything you know about Colombia, it is probably old news by now. Colombia has had a remarkable turnaround in security and in 2006, more than one million overseas visitors came to Colombia.
Colombia has some of the most vibrant and pleasant cities in South America. Boasting skyscrapers, metros, plaza’s, late night dancing, party buses and great shopping. There are beautiful port towns, ancient lost cities, cobbled alleys and fiestas that rate among the best in the world.
Colombia has nine national parks and the country claims to have more plant and animal species per square kilometre than anywhere else in the world. The variety of flora and fauna is second only in the world behind the much bigger country of Brazil. Colombia has more than 350 species of mammals, 15% of the total world population of primates live here and almost one in every five birds on the planet call Colombia home.
Medellin Facts
Medellin is now one of Latin America’s safest big cities. The city is home to more than two million people and sits in a valley surrounded by the impressive Andes mountains. Just 20 minutes outside the city there are many farms and small towns that sit 500 metres above the city itself. Medellin is the only city in Colombia that boasts a metro system.
It is an extremely green and attractive town which serves as the industrial and commercial centre for the surrounding region of Antioquia. Medellin, a city known by its cultural encounters, the warmth of its people and the amazing views that are most of the time accompanied by clear blue sky and lovely sunsets. Medellín is a beautiful city, modern and yet true to its regional characteristics. It was founded in 1616 in the scenic Aburrá valley, but remained small until the coffee boom. It later became the centre of a textile industry, and today is a modern, vibrant city. Even in super friendly Colombia, the Paisas (people from Medellin) are known for their friendliness and warmth. In 2006 tourism increased in Medellin by 34%, word is getting out that Colombia is safe and now is the time to go. Medellin still has it’s problems from the past. Scattered along the hillsides surrounding the city are many makeshift comunas that are home to the poor and displaced people of Colombia.
Accommodation
Your accommodation will be in a guesthouse in the city of Medellin. Located in the tranquil El Poblado district it is situated only five minutes walk from the metro station and one of the biggest supermarkets in the city, ten minutes walk away from the highly recommended language school of EAFIT University and fifteen minutes from the Zona Rosa (Parque Lleras) of Medellin, this really is the perfect place to make the most of this diverse city. The guesthouse boasts custom made European sized beds, gourmet mattresses, en-suite bathrooms, hot power showers, airy rooms, fully equipped kitchen, high speed internet access, two television rooms with cable, free DVDs and a hammock filled balcony.
A guide to local expenses
Local currency - Colombian peso
£1 = 4200pesos
$1 = 2100pesos
€1 = 2900pesos
Money - there are plentiful ATM's around the city. Banks are open Monday to Friday. Travellers cheques are safer than cash. Visa cards are widely accepted.
Metro ride - 1,200 pesos
Bus ride - 1,200 pesos
Short taxi ride - 3,200 pesos (metered)
Restaurant meal - 15,000 pesos
Street stall food - 4,000 pesos
Internet access - 3000 pesos per hour
Telephone calls - international calls are not cheap, think about setting up an internet based telecommunication account before you leave (such as Skype).
Getting to Medellin
Medellin’s international airport is located 45 minutes from the city. Colombia’s national airline, Avianca, fly direct to New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Madrid. Many other airlines fly to Bogota from around the world and Medellin is just a cheap 45 minute flight from the capital.
Visas - Most nationalities are entitled to stay in Colombia for 180 days. On arrival in Colombia the immigration official will stamp your passport with a free 30, 60 or 90 day visa (this is entirely at the officials discretion). If you wish to stay for 90 days then we suggest that you ask for a 90 day visa on arrival. If you require an extension of your visa whilst in Colombia then you can visit the DAS (immigration office) one week before the expiry of your visa and pay US$28 / UK£14 for a further one month up to a maximum of 180 days.
Health and Safety
We advise that all volunteers visit their doctor as soon as possible before travelling. Your doctor will have up to date information on areas effected by tropical diseases and the required vaccinations.
Colombia has many hospitals equipped to international standards. Some of the best being in Medellin.
Security in Colombia has vastly improved since 2002 and Medellin is considered one of the safest cities in Latin America. That said, the country still has it's problems and there are regions that are too dangerous to visit due to them being under the control of anti government groups or drug cartels. Nobody goes to these areas so you are unlikely to accidentally plan a trip to a dangerous region.
As with any large city there are areas that it would not be advisable to visit after dark. Just think of your local major city and you will know where not to go late at night. Medellin is no different, this is still not a problem as you will be told those areas on arrival. There are plenty of areas in Medellin that are safe and plenty of people walk freely at night, enjoying the amazing nightlife the city has to offer.
As always, the biggest threat to your well being is road traffic accidents.
Don't let the rumours and urban legends scare you away, within days of arrival you will feel your confidence in the security situation growing.
A brief history of Colombia
The land that is now Colombia has been inhabited for about 11,000 years. Most prominent of the pre-Columbian cultures were the Chibchas, an agricultural people of the highlands. The great majority of Colombia’s population is concentrated either on the Caribbean coast or in the valleys and mountain basins of the Andes. The llanos and Amazonian rainforest take up two-thirds of Colombian territory, but only 2 percent of the population live there.
The first Spanish settlement was founded in 1525 on the Caribbean coast. Bogotá was founded in 1538 by a company of Spanish soldiers looking for El Dorado. “New Grenada,” as Colombia was then called, became for a time Spain’s principal source of gold. Emeralds, tobacco and sugar cane were other sources of wealth.
Independence from Spain was achieved in 1819 with General Simón Bolívar’s victory at the battle of Boyacá. By 1845 two contending parties had formed and they continue to dominate Colombian politics: the Conservative party, which favoured strong central government and strong ties with the Catholic Church, and the Liberal party, which favoured states rights and separation of church and state.
Colombia has one of the most violent histories in the Americas. A civil war (1899–1902) claimed 100,000 lives, and during the political unrest in the countryside known as “La Violencia” (1948–1962) over 200,000 were killed. Rapid migration from country to city coincided with a shift from agriculture to industrial production. This has intensified the concentration of wealth and led to political instability. Four different guerrilla groups fought the government for years. Except for the largest of these groups, M-19, which put down its arms in 1991 and joined the political process, they all continue their efforts to lead a revolution. Further destabilization comes from the immense economic power of a few drug czars who dominate world distribution of cocaine. With the government repression, guerrilla warfare, and drug czars’ war against politicians that killed hundreds of people, including three presidential candidates in 1990, Colombia has been one of the most conflictive countries in the world over the last two decades.
Today Colombia has had an amazing turnaround in security. Many tourists feel that now is the time to come to Colombia before the masses diverge on this beautiful country. There is real reason still to be optimistic about Colombia’s future, it’s people have tasted the feeling of safety and are unlikely to let the country slip back into it’s brutal past. Overseas companies are investing in Colombia at record rates and hotels are springing up around the country to accommodate the expected influx of tourists.
Further Resources
Movie:
For an insight into Colombia, you could watch the fantastic movie "Maria full of grace". The movie portrays a young woman's journey from a small Colombian town to the streets of New York.
Books:
"The Baroque World of Fernando Botero" is an extensive study of the life and works of Medellin's most famous artist.
"The Dispossessed" chronicles the displaced children of Colombia. Due to conflict and drug production in Colombia, millions of people have been internally displaced from their former homes.
Internet:
www.world66.com/southamerica/colombia is a travel resource written by travellers for travellers.
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