Republic of Colombia
48.7 million inhabitants
Spanish, 68 Regional/Ethnic Languages, English (San Andres, Providencia)
Colombian Pesos (COP)
COT (UTC -5)
Colombia has coasts on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and covers about 440,000 square miles (1.14 million square kilometers). It is home to the Amazon rainforest, Andes mountains, and the Llanos ( grassland plains).
Colombia is the fourth largest country in South America and it has several islands in the Atlantic and Pacific (San Andres and Providencia, and in the Pacific, the Malpelo and Gorgona, respectively). It shares borders with Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. Some of the major cities include Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla.
Weather in Colombia can range from desert to tropical to freezing because it contains a variety of climate zones. To experience the most pleasant weather and the most local activity, you might want to visit during the months of December to March or July to August.
Culture in Colombia has been greatly influenced by its diversity. It is easy to recognize African, Caribbean, European, Middle Eastern and Native American impacts on the area as well as that of the Indigenous people of the region. Unfortunately during the colonial era many European settlers decimated the Indigenous population which left the Spanish influence as the most pronounced. What has evolved over time is now a melange of distinctive layers which make up Colombia today.
Early in the 19th century the country gained independence and in 1886 the Republic of Colombia was formed.
For the most part, public transportation costs in Colombia are minimal and fairly easy to access. Most of the larger urban centers and even some of the smaller towns have a bus system. Taxis are very common and offer even greater convenience to the traveler. Some of the main tourist areas have moto-taxis and a bustling city like Medellin even has a Metro commuter rail.
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