Official name: República de Colombia
Foundation: July 20, 1810
First President: Simón Bolívar Palacios
Current President: Álvaro Uribe Vélez
Type of government: Presidential Republic

Capital: Bogotá
Surface: 1.141.748 km2
Currency: Peso Colombiano

Population: 42.090.502 (2005)

Official Language: The official language is Spanish; but there are other spoken languages as Palenque, Chibcha, Gualjiro, and 90 native languages approximately; there are some communities that speak English and German.

Geography: In Colombia there are six natural regions:

1. Caribbean  Region
2. Andean Region
3. Pacific Coast Region
4. Orinoquía Region
5. Amazon Region
6. Insular Region

Limits: It limits with Venezuela for the east, Brazil for the southeast, Peru and Ecuador for the south, and Panama for the northeast.

Administrative Political Administration: The political division is organized in 32 departments divided in 1.050 municipalities.

Presidential Elections: In the general elections, the president and vice- president are elected every four years.

Vote: In Colombia, people vote both in general and local elections as well as in national disagreements. People older than eighteen can vote.

Bills: There are bills of 1.000, 2.000, 5.000, 10.000 y 20.000 pesos.
Coins: The coins are of 50, 100, 200, 500 y 1.000 pesos.

Money Exchange: You can Exchange in airports, authorized money exchanges. Current and foreign money are admitted. Foreigner can get foreign currency with any restriction.

Travellers Check:  The main traveller checks are American express and Citicorp. Generally, exchange rate of travellers is better than cash.

Exchange Type: 1 dollar:1,959.55 Colombian Pesos (July 2007); 1 euro:2,668.11 Colombian Pesos. (July 2007)

Airport Fees: The airport taxi is US$50 or its equivalent in Colombian Pesos.

Weather:
The weather varies; in the coast zone is tropical and almost tropical. On the high plateau is cold and in the coast and valleys is tropical. The temperature drops according the altitude.

Electricity:
The electricity is 110 volts. The plugs have two pins of entry.
 
Vaccination:
For entering Colombia, no vaccination is required.

International Area code:
The international code for Colombia is (+57)

Time Reference:
The Colombia hour varies six hours from Spain from September to April; the rest of the year varies seven hours.

Laboral Schedule:

• General: From 08:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00 hours.
• Banks:  The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 15:00 hours in Bogotá. In the rest of the cities is from 08:00 to11:30 and from 14:00 to 16:30 hours.
• Stores: from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to19:00 hours, some of them attend to 21:00 hours, Saturday and Sunday too.
• Public Administration: From Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00 hours.
• Offices: From Monday to Friday, sometimes on Saturday. The general schedule is from13:00 to 17:00 hours.

Public Transportation:

* Taxis: Generally taxis have taximeters; however passengers should insist in use it. In case that they don’t have, it is necessary to agree the price before.

* Trains: Railways in Colombia are not very accessible, there are freight trains. The main route covers Santa Fé to Santa Maria.

* Buses: There are buses, busetas and micro buses that provide service to passengers and have fixed tariffs.
* In Bogotá and Medellín there is a modern underground service.

* Rent a car: Many companies such as Hertz, Budget and National operate. The cars drive by the left and need an international driving licence.

National Holidays