Colombia

Colombia is a unitary constitutional republic with 32 departments. The country is located in northwestern South America; it is bordered to the west by the Pacific Ocean and Panama, to the north by the Caribbean Sea, to the east by Venezuela and Brazil, to the south by Ecuador and Peru.

Colombia is the 26th largest country and the 4th largest in South America. With more than 48 million inhabitants, Colombia is the 27th most populous country in the world and the 2^nd of all Spanish-speaking countries after Mexico.

Colombia is a middle power, the 4th biggest economy of Latin America, and the 3rd in South America. The production of coffee, flowers, emeralds, coal and oil is the main sector of the Colombian economy. HSBC Bank estimates that Colombia could be among the world’s largest economies by 2050.

Today, Colombia covers a territory that was first inhabited by indigenous peoples, including the Muiscas, Quimbayas and Tayronas. It is ethnically diverse. The interaction between the descendants of the first indigenous inhabitants, Spanish settlers, African populations deported to the country as slaves and 20^th century immigration from Europe and the Middle East has produced a varied cultural heritage, also influenced by the country’s wide geographical variety.

The majority of urban centres are located in the high plateaus of the andes mountain range, but the Colombian territory also includes the Amazonian forest, the Llanos and the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

Under development

Vaccines and specific advice:

Find out about the vaccines you should make before going to this country and about the preventive and/or treatment measures for local diseases.

Checklist :

• Vaccine updates, specific vaccines: 1-3 months before departure
• Visit your doctor for any health problem, prescription renewal, contraception, etc. In addition, you will need to send your coordinator a certificate from your doctor certifying that you are well suited to take part in an international volunteering project.
• Dentist: a dental check-up can be useful before going!

Security

We advise you to visit the website of your country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry to consult the advice for every country.

Advice for American travellers here

Advice for Canadian travellers here

Advice for English travellers here

Colombia travel advice

(dernière mise à jour faite le 2018-08-31T15:26:23+00:00)

Latest update: This advice has been reviewed in full; Local laws and customs section – addition of information on Spiritual Cleansing

For more info, read full article Colombia travel advice