COLOMBIA WHAT TO EXPECT – DAY TO DAY EXPERIENCE

Colombia is one of the most spectacular holidays in South America. Many aspect of life in Colombia will seem unusual, from tropical jungles, boasting beaches on the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean and also cosmopolitan cities like Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena. The cultures of Colombia are equally rich. Colombians are very friendly and welcoming people. Holidays to Colombia will give you with an amazing and memorable experience. Get a taste of the Colombia’s incredible diversity and breath-taking landscapes, through authentic and personalized experiences with local experts.

Visa

A valid passport is required by all foreigners travelling to Colombia. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Colombia. British can enter Colombia for up to 90 days as a visitor without a visa. You may need to provide evidence of return and or onward travel.

Money

The currency in Colombia is the Colombian Peso. Cash and traveller’s cheque can be exchanged at banks, hotels or bureaux de change. The most commonly accepted traveller’s cheques are those issued by American Express. Credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. There are also plenty of ATMs throughout main cities. Try to use ATMs in the daytime rather than after dark. For spending money while on expeditions it is best to have money in local currency (Peso).

Insurance

Adequate travel insurance is mandatory for everyone who participates in a Pioneer expedition. Please bring a copy of your insurance policy and contact numbers to give to your expedition leader in case of illness or accident.

Environmental

Neighbourhoods in impoverished areas of Colombia are not provided with proper waste management services from the local governments. This has led to significant accumulation of trash and sanitary issues.
As a travel operator, we believe that it is our responsibility to carefully choose the providers we are going to work with, making sure they will also contribute to improve waste management and conditions of their local areas. For example, we expect our guides and transportation providers to never litter, to help pick-up trash that is found in nature trails, having exemplary behaviour in front of locals who do not respect waste management, and help dispose trash properly in areas with proper waste bins and services.
A concrete example would be the fishermen village of La Boquilla, located just 15 minutes from the Old City of Cartagena. The village is located in an extraordinary ecosystem of salt-water lakes and mangroves, home to countless bird and animal species, but it has been suffering from poor waste treatment for decades.
In that particular neighbourhood we made the choice of working with a provider who’s objective is to improve the conditions of the community from a social and an environmental perspective. The community has seen how ecotourism has attracted foreign visitors to their village, and pay money to experience their culture and natural surroundings. As they are receiving monetary benefits from preserving their natural surroundings, they are now more keen on managing waste better, recycling, and not littering.

Please contact us for the latest information.