| 1. Check the weather conditions. This might sound | | | | like Cartagena and Tayrona National Park. While |
| obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people | | | | the locals might be known for their open hearts |
| are shocked by the extremity of the conditions | | | | and friendliness, it's safe to say that the |
| as you move from area to area. Bogota has | | | | mosquitoes are even friendlier! Make sure you |
| much the same weather all year round, and is | | | | have a high protection mosquito repellent on at all |
| quite cold at night. Within a few hours drive, | | | | times, especially at dusk when the critters come |
| temperatures can rise by ten degrees celsius. And | | | | out to feed. |
| in cities like Cartagena, conditions are tropical with | | | | 4. Learn some Spanish! Part of the charm of |
| high heat and humidity all year round. | | | | Colombia is that it hasn't been completely over |
| 2. Take it easy if you're flying in to Bogota. | | | | run by tourism. But that also means that most |
| Located a staggering 2600m above sea level, | | | | people don't speak much English, particularly when |
| many visitors can experience altitude sickness | | | | you get off the beaten track. Do a beginner's |
| when they first arrive. Shortness of breath and | | | | course before you leave, or enroll in a course |
| dizziness can be quite common. So if you're | | | | when you get there. It's a great place to learn |
| booking a holiday that begins in Bogota, make | | | | Spanish. |
| sure you give yourself a few days to acclimatise | | | | 5. Check your bank access. Getting money out in |
| before planning anything strenuous. Luckily, Bogota | | | | Colombia can be a little tricky. Not all international |
| is a great place to just hang out in and while | | | | cards work with all cash points, and some cards |
| away a few lazy hours while you adjust. | | | | and credit cards don't work at all. Take a number |
| 3. Most people who visit Colombia eventually find | | | | of cards from different institutions, or carry a |
| themselves on the Caribbean Coast, visiting places | | | | combination of cards, cash and traveller's cheques. |