Editing Colombia

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{{metadata_country}} [[Category:Country]] {{pricecontrol_country}}

=Entering {{PAGENAME}} with a Car or Motorbike=
'''Correct as of: <span style="color:red">December 2012</span>'''

==Required Paperwork==
* Passport of registered owner (original and one copy)
* [[Vehicle registration]] (original and one copy)
* [[Drivers license]] (original and one copy)

==Process at border==
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* The owner of the vehicle gains entry at Immigration (''Migración''), including a stamp in their Passport.
* The owner must show the new passport stamp, original [[vehicle registration]] and original [[Drivers license]] to Customs (''Aduana''). Aduana may ask you for photocopies of your Vehicle Registration, Drivers Licence, Passport and Entry Stamp.
* The owner is issued a temporary import permit for the vehicle.

==Cost of entry==
Free.

==Permitted length of stay==
Many nationalities are allowed entry for 60 days.  US citizens receive 90 days per calendar year resetting Jan 1st. The temporary import permit for the vehicle will match the duration of the owners entry. UK citizens are given 90 days.

==Extension of stay==
The following extension process was done in Santa Marta, after originally shipping the van from Panama to Colombia, 89 days previously.  To extend the temporary importation permit for another 90 days a written letter requesting additional time is required.  This letter can be a very simple handwritten letter in Spanish.  Take this letter and a photo copy of the letter to the Dian office (CRA 5, Calle 17) to obtain the required stamps.  In Santa Marta you then take these papers with the newly acquired stamps to the other nearby Dian Office at the Sociedad Portuaria (CRA 1 Calle 10).  Here they will complete the required paperwork and need to inspect the vehicle, then giving your vehicle an additional 90 days, at no cost.  Sample letter requesting additional time provided below.

"Santa Marta, Febrero 18 de 2013

Senores, <br/>
Dian-division de gestion de la operation aduanera la ciudad Importacion temporal de vehicle de tourista. <br/>
Por medio de la presente solicito a ustedes prorroga de la autorizacion inicia no XXXXX (Number and date found on your original import paperwork) de Nov. 21 de 2012, expedida en la direccion seccional de aduanas de Cartagena, para el vehiculo Chevy Astro con numero de chasis XXXXXXXXXXX (for American vehicles insert your VIN number here) de color beige y ano de fabricacion 2004.

La autorization inicial vencera el XX/XX/XXXX (date your original importation expires) por consipuiente solicitio a ustedes una pronta repuesta a esta peticion.

Atentamente,

Signature <br/>
Full Name <br/>
Passport No. XXXXXX"

==Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country==
Unknown. <br />
''Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.'' <br />
''Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.''

==Exiting with a vehicle==
===By land to [[Ecuador]]===
* The registered owner presents the temporary import paper to customs.
* The registered owner is stamped out of Colombia at immigration.
===By ship, probably to [[Panama]]===
See [[Pan_American_Highway#Crossing_The_Darien_Gap|Crossing The Darien Gap]] for details.

=Driving in {{PAGENAME}}=
For a great overview, see: [http://fromatob.org/2012/05/25/driving-in-colombia-3/ Driving in Colombia - fromAtoB.org] 
==Insurance requirements==
Insurance is mandatory in Colombia, and Police will most likely ask to see it. Like many South American countries, the insurance is called SOAT (Seguro Obligatorio Automóviles Transito).

===Cost of insurance===
Varies with the size of vehicle and size of the motor. Around <price cost="82" currency="USD" /> for the minimum period (two months) for a 4x4.

Land Rover Defender 300Tdi 4x4 SOAT purchased in Ipiales was 75000COP or $40 USD (May 2013)

===Where to purchase insurance===
Insurance brokers are common in even the small towns and and usually affiliated with banks. Ask around for "SOAT".  You can find one on the 8th floor of the white building found between Old Town and Getsemani in Cartagena - N10 25’30.6” W75 32’52.8”

==Driving license==
Technically an [[International Driving Permit]] is required. <br />
In reality, showing a license from anywhere in the world seems to be good enough.

==Driving side of road==
Right, <br />
Right hand drive vehicles are permitted without problem.

==Mandatory items in vehicle==
None.

==Roads==
===General Road quality===
Roads in Colombia are generally sealed and good quality. If you venture into the interior, expect gravel roads that may be impassable in the wet season.

===Road signs===
Road signs are common on highways and in towns. It's usually not too difficult to find signage to get where you are going.

===Toll roads===
All bigger highways are tolled in Colombia. Expect to pay roughly <price cost="5.00" currency="USD" /> every 100km or so.

==Bribery in {{PAGENAME}}==
Police bribery is refreshingly ''far'' less common in Colombia than in surrounding countries, and it's very unlikely that you will encounter it on the main roads. The Colombian tradition of police corruption is very much supply side, involving Colombians cautiously trying to get out of fines or jail time, not police seeking to intimidate people into giving them. When people are stopped by police/military seeking money, it's usually pretty unintimidating—a sort of weird asking for help with gas money.

Because of the security history of Colombia, police/military are everywhere along the roads, and you should expect to be waved over with some frequency. This is not a big deal. They will take a look at your car, ask you who you are (they rarely ask for identification, if you are clearly a foreigner), and then wave you on. They have a serious mission to look for criminals/rebels, and aren't interested in tourists beyond a friendly curiosity. 

There is a campaign of sorts to emphasize that the military is on your side. Flash a '''thumbs up''' at the police/military checkpoints, and they will give you a thumbs up in return, and are less likely to pull you over!

See the [[bribery tips]] page for general advice.

==Checkpoints==
Police and Military checkpoints are common in Colombia. You will be asked to present your Passport, [[Vehicle registration]], [[drivers license]], the temporary import permit you were issued at the border and your SOAT insurance. Driving without the required SOAT insurance is a sure-fire way to encounter bribery. 

==Traveling with pets==
Unknown. <br />
''List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.''

=Gas and Diesel price in {{PAGENAME}}=
'''Last updated: <span style="color:red">December 2012</span>'''<br />

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{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Gasoline Grade
! Price
|-
| Plus/Corriente 
| <price cost="4.80" currency="USD" unit ="galUS" />
|-
| Premium
| About <price cost="5.82" currency="USD" unit="galUS" />
|-
| Diesel
| <price cost="4.48" currency="USD" unit="galUS" />
|-
|}

==Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency==
Gas stations are extremely common in Colombia, and shortages are not common.

==Gas and Diesel Quality==
Gasoline and Diesel are generally thought of as good quality. The sulfur content of diesel is unknown.  

Fuel from nearby [[Venezuela]] is easy to buy from roadside vendors near the border. The quality of Venezuelan fuel is higher and it can be purchased for less.  Use caution as the fuel is often sold in weak plastic containers which is not safe for fuel storage.

We found Diesel in the far South to be much less expensive than the Midlands and North. The price in the South was about 5000COP compared to 8000COP in the North. Possibly due to the proximity to Ecuador where its much cheaper still.

=Safety and Security Considerations=
==Driving at night==

Everyone will discourage you from driving outside the cities at night, principally because the roads are dark, and accident rates are high. 

The '''mountainous roads''' in the Andino region, which include major routes like Cartagena–Medellín, Cartagena–Bogotá, Medellín–Bogotá, Bogotá-Cali, and Bogotá-Santa Marta, can be very dangerous for simple reasons of topography. The winding, steep, two-lane roads slow trucks down to a snail's crawl, which makes for constant passing with little visibility around curves. You will have to worry both about your own passing and the potential for oncoming traffic constantly.  At night these roads are very dark, fog is common, and rain will make it nearly impossible to see. There are few places to pull off, and even fewer lodgings near the mountain passes. ''La Linea de la Alta'' on the Bogotá-Cali road is notoriously dangerous, with a steady stream of fatal accidents at night. 

Any time you consider a drive in the mountainous regions, start the trip as early as possible, and budget twice the amount of time you expect the drive will take—you don't want to do this after dark.

In certain sections of the country, driving after dark is unsafe because of political/security instability, with the potential for '''paramilitary roadblocks'''. The most well-traveled area for foreigners for which this applies is southwest, Atlantic departments: Cauca, Valle del Cauca, and Nariño (around Cali and Popayán). Another well-traveled, albeit smaller, area of concern is the Magdalena Department west of Santa Marta. You probably would be OK driving at night in these regions, but if you place a high value on your life, it's best not to risk it.

==Vehicle parking==

'''Auto theft''' is a very big problem in Colombia. Parking vehicles on the street in smaller towns during the day is usually OK, but a parking lot is still a good idea. Consider it absolutely necessary to park in a secure lot anywhere at night, and any time of day in the big cities. Medellín, in particular, is a notoriously bad place to park on street. Cost is something like <price cost="1" currency="USD" /> to <price cost="2" currency="USD" /> per night.

==Special driving considerations==

While the roads are well maintained (thank the expensive and frequent tolls), they get washed out and can become impassable during the rainy season. Because of Colombia's wildly varied topography, rainy seasons occur at different times of the year in the different topographic zones. Whenever possible, let locals know where you are going, and ask about road conditions. Pay attention to the TV news when its on, as the reporting on '''floods''' is very good.

==Security advisories and information==
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=Camping in {{PAGENAME}}=
Camping is not common or popular in Colombia, and very few hostels in touristy areas have camping to cater for backpackers. A few of the larger parks and reserves allow camping for a nominal fee. Choose roadside camping sites carefully.


==Camping guide books==
Unknown.

==Drinking water==
Tap water in Colombia is generally not safe to drink outside Bogotá, Cartagena, and Santa Marta.

=Navigation=
==Signage==
Signage is always there, but it's not necessarily that good. Route markers are not used, and the route numbers are not well known. Instead, all signage is done by listing upcoming cities and towns. Towns are usually on access roads off the highway, so it's good to follow signs for the town ''past'' the next one on your route, rather than the first one you expect to find. E.g., if you are driving southwest from Bogotá towards Cali, and the next signed place is Fusagasugá, aim to follow the signs for the destination past that (Melgar, Ibagué, or Cali).

==Paper maps==
For a high quality road map, buy before you get to Colombia.

==GPS Maps of {{PAGENAME}}==
* Open Street Map: Appears to have good coverage.<ref>[http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=2.9&lon=-73.8&zoom=5&layers=M OpenStreetMap Colombia]</ref> But remember that the route numbers given won't appear on any signage.
* Garmin: Lists "Detailled" converage.<ref>[http://static.garmincdn.com/en/products/010-D1138-00/g/cm-md.jpg Garmin coverage map]</ref>
* TomTom: No map of Colombia. <ref>[http://uk.support.tomtom.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9885/ TomTom Map availability]</ref>
* Colrut: Probably the best free GPS map of Colombia updated often and includes tracks and trails <ref>[http://www.colrut.com/]</ref>

==GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in {{PAGENAME}}==
*[http://fromatob.org/2012/05/25/camping-places-in-colombia/#Camping Places in Colombia - Camping Places in Colombia from AtoB.org]
*[http://liferemotely.com/trip-shenanigans/colombia/229-five-spectacular-places-to-camp-in-colombia#Five Spectacular Places to Camp in Colombia - fromAtoB.org]
*[http://liferemotely.com/trip-shenanigans/colombia/233-colombia-campgrounds-and-hotels#Colombia Campgrounds (and Hotels) - Life Remotely]
*[http://www.dare2go.com/campingSA.html#Colombia Camping Sites: Colombia] - Detailed list of campsites and propane filling with description, directions and GPS co-ordinates. Some at hotels (lists facilities and price), some roadside and free.
*[http://panamnotes.com/campsite-listing-south-america/ Campsite Listing - South America | PanAm Notes] - List of campsites, with directions and GPS co-ordinates. Some at hotels (lists facilities and price), some roadside and free.
*[http://www.questconnect.org/no_andes_camping.htm Andes Expedition camping Locations] - List of campsites, with basic directions and GPS co-ordinates. Mostly free sites.
* [http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Site/Camping_Log_2__South_America.html Camping Log 2: South America] - List of campsites, shopping, fuel, propane and border crossings with excellent descriptions and GPS co-ordinates.
* [http://www.hackneys.com/travel/index-gpssawaypoints.htm Hackney Travel SA Waypoints] - Raw GPS data (in gdb or gpx format) for waypoints (including campsites, fuel, repairs, propane and more)
* [http://www.xor.org.uk/silkroute/panam2006/gps/index.html The Silk Road Motocaravan Network] - Raw GPS data for waypoints (camping, gas, propane, points of interest and more)

=Special Overland Travel interests=
None.

==Guide Books==
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=Vehicle Maintenance=
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==Local Garages==
''Add known good mechanics here.''

=Buy or sell a car or motorbike in {{PAGENAME}}=
'''Buy'''<br/>
Unknown.<br />
''Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.''
''List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.''

'''WSell'''<br/>
Unknown.<br />
''Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'

=References=
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<references />

=Helpful External links=
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