Overland Colombia Travel
Pan American Highway > Colombia
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Contents
- 1 Visiting Colombia
- 2 Entering Colombia with a Car or Motorbike
- 3 Driving in Colombia
- 4 Gas and Diesel price in Colombia
- 5 Safety and Security Considerations
- 6 Camping in Colombia
- 7 Navigation
- 8 Special Overland Travel interests
- 9 Vehicle Maintenance
- 10 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Colombia
- 11 References
- 12 Helpful External links
Visiting Colombia
Colombia is a beautiful country which is now much safer than its reputation. Many overlanders wish they could stay longer. Borders are easy to cross. Colombia is also an off-road motorbiker's paradise.
Entering Colombia with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: July 2017
Ferry Xpress from Panama
Ferry Xprees from Panamá to Colombia has been suspended the last two years since 2015. The options are container, RORO or sailboat (for motorbikes only).
For RORO we found best luck with pricing by emailing Anna at PricingAmericas@2wglobal.com >>
Ferry XPress remains closed. We contacted Martin McGowan for shipping with IVSSUK and found the service and pricing to be excellent.
Required Paperwork
(To check if you need a travel Visa for Colombia, application instructions and fees see: Colombia Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
- Passport of registered owner (original and one copy)
- Vehicle registration (original and one copy)
- Drivers license (original and one copy)
- Direccion De Investigacion Judicial (original and one copy) from office in Panama City. (If coming from Panama)
Process at border
- 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.
Import at Santa Marta Harbour (juli 2014)
- Antwerp - Santa Marta (weekly)
- Antwerp export compagny: Levaco price: €1,550.00 EUR (fiat ducato)
- shipping line Compagnia Logistica Colombiana
- import in Santa Marta: Granandino cel: 318-2662318
- 3 days process time in harbour seems to be minimum
- Total cost Granandino $800,000.00 COP
Flying A Motorcycle From Panama City, Panama to Bogota, Colombia
There are numerous shipping agents that will handle the air shipment of motorcycles from Panama City to Bogota. Some popular options include:
- E Cargo Logistics
- Overland Embassy
These companies will ship the bike immediately or store the motorcycle in Panama City (in government bonded storage) and ship the bike at a later date to Bogota, which makes this an easy time to return to your home country or take a break from the overland adventure. Be sure to get in writing exactly what will be provided including whether the shipper will handle the required Colombian SOAT insurance, etc. Quotes that I received in 2023 ranged from $800 to $1050 USD for airplane shipment and storage.
Cost of entry
Free.
Permitted length of stay
Many nationalities are allowed entry for 60 days. US, Swiss, and other nationalities are given 90 days upon entry, which can be extended for another 90 days per calendar year, resetting on January 1st. The temporary import permit for the vehicle will match the duration of the owners entry. UK citizens are given 90 days.
For entrance to Colombia you need a valid passport (does not need to have at least 6 months before expiration).
Extension of stay
Sept 2018 Instructions: The following info was current as of September 2018 as completed by Slowcarfasthouse- If you go to this website -https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/registro/public/formularioRegistro.jsf;jsessionid=68EE4ED0AF608BAAE146447BB59CBB17 - you can complete a form (in English or Spanish) to request an additional 3 months. This can be done as early as you wish during your visit (doesn't have to be last 10 days as previously thought). You must have PDF's of your passport photo page, Colombia stamp and either a flight ticket or the TIP for your vehicle (we use our TIP and stuck a little note on it saying that we would be leaving with the vehicle) These PDF's cannot be larger than 1mb. Upload the files, answer the questions and submit the form and wait. Within a day we got a response that it was approved and we needed to pay a small fee. We could do that with a bank transfer, credit card or go into a migracion office. We paid by credit card. Within 24 hours we received a PDF to print which extended our stay by another three months from the previous departure date. It says to print it and keep it with the passport. NOTE- save screen shots of all the emails and attachments. We were asked for them when renewing our TIP later. BTW- I learned this by reading this guys blog post and adjusting it for a TIP traveler. Credit to this author and his efforts to navigate the system. https://theunconventionalroute.com/extend-colombia-tourist-visa/
We visited the DIAN office in Bogota on Sept. 27, 2018 (it is located near the airport and marked in iOverlander) The location for extending a TIP in Colombia is on the 3rd floor. You must arrive with your passport to enter the facility. There is a copy center on the ground floor if needed. 1- bring printed form with reasons for extension (Do not mention volunteering, working or leaving the country) 2- title/registration 3- visa extension paperwork proof 4-prior TIP 5- SOAT 6- passport. And a copy of all these items. I suggest that you download, fill in and print this form before you go. FT-OA-2391 Prorroga de Vehiculos de Turistas (a google search will turn this up) Drop off copies of all papers and they will give you a sticker on your first TIP. In theory they will email the TIP which will be ready to print and provide additional time as requested. The office we worked with was quite clear in asking to see the passport to examine it for additional exit/entry stamps. He reported that people have been leaving the country with open TIP's and then returning to get VISA extensions, then using those new dates to apply for an extended TIP. (apparently this is illegal) We had already completed the VISA extension request online and had screen shots of the emails from the migracion office which they were impressed by. Once they saw that they were ready to process the paperwork with a smile.
June 2017 Instructions: blog post by AvVida describes how to extend both the person Visa and the TIP for the vehicle. Process Documented Here
Feb 2013 Instructions: 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,
Dian-division de gestion de la operation aduanera la ciudad Importacion temporal de vehicle de tourista.
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
Full Name
Passport No. XXXXXX"
2014 Instructions: The following documentation package was created in early 2014 explaining how to extend your personal visa and vehicle permit in Medellin http://www.pawsontour.com/iea/DOWNLOADS/Grenzuebergang/Immigration_Visum_Colombia.zip
Beware (Medellin sept 2014): Temporary import can never be longer than the time allowed in your pasport (mostly 90 days after your entry). Medellin immigration refuses to renew your 90 days if your original stamp is still valid for more than 8 days. So we couldn't renew our temporary import because our immigration stamp was still valid for another 20 days. We left the country without our car and will have to pay $550,000.00 COP for every month of overstay. (Ipiales jan 2015) We drove out of the country without passing DIAN, only immigration stamp. We could cross the bridge without problems - no fine to pay. No problems entering Ecuador.
The annual for extending vehicle permits while in the county is 6 months.. so you can only "extend" once.
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
Storing vehicle and leaving country is possible.
At Renacer Hostal in Villa the Leyva vehicles can be stored at $150,000.00 COP per month.
Overlanders have left their vehicle in Colombia and flown out of the country. Make sure you're back before the temporary import permit expires and you should be fine.
You also have the option to drive up to Ipiales (the southeast border town with Ecuador), go to Aduana, cancel your TIP, drive back to the town of Ipiales and park temporarily for your vehicle for as long as you want. There is a report for a guy who parked it for 10 months: [1]. The location of the parking lot is: GPS: 0.825760, -77.629930. Owners name is Eduardo & can be reached at +573154806518. As of July 2017, they were charging $40,000.00 COP per month. On your way out of the country nobody from Aduana bothers to check your TIP or your car.
Or look into Bonded Warehouse Storage to suspend the Temporary Import Permit. HUGE! :)
Here is a long list of companies you can contact shared to us by the US Embassy in Colombia.
ABC CARGO LOGISTIC S.A. Av Calle 24 N°95-12 Bodega 46 Parque Ind. Portos Bogota 422 23 88 www.abccargolog.com Servicio al cliente servicioalcliente@abccargolog.com
AGENCIA DE ADUANAS BUENAVENTURA IMPORT LTDA NIVEL 2 Calle 25 F No 84 B 95 Bogota 805 88 22 www.buenaventuraimport.com Orlando Buenaventura Navas orlando@buenaventuraimport.com
AGENCIA DE ADUANAS GRANANDINA LTDA. Carrera 43 No. 24 B - 13 Bogota 743 60 90 www.granandina.com Ari Gustavo Parra Londoño gerencia@granandina.com; ari.parra@granandina.com
AGENCIA MARITIMA TRANSMARES Carrera 11 No. 93-53 Oficina 503 Bogota 743 14 34 www.transmares.com.co Raul Castañeda raulc@transmares.com.co
ALFONSO SENIOR Y CIA. S.A. Calle 57 No. 6-35 Piso 8 Bogota 348 10 11 www.alfonsosenior.com/ Alfonso José Senior Pava gerencia@alfonsosenior.com
ALMAVIVA S.A. Carrera 13 A No 34 - 72 PISO 11 Bogota 744 85 00 www.almaviva.com.co Juan Camilo Samaca ccarrill@almaviva.com.co
ALPHA LOGISTICS LTDA Carrera 20 No. 39-33 Oficina 305 Bogota 320 5292 www.alphalogistics.org Mauricio Carrillo gerencia@alphalogistics.org
ALPOPULAR ALMACEN GENERAL DE DEPOSITOS S.A. Diagonal 24C No. 96B - 50 Bogota 488 00 88 www.alpopular.com.co Leonardo Delgado Jaramillo leonardo.delgado@alpopular.com.co
AVIOMAR S.A. Carrera 10 No 96-25 Oficina 404 Bogota 555 1757 www.aviomar.com.co Miguel Angel Florez mflorez@aviomar.com.co
BLU LOGISTICS COLOMBIA Carrera 11a No. 97a-19 Oficina 506 Bogota 650 5555 www.blulogistics.com Juan Carlos Rojas juan.rojas@blulogistics.com
CENTAURUS MENSAJEROS S.A. Diagonal 61B No 18 -24 Bogota 343 61 20 www.centaurusmensajeros.com/ Emilio Cespedes emilio.ce@centaurusmensajeros.com
CEVA FREIGHT MANAGEMENT DE COLOMBIA LTDA. Carrera 102A No. 25 H-45 Oficina 306 Bogota 594 28 00 www.cevalogistics.com Alejandro Gomez alejandro.gomez@cevalogistics.com
COLDELIVERY S.A. Av. Carrera 28 No. 34-31 Bogota 744 0704 www.coldelivery.com Elizabeth Núñez Baez gerencia@coldelivery.com
DHL EXPRESS COLOMBIA LTDA. (AIR CARGO) Carrera 85D No. 46A-38 Monjes Bogota 749 97 00 X 9802 www.dhl.com Felipe Silva andrea.montoya@dhl.com
DHL GLOBAL FORWARDING (COLOMBIA) LTDA . (MARITIME CARGO) Avda. Calle 26 No. 85B-09 Bogota 746 96 96 X 2994 www.dhl.com Kurt Schosinsky martha.rodriguez2@dhl.com
EXPEDITORS DE COLOMBIA LTDA. Carrera 12 No. 79-43 Oficina 501 Bogota 313 00 98 www.expeditors.com Guillermo Fernández guillermo.fernandez@expeditors.com
FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION. Transversal 93 No 51 - 98 Bodega 2 Bogota 7435337 www.fedex.com Jaime Canal jcanalsaiz@fedex.com
FRONTIER AGENCIA MARITIMA S.A. Carrera 7 No. 80-49 Oficina 902 Bogota 605 07 00 www.famcargo.com Carlos Guillermo Aragón lquintana@famcargo.com
NEXUS LOGISTICS Carrera 9 # 81a-26 Oficina 403 Bogota 756 0066 www.nexuslogistics.com Luis Alejandro Lara Blanco / Julius Siefken l.lara@nlnexus.com; j.siefken@nlnexus.com
OPEN MARKET LTDA Carrera 69 No. 21 - 63 Bogota 747 00 00 www.openmarket.com.co Uribe Vasquez Rincón principal@openmarket.com.co
PASAR EXPRESS S.A. Avenida Carrera 103 No. 25F-50 Oficina 105 Bogota 291 6505 www.pasar.net Alfredo Castellanos acastellanos@pasar.com.co
ROLDAN Y CIA LTDA Carrera 100 No. 25B - 40 Bogota 404 2904 www.roldanlogistica.com Enrique Córdoba De La Puente ecordoba@roldanlogistica.com
SEABOARD DE COLOMBIA S.A. Carrera 12 No. 79 - 43 Oficina 701 Bogota 313 05 13 www.seaboardmarine.com Gabriel Mejía Cuellar gabriel.mejia@seaboardcolombia.com.co
SOCIEDAD DE NEGOCIOS INTERNACIONALES LTDA SADINTER S.A.S Carrera 106 No. 15 - 25 MZ 17 Bodega 01 Int 90 Bogota 404 69 99 No web Angélica Pulido angelicapulido@alservicios.com.co
THOMAS GREG & SONS DE COLOMBIA S.A. Avenida Americas # 44-57 Bogota 381 02 40 www.thomasgreg.com Juan Carlos Yañez claudia.fagua@thomasgreg.com
TRANEXCO S.A. Avenida Eldorado No.103-09 Oficina Administrativa 104 A Bogota 379 10 00 www.courierbox.com Augusto César Rojas Rodríguez augustorojas@courierbox.com
TRANSBORDER S.A.S. Carrera 11 No. 64-47 Bogota 327 53 30 www.transborder.com.co Carlos Duperly Sánchez cduperly@transborder.com.co
TRANSFLORA CARGO S.A. Avenida El Dorado No. 97-51 Oficina 105A Bogota 418 32 13 www.transflora.com Pablo Torres gerencia@transflora.com
TRANSPACK LTDA. Avenida Carrera 40 No. 20 A - 96 Bogota 335 76 00 www.transpackltda.com Joel Doglioni secretariagerencia@transpackltda.com
UPS Carrera 85 D No. 46A -65 Bodega 21 Bogota 423 87 75 www.ups.com Francisco Ricaurte FJRicaurte@ups.com
VERTICAL DE AVIACION S.A.S. Nueva Zona de Aviación General Hangar 19 via Catam Aeropuerto el Dorado Bogota 546 24 14 http://vertical.global/ Luz Angela Castro acastro@verticaldeaviacion.com
VISION LOGISTICA INTERNACIONAL S.A.S. Calle 37 No. 29-18 Bogota 747 0487 www.visionlogistica.com.co Luis Alfredo Doncel Rivera luisalfredodoncel@vli.com.co
WOW LOGISTICS COLOMBIA S.A. Calle 103 No. 14A - 53 Oficina 204 Edificio BBC Bogota 621 05 77 www.wowcolombia.com Carlos Eduardo Borda Guzmán carlos.borda@wowcolombia.com
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
Tulcan/Ipiales crossing December 2018 (slowcarfasthouse)
Pick right lane as you approach the border. Pass by immigration building on the left and park at the parking lot after the building. If that is full you can park on the right side of the road before the parking lot near the rock wall, but keep at least one lane clear for trucks/buses to get through. Approach the migracion office. There will be three lines. The right one is for Colombians. The center one is for everyone not a Colombian or Venezuelan. Venezuelans use the left line. The officers rotate accepting people into building. Once you enter you go to the left side which is noted by a sign “exiting Colombia”. This time there will be three lines. Each line has at least one dedicated window. Ask the officer which line is appropriate for you. If you make your passport visible, they may cut you to the front of the Venezuelan and Colombian lines.
TIP: We turned the tip in at the DIAN office. It is on the left side of the building from the migration office. We surrendered the tip at the window. We received nothing in return. The order of TIP or stamp does not seem to matter.
By ship, probably to Panama
See Crossing The Darien Gap for details.
Driving in Colombia
Recommended books for Overlanding in Colombia
- Colombia Facil Travel Book - Very small, but really good and very cheap guide book with tons of information! You can get them at many hostels.
- Jeff and Alan's Guide to Motorcycle Travel In Colombia - excellent book with recommended routes and general information on motorcycling in Colombia. [2]
- For a great overview, see: Driving in Colombia - fromAtoB.org
Travel insurance for Colombia
World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.
Vehicle 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:
$52.99 USD for 3 months for a motorcycle (650cc 1 cylinder)
Around $82.00 USD for two months for a 4x4.
Land Rover Defender 300Tdi 4x4 SOAT purchased in Ipiales was $75,000.00 COP in May 2013
1 month for approx. $80,000.00 COP for a 4 cylinder 2.5l van in Feb 2014 - you might need to check multiple insurance vendors to get 1 month insurance and/or possibly "modify" you temporary import permit to show less days allowed in Colombia. Otherwise the insurance company may claim they will only insure for the full length of the temporary permit. The police do NOT mind seeing insurance for 1 month and temporary permit for 3 months - they are usually surprised you have insurance at all.
€49.74 EUR for 3 months for a Toyota Hiace camper van model 2009 (purchased April 2017).
Where to purchase insurance
Most of the gas stations all around the country sell SOAT. Look for the sign.
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 2nd floor of the white building found between Old Town and Getsemani in Cartagena - N10 25’30.6” W75 32’52.8”
Another place in Cartegena that sells short-term (one month) is close to the old town. It can be found at Avenida Carlos Escallon, in the building of Banco Bogota, marked as "Comfamiliar" (large metal doors), in the 8th floor (elevator goes only to 7th). GPS roughly 10.423875 -75.54865.
Santa Marta: Lyberties , plazuela 23, calle 23. Ask for Tatiana. Minimum 3 months.
Colombian license plates have 6 characters, three letters, three numbers. If you are looking to extend for another month and you have more characters, such as our Ohio plates, you can't do this at any 'tienda' that says SOAT. In Bogota head to the Suramericana, Carrera 11, block 93, number 46, 3rd Floor. Helpful and around $10.00 USD for the month.
Driving license
Technically an International Driving Permit is required.
In reality, showing a license from anywhere in the world seems to be good enough.
Driving side of road
Right,
Right hand drive vehicles are permitted without problem.
Mandatory items in vehicle
The following items are required by law to be in all vehicles that circulate on Colombian roads (Article 30 of Law 769 of 2002, still in force as of April 9, 2021) (Spanish comes directly from the law[1] and can be useful if trying to purchase these items in Colombia)
1. A jack that can lift the vehicle. (Un gato con capacidad para elevar el vehículo)
2. A U-joint. (Una cruceta)
3. 2 reflective emergency warning triangles and corresponding supports to ensure they can stand up vertically, or yellow blinking lights. (Dos señales de carretera en forma de triángulo en material reflectivo y provistas de soportes para ser colocadas en forma vertical o lámparas de señal de luz amarilla intermitentes o de destello.)
4. A first aid kit. (Un botiquín de primeros auxilios.)
5. A fire extinguisher (Un extintor.)
6. 2 wheel immobilizers to prevent the vehicle from rolling. (Dos tacos para bloquear el vehículo.)
7. A basic tool kit that contains, at minimum: Pliers, screwdrivers, an adjustable wrench, and a set of fixed-head wrenches. (Caja de herramienta básica que como mínimo deberá contener: Alicate, destornilladores, llave de expansión y llaves fijas.) 8. A spare tire. (Llanta de repuesto.)
9. A flashlight. (Linterna.)
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. Minor roads in the mountains have a lot of "hundiamentos"; half of the road disappearing or with important prolapses. After heavy storms a lot of stones on the road.
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.
There are what are called Vertical Road Signs (the ones on posts) and Horizontal Road Signs (the ones painted on the road). You will occasionally find STOP ("PARE") signs ONLY painted on the road, with no vertical sign accompanying them. You must still obey these Horizontal Stop signs.
You can find current guides to road signs on the Ministry of Transportation website, under "Manuales de Señalización Vial": https://www.mintransporte.gov.co/documentos/29/manuales-de-senalizacion-vial/genPagDocs=1
Toll roads
All bigger highways are tolled in Colombia. Expect to pay roughly $5.00 USD every 100km or so. However motorbikes are exempt from paying, the furtherest lane to the right is a narrow lane for bikes.
We paid €113.00 EUR for roughly 4.000 kms (April-June 2017).
A really useful website where you can check the tolls in Colombia is: https://www.viajaporcolombia.com/peajes/ (check "ver mapa" to see the route in google map along with the toll stations and the relevant cost)
Bribery in Colombia
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. Tourists are rarely stopped. Police is very friendly. Army is very young. (3 times stopped in 4 weeks, 2000 km, ~100 checkpoints)
You will encounter lots of army officers to give you THUMBS UP (especially in more remote areas of the country). They do not hitchhike; they let you know that its safe to carry on!
Traveling with pets
If you enter via road or boat it seems that nobody seems to care about pets. If you enter via airport (Panama-Colombia for example) it gets very complicated and you need to have lots of requirements! This travelers have a detailed document how they did it in January 2014: [2]
Paws on Tour has an excellent write up. I would add that flying a pet from Panama to Colombia has some genuine hassles. We used Copa Cargo to fly the dog on the same flight as us. They were slow in responding to booking requests and when they did, they seemed to have lost all prior info. We thought we had a reserved spot and showed up at the airport 3 hours ahead (As paperwork stated) and they tried to refuse the dog. It took a lot of tears and phone calls to make it happen. Suggestions: Take the dog, the crate, the vet certificate and the Federal paperwork and go directly to the Copa Cargo station in the far corner of the airport. Book your flight directly with that person and get emailed confirmation. Find out exactly the fare, and what time you need to return. Find out what paperwork and stickers need to be on the crate. Make sure the crate is exactly the right size. Confirm that you have all the right paperwork on the dog. All of these loopholes will be used later to try to stop the process on shipping day. Another option is to have a veterinarian (not required to be a psych) write a letter stating that the pet must be in the cabin with you. Copa is very accommodating with cabin pets of any size during this one hour flight. (Panama City to Cartagena) Another option is to use Avianca. They only go to Bogota with a domestic flight to Cartagena. But they are much easier to work with when flying a pet in cargo. A final option is to sail with the pet through the islands. Many travelers are able to locate a boat and captain who will allow a dog. This has been a successful journey for many.
Gas and Diesel price in Colombia
Last updated: August 2015 in Popayan (little bit more expensive than other places)
Prices can vary throughout the country by as much as 50%!
Diesel is often called ACPM (Aceite Combustible Para Motores, means Combustible Oil for Engines).
Riohacha, Maicao and Uribia (all in the Guajira) have 40-50% cheaper gas & diesel at official gas stations! If you buy it from the street (not legal) it's even cheaper! Same for Cucuta.
When coming from Cartagena and going to Medellin, before you get to San Jacinto the gas was also around 15% cheaper! (around $3.60 USD per Gallon (US) in Feb. 2014 instead of $4.00 USD per Gallon (US)) Same for the road from the coast down to Bucaramanga you will see gas stations with much cheaper Diesel.
Also when going from Bogota via Honda you can get 5-10% cheaper gas because they got a petrol plant there.
We found Diesel in the far South to be much less expensive than the Midlands and North, around $3,000.00 COP per Gallon (US) LESS. Possibly due to the proximity to Ecuador where its much cheaper still.
Close to the Venezuelan border illegal fuel is very common, half price from street sellers. (Jan 2015)
Currency and unit to display:
| Gasoline Grade | Min Price | Max Price |
|---|---|---|
| Plus/Corriente | $7,900.00 COP per Gallon (US) | |
| Premium | About $11,200.00 COP per Gallon (US) | |
| Diesel | $7,269.00 COP per Gallon (US) | $7,730.00 COP per Gallon (US) |
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. All gas stations offer Biodiesel of 5-10% (they dont advertise it but if you check the official website of ESSO/MOBIL/ TEXACO they mention it clearly). We experienced bad diesel (mixed with water as well) in all the country and our emissions came to verify it every single morning. If you are driving EURO 4-5 car, use diesel additives, change your filter and be aware that the fuel will may create problems to your engine.
The sulfur content of diesel should be since 2013 by law max. 50ppm. Diesel in Colombia contains 5-10% of biodiesel (B5-B10). In big cities only, you have the option for normal Diesel & Supreme Diesel.
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.
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 or guerrilla roadblocks. The most well-traveled area for foreigners for which this applies is the southwest: 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 $1.00 USD to $2.00 USD per night.
Special driving considerations
While the roads are well maintained thanks to 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.
Colombians are some of the nicest people you will meet on this trip, but by far some of the rudest drivers! They will overtake you in any turns, no matter how dangerous it is! So be very prepared to brake and always think for the other driver too, because they usually don't!
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for Colombia - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in Colombia
Camping seems to be not very popular in Colombia, although many "hoteles campestre" do have a camping site. Most of the time this is only a grass field. Locals do use them on friday and saturday night. 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 plots are rarely reachable by car. It's easy to ask people at small finca's to use their garden (do not refuse the "tinto" they normally offer)
Camping guide books
It would be usefull to start a "camping" list overhere. After 12 weeks in Colombia we found out that there are a number of good camping sites. Or should we support the ioverlander app?
Drinking water
Tap water in Colombia is generally not safe to drink outside Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Barranquilla and Bucaramanga. Ask around some villages in the mountains have excellent drinking water, without the bad treatment taste.
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
Reise Know-How and Freytag & berndt are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Colombia
- For a high quality road map, buy before you get to Colombia.
- Reise Know-How Maps are highly recommended, they are updated yearly. Order directly from the German website to ensure you have the latest version. [3]
GPS Maps of Colombia
- Open Street Map: Have good coverage, only some minor roads are lacking. New dual carriage roads and ring-roads are rarely on the map.[4] But remember that the route numbers are rarely found on any signage.
- Garmin: Lists "Detailled" converage.[5]
- TomTom: No map of Colombia. [6]
- Colrut: Probably the best free GPS map of Colombia updated often and includes tracks and trails [7]
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Colombia
- iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.
- Places in Colombia - Camping Places, Food & Sights in Colombia from Pawsontour. In German only
- Seventeen By Six - coordinates, directions and reviews of camping sites 2012/13.
- Places in Colombia - Camping Places in Colombia from AtoB.org
- Spectacular Places to Camp in Colombia - fromAtoB.org
- Campgrounds (and Hotels) - Life Remotely
- 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.
- 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.
- Andes Expedition camping Locations - List of campsites, with basic directions and GPS co-ordinates. Mostly free sites.
- Camping Log 2: South America - List of campsites, shopping, fuel, propane and border crossings with excellent descriptions and GPS co-ordinates.
- Hackney Travel SA Waypoints - Raw GPS data (in gdb or gpx format) for waypoints (including campsites, fuel, repairs, propane and more)
- The Silk Road Motocaravan Network - Raw GPS data for waypoints (camping, gas, propane, points of interest and more)
- Landcruising Adventure - List with GPS waypoints of rough camps & campsites (2015)
Special Overland Travel interests
Save your receipts. You can get your IVA (value added tax) refunded when you leave. You need to have your name on the invoice and the receipt can't be for lodging, food, etc. You can be refunded for the tax you pay for repair and parts for your vehicle though. Since tax is 19% this can save a lot of money if you need to get things repaired at a place that can issue an invoice. More info at Medellin Expats.
Vehicle Maintenance
In Bogota there is a shop Promecanica SAS that can do any level of work your vehicle needs. They have full metal fabrication and basic service. They also have access to many, many parts and can get items shipped from other countries. They are affiliated with Passion 4x4 Aventura which sells and installs many offload and adventure parts. They have a display room of lights, winches, tires, shocks, drawer systems and many accessories. They can also access special items upon request.
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
- Iguana 4x4 in Bogota and Barranquilla
- TecnoMotriz in Cali. Excellent service at a good price. Works with all types of cars, also 4x4 and RVs. Address: Calle 28 No. 6-64. Tels.: 4438112 o 4431127. Email: tecnomotriz93@gmail.com
- Promecanica in Bogota specializes in offroad vehicles and can fabricate many repairs.
- Pasion 4x4 in Bogota can get unique sizes of tires and carries much offroad gear.
- El Chasis in Medellin did excellent body work on my motorcycle and made a custom top case and pannier frame. Ernesto is the owner.
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Colombia
Buy
YES, it is possible (and pretty straightforward) for a foreign, non-resident to purchase a car in Colombia. Contrary to most of the guidance on the internet, you DO NOT need a cedula (Colombian ID card). First, go to a SIM office and register yourself in the RUNT system, which only requires your passport. Once you're in RUNT, the rest of the car purchasing process is the same and if you're purchasing from an experienced seller they can go forward with the usual process. Registering in RUNT took <1 hour, and transferring the car papers took 1 day.
Sell
Used vehicles can not be imported into Colombia, so there is no way to sell a used vehicle legally.
References
- ↑ Article 30, Law 769 of 2002, National Land Transit Code (Código Nacional de Tránsito Terrestre) of the Republic of Colombia: http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley_0769_2002.html
- ↑ Dog requirement when flying from Panama to Colombia
- ↑ Reise Know-How Maps
- ↑ OpenStreetMap Colombia
- ↑ Garmin coverage map
- ↑ TomTom Map availability
- ↑ Colrut Open Source Maps of Colombia
Helpful External links
- Colombia: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to Colombia - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Colombia travel guides at wikivoyage
- Colombia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
