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DOCUMENTS
EU citizens don't need any visa, and
there's no entry fee to be paid at the immigration.
MONEY
The currency is the Colombian PesoS
(COP) (1€= 2870 COP, 1$= 1805 COP). US$ seems
still to be the most convenient currency to be changed,
but also euros are well known.
HEALTH
I had the usual vaccinations: ephatite
A, B, typhus and tetanus. I took the antimalaric profilassis
(Lariam), but, since I saw very few mosquitos and
most of the trip was in cold areas, I had the feeling
to have been over-cautious. Morevoer I hadn't any
problem with the food or the drink, anyway I never
drank tap water.
GUIDE
BOOK
I used Lonely Planet (in italian 3rd
ed, translated from 4th ed, June 2006), as usual it's
a good support, but I was surprised how weak is the
part concerning the food and the dedicated dictionary.
Morevoer I wouldn't cost that much to have the map
of the whole Colombia and not only the 30%.
SAFETY
at the time of writing (10/2008)
-
Areas whose safety is
discussed:
DARIEN
GAP(source)
The passage between Central America and South America
is a problem that many travellers are forced to face.
The Pan-American Carretera is interrupted in the region
of jungle and swamps called Darien Gap, making impossible
land connections between Panama and Colombia.
The options in order to exceed the Darien Gap, avoiding
the dangerous passage by land (in the Colombian region
of the Choco are present groups of guerrillas and
paramilitary), are substantially three:
-
sailing ship or boat from Cartagena
(Colombia) directly to Panamanian territory, passing
for the Islas de San Blas (cost: approximately
250$)
-
flight between Panama City and
Bogotá, Medellin or Cartagena (cost: variable
according to the season, 150-300$)
-
bus from Medellin or Cartagena
to Turbo (23$), traveling by night in order to
reach Turbo in the morning and to go up on lancha
or boat until Capurganà (20$, 2hours) where
there are economic lodgings and the Caribbean
is wonderful. From Capurgana’ you can take
another lancha for Puerto Obaldia (10$, 40 min),
that is already in Panamanian territory and there
is an immigration office. From Puerto Obaldia
there are two flights every week towards Panama
City (57$).
GENERAL
TIPS
Rio Claro
The cave exploration of the Rio Claro valley has been
the most exciting thing I did in Colombia.
It's a 3h walk/ swim in a narrow cave dug by a small
tributary of the Rio Claro. Although technically possible
I don't recommend to go alone at least the first time;
even if you are the bravest person in the world, the
entry of the cave being in the middle of the jungle
it's hard to be spotted. A guide in the 'El Refugio'
guesthouse (3km from the cave) costs around 8$, and
don't forget you need your flash lamp, to wear a swimming
suit and a pair of sport shoes. In few points you
have to dive in the darkness trusting the guide telling
you where there'r no rocks.
Apart of the cave, in Rio Claro there'r a lot of thing
to do: tubing and rafting down the river or simply
walking along the wild valley and swimming in the
river.
I slept in the guest house 'El Refugio' where there's
a kind of restaurant as well (15$ dorm+ 3 meals).
The place is on the road connecting Bogota' (5h from
Bogota') with Medellin (4h from Medellin). Once dropped
off at the bridge with the Claro river (at 94th km),
you can walk to reach in 30min 'El Refugio'.
A useful website is: /www.rioclaroelrefugio.com/
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