The incidents below highlight the continuing high threat from domestic terrorist groups in Colombia, particularly in urban areas. You are at risk of being caught up in a terrorist incident anywhere in the country. We are aware of an ongoing significant threat to commercial and entertainment centres, those popular with expatriates being particularly vulnerable. You should therefore maintain a high level of vigilance, particularly in public places frequented by foreigners such as hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and shopping-malls. Examples of such areas in Bogota include the "Zona Rosa" and "Parque 93". On 6 April 2006, two bombs exploded on Transmillenium Transport System buses, which run throughout Bogota. Two children died and approximately 20 people were injured.

There is a serious risk of kidnapping and crime throughout most parts of the country. At the beginning of March 2006, two explosive devices were found in shopping centres in Cartagena, a popular tourist resort on the Caribbean coast. On 10 October 2005, a bomb targeted at a leading Colombian politician went off in a residential area in northern Bogota resulting in several casualties. On 15 November 2003, there was a grenade attack on two bars in the "Zona Rosa" area of Bogota. This is an area popular with expatriates, where the attack resulted in two deaths and over 70 injuries. You should also be vigilant in the vicinity of government buildings and public transport, particularly in major urban centres.

In November 2004, a small bomb exploded in the south of Bogota resulting in the death of one person and injuries to seven others. A large number of subsequent attempted attacks have been foiled by the Colombian authorities, including an attempted attack on the Transmilenio transport system in December 2004. These attacks, or attempted attacks, are believed to have been the work of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Guerrilla activity in many parts of Colombia is intense. Lives are being lost on an almost daily basis and infrastructure is being targeted, in particular roads, bridges and power supplies. As a result, many people have been displaced or are trapped in their villages by armed groups. The Colombian Armed Forces are actively trying to restore authority throughout the country.

During 2005 and early 2006, a large number of Colombian armed forces personnel were killed in attacks in Cauca, Caqueta and southern Meta. Because of high levels of guerrilla activity, we advise against all travel to Guaviare and to rural parts of Huila department, including San Agustin and the Parque Arqueologico San Agustin.

Terrorism, drugs and organised crime are inextricably linked. In addition to the FARC, the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) and the ELN (National Liberation Army) are major illegal armed groups active in Colombia. All three groups engage in serious crime and all are linked to the illegal drugs trade. Control of the drugs trade is a major driver of much of the armed conflict. There is a high risk to your personal safety in any area where coca and opium poppies are cultivated. Heavy areas of coca cultivation include parts of Putumayo, Caqueta, Cauca, Meta and Bolivar.

You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

PRACTICAL INFO

Basic Facts

Capital
Bogota

Language
Spanish (official); there are dozens of Indian languages including Wayuu and Cuaiquer.

Ethnic Groups
Colombians are descended from native Americans, Africans and Europeans.

Religion
Roman Catholicism (93 percent) is the official religion.

Local Laws and Customs
You should avoid any dealings with illegal drugs. Penalties are harsh and prisons tough.

Homosexuality is legal but not widely socially accepted, especially in rural areas.

Dress sense is comparable to Europe.

Photography of military or strategic sites is not permitted.

Crime
Politically-driven and criminal violence is a serious problem in Colombia.

In many cases, it is not possible to separate crimes and violence by terrorist groups from crimes committed by criminal groups. Colombia’s illegal armed groups are heavily involved in the drugs trade (as are many other criminal groups) and in other sorts of serious crime including kidnapping (for ransom and for political purposes) money laundering, and the running of extortion and prostitution rackets.

Kidnapping in Colombia is a serious problem. Most foreign nationals are potential targets for kidnapping. Colombia continues to have a high rate of kidnapping for ransom, with 800 kidnappings reported in 2005. There is particularly high risk of being kidnapped in Arauca, Nariño and Norte de Santander departments and in rural areas of Choco, Sucre, Antioquia, Valle de Cauca departments (including the port of Buenaventura in Valle de Cauca where illegal armed groups and criminal gangs are very active). Most recently, a Briton and a Dutchman were kidnapped on 3 February 2006 in Norte de Santander department. They were released unharmed on 9 February 2006. Two Spanish nationals were kidnapped in the Darien region, close to the Colombian-Panamanian border, in January 2006.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, including the ‘Lost City’ should be avoided. There is evidence that the illegal armed group responsible for the kidnappings sell hostages to the FARC. Armed groups are still active in this area and the risk of kidnap in this area remains high.

Since March 2005, there has been a marked increase in criminal activity in urban areas, particularly in Bogota. This increase has been linked to the demobilisation of AUC members.

In urban areas, common crime, muggings and pickpocketing, often accompanied by violence, are likely to be a greater danger than getting caught up in guerrilla and paramilitary activity. Foreign visitors present a tempting target to thieves, pickpockets and drug traffickers. When walking in urban areas, you should avoid any unnecessary display of wealth.

You should be wary of unsolicited approaches from strangers. There have been several cases of assailants using drugs to subdue their intended victims. Drugs can be administered through food, drinks, needles, cigarettes, aerosols, powder, or have even been impregnated in ‘flyers’ handed out at traffic lights. Sometimes drugs are administered in food sold by cheap takeaways. These drugs can take effect extremely quickly, allowing an assailant to rob the victim and escape before the attack can be reported. It can take several days for the drug to wear off and the victim to recover. These attacks frequently occur on public transport. You should never accept offers of food, drink or cigarettes from strangers – no matter how friendly or well dressed the person offering you something appears.

There have been reports, including in Bogota, of bogus policemen approaching foreigners to "check" documents or foreign currency. If approached you should avoid handing over money or documents, unless threatened, and ask the "policeman" to accompany you to the nearest police station, police post or to your hotel.

You should take particular care if visiting poorer areas of cities. In Bogota, you should be vigilant in areas to the south of Candelaria and to the south of the airport road as these parts of the city are particularly dangerous. You should be cautious in city streets, especially after dark. You should avoid hailing taxis on the street but should book them through hotels or by phoning a reputable taxi company.

Key Expressions

I am a journalist: Soy periodista

Can you help me?: Me puede ayudar

I need a doctor: Un doctor, por favor

Useful Information

Time Zone
GMT -5

Climate
Tropical in the coastal regions, temperate on the plateaux to cold in the Andes mountains

Telephone dialling code
(+) 57

Currency
The currency is the Colombian peso. You should ensure you bring enough money. US dollars and travellers’ cheques are most widely accepted.

You should use your credit and debit cards with caution and are advised to keep receipts. If you use an ATM, try to do so during business hours at a location inside a bank, supermarket or large commercial building.

Travel

Visa Requirements
Before any travel to Colombia, particularly for business purposes, You should contact the Colombian Embassy in your country.

Our current understanding is that a westerner may enter Colombia for up to 90 days as a visitor without a visa, but that there is no unconditional right to do so. The decision on whether to permit entry and length of stay rests with the Immigration Officer on arrival. You should have a valid return ticket with you and your passport should have at least six month's validity. We advise you to enter Colombia by air only and not to try to enter by any overland route. You may be able to extend your stay up to a maximum of a further 90 days on application and payment of fee at the immigration office of the Department of Administration and Security once in Colombia.

Airport tax for international departures for visitors who stay in Colombia for less than two months is US $30. For stays in excess of two months the tax is $51. However, the charge depends on the type of visa with which you are issued.

You should carry a photocopy of the data page and Colombian visa from your passport at all times, plus copies of other important documents. These should be kept separately from the originals, and copies left with friends or relatives.

Driving (Left/Right)
Right

Road Safety
Road surfaces, even in large cities, are variable. Driving standards are low and traffic accidents are common. You will need to have an international driving licence and car insurance is compulsory.

The risk of violence and kidnapping is high in rural areas, as is the threat of being caught in roadblocks set up by illegal armed groups. Travel by road outside the major cities, including by public transport, is dangerous. Roads are generally safer to travel on during daylight hours at weekends and on public holidays when more troops are deployed to enhance road safety. North-east of the capital, the roads as far as Paipa and Villa de Leiva, both in Boyaca department, are deemed safe to travel throughout the week in daylight hours, as is the road south-west of the city to Melgar, on the border between Cundinamarca and Tolima departments.

Rail Safety
There is no significant rail transport system in Colombia

Air Safety
The national carrier, Avianca, and other national airlines and all international airlines comply with International Air Safety Regulations. However, West Caribbean Airways, which operates out of Medellin, has suffered three serious accidents in the last year. All its planes have been grounded pending an investigation.

We advise you to enter or leave Colombia by air only and not by land borders given the general dangers of travel by road and the location of border crossings. You should note, however, that there have been hijackings of aircraft serving secondary airports, where security measures often do not meet the standards obtained at the major city airports.

The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm

You should reconfirm your onward flight at least 72 hours before departure.

Local Travel
We strongly advise against all travel to Putumayo, Arauca, Caqueta, Nariño, Guaviare, Norte de Santander departments and rural areas of Choco because of a high risk to personal safety. For the same reason, we advise against travel to the rural areas of Sucre and Bolivar where one or more of the illegal armed groups and drugs cartels are currently active. The risks to Westerners of being kidnapped, caught up in the fighting, or otherwise of getting into serious trouble are high. The effective authority of the Colombian State in many of these areas is limited.

We also advise against all travel to rural areas of Antioquia, southern Meta, Valle de Cauca, Cauca departments and to rural areas of Huila department (including San Agustin). The illegal armed groups are active in these areas. However, the capitals of these departments may still be visited by air.

The departments of Norte de Santander and Arauca, and Nariño, Caqueta and Putumayo border Venezuela and Ecuador respectively. The FARC regularly carry out raids on government forces and civilians in these border regions. In January 2005, the Governor’s Office in Arauca was bombed and, in the same month, 17 farmers were killed. The southern departments bordering Ecuador, and also southern Meta department, are also areas in which the Colombian authorities are concentrating their efforts in their war against insurgents and drug-traffickers, as part of the Plan Patriota. There are frequent clashes between government forces and illegal armed groups.

AUC (or former AUC) members, despite the demobilisation process, continue to set up illegal roadblocks in Sucre and Bolivar departments, providing an increased risk of kidnap and extortion. Likewise, the FARC and ELN are setting up similar roadblocks in Valle de Cauca and Cauca departments.

If you travel to major cities in Colombia, we do encourage you to take sensible precautions. In addition to Bogota, important business centres include Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and Cartagena.

You should only use pre-booked taxis

You should also check with the local Embassy before undertaking any trips to remote areas.

Natural Disasters

Heavy rain throughout most parts of Colombia has increased the risk of floods and landslides. There are occasional volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Alert levels around the Galeras Volcano, in Narino Department were raised after large emissions of ash were detected on 24 November 2005. Continued seismic activity and future eruptions are possible. Anyone in the region should pay careful attention to all warnings issued, avoid restricted areas and follow the advice of the local Colombian authorities in the event of further emissions or an eruption.

Health

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.

You should also take sensible medical precautions and seek advice from your doctor before travelling.

If you intend to travel on to neighbouring countries in Latin America from Colombia, you may not be allowed to do so without production of a Yellow Fever Certificate. You should confirm with the authorities of your next destination whether they require a certificate following your visit to Colombia.

If you intend to travel to visit Magdalena, Cesar, La Guajira, Atlantico, Santander, Norte de Santander and Amazona areas, you are required to have yellow fever inoculations and to carry vaccination certificates. Colombian immigration officials may insist upon seeing such proof.

Diseases
There is a high incidence of malaria in low-land tropical areas, particularly in Choco and north-western Antioquia. Before travelling you should take medical advice on anti-malarial medication, and during your stay in Colombia ensure that you take adequate precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes.

Landmines

Colombia’s internal armed conflict continued unabated in 2004 and 2005. The military operation Plan Patriota expanded the military’s presence into areas previously under the control of guerrilla groups. Fighting has been particularly heavy in northern Cauca department, parts of Antioqiua, Norte de Santander and the south of Bolívar department. FARC and ELN guerrillas continued to be major users of antipersonnel mines and IEDs in the armed conflict. Paramilitary groups also used antipersonnel mines.

Non-state armed groups operating in opposition to, and in support of, the state continue to use antipersonnel mines and improvised explosives devices (IEDs) on a daily basis. Principal among opposition armed groups are the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - Ejército del Pueblo, FARC-EP) and National Liberation Army (Unión Camilista - Ejército de Liberación Nacional, UC-ELN). Smaller groups include the Popular Liberation Army (Ejército Popular de Liberación, EPL) and People’s Revolutionary Army (Ejército Revolucionario del Pueblo, ERP).

Paramilitary groups, including the major umbrella paramilitary organization United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), operate throughout most of Colombia. Since 2004, paramilitary forces have been engaged in a process of demobilization negotiated with the Uribe Administration. Paramilitary forces have used antipersonnel mines, but infrequently. The AUC as a whole has no specific policy to use antipersonnel mines. It appears that paramilitaries have used antipersonnel mines much less frequently than FARC or ELN.

The departments in which the majority of all mine-related events have been reported from 1990 to 1 July 2005 are as follows:

Antioquia accounted for 23 percent of all mine-related events registered across the country. Municipalities with the most events included: Apartadó (26 events), Argelia (65), Cocorná (82), El Bagre (40), Granada (79), Ituango (60), Medellín (50), Remedios (65), San Carlos (80), San Francisco (163), San Luis (103); Segovia (74), Turbo (30), Urrao (34), Yolombó (26) and Zaragoza (26);

Santander - 10 percent. Most affected: Barrancabermeja (100 events), El Carmen (44), El Playón (23), Matanza (38), Rionegro (32), San Vicente de Chucurí (106), Sucre (25) and Suratá (41);

Caquetá - eight percent. Most affected: Cartagena del Chairá (42 events), El Paujil (26), Florencia (85), Milán (29), Montañita (116), and San Vicente del Caguán (120);

Meta - eight percent. Most-affected: El Castillo (23 events), La Macarena (48), Lejanías (38), Mesetas (63), Puerto Lleras (37), Puerto Rico (48), San Juan de Arama (32), Uribe (42) and Vistahermosa (75); Bolívar - six percent. Most affected: Achí (22 events), El Carmen de Bolívar (104), Morales (57), San Pablo (48), Santa Rosa (23) and Zambrano (23);

Cundinamarca - six percent. Most affected: Cabrera (27 events), La Palma (53), Pulí (23) and Topaipí (24);

Norte de Santander - five percent. Most affected: Abrego (20 events), Convención (23), El Tarra (37), Hacarí (22), San Calixto (19), Sardinata (19), Teorama (28) and Tibú (77);

Arauca - five percent. Most affected: Arauca (51 events), Arauquita (89), Saravena (65) and Tame (111);

Cauca - four percent. Most affected: Cajibío (17 events), El Tambo (34), San Sebastián (24), Santa Rosa (34) and Toribío (26);

Boyacá - three percent. Most affected: Chiscas (14 events), La Branzagrande (26), Pajarito (32), Paya (12) and Pisva (12).

The municipalities with the most landmine events recorded from 1990 to 1 July 2005, in descending order, included San Francisco, Antioquia (163 events); San Vicente del Caguán, Caquetá (120 events); Montañita, Caquetá (116); Tame, Arauca (111); San Vicente de Chucurí, Santander (106); El Carmen de Bolívar, Bolívar (104); San Luis, Antioquia (103); Barrancabermeja, Santander (100); Arauquita, Arauca (89); Florencia, Caquetá (85); Cocorná, Antioquia (82); San Carlos, Antioquia (80 events).

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