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Colombia - PRACTICAL INFORMATION |
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Currency
The currency is the Colombian peso, divided into 100 centavos (cents). It is issued in bills of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 pesos and in coins of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 pesos.
Business hours
Banks in Bogota are open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 15.00 and in other cities, from 8.00 to 11.30 and from 14.00 to 16.30. The last working day of the month, they close at noon.
Transportation
Road
It is advised to drive carefully (or, even better, to hire a chauffeur). The highway code being not fully respected, the rule of the strongest prevails. It is strongly recommanded not to drive at night. An international driving license is required.
Air
The maintenance of the aircrafts ("Avianca" and "Aces" airlines) does not call to any particular remark.
Internet
The Internet suffix is:
.co
Basic conversation guide
Yes = S?
No = No.
Thank you = Gracias
Hello = Hola
Good morning = Buenos dias
Good afternoon = Buenas tardes
Goodbye = Adios
I do not understand = No entiendo
What's the price? How much does it cost? = ?Cuanto esta? ?Cual es el precio?
I would like to buy = Me gustaria comprar...
Do you accept credit cards? = ?Aceptan tarjetas de credito?
Where is? = ?Donde est?
Post office = el correo
The bank = el banco
The police station, the police force = la estacion de policia; la comisaria de policia
The pharmacy = la farmacia
An airport = el aeropuerto
The train station = la estacion del tren
One ticket to..., please. = un billete para..., por favor.
Would you have any vacancies for tonight? = ?Tiene habitaciones para esta noche?.
The official language of Columbia is Castilian or Spanish. However, there are still about 70 native languages in Columbia for about 445,000 persons. The majority of these languages are used by only a few thousand or even just a few hundred persons and are gradually disappearing. Indeed, Columbia is far more interested in Spanish than by retaining other native languages. Indeed, the legislation of the country wants to increase the value of Spanish and to limit the use of English.
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Last modified in
January 2004
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