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Colombia Official Facts
- Official Language: Spanish
- Population: 44,929,000
- Currency: Colombian Pesos; COP
- Major Religions:
Colombian Pesos; COP - Major Exports:
Petroleum, coal, coffee and other agricultural produce, and gold
Weather in Colombia
Columbia enjoys typical weather patterns for near-equator regions, with tropical and isothermal climate predominating.
Teaching Abroad in Colombia Overview:
Don't believe the bad press often associated with Colombia because of the drug trade. Not only is it a safe country to live, but travelers are coming in droves to enjoy the flora and fauna as well as explore the lost cities. The capital city of Bogota is an amazing hangout for museums, history and urban nightlife. You are sure to see other English teachers basking in their new surroundings while enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of the larger cities. Columbians are fanatical about their soccer with a fervor that would match the North America's devotion to the NFL, NBA, and MLB -all rolled into one!
Interesting Facts About Colombia
- Bogota is the 3rd highest major city in the world and its airport is the largest and most expensive in Latin America.
- Colombia enjoys sunlight all through the year due to the fact that it lies so close to the equator. You can experience the tropical heat on the coasts or even the snowfall in the mountainous areas.
- 12% of the world's coffee is produced in Colombia.
Highlights of Working Abroad in Colombia
- Cycle along car-free roads in central Bogotá on Sundays and holidays where the regular streets are transformed into ciclovias (cycleways).
- Dive into the tropical waters of the UNESCO Seaflower Biosphere Reserve around San Andrés and Providencia, home to a multitude of fish and coral species. Other diving hotspots include the Islas del Rosario and Tayrona National Park.
- Go rafting on the Rio Negro in Cundinamarca and Fonce or kayak through the Chicamocha canyon in Santander.
- Be adventurous and climb the snow-capped Nevado del Ruiz (one of five permanently white-tipped volcanoes in Los Nevados National Park).
- Put your dancing shoes on for some serious salsa dancing. The city of Cali is one of the world's top destinations for salsa dancing.
- Take a jungle tour into the Amazon basin, which covers almost one-third of Colombia's territory.
Festivals in Colombia
The Cali Fair: December 25 - 30
The Cali Fair is one of Colombia's most famous national events and takes place each December. This five day celebration includes parties, parades, music concerts, beauty pageants and bullfights! The all-important beauty pageant selects Señorita Cali every year and there are sports competitions, arts and crafts exhibitions and salsa and tango contests. Spice up your Christmas with the heat and swing off a real Colombian rumba!
Carnaval de Blacos Y Negros (Carnival of Blacks and Whites): Pasto, Colombia in January 5 - 6
This is one of South America's oldest festivals, dating back to the time of Spanish rule, when slaves were allowed to party on the 5th of January. Their masters would show approval by painting their faces black. In turn, the slaves painted their faces white the following day. This tradition continues today with everyone in the city painting or dusting one another with grease, chalk, talc, flour, etc. By the end of the celebration, the city is covered in a black and white mess!
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