Information Sheet Last Updated: June 2004

Car Rentals
Taxis

Roads and Car Travel

In general we recommend that travelers do not drive in Colombia, not only because the traffic is much chaotic than what they are used to but because of the security issues outside most urban areas. Whether using public transportation or driving yourself, never travel at night outside of urban areas due to the risk of kidnapping, robbery or assault.

Before taking any journey, ask at your hotel or other local business for information on the conditions of the road including the risk to of personal safety. If you find yourself on a stretch of road normally busy and there is no oncoming traffic for a period, stop and wait: there may be a guerrilla or paramilitary road block ahead. Road blocks are frequent and in some cases paying a “tax” or bribe is common practice. Some roads have police or military checkpoints where army soldiers may board a vehicle or ask its driver and passengers to step out, present their ID and submit to a search. It is important to ask locals what to expect ahead of time and be as cooperative with armed actors as possible. Keep your documents handy as police checks are frequent in the troubled areas. International driver’s licenses are accepted but should be accompanied by a translation if they are not in Spanish.

If you are driving your own vehicle, try to make your car as secure as possible. Almost any car can and will be broken into. Use heavy chains and padlocks to chain doors shut, fit security catches on windows, and remove interior window winders so that a hand reaching in from a forced vent cannot open the window. Also, wing mirrors, spot lamps, motif, wheels not secured by locking nuts, as well as anything else on the outside of the car is likely to be stolen. Try to never leave your car unattended except in a locked garage or guarded parking space. Remove all belongings and leave the empty glove compartment open when the car is unattended. Also lock the clutch or accelerator to the steering wheel with a heavy obvious chain or lock. Adult minders or street children will generally protect your car fiercely in exchange for a tip. Be sure to not key numbers and carry spares of the most important ones but do not keep the spares inside the car.

The road system has been improved during the past few years. One notable new road is in the Magdalena valley connecting Bogotá with the north coast. This has significantly shortened journey times. A connecting highway from Medellín is now in the course of major road work, and elsewhere reconstruction and improvements are underway. A useful website for road information is the National Road Institute at http://www.invias.gov.co. Be careful when driving and be aware of unexpected bad patches especially in the mountains. East of the Andes, good roads lead to Yopal, Villavicencio and Florencia in the foothills and die out shortly afterwards.

Car Rentals

The main international car rental companies are represented art principal airports but may be closed Saturday afternoons and Sundays. There are also local firms in most of the departmental cities. In addition to passport and driver’s license, a credit card may be asked for as additional proof of identity (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), and to secure a returnable deposit to cover any liability not covered by the insurance. Check the insurance carefully and be sure it covers any perceived needs that may arise. Ask if extra cover is available if you determine that you may want some. You should be given a diagram showing any scratches or other damage on the car before you hired it. Four-wheel drive or specialist vehicles are convenient for touring and the better hotels all have safe parking.

Taxis

Whenever possible, take a taxi with a meter and ensure that it is switched on or bargain a fixed price with the driver. In most large urban areas all taxis have meters, in smaller cities and towns not all taxis have meters. Meters measure numbers which correspond to prices that are legally mandated and should be displayed in the cab. Surcharges exist for additional passengers, nights and holidays. Look for a taxi with ‘Servicio Público’ on the side and do not take older looking taxis.

There is a small surcharge for Radio Taxis (ones that are dispatched by an operator) but they normally offer good service. The dispatcher will give you the cab’s number which should be written down in case of abnormalities. In some cities you will be asked for the last four digits of your phone number by the cab driver to verify that you were the one who actually ordered it. Don’t forget to get this information from whomever called you the cab before it arrives. You should always take a radio taxi at night in the main cities as hailing a cab in the street is dangerous and illegal. If you cannot call a taxi ask a nearby business owner or street vendor to call one or point you to a driver that they know.