Traveling to Columbia - 12 Topics You Should Know

1. Founded / Gains Independence

• Declared independence from Spain on July 20, 1810, initiating the Colombian War of Independence.
• Full independence was achieved in 1819, with the creation of Gran Colombia, which later dissolved in 1831.

🏙️ 2. Capital, Major Cities

• Capital: Bogotá – political, cultural, and economic center.
• Major cities (2025 est. populations):
• Medellín – 2.63 million
• Cali – 2.29 million
• Barranquilla – 1.34 million
• Cartagena – 1.07 million

💵 3. Currency

• Colombian Peso (COP).
• As of July 2025, 1 USD ≈ 3,980 COP.

📦 4. Economy, Exports, Imports

• Top exports (2024):
• Crude oil – $14.1B
• Coal – $7.4B
• Gold – $4.3B
• Coffee – $3.6B
• Cut flowers – $2.4B
• Top imports (2023):
• Mineral fuels, machinery, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, electronics
• Top trade partners: U.S., China, Panama, Mexico, Brazil

🧑🎓 5. Historic Figures

• Simón Bolívar – Liberator of Colombia and much of South America.
• Policarpa Salavarrieta – Independence heroine.
• Gabriel García Márquez – Nobel Prize-winning author.
• Shakira & Juanes – Global music icons.
• Fernando Botero – Renowned artist known for exaggerated figures7

⚔️ 6. Wars

• Colombian War of Independence (1810–1825).
• Thousand Days War (1899–1902) – civil conflict.
• Colombian Conflict (1964–present) – armed conflict involving guerrillas, paramilitaries, and the state.
• War of the Pacific, Gran Colombia–Peru War, and others9

🏔️ 7. Geography

• Borders: Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Panama.
• Coastlines: Caribbean Sea (north), Pacific Ocean (west).
• Regions:
• Andes Mountains – home to Bogotá and Medellín.
• Amazon Rainforest – southeast.
• Llanos (plains) – east.
• Caribbean & Pacific lowlands

👥 8. Current Population

• Estimated 2025 population: 53.4 million
• Urbanization: ~80%
• Median age: ~32.5 years

🎶 9. Culture / Music

• Known as the “land of a thousand rhythms” with over 1,025 folk styles
• Genres:
• Cumbia – Afro-Indigenous roots, national symbol.
• Vallenato – accordion-driven folk from the Caribbean coast.
• Salsa caleña – fast-paced salsa from Cali.
• Champeta, bambuco, porro, reggaetón, and rock en español14

🗣️ 10. Languages

• Official language: Spanish (Colombian Spanish) – spoken by 99.2% of the population.
• Indigenous languages: Over 65, including Wayuu, Embera, Nasa Yuwe, Guambiano.
• Creole languages: Palenquero, San Andrés–Providencia Creole

🍽️ 11. Cuisine

• Signature dishes:
• Arepas – cornmeal cakes.
• Bandeja paisa – hearty platter with beans, rice, meat, egg, and plantain.
• Ajiaco – chicken and potato soup.
• Sancocho – meat and root vegetable stew.
• Lechona – stuffed roast pig.
• Drinks: Colombian coffee, aguapanela, chicha, aguardiente

⚽ 12. Sports

• Football (soccer) – national passion; World Cup appearances and Copa América wins.
• Cycling – global stars like Nairo Quintana and Egan Bernal.
• Boxing, baseball, roller skating, and weightlifting are also popular.
• Chess and tejo (a traditional explosive target sport) are culturally significant.