Travelling brings a certain cultural awareness and an increasing maturity for those who dare to do it. When it comes to living in a foreign country for any period of time, that means adapting not only to the customs and traditions, but also to a completely transformed way of life. The foods, the daytime schedules and the habitual behaviours all present challenges. 

During our interviews with students at the University of Cambridge, we discovered that some sought out opportunities to bridge and connect UK and Colombian cultures, while others went to a neighbouring European destination, Spain. Their experiences shed light on the challenges and, most importantly, the huge rewards provided by the leap between the local and the global. 

First, we turn to Colombia – a country that’s often judged by stereotypical prejudices. It won’t surprise Colombian readers and residents to learn that the students found the often sensationalised Western depiction of the country to be far from factual.

Some students found Colombians to be very open, passionate and welcoming individuals, always willing to selflessly provide advice to people in need. In fact, one student tells us how a distant ‘friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend’, helped her by providing general tips regarding life in Colombia and ringing to check in on her during the settling-in process. She even enabled the student to visit a beautiful finca – a holiday home in the country. 

One thing was clear: The shadows and vestiges of the 1980s stereotypes have not persisted to the present day. Hopefully, the more well-founded and positive stereotypes, such as these affable and altruistic ones, will now propagate.

When it comes to linguistic obstacles, Colombian slang was certainly a challenge. Colombian slang is great once you get into the swing of it, but until then, hearing terms like huevón, parcero and ¡qué chimba! can muddle your brain if you aren’t familiar with them. One student said it was difficult to follow long strings of Spanish colloquialisms or gossip, especially in group settings. She would often end up smiling and nodding after losing track of the topic of conversation. Practice makes perfect, and meeting with Colombian friends is the best way to throw yourself into the deep end and get accustomed to the jargon.

Food and shopping are always popular topics of debate. Both featured strongly in people’s year-abroad experiences in Spain. For starters, the daytime siesta frequently leads to shops closing between 2 and 5 pm. As a result, foreigners have to master their mental maths abilities to calculate the optimal time to leave their house and fit their shopping around their working schedule. Who knew that cultural immersion also helps to improve mathematical skills? 

Gastronomy is a crucial factor in any culture. In Spain, their pride in curating Manchego cheese and Jamón Serrano is found in abundance in the central districts of their cities, particularly in regions other than the South. For vegans and vegetarians, even though eating out can be a slight challenge, cities such as Barcelona are known for their welcoming mentality towards plant-based diets and their growing base of vegetarian eateries. Tapas across the country are served in many differing forms and with a variety of vegetables, so there is always something for everyone.

When attempting to build affective relationships, one student found that the Spanish university student culture tends to have fixed friendship groups. That made it difficult to make friends in their already established circles. Although it requires slightly more physical and mental persistence, seeking Spanish-speaking friendships can always be fruitful – in mosques, at work, or in cafés. 

If you’re contemplating a year abroad, the most daunting obstacle to making friends in a language entirely different from your mother tongue is finding the confidence to practise with whoever happens to cross your path. It must be done and it is rewarding at the end of the day, so take that extra step and venture out of your comfort zone.

Cultural immersion in Colombia, particularly for me, has been an eye-opening and valuable chance to meet some incredible people and see a part of the world that I couldn’t easily access before. As always, travelling unlocks a wealth of experiences and opportunities for emotional and personal growth. 

Organising your year abroad

Now, on to some moving abroad logistics. Make sure the placement aligns with your aspirations and goals – and that it fits with your language capabilities. If you’re looking for an internship abroad, these websites are highly rated: 

• Intern Abroad HQ
• goabroad.com
• aiesec.org
• AIFS Abroad

To pick the right country for you, start by looking at the safety and travel regulations set by your government. Think of it as doing your own risk assessment. Government websites can not only give you travel advice, but also keep you abreast of healthcare requirements and emergency procedures. For example, in the UK we have gov.uk, which gives researched and up-to-date information on a plethora of destinations. 

Accommodation can be tricky to arrange. Many people prefer to visit the country first to assess the districts and areas. That way they can pick the safest one for them. Use sites like airbnb or booking.com to avoid the stress of arriving with nowhere to stay. For more budget-friendly stays, websites such as hostelword.com can give you more flexibility when picking the right lodging for you. 

General knowledge obtained from sources such as the BBC can help you stay alert when considering natural disasters, potential risks, and national news updates. The more you know about the country before you arrive, the better your experience will be. 

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Even in a country where state services are often underfunded and overworked, the Colombian immigration office has a lot on their plate. That’s why workers today decided to implement ‘plan tortuga‘ at Migración Colombia in an attempt to get support for their aims.

The workers are not allowed to go on strike, as they are deemed essential workers. However, work-to-rule is definitely on the table, and that’s the route they have taken. That led to dozens of flights being cancelled and airports in chaos.

There is also the rather odd sight of protest posters in official border posts and admin buildings, as well as protesting union members in some places. However, not everyone is in favour of plan tortuga at Migración Colombia.

We popped down to the Migración site so many foreign residents know so well on Calle 100 to see what was going on. What we found was…not much. Posters were up around the office, but that was it – no queues or obvious delays. Staff were guarded and reluctant to speak openly, with everything seemingly working as normal.

Working as normal may be cold comfort to some, though. For at least a month or two there have been complaints about hour or more waits at Medellín, especially from foreign tourists. It’s clear that the rise in foreign tourism has not been matched by increased investment in processing.

With Christmas and New Year around the corner, masses of travellers will be flying soon and chaos could reign. That runs the gamut from disrupted holidays and family visits. At the very least, this will be a bad advert for Colombia on the global stage, sadly.

Long running delays on cédulas extrajerías have been an issue for foreign residents for over a year now, with the lag between giving biometric data and receiving the physical card often taking up to three or four months. This is unlikely to help that situation.

The long-term resident fiasco is not helpful, either. This is actually a fairly progressive move from the government, designed to formalise and professionalise the system. However, the implementation has been haphazard, with frequent delays to the deadline and people ending up with ‘out-of-sync’ cédulas.

Why are they implementing plan tortuga at Migración Colombia?

After a long round of negotiations with the government, workers have finally lost their patience. This seems surprising, as Gustavo Petro’s administration should be broadly worker-friendly. Budgets across the board are stretched thin, though, and the money has to come from somewhere.

The chief gripe is the number of workers at Migración Colombia. While there has been a huge uptick in foreign visitor numbers, reaching nearly six million last year. Numbers have been growing for years, but state incompetence has meant that staffing numbers haven’t increased at anything like the same.

That’s finally hit crisis point. Union leader Oscar Guateque explained that they have been waiting for a year to get the sign off on some 544 more workers. These are positions that were in a batch of 670 decided on in 2022, so the government has had plenty of time to get it sorted.

The union is also asking for pay reform to reduce inequalities in pay rates throughout the organisation. They have had some success here, with an agreement in place since last year to raise Sunday and holiday pay. However, again there has been little joy in the wider view, with the government dragging its heels on further investment.

Working conditions have also come under criticism, with demanding targets and out-of-date facilities. This is perhaps best exemplified by the fact that the Japanese government stepped in to help fund an upgrade to the Centro Andino on Calle 100. Nice gesture it might be, but this really should be in the gift of the Casa Nariño.

Finally and perhaps most optimistically, the workers are asking for a complete review of the way the organisation operates. Unsurprisingly, those in charge are reluctant to make changes that could affect their positions. However, this seems the most logical of the demands. Migración is currently handling situations it was never designed to confront and far more people than it ever expected to see.

What does it mean for you?

This is extremely annoying, but try to stay calm. Remember that these workers aren’t doing this porque sí, but in desperation. Getting angry with them will exacerbate the situation, not only for yourself but for everybody behind you in a queue.

If you are flying overseas in the next few weeks, be ready for delays leaving Colombia. It might be wise to add an extra hour or two in order to get through the queues, especially if you are particularly close to the Christmas/New Year holidays. If you have a biometric passport, that might make things a little easier as you can simply use the machines and bypass the help desks.

In extreme cases, you may find that flights are cancelled, rescheduled or heavily delayed. Make sure to stay fully up to date on flights from around 24 hours in advance.

If you are arriving in Colombia soon, be prepared to wait in a big old line. As mentioned earlier, Medellín is particularly slow anyway these days. You might want to flag up the potential delay to your hotel/hostel as your expected arrival time might be significantly later than previously thought.

If you are awaiting a Colombian visa, you should be fine. The plan tortuga at Migración Colombia should only be applying to that part of the organisation and not the wider cancillería. Having said that, there may be minor knock on effects.

If you are waiting to pick up a cédula extranjería, it might be best to leave as much time as possible before making the collection from the office on 100. This is especially true if you don’t need the cédula for anything urgent such as opening a bank account or similar.

If you need your cédula as soon as possible, arrive with plenty of time and be prepared to wait. It’s worth remembering that this part of the puzzle has been problematic for months now anyway, so you may well find that the online list of cédulas ready for collection is simply not functioning, fuelling the fire.

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Next week, the annual Petronio Álvarez festival will return to Cali, celebrating Colombia’s Pacific culture through food, drink, fashion and – most of all – music. Now in its 28th year, it is a huge celebration of Afro Colombian culture. 

The 2024 Festival Petronio Álvarez will run from August 14 to 19, in the Unidad Deportiva Alberto Galindo. The sports complex is expected to welcome over 500,000 people to listen to more than 1,200 artists. 

This year, 47 groups will be competing in the following categories: Marimba and traditional song, caucano violin, chirimía flutes, chirimía clarinets, and free style. The musicians come from Buenaventura, Guapi, Cali, Bogotá, Quibdó, Puerto Tejada, Tumaco, and Esmeraldas in Ecuador.

The history of Petronio Álvarez

Petronio Álvarez was a key figure in Pacific folk music, particularly for the song “Mi Buenaventura,” but he never received recognition in his lifetime. Putting the festival in his name is a way of honouring him and other artists who racism had all but written out of history. 

Colombia Visible says he was one of the greatest musicians and promoters of the music and folklore of the Colombian Pacific. So much so that he was known as the King of Currulao. The poet and composer never studied formally but spent much of his life traveling the Pacific coast and making music. He died in 1966, aged 52, from bone cancer. 

The first edition of the festival took place in 1997 and has grown exponentially since then, moving to its current location in 2012 after it grew too big for the previous venues. In addition to the music competition, there’s a strong educational element, with workshops for young people. 

Petronio Álvarez 2024: What to expect

Festival Petronio Álvarez 2024 will feature an incredible lineup of big names. Stage times haven’t been announced yet. But watch out for Nidia Góngora, Herencia de Timbiquí, Grupo Socavón, Grupo Saboreo, and more. There will also be some international guests such as Síntesis from Cuba and Didá from Brazil.

There will be music on all the stages throughout the day. Petronio is a competition, and the groups of musicians will be competing in several categories. The most powerful performances will happen towards the end of the night, so it’s better to arrive around lunch time (or mid afternoon) and be ready to stay until the end. Make time to wander around – there will be plenty of other things to see, including a Pacific fashion show.

Don’t miss the food

When you arrive at the festival, you’ll find lines of craft stands, a hall dedicated to Pacific food, and another space featuring viche. Organisers say there will be over 150 stands in total. Food-wise, you will find every possible combination of fish, shellfish, coconut, plantain, rice, and more. 

When it’s quiet, talk to the stall owners about their dishes. If you don’t know much about food from the Pacific region, you are in for a treat. The easiest way to find the best bites is to look for the stalls with the biggest queues. If you are feeling adventurous, look for pianguas – a type of clam or cockle. 

Look out for:

• Stews, especially with seafood and coconut, in the form of cazuela, sancocho, and sudado.
• Atollados, a stewed rice dish with meat, fish, and vegetables from the Valle del Cauca.
• Papas rellenas, balls of mashed potatoes stuffed with fish or meat and deep fried.
• Encocados, essentially various things cooked in coconut cream.

Celebrate viche

You can’t take two steps in Petronio without encountering viche. It’s brewed from sugar cane and a mix of herbs. If the labels are to be believed, it can cure all kinds of illnesses. Particularly sexual ailments. Many of the drinks also boast aphrodisiacal properties. Commercial viche used to be illegal, but that has changed and in recent years the spirit has become a lot more mainstream. There’s even a viche cocktail bar in Bogotá.

I am no expert. Like the food, the best way to learn about viche is to talk to the stall owners and taste the different types. Here are a couple of types you will find:

• Tomaseca, a slightly sweeter viche flavoured with cloves.
• Arrechón, this is made with condensed milk. Kind of like a creamy viche Baileys.
• Viche curao, which is usually packed with herbs and has a slightly bitter taste.
• ​​Pipilongo, brewed with a peppery spice called pipilongo.

Are Harry and Megan really going to be there?

Apparently so. It’s a strange choice of international invitee, given this is an Afro-Colombian festival. According to El Tiempo, they will be in Cali for one day to visit the festival and some other social initiatives. But thankfully the stars of the show won’t be the estranged royals. It won’t even be Francia Márquez, though she was pretty inspiring last year. This is about celebrating and appreciating the culture of communities in Colombia who are often sidelined and maligned. 

This year, local authorities in Cali also want to put an eco spin on the event. With COP16 around the corner, organisers say there will be a focus on recycling, sustainable fashion, and environmental preservation. 

What about the remates?

In previous years, I have been to the remates – kind of like an after party – where residents of predominantly Afro-Colombian neighbourhoods open their houses and play music through the night. It is an experience I will treasure. Part of the spirit of Petronio is passing the music down through the generations. That happens away from the main stage when the old folk make music with youngsters and everyone in between. 

Sadly, in some ways the remates have been the victim of Petronio’s success. Last year thousands of people – both tourists and locals – crammed into the alleyways between the houses. There were too many people. Lisandro Vallecilla Riascos, a musician and social leader, was killed in an altercation. Another man also died. If you want to go to a remate, be aware of where you are. And be prepared to leave if the streets are overcrowded. 

Festival do’s and don’ts

If you are visiting Petronio for the first time, this isn’t a music festival like, say, Festival Estereo Picnic or Lollapalooza. It is special in a whole different way. The Colombian Pacific is one of the most culturally diverse musical regions in the country, both maintaining tradition at Petronio and forging new paths with bands such as ChocQuibTown and Afro Legends.

Do

• Drink and share viche. Once you have a bottle, offer it to the people you meet. 
• Go hungry. That way you can try several different dishes and snacks. 
• Dance and join in. Get a white handkerchief from one of the many sellers and wave it along with the rest of the crowd.

Don’t 

• Get drunk. The viche will be flowing at the festival, but you won’t see a lot of drunkenness. 
• Forget sunscreen and water. It will be hot and you’ll need to stay hydrated if you want to last to the final acts.
• Forget to take cash. There aren’t any ATMs near the stadium and few places will take cards. 

As a foreigner, I am conscious of the fine line between appreciating different cultural traditions and invading or taking over. Petronio is my favourite festival in Colombia and one I’d recommend to anyone. Embrace the music. Talk to people and learn about an often overshadowed part of Colombian culture. Curiosity is often what keeps us on the right side of the line.

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Thousands of passengers were stranded at airports this week after Viva Air grounded its flights. 

Colombia’s beleaguered budget airline, Viva Air, grounded flights this week after months of uncertainty about its future. On Monday February 27, the airline announced it would suspend operations with immediate effect. 

Thousands of passengers have been left stranded at airports both nationally and internationally.  Flights were cancelled in Bogotá, Cartagena, Cali, Barranquilla, as well as Argentina, Perú and Brazil. Avianca and LatAm have stopped sales on some routes to accommodate passengers. Military planes have been dispatched to the Caribbean islands of San Andrés and Providencia.

Viva Air blamed Aerocivil for the suspension of flights. It said the aviation authority had failed to make a decision about a potential merger with a “bigger and stronger group of airlines.” It didn’t directly name Avianca as it has in previous communications. In their own statement on the matter, Aerocivil asked Viva Air to guarantee the rights of its users and immediately find solutions for passengers. It also asked customers to “calm down.” 

On February 10, Viva Air filed for a type of bankruptcy which essentially gave it 90 days to restructure its debts while continuing its operations. This process will continue in spite of the decision to halt operations. The challenge is that Viva Air needs cash. According to El País, it lost around 36 million US dollars in the first half of last year.

Why did Viva Air ground its flights?

Viva Air is one of a number of airlines that have had trouble regaining momentum after the pandemic. Just as travel restrictions were lifted and people had started to travel again, the industry was hit by fuel price hikes which put more pressure on an already struggling industry. 

Viva Air and Avianca have made several attempts to merge their operations. An initial proposal, made in April last year, would have seen Avianca acquire its ailing competitor. The two companies then proposed a merger, which was also rejected due to competition concerns. Attempts to modify the proposal have not proved successful.

Most recently, Aerocivil registered other airlines – Wingo, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Ultra Air, LATAM Colombia, and JetSMART – as interested parties. According to the statement from Viva Air, this will slow the process and stop it from accessing the capital it needs to continue flying. Aerocivil said that it is part of normal procedure to open the process to third parties, as its responsibility is to find the best solution for the market, particularly passengers. 

Will Viva Air start operations again?

Possibly. The trouble is that it’s impossible to know what will happen next. Viva Air argues that if its merger with Avianca goes ahead, it may be able to restart operations. But we don’t know how long it will take for Aerocivil to rule on the Avianca merger or what might happen with the offers from other airlines.

Unfortunately, it seems as if Viva Air customers are caught up in a spat between the airline and the authorities. Both sides blame the other, but it doesn’t really matter who is right – neither have provided passengers with information about how to get their money back or reorganize their flights.

I have a flight booked with Viva Air, what should I do?

Viva Air says that passengers should go to their website for more information. However, the website has no details on how to recoup your money or rebook your flight. In fact, the site is not working at all. You can also try calling on (604) 6044900. Unfortunately, you may not be able to get your money back, whatever the airline is saying.

If you’re due to fly before March 5, LATAM says it will take you at no extra cost as long as it has available seats. Passengers with flights in the coming days should contact LATAM for more information. Avianca has made a similar offer.

If you booked your flight using a credit card, talk to your credit card issuer to see if you can get your money back that way. Some credit cards offer travel insurance or other forms of protection, but every policy will be different. If you have travel insurance, check your policy to find out whether it covers airline bankruptcy and what protections you may have against cancelled flights. It is also worth registering a claim with the Superintendencia de Transporte. 

Flight staff and other Viva employees are currently striking outside the El Dorado airport in Bogotá, so be aware of potential issues if you are flying, even if not with any of the airlines mentioned. There might also be significant disruption inside the airports.

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The holiday season is a great opportunity to spend time with friends and family. Sadly it can also be an expensive time of year, particularly if you want to travel. That is why the Aguinaldo Boyacense in Tunja is a good option. Tourists can enjoy looking at Christmas lights, participating in different public activities, and eating delicious food without breaking the bank. 

The event is the oldest popular festival in the country and it is going to take place in Tunja’s Plaza de Bolívar between December 15 and 22. There plenty of different activities to choose from. In these seven days people can see parades of floats, troupes, parades, costumes, sports competitions, children’s contests, and musical festivals. They can also participate in the novenas, which are devotional prayers that are practiced for nine days to obtain some grace or ask for a certain intention.

READ MORE: Christmas songs in Colombia

One of the costumes that stands out is the Matachin, a devil with a mask that does satirical dances and plays with children in the streets of the city. It is inspired by the Italian matachines who made parodies of war dances. There are different groups that participate in the parade of floats, all competing for their originality, creativity and beauty. Locals and tourists alike cheer the ones they like the most. 

Seeing the fireworks contest is a treat at night. While people look at the sky they can enjoy traditional desserts like ‘brevas con arequipe’ or ‘cuajada con melao’. I​​f adults feel cold, they can take a typical hot drink of aguardiente, cinnamon and sugar, a canelazo. It costs approx COP$2,500. 

In the mornings (from around 10 am) people can see the launches of the programs people from Tunja have prepared for the festivities. Different neighborhoods and sectors, companies, and institutions collaborate to put together a mix of events. For example, there are exhibition halls where people can see paintings, sculptures, mixed techniques and mixed arts. Those activities are free. Don’t miss the ‘arepas boyacenses’ that cost approx COP$3,500 each. 

Various orchestral and choral events take place in the afternoons in the Plazoleta de San Laureano, near the cathedral. These usually start around 12.30 pm. Afterwards, you can eat traditional hearty plates such as ‘mute’, ‘cuchuco con espinazo’’ or ‘cocido boyacense’ that cost around COP$8,000. Also, watch out for the movie projections – Cine Familiar at 3pm on a couple of days – in the Major Bicentennial Theater. It’s a three-minute walk from Plaza de Bolívar, so tourists are not going to spend money to get to the places.

In the afternoon, people can also see the floats, in which the children participate, and see presentations of plays. At night, the group of family or friends can go to the Christmas novenas. It is typical to taste custard, fritters and Christmas dishes to the rhythm of Christmas carols. The novenas are sometimes held at San Antonio Church, Neighborhood San Antonio and people can get there in six minutes on foot. 

The Secretary of Culture and Tunja Mayor’s Office invite artists to sing until late for tourists who want to dance and don’t want to sleep early. You’ll have to pay to see the bigger names, but many concerts are free. 

In terms of accommodation, people can stay at El Cid Plaza, Boyacá Plaza, or Boutique Santuario. Prices range from COP$76,500 to COP$140,000 per night and they are super close to Bolívar Plaza, the place where the events take place.  

In conclusion, tourists will be able to enjoy the holiday season without spending a lot of money, and also find out more about Boyacá.

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Corona, one of the largest beverage companies in the world, announced this month the launch of its Corona Island. Located just outside of Cartagena, off the Colombian Caribbean coast, the island looks to be a beacon of growth for the sustainable travel industry. 

Corona is working with the nonprofit Oceanic Global to obtain the highest level of sustainability on the island, getting the Ocean Global Blue Seal for eliminating single-use plastic. When Corona Island opens next summer, Colombian tourists will have a new eco-destination to visit in the form of an island resort that celebrates nature and sustainability.

Said Felipe Ambra, Global Vice President for Corona, “On Corona Island, we are celebrating the majesty and beauty of the outdoors by getting guests engaged in protecting paradise.”

“Everyone on the team, from our chefs to our architects contributed to creating a truly single-use plastic-free paradise. We look forward to welcoming visitors, rekindling their relationship with nature, and hopefully creating more advocates to protect our natural world,” added the executive.

Tourism, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, contributes approximately 10% to the world’s economy. And travelers are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact their activities could have on the locations they visit. According to Booking.com’s 2020 sustainable traveling report, 69 percent of U.S. travelers identified sustainable travel as important to them, saying they have a responsibility to make sure their trips do not result in damage to a location.

Founded in Mexico, Corona is a leading beer brand that sells beer worldwide exported to more than 180 countries. It has long been a pioneer in the space, being recognized as the most valuable beer brand in the world – at a $7 billion valuation – and one of the strongest brands in the space.

As part of the experience for visitors, workshops and excursions will be hosted at the Oceanic Global’s Blue School. Design and vision for the island was led by international architectural and design firm, James & Mau, in partnership with Colombian architect Jairo Márquez. Guest menus were created by Chilean-born Chef Christopher Carpentier.

Economically, eco-tourism has been shown to do good and be sustainable financially as well. A 2016 study by Sustainable Travel International and Mandala Research showed that eco-tourists tend to stay longer and spend more.

Individuals interested in booking a stay on Corona Island should visit here.

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Colombia is a world-class tourist destination with less than world-class numbers of visitors. In terms of potential for growth, tourism still has plenty to offer. In 2019, Colombia had reached 4.5 million foreign visitors. Then the pandemic kicked in and everything shut down for a while. With one of the world’s longest border closures, tourism went into a tailspin. Things got better in 2021 as domestic tourism – an often-overlooked sector – started to increase. It reopened before foreign visitors started trickling back. COVID is now largely out of people’s minds but has still had a significant impact. What’s next for the sector and what do the two presidential candidates promise?

Both Petro and Rodolfo note the importance of tourism to the economy. The former sees it as “one of the biggest generators of economic well being” and the latter says it’s “key for the development of the country.” Despite this, neither of them dedicate more than a page in their manifestos to the idea, which is a little worrying. At a point where tourism could become a major secondary motor for the economy, there are doubts over how seriously either candidate is treating it.

Rodolfo calls for better English in the tourism sector, but doesn’t provide details. He also wants to improve transport systems, hotels and gastronomic offerings. The first of that list could certainly be improved, so that’s a positive sign. Petro wants Colombia to work in accordance with the UNWTO, the world tourism organisation. He wants tourism to help bring societies in Colombia together and provide much-needed income to the regions. He hopes that increased tourism can build local communities and help them develop further autonomy.

Eco-tourism

Petro focuses mainly on the need for eco-tourism. He hits all the right notes in terms of buzzwords, but it may not surprise anyone who’s read our other articles on the candidate’s manifestos to learn that there is little in the way of concrete detail. This is important, as one of the big problems with ecotourism in Colombia is a lack of clear standards that are enforced and checked. There are schemes to monitor eco claims, but these don’t usually target greenwashers. 

Read more: Election cheat sheets – Petro

Rodolfo notes that this sector is particularly attractive to foreign visitors and accordingly calls for more advertising abroad. He’s particularly focused on the national parks that he sees as the jewel in the tourist crown. He talks about the importance of sustainability in maintaining an equilibrium between the needs of business and protecting the biodiversity that makes such tourism possible. However, he’s come under criticism for comments that seem to imply he would like to see mass hotel development around Santa Marta, possibly endangering Tayrona national park, an emblem of Colombian tourism.

National tourism

Rodolfo makes a call for national tourism to be protected – specifically to organise prices and structures that don’t exclude Colombians (and probably foreign residents) from enjoying the country. This already exists in practice, with the national park system operating a graded payment scheme for different nationalities. He also wants airlines to reduce prices for internal flights, if necessary introducing new operators to the sector in order to increase competition. Petro doesn’t mention domestic tourism, instead focusing on the benefits that general tourism could have for local communities.

Read more: Election cheat sheets – Rodolfo Hernández

So where do we go next?

Put simply, it’s hard to know. Other articles in this series have focused on topics with much clearer aims and big reform calls. That’s simply not the case with tourism. On the one hand, the words and ideas are largely positive and in line with most modern tourism trends. On the other hand, it seems like both candidates are more comfortable attacking and changing existing structures than developing relatively putative sectors. 

Mass tourism in Colombia is still in its infancy in many ways, especially in terms of foreign visitors. Taking the right path in the post-pandemic world could allow it to avoid the mistakes that some countries have made. Leaving the sector to its own devices and allowing unchecked expansion will be disastrous.

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Colombia’s Foreign Ministry is in the process of approving the country’s first digital nomad visa.

Over the past year, the visa for digital nomads has gone from being a chased dream to the final stage before enactment—quickly evolving itself from a rumored street legend in Colombia’s tech scene into something that might just materialize. 

The Digital Nomad Visa’s Trip Through Colombia’s legislature

One of the first smoke signals about the Colombian digital nomad visa was seen in May of 2021 on one of the many Facebook expat groups. 

In the post, it was said that the two-year visa was “not publicly announced yet but would be very shortly, probably by June.”

Almost a year later, the announcement has yet to be made, but that doesn’t mean the visa isn’t coming—the path to digital nomadism in Colombia has been paving itself for some time now. 

Passed in 2020, Law 2069 orders the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to create work permits for “digital nomads,” including people dedicated to remote, independent, or teleworking.

In order for governmental officials to execute the law, however, the Foreign Ministry must also issue a resolution that contains the specifics of any future visa. 

In December of last year, the Foreign Ministry announced a draft of the “visa resolution project” which includes a visa for digital nomads. 

This development implies that the digital nomad visa could take force as soon as tomorrow or as late as next year.

In the meantime, digital nomads can utilize the provisional loophole that was created via the 2020 law that encourages entrepreneurship as well as the growth, consolidation, and sustainability of foreign companies in Colombia.

1 Visa, 2 Visa, 3 Visa, 4?

Okay so now that we know the digital nomad visa is in the oven, what can we expect if/when it comes out? Here are the requirements according to the resolution for the projected visa:

The Genesis of The New Visa: How it Came To Be

There were two key players that catalyzed the pursuit of a digital nomad visa in Colombia. 

The first is Llana Milkes Espinosa, originally from Bogotá, who dreamt up the idea of the digital nomad visa for her home country. 

“Colombia is a very unequal society, and education in technology diverges the haves and have-nots,” said Espinosa. “I brought this idea to life as a citizen who wanted to see a better life for Colombians.” 

In her pursuit, Espinosa enlisted the help of friend and colleague from Silicon Valley’s Drake University, Joel Burke. Burke, who is a US Congressional Innovation Fellow, was a part of building the e-Residency program in Estonia (EU) as a leader in Business Development. 

When formulating something like an e-Residency for Colombia, Burke and Espinosa quickly realized they had to go about it differently than how it was done in Estonia, because the context was very different. 

Colombia already has a booming tourist infrastructure coupled with extreme growth in recent years, with international visitation expanding 196% between 2010 and 2019. This is something that Estonia didn’t possess, and the e-Residency program was geared at drawing digital nomads in. 

Looking to leverage this already existing advantage, Burkes and Espinosa targeted their visa proposal at helping to support long-term stay residents that already existed in Colombia and frequent flyers to the country.

For eight to nine months in 2020, they presented the idea, getting feedback from various stakeholders and then iterating accordingly. They even helped to write up some details on what law 2069 would look like down the road.

“We explained how we imagined it rolling out, and alongside very high-level projections, people understood the value quickly and were supportive,” said Burke. 

The only hold-ups that were demonstrated by stakeholders were in understanding who was responsible for deciding where the ownership of the visa went and some of the fundamentals of why this would be beneficial for the country. But as soon as Burke and Espinosa shared data about other countries’ work on similar projects—parties were quickly convinced.

“It was impressive, despite the pandemic, to see people still getting on calls wearing masks to push forward something that could be hugely beneficial for Colombia,” said Burke. “Especially when you consider that it’s an excellent way to sustainably relaunch tourism in the country.”

A Nomadic Future for Colombia

A digital nomad visa would be an extreme boon to the local economy.  It would also be mutually beneficial to the countless international residents who are itching to stay longer within the country’s borders. 

Only time will tell when the whisperings on the street will transpire into tangible offerings, but The Bogota Post will keep its ears perked for noteworthy benchmarks. Stay tuned.

The post How Close is Colombia’s Digital Nomad Visa? appeared first on The Bogotá Post.

If travel restrictions have left you with a case of itchy feet, a new form of armchair travel might be just the ticket. With virtual tours, you can travel the world without worrying about Covid tests or quarantines.

Sergio Navas is one of the front runners of this progressive new approach to tour guiding – one of the hardest-hit industries by Covid travel restrictions. The concept of a virtual tour is novel yet basic. Guides conduct a tour on a digital platform, which is often live-streamed to viewers. Tourists can enjoy some of the aspects of international travel, all from the comfort of their own living room. 

“What we do is basically a walking tour that you normally would take in a city that you are visiting,” explains the Bogotá based tour guide. And the technical side? He explains the tour is broadcast live through a cell phone whilst a stabiliser transmits it around the globe to the public.

Some may see virtual tourism as nothing more than a short-lived gimmick. But given that the World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that one in 10 people are employed in the tourism industry, it offers a significant number of people a chance to work online. Even while travel remains heavily limited in many countries. 

Find out how to travel Colombia with Google street view

The World Tourism Organization has stated that only 1% of countries are open for international travel without any form of Covid restrictions. In the face of worldwide reductions in tourism levels, it has called for “collaboration”, digital solutions and clear rules’, even making the hashtag #restarttourism popular.

Clearly, the role of digital tourism has never been as important as it is now. 

Virtual tourism has its benefits

Some may see virtual tourism as restrictive. But Sergio insists there are many benefits, such as being able to reach many more people at once. “If in real life I was walking with 10, 15 or 20 people maximum, in the virtual tours this number is multiplied by as many as you like,” he tells me. Some of his tours have even had audiences of up to 200 spectators. 

Beyond convenience, virtual tours can only be a good thing for the planet. Tourism has long been recognised as a leading contributor to climate change and pollution levels. The General Secretary of the WTO has called the Covid crisis an “opportunity that, by reconstructing it, the [tourism] sector will be better, more sustainable, inclusive and resilient”. 

So, could virtuality be the future of tourism?

Sergio isn’t sure. “It’s still a new business,” he said. “It’s not certain how sustainable it will be in the future and what market it will continue to have,” he adds. It seems the arrival of both the vaccines and the summer have led to a “quite important- drop in the number of spectators” he explains. “So, the fewer people at home, the fewer people watching tours.”

Local knowledge is key

If you’re unsure about taking a virtual tour, Sergio insists it’s more engaging than some may think. “You can expect it to be really fun; in truth it’s better than it sounds and I personally go on other people’s virtual tours,” he assures me. In part, this is because nearly all tour guides are locals. This allows the audience to tour the area alongside the in-depth knowledge of a resident, or as Sergio puts it “with a visa.”

Sergio’s virtual tours go far beyond just highlighting the cultural and historical highlights of Bogotá. Whilst you can tour the city’s flea markets or its historic centre, some of Sergio’s tours also have political and social themes. 

Sergio tells me “there are also tours which talk a little about the current situation, for example with all these protests and marches that took place in Colombia in the last two months.” He carried out tours during the protests which originally stemmed from the government’s tax reform and spiralled into almost two months of demonstrations.

Whether it’s learning about new political issues or just supporting local tourism, perhaps taking a virtual tour can do even more than just quench the thirst for travel during Covid times.
If you’d like to find Sergio online and check out some of his tours, you can find him on his instagram or on heygo to book a tour.

Recent posts on The Bogotá Post:

• Avianca Cargo’s Biggest Bloom Yet: Supplying Sky-High Demand for Flowers on Mother’s Day
• Why Doesn’t Every Body Matter?
• How Colombia is responding to a deadly Yellow Fever outbreak
• Confusion and concern surround peace agreement with Colombian rebel group 
• Petro pushes plebiscite before the masses at May Day march 

The post Zoom in on Bogotá by virtual tour appeared first on The Bogotá Post.

It’s estimated that around 80% of Colombians identify as Catholic. As such, it’s hardly surprising that many of the superstitions around Easter have their roots in Catholicism. Constitutionally, Colombia is a secular country, but you only need to look at the furore around the Pope’s visit to see the levels of devotion here. 

Many of the normal Easter processions and parades were banned this year because of the coronavirus. The stations of the cross (viacrucis), the climb to the hill of Monserrate and mass celebrations were not allowed. The numbers of people allowed into church services were limited and large family gatherings were discouraged.

Even so, here are some Holy Week traditions and Colombian Semana Santa superstitions you may have come across if you celebrated Easter in Colombia. Especially if you had the chance to celebrate with some of the older generations. 

1) Do not eat red meat

You may have noticed that fish is a lot more popular during Semana Santa. This is because Good Friday and Easter Saturday are considered days of mourning. Therefore on these holy days Catholics, avoid red meat as a sign of respect for the pain that Jesus Christ suffered at the time of his crucifixion. Some families also fast on Good Friday and Saturday. 

2) Do not bathe in a river or in the sea 

This unusual belief has several variations. The myth is that if you swim during Semana Santa — in the sea, swimming pool, or river — you might turn into a fish. A less extreme view is that you shouldn’t swim because this is a time of mourning.  

3) Do not have sex

Having sex is seen as one of the most important disrespects during Holy Week. Some people go as far as claiming your bodies could get stuck together if you have sex during holy days. As with the bathing and red meat, it’s likely this grew out of a feeling that it is sinful to enjoy yourself when we’re supposed to be reflecting on the crucifixion. 

4) Do not go out after 3pm on Good Friday

3pm on Good Friday is especially important for Catholics as it’s believed this is the time Jesus died. This is why many believers stay at home so as to not disrespect such a sacred moment. One family we spoke to said people used to believe thrashing plants at 3pm would help the plants to thrive.

5) A baby born on Good Friday is considered unlucky

In Colombia, some think that babies born on Good Friday are unlucky. It’s unfortunate since some other countries believe that babies born on Good Friday will become healers, especially if they get baptized on Easter Sunday.

6) Do not sweep the floor or hammer in nails

It’s hardly surprising that superstitions have evolved around using nails, considering that Jesus Christ was nailed to cross. Sweeping the ground is considered as sweeping the face of Jesus. 

7) Do not listen to music

Listening to any kind of music that is not religious is seen as disrespectful during Holy Week. Especially rock and metal music. For people who are religious, this should be a time of thought and reflection.

8) Do not climb trees

We’ll finish with another slightly odd nature superstition. According to tradition, climbing a tree during Semana Santa could cause children to become monkeys or wild animals. 

Of course, you’ll find different regions and different families have their own Semana Santa traditions. And just as your eyes won’t go square if you sit too close to the TV, you’re not going to turn into a monkey if you climb a tree over Easter. But it’s fun to know some of the myths and legends and understand how they evolved.

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