Language
Overview
Official language is Spanish. In addition, Chibcha, Quechua and other Indio languages are spoken, as well as English by business people.
Idioms
Eight = Ocho Eighty = Ochenta Goodbye = Chau Exit = Salida Beer = Cerveza Please = Por favor Thank you very much = Gracias Tuesday = Martes Thursday = Jueves Doctor = Médico Thirty = Treinta Three = Tres One = Un / uno / una Entrance = Entrada One Hundred = Cien One Thousand = Mil Friday = Viernes Five = Cinco Fifty = Cincuenta Danger = Peligro Open = Abierto Closed = Cerrado Good Morning = Buenos Dias Good Day = Buenas Tardes’ Good Evening = Buenas Noches Hello = Hola Today = Hoy Hotel = Hotel I understand not that one. = No entiendo I feel sick. = Me encuentro mal Ja = Sí My name is… … = Me llamo… I’m doing very well. = Estoy muy bien Wednesday = Miércoles Monday = Lunes Tomorrow = Mañana Nine = Nueve Ninety = Noventa No = No Restaurant = Restaurante Saturday = Sábado Six = Seis Sechzig = Sesenta Seven = Siete Seventy = Setenta Sunday = Domingo Menu = Carta Do you speak German/ English? = ¿Habla inglés? Excellent! = Chevere! Toilets = Servicios Forty = Cuarenta Four = Cuatro Wine = Vino How are you? = ¿Qué tal estas? How much is it? = ¿Cuánto it? Where is …? = ¿Dónde esta? Ten = Diez Twenty = Veinte Two = Dos Toilets = Servicios Forty = Cuarenta Four = Cuatro Wine = Vino How are you? = ¿Qué tal estas? How much is it? = ¿Cuánto it? Where is …? = ¿Dónde esta? Ten = Diez Twenty = Veinte Two = Dos
Public Holidays
01/01/2022 New Year
01/06/2022 Feast of Epiphany
03/25/2022 joseph day
04/14/2022 Maundy Thursday
04/15/2022 Good Friday
05/01/2022 Labor Day
05/26/2022 Ascension of Christ
06/16/2022 Corpus Christi
07/20/2022 Independence Day
08/15/2022 Assumption Day
11/01/2022 all saints day
11/11/2022 Independence Day of the city of Cartagena
08.12.2022 Immaculate conception
12/25/2022 Christmas
Source: Top-mba-universities.com
[*] If these holidays fall on a weekday, they are generally observed on the following Monday.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items may be imported duty-free into Colombia (persons aged 18 and over): 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250 g of tobacco; 2 bottles of alcoholic beverages; Perfume and eau de toilette for personal use (women only). Gifts and personal effects up to a value of US$2000 (minors: US$1000).
Import regulations
A special permit is required for weapons and ammunition. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Prohibited Imports
Toys of war, firearms, chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, nuclear and toxic waste, devices and products containing substances that deplete the ozone layer, certain refrigerators and freezers, certain discarded biomedical devices, exotic or invasive animal species, certain pesticides, plants of any kind and their products.
Export Regulations
A receipt confirming the purchase is required for the export of emeralds and other precious stones, as well as items made of gold or platinum. Original cultural goods are subject to an export ban. Further information is available from Colombian Customs.
Contact addresses
Embassy of the Republic of Colombia
Zieglerstrasse 29
Bern
Switzerland
+41 (31) 350 14 00. Consular Section: +41 (31) 350 14 05.
http://suiza.embajada.gov.co
http://suiza.embajada.gov.co
Mon-Fri 08.30-13.00 and 14.30-18.00.
Embassy of the Republic of Colombia
Honorary Consulate in Graz.
Stadiongasse 6-8, Door 15
Wien
Austria
+43 (1) 405 42 49. Consular Section: +43 (1) 405 42 49-18.
http://viena.consulado.gov.co
http://viena.consulado.gov.co
Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00. Consular section: 09.00-13.00.
Embassy of the Republic of Colombia
Consulate General in Frankfurt/M., Consulate in Berlin, Honorary Consulates in Bremen, Stuttgart and Hamburg.
Taubenstr. 23
Berlin
Germany
+49 (30) 26 39 61-10.
http://alemania.embajada.gov.co/de
http://alemania.embajada.gov.co/de
Mon-Fri 09.00-17.30.
Business
Business etiquette
English is widely spoken in business circles; the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers an official translation service, but private interpreting services are also available. The most favorable period for business trips is between March and November.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-12.00 and 14.00-18.00.
Business contacts
German-Colombian Chamber of Industry and Commerce Carrera 13 No. 93-40, piso 4, Bogotá, Colombia (additional office in Medellin) Tel. +57 (0)1 651 37 77. Website: www.ahk-colombia.com Latin American Chamber of Commerce in Switzerland Kasernenstrasse 11, 8004 Zurich, Switzerland Tel +41 (0)44 240 33 00 Website: www.latcam.ch CONFECAMARAS (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Carrera 13, no. 27-47, Of. 502, Edificio Banco de Occidente 1, Bogotá, Colombia Tel. +57 (0)1 381 41 00.
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 0057. Most public phones, which are not always intact, can be used with phone cards that can be bought in shops and kiosks. In the so-called Telekom offices you will usually find working public telephones. Many Internet cafes offer international phone calls at reasonable rates. Skype is also an option.
Mobile phone
GSM 1900 and 850. Network operators: Movistar (website: www.movistar.com), Claro.com (website: www.claro.com.co) and Tigo (website: www.tigo.com.co). The reception/transmission range covers the larger cities. Roaming agreements exist with Germany, Austria and Switzerland, among others.
Internet
Internet cafes are available in almost all places. In the larger cities, most hotels offer internet access.
Post office
Post offices are called Correos. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00, Sat 08.00-12.00. Green mailboxes for city mail, yellow mailboxes for shipments to other cities and abroad. Airmail to Europe takes 5 to 7 days to arrive.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly for the current frequencies (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
