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Created by: Stormi Fee

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The Magdalena River is located in Colombia which is a country in South America.

Colombia is located in the northern region of South America

The Watershed stretches from the Andean Cordillera to the Caribbean sea and across the west half of Colombia

Magdalena is the principal river and stretches 949 miles with a drainage basin of 105,000 square miles

80% of Colombia's population relies on the basin, population of Colombia ~49.46 million  (Navarro-Racines, 2016)

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Country has a tropical climate, depending on the elevation you are at the climate may vary but stays mostly constant all year

~ 100 inches of rainfall yearly, and with an average annual temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit.  (The Weather in Colombia, 2017).

Predication for changes in annual precipitation show decreases of 5% to an increase of 8%  (The Weather in Colombia, 2017).

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Colombia crossing the Magdalena river from Aipe to Villavieja

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Water aids in agricultural production of coffee, corn, plantains, manioc and cacao

Supplies 60% of Colombia's fish consumption which is one of the main sources of protein for the surrounding area

Supplies fresh drinking water

Generates a large portion of the country's hydroelectric energy

River is a source of supporting services for all who flourish in the basin due to its role in food, water, energy security

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Increase population has caused increase energy needs

Impact that current dams and future dams have on environmental factors

Impacts that caused to surrounding areas that are affected by flood plains

Increased flooding, damaging crops, and personal land

Decreased supply of fish, decreased food source, and decrease production for local fisherman

Displacement of locals due to flooding and war

Picture below is of The Quimbo Hydroelectric dam
("Progetto idroelettrico El Quimbo")

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Nonrenewable resources

Gold, coal, and petroleum

Renewable resources

Hydro power from Dams

Some solar and Wind

Colombia produces enough energy for domestic use, and exports the rest to Venezuela, Panama, and Ecuador.Demand for energy is expected to grow 3.5% per year through 2020 (Population of Cities in Colombia , 2018)

Picture below is of Colombia's energy mix

(James, 2018)

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Colombia has a emerging economy, even though it is growing there is still 34% of the population of Colombia that lives in poor conditions.
https://borgenproject.org/10-facts-about-poverty-in-colombia/
If you would like to learn more about the current economy please see attached.

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Download PDF

Quick Facts

Colombia's economic freedom score is 68.1, making its economy the 49th freest in the 2021 Index. Its overall score has decreased by 1.1 points, primarily because of a decline in the government spending score. Colombia is ranked 6th among 32 countries in the Americas region, and its overall score is above the regional and world averages.

Background

Colombia is South America's oldest democracy and fourth-largest economy. Center-right president Iván Duque began his four-year term in 2018 and has pursued a reformist agenda. The Duque administration has been challenged by fluctuating approval ratings, antigovernment social unrest, and an opposition-controlled Congress that includes nonelected members of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) narco-terrorist group. Because of the previous administration's flawed peace deal, Colombia remains the world's top producer and exporter of cocaine. Although Colombia is not a member of China's One Belt, One Road initiative, a Chinese state-owned consortium is building its largest infrastructure project. Colombia is a founding member of the Pacific Alliance and has free-trade agreements with the U.S. and many other nations.

Property rights are usually recognized and protected. The judicial system is generally regarded as competent, fair, and reliable, although corruption, bribery, influence peddling, and abuse of privileged information persist. Violence and corruption engendered by drug trafficking continue to erode institutions at multiple levels of public administration. Corruption scandals involving the Catholic Church, the military, and the police have weakened trust in traditional institutions.

The top individual income tax rate is 39 percent, and the top corporate tax rate has been cut to 32 percent. Other taxes include value-added and financial transactions taxes. The overall tax burden equals 22.0 percent of total domestic income. Government spending has amounted to 32.0 percent of total output (GDP) over the past three years, and budget deficits have averaged 3.1 percent of GDP. Public debt is equivalent to 52.9 percent of GDP.

Minor incremental improvements in some business freedom metrics have not been enough to keep Colombia from losing ground in business freedom compared to other countries. Labor force participation decreased from 2018 to 2019. The government has provided billions in subsidies to producers of electrical energy, liquefied petroleum gas, and natural gas in 2020.

Colombia has 13 preferential trade agreements in force. The trade-weighted average tariff rate is 6.5 percent, and 153 nontariff measures are in effect. Foreign investment in some sectors is subject to investment registration and concession agreements with the government. Foreign investors may own 100 percent of financial institutions. Credit is generally allocated on market terms. Measures to boost liquidity in the financial sector were adopted in 2020.

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Download PDF Quick Facts Colombia's economic freedom score is 68.1, making its economy the 49th freest in the 2021 Index. Its overall score has decreased by 1.1 points, primarily because of a decline in the government spending score. Colombia is ranked 6th among 32 countries in the Americas region, and its overall score is above the regional and world averages.

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35 dams currently operating and 100 sites for new projects being planned (Navarro-Racines, 2016)

1989 the first dam was built over the river

The Quimbo Hydroelectric project which was completed in 2011

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Increase use of energy efficient hydro power has lessen the need to mine non-renewable energy sources, decreasing the pollution in the Magdalena River

Provides economic sustainability for Colombia

Clean or Green energy source by not emitting any greenhouse gasses in to the atmosphere

Average life time for a hydro power dam is between 50-100 years depending on maintenance make it a investment when their are constructed

Picture below is of the Magdalena River

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These dams have impacted the rivers ecosystem by disrupting the natural flow/ cycle of the river. This has affect fish population and other species that use the river as a highway

Increased flooding and displacement of people and wildlife.

Dams are expensive to construct

The flooding is also causing pollutants from mining and agriculture farms to seep into the water ways and carry it down to main drinking sources

Below is a picture of the Magdalena basin being flooded

(Goez, 2012)

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2735 different animal species in the diverse ecosystem surround the river

3 important species are endangered; Brown Spider Monkey, Blue Billed curssrow, and the Magdalena River Turtle. These species are endangered due to habitat destruction from the construction of dams.

These dams have caused alteration in the flow of the river impacting the flow of the river, temperature of water, nutrient levels, oxygen levels, and flood plains areas where birds and other species take home in.

It has also effected the fish population by making migration and spawning more difficult even with fish ladders. This has also made the area more acceptable to invasive species.

Picture below is of the Magdalena River Turtle
(Zicha, 2011)

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Conservation Efforts of The Magdalene River Turtle

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Conservation Efforts of The Magdalene River Turtle

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The Magdalena River Turtle is listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat destruction and hunting for meat.

It is a large freshwater turtle and has been an important factor for the natives of the river. It is a good source of income and food for locals and holds some traditional values for natives.

Efforts have been made to conserve this species by WCS and TSA to keep funding for creating artificial beaches protected from flood waters and clean up on banks allowing adequate vegation for turtles to thrive in.

Attached is a PDF explain some conservation efforts

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Displacement of Colombia citizens surrounding the river is due to flooding and war conflict.

Displacement of people seeking refugee due to flooding once had rich land that they could grow crops on, fish, and pan for gold, now struggle to find a stable place to live.

Houses that have been destroyed in the wake of the flooding are leaving people homeless and force to go else where.

Destruction of fertile land has lead to low crop production and a high unemployment rate.

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Slums are settlements due to results of rapid population growth that does not have housing and standard living. They are usually shacks that were developed without any planning.

There is also a slum formation in Magdalena's flood plains due to people not being able to find basic needs and needing to rely on the land for a small amount of crop. This happened due to war and flooding of original housing.

https://www.monografias.com/trabajos43/magdalena-river-basin/magdalena-river-basin2.shtml

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Multiple agencies have jurisdiction over the basin, 734 municipalities and 13 federal agencies(Stories in Colombia, 2018)

After a 50 year war between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia came to a peace agreement in 2016. This will prevent further war and following terms of agreement this will put violence and combat that has impacted society to rest. The government will continue to negotiate further peace agreements.

Attached is a timeline if you would like to know more about the history of war with Colombia that has affected people.

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1819: Independence forces of Simón Bolívar defeat Spanish army to set up the Republic of Gran Colombia with Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, as well as Colombia.

1948: The assassination of the left-wing Mayor of Bogota, Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, leads to the 'Bogotazo', massive urban riots and, subsequently, to a period of civil strife known as 'La Violencia' that lasts until 1957. An estimated 250,000-300,000 are killed.

1958-1978: Top level political agreement to establish a 'National Front', whereby all government offices are shared between Liberals and Conservatives. Other political parties are banned.

1964-1966: The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is founded, and goes on to be leading guerrilla threat to the Colombian state.

1964: Leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) and Maoist People's Liberation Army (EPL) is formed.

1970: Formation of left-wing M-19 guerrilla group.

1978: Intense campaign against drug traffickers by President Julio César Turbay Ayala (Liberal).

1982-1985: President Belisario Betancur (Conservative) negotiates a cease-fire, grants amnesties to guerrillas and releases political prisoners. Negotiations fall apart when the armed M-19 guerrillas briefly seize the Justice Court in Bogota. Over 100 people die as the army move to retake the building, including 11 Supreme Court judges and several of the leading members of the M-19. The M-19 was subsequently much weakened.

1985: The FARC and the Colombian Communist Party found the Patriotic Union Party (UP), as part of the peace negotiation process between Betancur and the guerrillas. Since September 2002 the UP has had no legal representatives.

1986-1990: President Virgilio Barco Vargas (Liberal) continues the peace process but the period is marked by extreme violence, including from increasingly powerful drug cartels and paramilitary groups.

1989: M-19 becomes a legal political party (M-19 Democratic Alliance) following a peace agreement with the government.

1990: Three presidential candidates are assassinated by narco-terrorists. President César Gaviria Trujillo (Liberal) is elected on anti-drug platform.

1991: New Colombian Constitution. It replaces the 1886 constitution and bans the extradition of Colombian citizens (this article was repealed in 1996), includes new human rights and for indigenous groups, and reforms Colombia's political institutions.

1993: Medellin drug-cartel leader Pablo Escobar is killed by Colombian security forces. Indiscriminate acts of violence follow.

1997: The United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) is established, an umbrella organisation of right-wing paramilitary groupings.

1998-2002: President Andrés Pastrana Arango (Conservative) initiates peace talks with guerrillas. After three years of convoluted talks, they end after the guerrilla kidnaps a congressman and other political figures.

2000: Pastrana launches controversial and unpopular Plan Colombia, with the aid of the USA, to put to a halt the flow of cocaine and heroine entering the USA over the Mexican border and to fight drug trafficking and rebels that benefit form the trade.

2001: The USA State Department adds the AUC to the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

2002: Independent candidate Álvaro Uribe Vélez wins presidential elections.

2003-2006: Demobilisation of the AUC.

2004: Uribe launches 'Plan Patriota', which is widely seen as a continuation of Pastrana's Plan Colombia, and also controversial. With the financial support of the USA, it aims to uproot guerrilla groups in Colombia, gain military presence in remote areas of the country, traditionally controlled by the guerrillas, and introduce social programmes.

2005: Uribe sets the Justice and Peace Law that reduces punishments for guerrilla and paramilitary members if they surrender their arms, renounce violence and return illegal assets.

2006: The FARC launches 'Plan Resistencia', a final offensive to counteract military activities and, in view of the 2006 presidential elections, undermine the public's perception that the security situation has improved under Uribe's government.

2006: Uribe's second presidential election win, after a presidential re-election ban is revoked.

2006: Preliminary peace talks between the government and the ELN take place in Cuba. Formal negotiations are yet to start however.

2007: Connections between paramilitary groups and several congressmen come to light, creating the parapolitics scandal.

2008: Diplomatic crisis between Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela intensifies following a Colombian cross-border strike into Ecuador. FARC leader Raúl Reyes is killed.

2008: Manuel Marulanda Velez, known as 'Tirofijo' and main leader of FARC-EP, dies of a heart attack.

2008: Release of Ingrid Betancourt, a high-profile FARC hostage, after over six years in captivity.

2008: 'False Positives' scandal, in which the government and army is accused of colluding in the murder of up to 1,500 civilians who were then presented as guerrillas killed in combat.

2009: The FARC launches 'Plan Rebirth' to avoid defeat by intensifying guerrilla warfare - i.e. use of landmines, snipers and bomb attacks in urban areas. This plan is counteracted by 'Strategic Leap', a military offensive in areas where guerrillas still have a strong military presence.

2009: Colombia and US sign Military Cooperation Agreement.

2010: Juan Manuel Santos, a former Defence Minister under Uribe, is elected President.

2011: Oliver Solarte and Jerónimo Galeano killed by army - both high level FARC members, while FARC continues taking hostages.

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1819: Independence forces of Simón Bolívar defeat Spanish army to set up the Republic of Gran Colombia with Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, as well as Colombia. 1948: The assassination of the left-wing Mayor of Bogota, Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, leads to the 'Bogotazo', massive urban riots and, subsequently, to a period of civil strife known as 'La Violencia' that lasts until 1957.

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Removing Large dams would be an expensive project and may not solve all the surrounding impacts that the dams have made to the environment. Instead of removing the dams;

Management the flow rate of the dams

Provide maintenance and update the older dams so that are running more efficiently

The Government of Colombia is planning on improving conservation efforts and promote a better environment by better managing the dams and the flood plain zones.

Currently there is a Hyrdrometorologic Alter Network for the river basin. It was established in the 70's. This is an alarm radio network system that alerts when flood waters are increasing. The river has 59 automatic stations but they need maintenance and improvements.

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As the economy makes a come back and the Colombia war has been on the decline I see a decrease in the amount of poverty.

An increased amount of climate change will still be impacting the flooding waters during the rainy season.

Below is a news article from 2008 when a levee broke free from the Magdalene River

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Flooding leaves 50,000 homeless in Colombia - CNN.com

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More than 50,000 residents of northern Colombia remained homeless Monday after the rain-swollen Magdalena River broke through dikes and flooded towns and surrounding areas.

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Solution for the Environment and Fishing

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Solution for the Environment and Fishing

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To construct larger fish ladders near the river's dam

Increase fish stocking programs for native species of fish

Put a limit or cap to how many fish locals can get and put a stop to large fishing operations that are local. Give the fish time to re-coop.

Dredging has also been happening where their is large sediment built up and machines are coming in to dredge these areas.

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Has three pillars of sustainability are society, economy, and the environment. Using the Magdalena River hydro power as an example of how hard it is to have a successfully triple bottom line due to all the factors. For this example the economy is growing but as a result social equity and the environment are not doing as equally well. As a throwaway economy that maybe developing into sustainable with the correct management.

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Connection to Ready Player One: Environmental Change and their impacts

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Connection to Ready Player One: Environmental Change and their impacts

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A rise in increased population also increases demand for energy production, this is results in environmental impacts

This is similar in Ready Player One, when the Global Energy Crisis hits due to all natural energy sources being depleted (Cline, 2013)

Increased construction of dams have increased the amount of displacement of people from their homes due to them being in the path of flood plains. This happens when people are displaced in the "stacks" which were mobile homes stacked on top each other resulting a form of poverty.

The impacts that the use of energy has on the way of living is vital for a striving future, like in the book the environment can make a come back if we continue on the path of destruction.

Picture below is of stacks in Ready Player One

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Best towns to visit near the Magdalena River; Bogota is a hot local tourist spots, Some other towns to visit are Honda and San Agustin are both reachable by car.  Mompox is only reached by boat or canoe.

Below is a witty blog that gives you insight on visiting the Magdalena River

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By Alex Kallimanis: We recently returned from celebrating our 13 year wedding anniversary in Bogota and the nearby coffee region around Salento. Overall, it was an amazing trip and we highly recommend Colombia. It's a beautiful country and offers great value. At the same time, if you visit the country independently like we did, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. There are pros and cons to visiting Bogota, Colombia and it's irresponsible to write about the city without discussing a couple downsides.

The great news is that the drug and political violence that plagued Colombia for years has greatly diminished due to the political deals made with FARC and measures to curb cocaine production. We're sure you're not, but if you travel to Colombia looking to buy cocaine know two things: 1) Cocaine is illegal in Colombia and 2) non-drug traders do not think highly of people asking about something that tragically stained their country for decades. On a side note, we only just started watching the Netflix series Narcos upon our return and it's a fantastic show.

If you're planning to visit Bogota, we stayed in three different good hotels in the city. As we started and ended our trip to Colombia in Bogota, we had the opportunity to check out a few places to give our personal insight. Consider booking accommodation with free cancellation in advance.

We loved our three night stay during our 13 year wedding anniversary at the Bioxury Hotel (pictured below). It's very modern, comfortable and well priced compared to what you would pay for similar quality in other countries. The complimentary breakfast buffet is also really good. The location in Zona Rosa is ideal as it's close to a lot of good restaurants like Club Colombia. The Zona Rosa area is safer to walk around at night compared to the historic center of Candelaria. So consider staying here and using Uber to visit the historic center.

As we arrived in Bogota late from the United States, we booked our first night at the Hotel Habitel near El Dorado Airport. Hotel Habitel has a free 24-hour airport shuttle and a delicious buffet breakfast is included in the price of all rooms. The following day we used Uber to move to the Bioxury.

At the end of our trip, we had to depart Bogota early and traffic can be heavy. So we booked the final night at Courtyard by Marriot Bogota Airport. This is a new hotel and we liked the huge wall map of Bogota above the bed. That made it feel like we weren't just staying in a chain hotel anywhere.

For airport stays, the rooms at Marriott are a little more stylish than Hotel Habitel. But Hotel Habitel has a nice courtyard to enjoy breakfast outside in the garden. Their shuttle service also runs more frequently than Marriot's. Keep that in mind if you have an early flight out of EL Dorado Airport.

We chose to celebrate in Colombia because we could fly directly from Washington, DC to Bogota on Avianca Airlines. The flight was only 5 and 1/2 hours, the same as flying direct to San Francisco and not much further than Las Vegas. We cashed in credit card points for free plane tickets, so traveling to Colombia cost us the same as traveling down the road. Our good friend and travel blogger Brianne Miers of A Traveling Life previously visited Colombia twice and has published great content on the country. Seth Kugel who used to write The Frugal Traveller column for The NY Times Travel section called Colombia the best value destination in South America.

We considered celebrating in Iceland, a country much colder and significantly more expensive than Colombia. We left Colombia happy with our choice. There was a lot we loved, including our stays at the beautiful Bioxury Hotel in Bogota as well as the Reserva Monarca in the "zona cafeteria" (coffee region) near Salento, with an incredible view of the Andes Mountains.

We received advice to consider Cartagena over Bogota. Cartagena, Colombia is a tropical destination on the Caribbean, with warm weather year round. Bogota is the capital and sits at a high elevation of 2,600 meters (8,600 feet), so the weather is more unpredictable and it generally gets cold at night. But last year we visited Mexico City and really enjoyed it, so we had a hunch we'd feel similarly about Bogota. Cartagena is more touristy than Bogota, which is a pro for some, and a con for others.

If you visit Bogota, we recommend taking at least one tour. On our first day, we took the free walking tour with Beyond Colombia. Angelica was a great guide and taught us a lot about the history of Colombia and some of the best places to eat and drink in the city. The suggested tip for the free tour is the equivalent of around $10 US, which we both gladly gave at the end of three hours. But we saw some give a little less, and the guide thanked us all the same.

Impressive Parts of the City

There are some fantastic areas in Bogota. Bolivar Square, which houses the Colombian parliament, is as picturesque as major European squares. We even pet a cute llama in Bolivar Square. And there was a street vendor selling "big ass ants" to eat, added quirks you won't find in European squares to go along with the beauty.

The views of Bogota and the lush Andes Mountains from Monserrate are dramatically beautiful. It was our first time seeing the Andes Mountains, which surround Bogota, and we were awestruck with how green they are. A cable car or funicular train takes visitors to the top, where there's a church that dates back to the 17th century, along with biblical sculptures around the grounds. Along with the stunning vista, it's also a pilgrimage spot and some visitors hike to the top (we took the cable car). The top of Monserrate has several cafes, shops and a lovely fine dining restaurant called Casa San Isidro.

Great value

Food, shopping and accommodation are significantly cheaper than what you'll pay in the United States. Even the trendy restaurants in the Zona Rosa, which are considered expensive, are not nearly as expensive as the equivalent in New York, San Francisco, Boston or Washington, DC. We loved our stay at the beautiful Bioxury hotel, which is ultra modern, comfortable and lined with green foliage in the lobby. As Colombia is one of the world's largest producers of coffee, Bogota also has excellent cafes. Our favorite is the beautifully named Arte y Passion Cafe in Bogota, where servers draw pictures in coffees tableside (pictured below).

Good Museums

We visited three museums in Bogota and enjoyed all three for different reasons. The Botero Museum ( Museo Botero) was our favorite. It's a beautiful and free art museum that includes the work of Colombia's most iconic painter, Fernando Botero. There is also an impressive section featuring works by European masters.

The Gold Museum ( Museo Del Oro) is another must. Admission is only 4,000 Colombian pesos (around $1.50 US). The collection features a lot of intricate and primitive gold pieces. You'll also learn a lot about the history of the region, pre and post Spanish Conquistadors.

We also visited the Emerald Museum ( Museo De La Esmerelda) on the 23rd floor of the Avianca Building, the oldest skyscraper in South America. This was our least favorite museum and is mostly a showcase to sell emeralds at the end of the tour. But the sales pitch was no pressure. The highlight of this museum for us were the wonderful views of downtown Bogota. If you're shopping for emeralds in Bogota, the Emerald Museum might be a good place to start your search.

Delicious Food

During our trip, we debated whether Colombian or Mexican food was better. The fact that we were even having that discussion is a testament to Colombian food's tastiness because Mexicans generally rock at food. And some of the steaks we ate in Bogota rivaled those we have eaten in Buenos Aires and Montevideo (two of the best cities in the world for quality steaks).

Great Shopping

We both did some shopping in the Candelaria area of Bogota. We picked up some high quality items at great prices. The highlights for me are a beautiful leather messenger bag for the equivalent of around $32 US. We both bought some stylish new clothes for a fraction of what we would pay in the US or Western Europe. We also bought some beautiful handmade art work for 4,000 Colombian pesos (around $1.50). That was his asking price and we wish we had bought more of his pieces.

Gateway to Other Beautiful Parts of Colombia

Bogota's El Dorado Airport is very modern and has frequent domestic flights around the country, along with being well connected internationally. After spending a few days in Bogota, we flew to Pereira and then traveled 45 minutes to Salento via Uber, a charming and safe town in the "zona cafeteria," or coffee zone of Colombia. This is an incredibly beautiful area, and the Quindio palm trees in the Cocora Valley ( Valle de Cocora) are the tallest in the world, growing up to 60 meters (196 feet) high. We also toured the Ocaso coffee plantation, which was both picturesque and delicious.

Safety - We Did Not Have Any Issues in 5 Days, But We Were Careful

"Be careful. The areas around the Candeleria (old town) are safe during the day. But just outside it, may not be safe <even during the day>." - Our Uber driver in Bogota

"Only use Uber at Monserrate. Do not take a taxi." Said the same Uber driver.

We had read the warnings about Bogota. Only take taxis from the official taxi stand at El Dorado Airport and don't randomly hail cabs off the street. Or use Uber, which we did throughout our stay in Colombia. We used Uber Black in Bogota, which is comparable to Uber X in the United States. We initially used Uber X in Bogota and while the driver took us to our destination safely, there were issues with his navigation because he had to turn off his device to save on mobile phone fees. As we had just arrived in Bogota, it was not comfortable to be driven in a couple semi circles.

We recommend paying a little more and using the Uber Black service. We also only got in cars with drivers with good ratings. If the driver did not have a good rating, we canceled the ride before he arrived. We prefer to use services like Uber over taxis because we can see the drivers rating, there is a record of our ride, we know what the price will be, and do not have to trade cash with drivers. All of our Uber Black experiences in Bogota were positive ones. Some drivers spoke English, but the majority did not.

Bogota generally shuts down early. After 8pm, there aren't that many people walking around most places. And it's not considered safe to walk around the Candelaria (historic center) after dark unless you're in a group. So we stayed in the upscale Zona Rosa neighborhood, but even there it's best not to walk around too late at night solo or as a couple.

Understand that safety issues in Bogota are generally related to theft. And issues around theft generally stem from a large disparity in wealth in Bogota. There are extremely wealthy and extremely poor people in the city. If you visit Bogota, don't be flashy with money or jewelry.

Frequent Language Barriers with Poor Spanish

Traveling independently in Colombia can be challenging if your Spanish is not very good. I speak a little bit of Spanish, which is really helpful. If you're Spanish is not good (and ultimately mine is not), it's best to stay in international hotels or with an Airbnb host that speaks some English (make sure there a lot of good reviews of the host). If you've never used Airbnb, sign up here for $40 off your first stay over $75!

High Elevation

The elevation can be a problem for some. I struggled with headaches and fatigue the first 36 hours in Bogota while my body adjusted to the elevation. After taking the cable car up to Monserrate, which sits at 3,100 meters (around 10,000 feet) I immediately had to sit down while my body adjusted to the altitude. But Monserrate is absolutely stunning - one of the most dramatically beautiful places we've seen in any city worldwide.

Cool Weather Year Round (With a Constant Risk of Sunburn)

It can rain a lot in Bogota. And when it rains, it is not warm. Pack a sweater and a rain jacket. We were pretty lucky and generally found the weather during the day to be pleasant. It was usually low 20's Celcius (low 70's Fahrenheit). Warm when it was sunny and cool when the wind blew. We frequently took our sweaters on and off.

Also, pack sunscreen. Being at high elevation means a greater risk of sunburn. We learned the hard way, but thankfully we didn't get burned too badly.

During winter in North America, you'll find significantly warmer weather in Bogota. As it is close to the equator, average temperatures are the same year round. The weather in Bogota might be a plus for some, just know that it is not tropical weather like Cartagena.

Should You Visit Bogota, Colombia?

While we enjoyed Bogota and think it's a worthwhile destination, it's not for everyone. The small town of Salento was much more laid-back and generally safer to walk around at night. The receptionist at our hotel in Salento said "nowhere in Bogota is safe to walk around at night" with a slight chuckle.

For travelers looking for warmth and beaches, choose Cartagena over Bogota. Check out this article by our fellow DC blogging friends Backpacking with the Bonds for tips on traveling to Cartagena.

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred has no annual fee the first year and offers 50,000 bonus points at sign up (after you charge $4,000 in 3 months on regular purchases). 50,000 bonus points on Chase rewards is worth about $750 in travel credit. There are no blackouts on flights, meaning that if there are seats you can use your bonus points, and often even earn airline miles with the free flight this way too! The Chase system is easy to use to cash in the points for free flights and hotels around the world.

The Delta Skymiles American Express Gold Card also has no annual fee the first year and just $95 each year after. They're currently giving a 60,000 mile bonus which is enough for a free flight to Europe! You'll typically need around 25,000+ miles for free domestic flights. Often for 35,000 miles you can score a free flight to the Caribbean or Central America. There are other perks to having the Delta SkyMiles AMEX Gold Card, like free checked bags when you pay with the card for Delta flights.
Have questions on planning a trip to Colombia? Leave a comment or email me at alex@wanderlustmarriage.com and I can assist! Disclosure: This article contains some affiliate links. We receive a small commission when you book or sign up through certain links and it costs you nothing extra. When it suits you, please use them, as it helps us maintain this website.

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The Pros and Cons of Visiting Bogota, Colombia - Wanderlust Marriage

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By Alex Kallimanis: We recently returned from celebrating our 13 year wedding anniversary in Bogota and the nearby coffee region around Salento. Overall, it was an amazing trip and we highly recommend Colombia. It's a beautiful country and offers great value.

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Balancing energy and the environment along with providing for a growing population is a struggle for Columbia.

Hydro power is efficient way to reduce carbon emission by using a renewable resource.

Though Hydro power comes with benefits it is making a huge impact on the environment and ecosystem

The river is a important source for people and animals in Colombia and hopefully with new managing tactics it will over come the downfalls

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