Things to do before going to colombia

utopiacowboy says on Aug 4, 2005, 08:47:

You don't need to get anything straightened out. Just have your passport for your trip.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Diez Y Siete says on Aug 4, 2005, 08:51:

thank you well i have to get my birt certicicate translated and notorized and i ahve to take a letter from my mum and dad to be given to them (plus it makes a nice day trip for me and my mum to dc) i live in southern va. but i need someother stuff cause im underage

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 4, 2005, 09:03:

Are you Colombian? Normally only Colombian minors need those papers to be able to leave the country but maybe I am mistaken in this belief.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Crazy4Cali says on Aug 4, 2005, 09:07:

things to do

1. get passport
   
2. buy ticket
   
3. get on plane
   

it's not that hard.

But, do you need a notorized permission letter, if you're under 18 and travelling alone? That would be worth checking into. I know if you're traveling with only one of your parents, you need one.

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Diez Y Siete says on Aug 4, 2005, 09:09:

I dont know from what i ahve been told, i need to have those papers plus a list of a zillion diffrent shots i need notorized. i dont know but i wouldnt want to get there and not have EVERYTHING i need

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Crazy4Cali says on Aug 4, 2005, 09:14:

papers, yes, but shots? I've never had any special shots before going to Colombia (and, fortunately, never needed any after returning, either).

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Diez Y Siete says on Aug 4, 2005, 11:05:

thank you mario! the person was informing me to their best knowledge, he is a colombian natvie that came here though

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rjstuff says on Aug 4, 2005, 11:36:

Colombians may require shots coming to USA but not Americans going to Colombia. Entiende?

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Peter Miami says on Aug 4, 2005, 11:38:

quincenerera Yes, a vaccination card with all your shots is needed when you go to the embassy and/or you need a visa. I travel to a lot of South American and Central American countries and for some of them like Brazil, Chile, etc, they required that if I have travel to Colombia three to six months prior to my trip to these countries I need a yellow fever. Of course the yellow fever shot is good for ten years. This happens between other countries also.

Peter Miami

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Diez Y Siete says on Aug 4, 2005, 11:51:

just incase i was told that even if i wasnt required to have a yellow fever shot that it would be good to have it just incase. also i was planning a trip to lima(then decided colombia sounded better) i was told to take a antimaliarial drug such as doxycycline, and also to take diamax for altitude sickness

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 4, 2005, 11:52:

A minor who is a Colombian citizen (like my stepkids) needs a form allowing them to leave Colombia. As far as I know US citizen minors (who are NOT Colombian citizens) have no such requirement.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Peter Miami says on Aug 4, 2005, 18:28:

I am not Colombian; I am an American so I can not speak about Colombians. But I am telling you that there are a lot of requirements when traveling from or between countries because I always fly back to the U.S. I have had to take Hepitidis A & B, Yellow Fever and a couple others vaccinations (I can not remember names). I have a vaccination card that I always carry and it is ask randomly. I travel for my job a lot.

Peter Miami

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lpdiver says on Aug 4, 2005, 18:33:

Peter... I carry mine as well. I just don't ever want to be injected at an airport before being allowed entrance to anywhere.

T

"cook some rice!"

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Peter Miami says on Aug 4, 2005, 18:34:

lpdiver ditto

Peter Miami

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ColombianoNY says on Aug 4, 2005, 19:25:

U.S. Dept Of State Info Colombia requires that minors (under 18), regardless of nationality, who are traveling alone, with one parent or with a third party, present a copy of their birth certificate and written authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian, specifically granting permission to travel alone, with one parent or with a third party. When a parent is deceased, a notarized copy of the death certificate is required in lieu of the written authorization. If documents are prepared in the United States, the authorization and the birth certificate must be translated into Spanish and notarized. An "apostille" must then be affixed to the document by the designated state government authority. A list of designated state authorities may be found on the Internet at: http://travel.state.gov/family/hague_foreign_docs.html. Finally, the Colombian Embassy or a Colombian consulate in the United States must authenticate the authorization and birth certificate. If documents are prepared in Colombia, only notarization by a Colombian notary is required. A permission letter prepared outside of Colombia is valid for 90 days. A permission letter prepared in Colombia is valid for 60 days.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1090.html

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ColombianoNY says on Aug 4, 2005, 19:27:

I saw a girl the other day Last time I traveled, the girl (about 8) travelling alone, a U.S. citizen, showed her passport and that was her "pass" through DAS. It doesnt make sense with the above tho.

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vicshere says on Aug 4, 2005, 19:29:

nice work Jairo
well that pretty well answers all her questions

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Peter Miami says on Aug 4, 2005, 19:38:

Jairo1245 Thank you for helping out.

Peter Miami

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lpdiver says on Aug 4, 2005, 20:29:

My now ex-wife... Traveled to Aruba on several occasions with my daughter and simply explained that she was going to see her husband who was working in Aruba. Had she been a kidnapper I suppose she would have gotten away with it.

t

"cook some rice!"

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adrimm says on Aug 4, 2005, 20:38:

Permissions, Suggestions, and water Permissions:
My mother always had to get notarized letter from my father stating his permission for my mother to take me outside of the country to Colombia. When I was 14 it saw the light of day at least a couple of time on the trip, prior to that I was too young to remember.

Suggestions
Quinceanera,
The embassy should be the end all to your questions.. BUT why not just ask your boyfriend?? Didn't/doesn't he have to go through the same things to go to Colombia.

Water in peoples homes is usually ok in most of Bogota, but just to be safe my mom's relatives always kept a pitcher of boiled water on hand for me, and when we were out wandering around I only ever drank bottled soft drinks, or bottled water. I've spent some longer periods in Colombia where I know I did drink some tap water (often in juices), but I haven't had any problems to date (knock on wood).

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Diez Y Siete says on Aug 9, 2005, 12:47:

Thank you everyone Thanks for all the help and advice!

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CaryGrant says on Aug 9, 2005, 12:58:

Don't know about the visa and other requirements for a minor. My understanding was that vaccinations were optional...?

Regarding the water, I found many Colombians either embarrassed or unaware that "their" water was potentially unhealthy, so they are reluctant to say anything. I stayed in Cali and visited Palmira and other areas outside the city. I did drink a little tap water (in Cali), and got away with it. An American I was in Cali with in December 2004 got very ill on a previous trip, and had to be hospitalized. So, bottled water only!

Watch out for ice cubes, juices made with tap water, brushing your teeth, and showering.

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Diez Y Siete says on Aug 9, 2005, 18:47:

Showering? What do you mean showering? how are you suppose to avoid that? take a botted water shower? lol i odnt know what you would do?

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vicshere says on Aug 9, 2005, 18:50:

i think he means don't swallow



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utopiacowboy says on Aug 9, 2005, 21:05:

I guess it depends on the individual. I drink tap water everywhere in Colombia and I never suffer any ill effects. You know your system better than we do.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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lala96 says on Aug 10, 2005, 06:18:

permission and vaccines All American children under 18 are required to have both parents give permission for passports or present a notorized letter giving authority to one parent to get the passport. This is to reduce international abduction of children.

About vaccines, the only time in Colombia that you have to have Malaria or Yellow Fever is if you are traveling to the Amazon basin. the vaccine for Hepatitis A and B is always good to half whether you are in Latin America or here. Besides all children in the US must know be immunized against Hep A & B.

lala96

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dnclem says on Aug 22, 2005, 21:10:

QUESTION Where would you get the birth certificate and letter translated to spanish. Do they have to be notarized in Spanish too. Does just any notary notarize in spanish? Where can I find more info on this.
Thanks,
Diana

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Diez Y Siete says on Aug 24, 2005, 16:17:

I was wondering the same thing!

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RolaParaTodaLaVida says on Aug 24, 2005, 19:25:

when my cousins and i were there "january 2004" we were both older than 18 so all we needed were our american passports. but when we got there they did advice us to have our colombian passports (since we have dual citizenship). we were only staying two weeks so it didnt matter. i believe that is more important if you are staying a longer period of time. After a certain amount of days you would start paying a tax per day if you are not a Colombian Citizen.

About the WATER...don't drink it. but do brush your teeth, take showers and so on. We never got sick. We stayed at my aunts house and we also went to Cartagena both places were fine. For drinks ...don't accept any ice. And always ask for bottle water. That way you minimize the changes of getting sick. Besides that diet for a few weeks before you go to Colombia cause the family will be feeding you non stop!

Enjoy.

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Diez Y Siete says on Aug 31, 2005, 07:56:

Whats so diffrent about the water? why does it not make people there sick? Why cant i drink it?

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Lucia Rojas says on Aug 31, 2005, 08:18:

water in Bogota Water in bogota is absolutely safe to drink... the only problem could be if you have really old, bad pipes... but you can tell inmediately by the taste. But the water is so good the campaing of the water company is actually "Tomate el agua de Bogota" "Drink the water in Bogota" so you will have no problem here.
Manizales has the most delicious pipe water ever. It´s the best I have tasted. It comes directly from the nevado del Ruiz and it´s really cold and refreshing.
If you´re in a small town I don´t reccomend drinking the water. i wouldn´t drink it either if I was in cali, barranquilla or cartagena. Cartagenas water system is the worst....I don´t know about medellin...
You will always get your juice done with water, so unless you´re planning to never have some fresh fruit juice... you will probably drink it.
The other thing is that the only way to have your body build the right antibodies is by drinking it. You might get diarreah for 2 days but that us it... and then you`re safe to drink it with no problem.
If you plan not to take a shower while you´re here, then you are going to be a very stinky gringa.... There is absolutely no problem with showering...

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 31, 2005, 17:40:

I don't think there's anything wrong with the water there. I always drink it right out of the toilet, er I mean tap, and I've never had any problems.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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CaryGrant says on Aug 31, 2005, 17:59:

Thank you, vicshere, I did mean not to swallow while showering or brushing teeth. As to people who say to go ahead, drink up - what works for you may not work for quince.

Quince: Europeans managed to kill millions of natives simply by passing along germs that the natives had never been exposed to. Same thing applies in reverse to Europeans/Americans/etc visiting the tropics. Ever heard of Montezuma's revenge? Colombian water isn't "bad," it just may contain things our systems have never seen before and can't handle. And will reject, possibly violently. :-O

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Diez Y Siete says on Aug 31, 2005, 20:06:

haha yea but isnt that in mexico? its impossible for me to go without drinking water though, because i am not allowed to drink soda, and i LOVE juice since thats all i can have bsides water, i guess if it starts to make me sick i will switch to bottled water?

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adrimm says on Aug 31, 2005, 20:15:

Bottled juice Problem solved. Yep or bottled water. Why can't you drink soft drinks? That's a shame, there are some wonderful Colombian soft drinks that I guess you'll miss out on.

CareyGrant is on the money, the local mix could overwhelm your system if your system has been coddled or used to entirely different mixes. But if you are game to try it (I have on occasion and suffered no ill effects), then ease into it gradually. Don't just drink liters and liters when you first arrive, start out with a bit at a time and see how you feel.

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flaleo says on Sep 1, 2005, 03:26:

You're not going to Mexico, it's Colombia. Don't be foolish, as long as you're not in a polluted area (same true for U.S.) you can drink the water to the extent that you can eat the food and drink the juices. If the water is going to make you sick, so is the food and juices.

Each person has a different body, but to imply that Colombia has drinking water unsafe for all Americans is ridiculous.

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utopiacowboy says on Sep 1, 2005, 09:17:

That's certainly the way they make it sound. I travelled in Mexico with a Mexicana and even she took a lot of precautions with the water and fruits and vegetables that had been washed in water. You don't need to take the same precautions in Colombia unless you are prone to that kind of ailment.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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