Bogotá

El Dorado International Airport, also known as Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento Airport, is located about 15 km away from Bogota's city centre. The airport is a major travel hub for South and Central America. The fastest and safest way to go to and from the airport is by Uber. Since ridesharing apps operate in a grey legal area, the drivers will likely ask you to be picked up on the second (departures) level or at the parking lot outside the terminal. They will also want you to sit in the front seat. Busses, including Transmilenio, pass by the Terminal 1. You will need a Tullave public transit card to take the bus, though. If you are staying at a hotel, ask about a shuttle bus.

Bogota is the third highest capital in the world (after La Paz and Quito) with a ridiculous elevation of 2,625 m (8,612 ft). Through the year, daytime temperatures will stay around 18-20° C (mid-60s F), but you will definitely want a thin jacket in the evening. December through March are often described as "dry" season, but, honestly, you can count on it being overcast every day. It will rain most afternoons and evenings in Bogota, no matter the month.

Opinions of Bogota's safety vary widely. The days of rampant violent crime are thankfully over. Pickpocketing and street robberies aren't uncommon, though. Bogotanos will be quick to give you their favourite piece of advice: No dar papaya — the local equivalent of "don't get caught with your pants down". In other words, stay vigilant and don't put yourself into a vulnerable position. Stick to streets that have other people, don't take walks after dark, limit the use of your phone out in the open, watch out for pickpockets and generally don't carry too many valuables. Allegedly, downtown and especially the street that leads to Monserrate cable car and funicular are the most risky places for tourists.

As a tourist, you are most likely to catch one of the Transmilenio busses along Avenida Caracas or Carrera 7 (referred to as "la septima" — the seventh). The busses run often and are relatively safe. Watch out for pickpockets, though. You can pay for your trip only with a Tullave public transit card. You can buy them at most stations on Avenida Caracas and recharge them at the same place, as well as in some convenient stores. Cash only, unfortunately. Google Maps is alright for planning your trip, but Moovit app works better in Bogota. Keep in mind that a lot of busses follow express routes and don't stop rarely. Screens on the bus will indicate indicate two stops: the next one and the one after. The letter K stands for Carrera and C stands for Calle.

The main public post carrier in Colombia is the "4-72"; the office closest to you may be located on their website. It is important to note, however, that 4-72 is notoriously unreliable, and anything more valuable than a simple postcard is best sent via a private carrier, such as DHL. 4-72 has a reported success rate of somewhere between 70 and 50 percent, meaning that up to half of all mail sent through them is gone without a trace and never arrives at the intended addressee. It is also quite pricey to send mail abroad, especially if you choose to go for the "correo certificado" options, which allows one to track each mailing's location. To send with "certificado", you'll need to arrive at a physical office in person and present your official ID/passport number.

+57 is Colombia's country code, 601 is the area code for Bogota. +57 601 will then normally be followed by a 7-digit local phone number.