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Welcome to Colombia

Peso

Currency in Colombia

Today’s Weather

Sunny 13 °C
humidity 100% wind speed 5.54kph
Time 08:03 AM

Thursday

Basic Country Profile

Colombia Google Map

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
Capital: Bogota
Population: 47.7 million
Major Languages: Spanish
Major Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant
Currency: Peso
Terrain: Flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)
Climate: Tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Dial Code: +57
Time Zone: UTC – 05:00
Disability Population: 6.3%
Emergency Numbers: 123

Disability Legislations and Policies

Judge gavel on law books, wooden desk, top view

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) – Ratified on May 10th , 2011. Colombia’s CRPD State Party reports submitted to the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) can be read here –

Ley Estatutaria 1618 de 2013 – The Disabilities Act of 2013 aims to eliminate discrimination and ensure employment opportunities, provide access to healthcare, quality education, housing and transportation for persons with disabilities in Colombia. Read the text of the legislation, go to https://discapacidadcolombia.com

 

Travel Related Information

Woman in wheelchair
Woman in a wheelchair waiting for a lift machine to help her climb the stairs to exit a mass public transport system in Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia. Photo: DavidBautista / Shutterstock.com

Public buildings, sidewalk and transportation access is difficult for persons with disabilities. Most sidewalks are very uneven and rarely have ramps at intersections.

Many restaurants and hotels do not have ramps for people with mobility disabilities.

Major public transport systems, including the TransMilenio in Bogota and the metro in Medellin, have accessible stations but overcrowding can make travel difficult for persons with disabilities. The majority of Colombia’s taxis are small that are not particularly easy to get in or out of and often have little space for wheelchairs.

Turismo Accesible Colombia is a website (in Spanish) dedicated to accessible tourism and travel for persons with disabilities in Colombia.

There is not much information available about accessibility in Colombia. Visit this site for information shared by other travellers – https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz

Read more about Disability and Inclusion in Colombia, go to https://tbinternet.ohchr.org