Colombia and Panama

To get to Isla de Providencia you can fly either through Panama City, Panama, or through Bogotá, Colombia.  Depending on what you choose it may be worth to spend a night in this city and go sightseeing.

Colombia

Colombia has a reputation in the world of being a dangerous country that is not suitable for traveling.  But in actuality, Colombia is a beautiful and very diverse country, of the sort that is difficult to find in this world.  Colombia offers two oceans, tropical rain forests, savannas, areas with heightened humidity, bodies of water, mountains covered by snow and big cities such as Bogotá, a city of 7 million residents. Colombia is the second most diverse country in the world in terms of species variety per unit of area. 10% of all existing species on earth are found in Colombia.

Republic of Colombia
Official language	Spanish
Capital	Bogotá, D.C
Population	43 millions
Currency	Peso (COP)
Time zone	UTC-5
Calling code	+57

Places of interest in Bogotá:

- Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)
- Cerro de Montserrate (Place of pilgrimage and an observation point that can be reached by means of ropeway)
- La Candelaria (typical Colombian architecture in Bogotá)
- Observatory
- Colpatria Tower (the tallest building in Colombia with a restaurant on the top floor)
- Plaza de Bolivar (famous square that is very important for the country's history)

If you want to know more about Colombia please watch the following movie and see for yourself how diverse and friendly a country Colombia truly is.

“Colombia, the only risk is wanting to stay. ”

Should you decide to include a stop in Bogotá during your trip to Providencia, we recommend staying in the following hotel situated in Bogotá's downtown.

Hotel Bacatá
Hotel Bacatá is situated right in the center of Bogotá, just a few minutes away from many shops, restaurants and the Gold Museum.  The hotel has more than 200 rooms of superior standard.  The price is 200,000 peso / $91 per person, per night.

Avenida – Calle 19 № 5 – 20
Tel.: 057 – 1 – 2817129
http://www.hbacata.com.co/

Panama

The second way to reach Isla de Providencia is through Panama City.  The flight from Panama City to San Andrés takes less than an hour.

This million-person metropolis at the mouth of Panama Canal displays a combination of modern architecture with buildings of its colonial past, at once pervaded by ruins and well-developed tourist infrastructure. It is worthwhile to visit the old city of "Casco Viejo" that today is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains various religious buildings, the National Theatre, a park, as well as the worth-seeing Presidential Palace and a multitude of other historic buildings.  Whoever visits this Central American country must not miss making a visit to its structure of technological prominence. The construction of Panama Canal was finished in 1914 and is the most important shipping passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It stretches throughout several National parks where one can find very impressive flora and fauna. Tourists can have the best look at the Canal from the Miraflores locks or from a famous bridge called "Puente de las Américas".

Important information about Panama:

Republic of Panama
Official language	Spanish
Capital	Panama City
Population	4 millions
Currency	Balboa, US Dollar
Time zone	UTC-5
Calling code	+507

Notable places of interest in Panama City:

- Miraflores locks
- Pedro-Miguel-locks
- Casco Viejo
- Panamá la vieja (City of ruins, museum)
- Palacio de las Garzas (Presidential Palace)
- Calzada (Dam parallel to the Canal entrance)
- Zoo and a botanic garden.

If you have an intermediate stop in Panama City, we recommend the following hotel:

Hotel Milan
Hotel Milan is situated in the downtown area. Restaurants and shops are within walking distance of a few minutes. The recently constructed hotel is still in great condition and is clean. There is a computer with internet connection in the lobby that is free for guests. You'll have difficulties finding another such hotel in the city downtown for such reasonable prices. The room costs around $40 per person, per night.

Av. Eusebio A. Morales # 31
Tel. +507-263-61 30
E-Mail: hotelmilan@cwpanama.net