Travel Resources:
Travelers need to cautious about the conditions of Colombia and practice safety. December through March are considered tourist-friendly with December being the busiest. The major attractions of Colombia are San Agustin Archeological Park and the Gold Museum. Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, and Cali are considered as ideal places for an introduction to the Colombian culture. Colombian cuisine can be an adventure in itself and is not for the faint-hearted. Ants, tortoise, cow’s and/or poultry intestines, and blood sausage are in that category.
| Resource | ISBN or ASIN | Best Price | Description |
Lonely Planet Colombia | 978-1741048278 | $18 | Good maps. Bogota coverage is excellent. Others lacking. |
| Colombia Travel Map | 978-1553411727 | $12 | 1:2,000,000 scale. One-sided. |
| Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World’s Greatest Outlaw by Mark Bowden | 978-0142000953 | $11 | The book describes the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar, a ruthless drug-lord billionaire who was executed in 1993 following a massive man-hunt sponsored by the US government. |
| Universal International Travel Adapter Plug | B0017K4CGK | $4 |
Philatelic Profile:
The first stamps of Colombia were a set of eight stamps released in 1859. The set (Scott #1 to #8) has the Coat of Arms theme in single colors. Each stamp catalogs for upwards of $100 MNH and $50 used.
The
country was called Granadine Federation (1858-61) at the time and
stamps from the period show that inscription. Some Tete beche pairs are
known to exist and those catalog for upwards of $3500. The coat of arms
them continued until 1877 when a new set of six stamps were issued in
1877. 
The set (Scott #73 to #79)
catalogs for around $150 MNH and $90 used. The designs show the condor,
Liberty Head, and a few Coat of Arms designs. The country was renamed
as United States of Colombia by that time and the inscription shows as
such. The country was named Republic of Colombia in 1885 and set of
three stamps were released in 1886. 
The set (Scott #129 to #131)
is remarkably inexpensive and catalogs for around $5 MNH and $2 used.
The designs show Coat of Arms, Simon Bolivar, and President Rafael
Nunez. Simon Bolivar along with Francisco de Paula Santander are
regarded as the leaders of the rebellion which started in 1810 to gain
independence from Spain. President Rafael Nunez was President of
Colombia for two terms starting in 1880 and was responsible for the new
Constitution of Colombia in 1886.
Colombia released a long set of twelve stamps in 1902 showing local scenes. The set (Scott #194 to #205)
catalogs for around $170 MNH or used. The set is imperforate but there
is a variety with sewing machine perforations. That set catalogs for
around double the imperforate set. The designs show Magdalena River,
Iron Quay at Sabanilla, and La Popa Hill in Cartagena. The Magdalena
River is Colombia’s main river stretching 950 miles. 
Colombia released a set of twelve stamps in 1917 to mark the centenary of Colombia independence from Spain. The set (Scott #339 to #350)
catalogs for around $100 MNH and $20 used. The designs show Colombian
patriots, monument to Battle of Boyaca, view of Cartagena, and Coat of
Arms. The patriots represented are Caldas, Torres, Narino, Santander,
Cordoba, Sucre, Cuervo, and Lozano. The Battle of Boyaca was the pivotal
battle that ended in the defeat of Spanish Royalist forces. This led to
the start of autonomous government in the Spanish provinces and the
independence of Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and the creation of Bolivia. Other issues of Colombia enjoying good philatelic interest include
:- A set of six stamps released in 1932 in the industry theme. The set (Scott #411 to #416) catalogs for around $15 MNH and $2 used. The designs show Emerald Mine, oil wells, coffee cultivation, platinum mine, gold mining, and a portrait of Christopher Columbus.
A long set of sixteen stamps released on January 26, 1935 to mark the third National Olympiad in Barranquilla. The set (Scott #421 to #436)
catalogs for around $1000 MNH and $850 used. The designs show soccer,
discus thrower, Allegory of the Olympiad, foot race, tennis, hurdling,
pier at Puerto Colombia, athlete in Stadium, baseball, view of the Bay,
baseball, swimming, vew of Barranquilla, monument to flag, Coat of Arms,
condor, and Post & Telegraph building. The National Olympic
Committee for Colombia was created the following year and recognized by
the International Olympic Committee in 1948. This set was followed in
1937 by a short set of three stamps in the same theme to mark the
National Olympiad in Manizales that year. That set is also fairly
valuable at around $32 MNH and $26 used. 
A
set of ten stamps released on May 6, 1940 to mark the first centenary
of the Death of General Francisco Santander, the independence war hero
who went on to become the President of the Republic of the Nueva
Granada. The set (Scott #475 to #484)
catalogs for around $85 MNH or used. The designs show portrait of
General Santander, Allegory, head of Santander, statue of Cucuta,
birthplace of Santander, church at Rosario, Paya, bridge at Boyaca,
death of General Santander, and invasion of the Liberators. 
A set of twenty two stamps released in 1956 showing local scenes classified as a departmental issue. The set (Scott #644 to #665)
catalogs for around $30 MNH and $10 used. The designs show docks of
Atlantico, industry at Antioquia, Cartagena Harbor at Bolivar, map, view
of San Andres Harbor, steel mill of Boyaca, cattle of Cordoba, San
Andres Harbor, cacao picker of Cauca, coffee picker of Caldas, Salt Mine
Chapel, tropical plants and map of Choco, harvester of Huila, banana
plantation of Magdalena, gold mining at Narifio, tobacco plantation of
Santander, oil wells of North Santander, cotton plantation of Tolima,
sugar industry of Cauca, Amazon river at Leticia, windmills and
panoramic view of La Guajira, and rubber plantations of Vaupes. 
A block of thirty stamps (Scott #879a-z)
released on April 25, 1980 in the “Learn to Write” theme. The designs
show a letter of the alphabet and corresponding animal or subject. The
set catalogs for around $25 MNH or used. 
A set of four stamps released on August 24, 1991 in the Pre-Columbian Artifacts theme. The set (Scott #1032 to #1035)
catalogs for around $4 MNH and a dollar for Used. The designs show
statue of cat god, pitcher from tomb of high official, statue with two
heads, and flying fish.
Colombia used the Spanish colonial real until 1820. Following independence, coins were minted specifically for Colombia and in 1837, the peso became the primary denomination for coins. Certain regional issues from Popayan, Santa Marta, Cartagena, and Cundinamarca also exist. United Provinces of Nueva Granada also had countermarked coinage from 1820 to 1837. Colombia has a long history of producing gold coins dating back to the 18th century.
Numismatic items of Colombia include:
| Item | Price Range | Description |
| Gold Coins | $200 and up | 19th century Escudos start around $200 in VF. 1968 Pope Paul Proofs start well into the 100s and go into the 1000s. |
| Other Coins | $2 and up | Centavos from the 1960s and 1970s in UNC start around $2. Off-center errors from the 1950s onwards in VF start around $20. Certified silver coins from the 1950s and prior dates in MS63 or better start around $50. Large silver proofs from the 1970s in UNC, UNCs from the mid-nineteenth century, etc go well into the 100s. |
| Paper Money | $2 and up | Common UNCs from the 1980s onward start around $2. 19th century UNCs start around $20. Bundles, Specimens, Early Large Notes in UNCs, etc start around $50 and go into the 100s. |
Collectible Memorabilia:
Coffee, chocolate, jewelry, handicrafts, leather and silver are popular buys. Art, and antiques to satisfy serious collectors are also available.
| Resource | Price Range | Description |
| Jewelry | $15 and up | Lab created Emerald jewelry start around $15. Certified Natural Emerald less than a carat start around $100 and can go into the 1000s depending on clarity and color. |
| Antiques | $10 and up | 19th century map prints start around $10. Originals start around $50. Pre-Columbian earthenware start around $100. |
| Art | $5 and up | Simple Molas Kunas (traditional costume cloth with patterns that are handmade using a reverse appliqué techinique) start around $5. Paintings by well-known artists like Gerardo Caballero, Luis Fernando Rodriguez, Samuel Reuda, Beatriz Gonzalez, Enrique Grau, Alejandro Obrego, etc go well into the 100s. |
Last Updated: 12/2015.
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