Colombia Maps

Buying maps in Colombia can be a difficult process and some suppliers provide out of date copies. The best source is the Instituto Geográfico Augustín Codazzi (Bogotá: Monday-Friday 8.00 a.m.–4.30 p.m. Cra. 30, 48-51. Tel: 1-368-3443, E-mail: cig@igac.gov.co, URL: www.igac.gov.co), which has offices in most departmental capitals. Here you can obtain copies of a variety of national, departmental, regional and city maps that range in price from $2-5 per sheet. It also publishes Mapas de Ruta, a spiral-bound collection of maps perfect for motorists and bicyclists ($7).

It is always worth visiting the local tourist information center and asking in your hotel or hostel if they have, or know where best to obtain, local maps. Most Colombian cities are structured around the grid system thus making it relatively easy to find your way around. Calles are generally oriented North to South, and Carreras run East to West.

Here are some related tips to help plan your trip to Colombia: Colombia's Social Issues, El Valle Safety, Getting There and Away, Holidays and Fiestas, Capitanejo Holidays and Fiestas, Tours in Colombia, When to Go, Safety, Before You Go to Colombia and Money.