Restaurants offer local and international cuisine. Local dishes are varied and tasty, with a touch of Spanish influence. Colombian wines are generally of poor quality. Chilean and Argentinian wines are available in restaurants at reasonable prices.

Things to know: Table service is the norm. Colombians rarely drink alcohol (except lager) with meals. Gaseosa is the name given to non-alcoholic, carbonated drinks. There are no licensing hours.

National specialities:
• Ajiaco (chicken stew with herbs, different potato varieties, cream, corn and capers).
• Arepas (hard corn pancakes, eaten with savoury toppings).
• Bandeja paisa (meat with avocado, rice, fried plantain and red beans), typical to Medellín.
• Mariscos (seafood) is a speciality on the Caribbean coast - lobsters in particular.

National drinks:
• Tinto (small black coffee) - but this term is also used to describe red wine or vino tinto.
• Aguila beer.
• Aguardiente (a fiery aniseed-flavoured spirit).Canelazo (rum-based cocktail taken hot or cold).
Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: A 10% tip is usual in restaurants.

The hot-blooded Colombian people are known for their vibrant nightlife, with busy restaurants, numerous parties and nightclubs filled with dancers twisting hips to the beats of salsa, cumbia and merengue. The busiest nights are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Bogotá in particular offers ballet, opera, drama and music, as well as casinos.

Goods to look out for include gold jewellery, art, antiques and leather products. Colombia produces first-grade precious stones, and the emeralds are among the most perfect in the world. Bogotá has numerous large shopping malls as well as several distinct shopping districts.

Shopping hours: In colder cities such as Bogotá, typically Mon-Sat 1100-2100. In hotter cities, Mon-Sat 0900-2100.