36 GENERAL INFORMATION
paperwork with you if you want to visit Tayrona. It would be a tragedy to miss
Parque Tayrona for the lack of a document. Ten days must elapse after getting
your shot before you can enter the park. There is a Red Cross office at El Dorado
Airport in Bogotá where you can get the shot at a fraction of the cost than you
would in a Western country.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Bogotá is the third highest capital in the world at around 2,600 meters/8,612
feet. Travelers must adjust to this altitude when they arrive in Bogotá. It's
recommended that travelers take it easy for the first twenty-four hours in
Bogotá. Drinking alcohol and excessive walking the first day you're in Bogotá
may lead to altitude sickness. It's recommended to drink plenty of water before
arriving in Bogotá and for a few days. Many travelers report headaches and a
sick feeling the first time they visit Bogotá. If this happens, take aspirin and relax
in your hotel. This clears up very quickly and your body will adjust to the
altitude.
SUNBURN
It's highly recommended that you protect yourself with sunblock and with
clothing while in Colombia. When you're in the mountains and the outdoors, the
sun can have a painful effect. On the coast, the sun can be overwhelming for
some people. You can easily buy sunblock anywhere in Colombia.
TIME ZONE
Colombia falls within the GMT-5 time zone. The whole country is in the same
time zone as New York City in the winter, and as Chicago in the summer. This is
due to daylight savings in the Northern Hemisphere (like most tropical countries,
clocks never change in Colombia). Also, because it is located so close to the
equator, there are 12 hours of daylight every day of the year.