Colombia is the only country in South America with access to both the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. Its rapid economic growth is only outmatched by China, and the country has extensive supplies of coal and petroleum. Despite this, about 70% of the territory is powered by renewable energy sources. The industries of electronics, IT, shipbuilding, and tourism are actively developing and contributing to the wealth of the country.

Colombia makes continued investments in its film industry. Every year, it holds the Cartagena Film Festival — the oldest in Latin America. It also supports the export of pop culture and has already produced such music stars as Shakira, Carlos Vives, and Juanes. 

The Colombian Academy of Language is the oldest Spanish language academy in Latin America. It promotes literary traditions of prose and poetry which date back to the first works of indigenous tribes. Probably the most notable of the Colombian writers is Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the author of “100 Years of Solitude”.

Colombia can boast numerous endemic species of butterflies, birds, and fish. A country of wild greenery, it has over 50,000 different types of plants. The landscapes also vary dramatically: from snow-capped mountain peaks in the Andes to the Amazonian rainforests to savannas and sandy beaches — Colombia has it all. 

The climate of Colombia is diverse. Even though the country sits on the Equator, it counts 4 different climate zones due to the height differences throughout the terrain. The temperature doesn’t fluctuate much in the course of the year, however there is a different amount of rainfall depending on the season. 

The medical services in Colombia are of the highest quality in Latin America. Over 97% of the population is covered by either public or private health insurance, which explains the high healthcare index of the country. 

Kindergartens

Pre-school educational standard, entry requirements and tuition plan may vary considerably depending on the kindergarten you choose. Expats can enroll their children to public kindergartens, however many go for private centers as they run higher standards, smaller groups and a wider choice of extracurriculars.

Kids who do not speak Spanish may find it difficult adapting to a public kindergarten. However, there is a high number of international schools in Bogota offering kindergarten programs in English, German or French.

At the age of 5, children enter a transitional year to prepare for elementary school.

Schools

The basic education cycle is compulsory and consists of 9 grades. A child can then complete grades 10–11, which are not compulsory.

As with kindergartens, there is a number of international school available which run tuition in English, German and French, where English is by far the most popular option. In addition, private schools base their curriculum on international standards and have special academic, sports, artistic and technological programs.