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Colombia trivia: 48 questions and answers

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The country at a glance

  1. Which of these countries does NOT share a land border with Colombia?

    1. A. Bolivia
    2. B. Panama
    3. C. Ecuador
    4. D. Venezuela
    Show the answer

    Bolivia. Bolivia does not border Colombia. Colombia's land neighbours are Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador.

  2. Colombia has coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. The Caribbean lies to the north of Colombia and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

  3. Who is Colombia named after?

    1. A. Christopher Columbus
    2. B. Simón Bolívar
    3. C. Amerigo Vespucci
    4. D. Francisco Pizarro
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    Christopher Columbus. Colombia is named after Christopher Columbus, Cristóbal Colón in Spanish.

History

  1. Which date is celebrated as Colombia's Independence Day?

    1. A. 20 July
    2. B. 7 August
    3. C. 12 October
    4. D. 4 July
    Show the answer

    20 July. 20 July is Independence Day, remembering the day in 1810 when Bogotá removed the Spanish viceroy and formed its own government.

  2. According to the famous story, what everyday object sparked the protests in Bogotá on 20 July 1810?

    1. A. A flower vase
    2. B. A cup of coffee
    3. C. A horse
    4. D. A church bell
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    A flower vase. A flower vase. A Spanish merchant refused to lend one, and the quarrel was used to stir up the crowd against Spanish rule.

  3. Panama was part of Colombia until 1903.

    True or false?

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    True. True. Panama declared its independence from Colombia on 3 November 1903, with the backing of the United States.

  4. Who led the army that won the Battle of Boyacá in 1819?

    1. A. Simón Bolívar
    2. B. José de San Martín
    3. C. Francisco Pizarro
    4. D. Blas de Lezo
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    Simón Bolívar. Simón Bolívar led the victory at Boyacá, which decided the independence of New Granada.

  5. In the referendum of 2 October 2016, a majority of Colombian voters approved the first peace deal with the FARC.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. Voters narrowly rejected it, so a revised agreement was signed on 24 November 2016 and approved by Congress.

  6. To whom did the FARC hand over their weapons in 2017?

    1. A. The United Nations
    2. B. The Colombian army
    3. C. The Catholic Church
    4. D. The government of Cuba
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    The United Nations. The United Nations received the FARC's weapons. The handover was completed on 27 June 2017.

  7. President Juan Manuel Santos received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. Santos received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016, the year of the peace agreement with the FARC.

  8. What set off the Bogotazo riots of 9 April 1948?

    1. A. The murder of the Liberal leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán
    2. B. The separation of Panama
    3. C. An earthquake in Bogotá
    4. D. The death of Simón Bolívar
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    The murder of the Liberal leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán. The murder of the Liberal leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán in Bogotá set off the riots, which destroyed much of the city centre.

Food and drink

  1. Ajiaco, the chicken and potato soup with guascas herb, is the classic dish of which city?

    1. A. Bogotá
    2. B. Cartagena
    3. C. Leticia
    4. D. Barranquilla
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    Bogotá. Bogotá. There it is called ajiaco santafereño, after the city's old name, Santa Fe.

  2. The huge bandeja paisa platter comes from which region?

    1. A. Antioquia and the coffee region
    2. B. The Amazon
    3. C. The Pacific coast
    4. D. The Llanos plains
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    Antioquia and the coffee region. Antioquia and the coffee region. 'Paisa' is the name for the people of that part of Colombia.

  3. In a national competition in 2006, the arepa was chosen as Colombia's cultural symbol.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. The competition was organised by Semana magazine, and the arepa won.

  4. What is the dough of a typical Colombian empanada made from?

    1. A. Corn
    2. B. Rye flour
    3. C. Puff pastry
    4. D. Rice paper
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    Corn. Corn. The corn dough, fried until crisp, sets Colombian empanadas apart from the wheat-pastry kinds of many other countries.

  5. Colombian natilla, the Christmas pudding, is made with lots of eggs, like Spanish natillas.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. Colombian natilla is made with milk, panela, cinnamon and cornflour, but no eggs.

  6. Which fried cheese balls are eaten with natilla at Christmas?

    1. A. Buñuelos
    2. B. Patacones
    3. C. Empanadas
    4. D. Arepas
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    Buñuelos. Buñuelos, golden balls of dough made with fresh cheese, are a Christmas tradition eaten with natilla.

  7. Aguapanela is made by dissolving panela in water. What is panela?

    1. A. Hardened sugar cane juice
    2. B. Dried coffee cherries
    3. C. Ground corn
    4. D. Coconut cream
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    Hardened sugar cane juice. Panela is hardened sugar cane juice, a kind of unrefined sugar.

  8. Patacones are made from which food, fried twice?

    1. A. Green plantain
    2. B. Potato
    3. C. Cassava
    4. D. Pumpkin
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    Green plantain. Green plantain. The slices are fried, flattened and fried again until crisp.

Cities

  1. Which Colombian city is known as the capital of salsa?

    1. A. Cali
    2. B. Bogotá
    3. C. Leticia
    4. D. Villa de Leyva
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    Cali. Cali is famous for its love of salsa, with dance schools, clubs and a yearly salsa festival.

  2. In which Colombian city did Simón Bolívar die in 1830?

    1. A. Santa Marta
    2. B. Bogotá
    3. C. Popayán
    4. D. Cali
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    Santa Marta. Santa Marta. Bolívar spent his last weeks there and died at the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino.

  3. Which city is called the 'White City' and is famous for its Holy Week processions?

    1. A. Popayán
    2. B. Barranquilla
    3. C. Medellín
    4. D. Leticia
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    Popayán. Popayán, named for its whitewashed colonial buildings. UNESCO recognised its Holy Week processions in 2009.

Landmarks

  1. The underground cathedral at Zipaquirá is carved out of what?

    1. A. Rock salt
    2. B. Coal
    3. C. Limestone
    4. D. Ice
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    Rock salt. Rock salt. The church lies about 200 m underground in the tunnels of a salt mine.

  2. Which people built Ciudad Perdida, the Lost City, around AD 800?

    1. A. The Tairona
    2. B. The Incas
    3. C. The Aztecs
    4. D. The Maya
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    The Tairona. The Tairona built it in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Kogi people, their descendants, call it Teyuna.

  3. Visitors can reach Ciudad Perdida by cable car.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. Visitors reach it on foot, on a jungle trek of several days that ends with about 1,200 stone steps.

  4. The golden Muisca raft in Bogotá's Gold Museum is linked to which legend?

    1. A. El Dorado
    2. B. The Fountain of Youth
    3. C. Atlantis
    4. D. The Seven Cities of Cíbola
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    El Dorado. El Dorado. The raft is thought to show a ceremony in which a new Muisca ruler offered gold at a sacred lake.

  5. Which of these is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

    1. A. San Agustín Archaeological Park
    2. B. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
    3. C. The Rock of Guatapé
    4. D. Monserrate
    Show the answer

    San Agustín Archaeological Park. San Agustín Archaeological Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The Salt Cathedral, the Rock of Guatapé and Monserrate are not on the list.

  6. About how many steps lead to the top of the Rock of Guatapé?

    1. A. 708
    2. B. 70
    3. C. 3,000
    4. D. 12,000
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    708. 708 steps climb one side of the 200 m granite rock to the viewpoint at the top.

  7. Cartagena's walls and forts were built to protect the port from pirates and enemy fleets.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. The walls took about two centuries to build, and in 1741 the defences helped the city hold off a British fleet.

  8. How high is the top of Monserrate, above Bogotá?

    1. A. 3,152 m
    2. B. 1,152 m
    3. C. 5,152 m
    4. D. 652 m
    Show the answer

    3,152 m. 3,152 m above sea level. You can go up by cable car, by funicular or on foot.

Fun facts

  1. As of September 2026, Colombia has more bird species than any other country.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. Colombia has over 1,900 species of birds, more than Europe and North America combined.

  2. Colombia has historically been the world's largest producer of which green gemstone?

    1. A. Emerald
    2. B. Jade
    3. C. Peridot
    4. D. Malachite
    Show the answer

    Emerald. Emerald. In the ten years up to 2005, Colombia mined 47 percent of the world's emeralds.

  3. What is Colombia's national tree?

    1. A. The Quindío wax palm
    2. B. The coffee tree
    3. C. The ceiba
    4. D. The mango tree
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    The Quindío wax palm. The Quindío wax palm, which can grow to 45 m. The best place to see it is the Cocora Valley.

  4. In tejo, a traditional Colombian game, the targets contain small packets of gunpowder that explode when hit.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. The small envelopes of gunpowder are called mechas, and a good hit makes a loud bang.

  5. George Washington's home, Mount Vernon, is named after a British admiral who attacked which Colombian city in 1741?

    1. A. Cartagena
    2. B. Bogotá
    3. C. Medellín
    4. D. Cali
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    Cartagena. Cartagena. Lawrence Washington served under Admiral Vernon there and later named his estate after him.

  6. Which Colombian river is nicknamed the 'River of Five Colours'?

    1. A. Caño Cristales
    2. B. The Magdalena
    3. C. The Amazon
    4. D. The Cauca
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    Caño Cristales. Caño Cristales, in the Serranía de la Macarena. From July to November its bed turns red, yellow, green and blue.

  7. Which city holds one of the biggest carnivals in the world, recognised by UNESCO in 2003?

    1. A. Barranquilla
    2. B. Bogotá
    3. C. Leticia
    4. D. Popayán
    Show the answer

    Barranquilla. Barranquilla. Its carnival, four days of parades and music before Lent, was recognised by UNESCO in 2003.

Words

  1. In Colombia, what do you get if you order 'un tinto'?

    1. A. A small black coffee
    2. B. A glass of red wine
    3. C. A cup of hot chocolate
    4. D. A fruit juice
    Show the answer

    A small black coffee. A small black coffee. In Colombia 'tinto' means a cup of black coffee.

  2. What does the everyday word 'plata' mean in Colombia?

    1. A. Money
    2. B. Plate
    3. C. Beach
    4. D. Beer
    Show the answer

    Money. Money. Literally 'plata' means silver.

  3. 'Sumercé', literally 'your grace', is a warm, polite way to say 'you' in Boyacá and around Bogotá.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. It is typical of Cundinamarca and Boyacá.

Phrases

  1. Someone thanks you. What do you reply?

    1. A. De nada
    2. B. Buenas noches
    3. C. No entiendo
    4. D. ¿Cuánto cuesta?
    Show the answer

    De nada. 'De nada' means 'you're welcome'.

  2. What does the Colombian saying 'No dar papaya' mean?

    1. A. Don't make yourself an easy target
    2. B. Don't eat fruit before lunch
    3. C. Don't forget to tip
    4. D. Don't speak too fast
    Show the answer

    Don't make yourself an easy target. It means don't make yourself an easy target, for example by showing your phone or valuables.

  3. '¿Quiubo?' is a formal greeting used mainly in official letters.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. '¿Quiubo?', from '¿Qué hubo?', is a casual spoken greeting, like 'Hi, what's up?'

Local customs and tips

  1. According to UK travel advice, in which Colombian city is tap water safe to drink?

    1. A. Bogotá
    2. B. Cartagena
    3. C. Leticia
    4. D. Santa Marta
    Show the answer

    Bogotá. Bogotá. Elsewhere the UK Foreign Office advises bottled water and no ice in drinks.

  2. UK travel advice says it is best to hail taxis in the street in Colombian cities.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. Do not hail taxis in the street. Use a licensed taxi booked by phone, through an app or by your hotel.

  3. Why should you take it easy on your first day in Bogotá?

    1. A. The city is at about 2,640 m, and altitude sickness is a risk
    2. B. The city is below sea level
    3. C. Shops close for three days a week
    4. D. The air is very humid
    Show the answer

    The city is at about 2,640 m, and altitude sickness is a risk. The city is at about 2,640 m, and altitude sickness is a risk. Rest, drink water and go easy on alcohol.

  4. Where is it safest to take out cash, according to UK travel advice?

    1. A. At an ATM inside a bank, supermarket or shopping centre, during opening hours
    2. B. At a street ATM late at night
    3. C. From a money changer on the street
    4. D. From a taxi driver
    Show the answer

    At an ATM inside a bank, supermarket or shopping centre, during opening hours. At an ATM inside a bank, supermarket or shopping centre, during opening hours. Robberies near cash machines do happen.

  5. As of September 2026, Colombia recommends filling in the online Check-MIG form between 72 hours and one hour before you travel.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. The form speeds up entry. Also make sure your passport is stamped when you arrive.

Answer key

The country at a glance

  1. A. Bolivia
  2. True
  3. A. Christopher Columbus

History

  1. A. 20 July
  2. A. A flower vase
  3. True
  4. A. Simón Bolívar
  5. False
  6. A. The United Nations
  7. True
  8. A. The murder of the Liberal leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán

Food and drink

  1. A. Bogotá
  2. A. Antioquia and the coffee region
  3. True
  4. A. Corn
  5. False
  6. A. Buñuelos
  7. A. Hardened sugar cane juice
  8. A. Green plantain

Cities

  1. A. Cali
  2. A. Santa Marta
  3. A. Popayán

Landmarks

  1. A. Rock salt
  2. A. The Tairona
  3. False
  4. A. El Dorado
  5. A. San Agustín Archaeological Park
  6. A. 708
  7. True
  8. A. 3,152 m

Fun facts

  1. True
  2. A. Emerald
  3. A. The Quindío wax palm
  4. True
  5. A. Cartagena
  6. A. Caño Cristales
  7. A. Barranquilla

Words

  1. A. A small black coffee
  2. A. Money
  3. True

Phrases

  1. A. De nada
  2. A. Don't make yourself an easy target
  3. False

Local customs and tips

  1. A. Bogotá
  2. False
  3. A. The city is at about 2,640 m, and altitude sickness is a risk
  4. A. At an ATM inside a bank, supermarket or shopping centre, during opening hours
  5. True

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