Located on the northern tip of South America, Colombia is home to the Andes mountains, lush valleys, alpine lakes, snow-capped volcanoes and numerous coffee plantations.
Take a stroll on Colombia’s gorgeous tropical beaches along either Caribbean Sea or the Pacific Ocean, a coastline with a combined length of 3208 kilometres/1993 miles.
Visit Bogotá, the capital city located in the heart of Colombia, and enjoy restaurants and hotels amid 300-year-old homes and churches. When on the Caribbean coast, visit Cartagena to see a walled, colonial Old Town, a 16th-century castle and nearby coral reefs.
Indigenous people have inhabited this region for thousands of years, taking advantage of the fertile landscape.
The Spanish came in the early 1500s conquering and colonizing the region. Today there is a melting pot of cultures, including a blend of native, colonial, African, and European influences.
The country has had its fair share of hard time since the 1960s.
Mining, natural gas and the drug trade have all taken their toll on this land. However, the past decade has shown a rapid decline in violence and instability, so that Colombia has become a much safer place to vacation.
Other attractions
- Taste and tour the country’s many coffee plantations in Eje Cafetero.
- Shop in the nation’s best boutique shops and dine at the top restaurants in the wealthier neighborhoods of North Bogota.
- Visit the museums of Bogota, including the Gold Museum.
- Explore the colorful homes and elaborate street murals in the neighborhoods of Comuna 13.
- The Lost City, built and occupied by Tayrona Indians between the 8th and 14th centuries, is hidden deep in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains and is also a must see.
- Head to some of the quiet cays just offshore for a lovely day out.
- Visit the remote peninsula La Guajira Peninsula. It’s an oasis of bird-covered mangrove swamps and sand dunes, where the La Guajira Desert meets the Caribbean Sea.
Getting there
Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, Pereira, Cali, and Barranquilla all have an international airport. Most visitors fly into Bogota and some tourists may take connecting flights to smaller airports from there. You can also take ferries or pangas out to the more remote islands, and the public transportation on land is cheap and semi-efficient.
Note - Travel to any destination may be adversely affected by conditions including (but not limited) to security, entry and exit requirements, health conditions, local laws and culture, natural disasters and climate. Regardless of your destination, check your local travel advisory board or department for travel advice about that location when planning your trip and again shortly before you leave.
