If you’re looking for a country that has everything, Colombia is probably the ideal destination. Within this diverse nation, you’ll find lost cities, traces of ancient civilisations, tropical jungles, rolling hills of coffee plantations, snowy peaks, long beaches, wandering paths, and more. It’s one of South America’s treasures and has left behind a dangerous reputation to bring you a wealth of marvels to explore.
Cartagena’s magic centre
Delving into Cartagena’s city centre, you’ll find yourself transported back 4 centuries as soon as you get a glimpse of the walled old quarter. Take a walk down streets that feature in masterpieces by authors like Gabriel García Marquez, admire the bougainvillaea as it tumbles from brightly coloured balconies, or just take in the mansions, plazas, and churches left by ancient colonisers.
Discover the La Guajira Desert
If you’re looking for adventure and fun, you need to visit this peninsular desert. It’s the northernmost point in South America and home to mangroves, impressive dunes, flamingos, and tiny Wayuu villages that will immerse you in 100% Colombian traditions and tastes.
Bogota – a mecca for museums
If you’re looking for some Indiana Jones-style hidden treasure vibes, Bogota’s Museum of Gold – one of the most amazing in the region – is for you. As well as gold troves, there are plenty of other museums that will allow you to contemplate a variety of artefacts, from the works of Botero and presidential items to the history of drug traffickers and their weapons, tile architecture, and much, much more.
The whales of the Pacific
One of the most impressive sights a human can ever see is the spectacle of 20-tonne whales leaping into the air against a rocky mountain backdrop. Every year, hundreds of humpbacks travel nearly 10,000km from the Antarctic to give birth and raise their young in the Pacific Ocean. During the process, the whales come so close to the Utría shore that you’ll find a short boat trip will bring you almost within touching distance of the gigantic beasts.
The sights and sounds of coffee plantations
Jump into a classic WW2 jeep and drive off for a coffee tasting adventure. Many of the most well-known estates in the coffee region have opened their doors to tourists, eager to show them why Colombian coffee is unique and to share their culture of hard work and dedication. Each visitor can harvest their own coffee beans from a plantation before driving back down to the farm where they can enjoy a cup of the excellent brew.
Jump into the Amazon
The sheer size of the Amazon River is impressive – the part that travels through Colombia alone is bigger than Germany – so if you decide to take a trip along it, you’ll need to plan to stop and rest. The accommodation on offer in the Amacayacu National Park and along the Yavarí River are excellent options and give you ample opportunity to contemplate the great diversity of ecosystems, flora, and fauna. In these parts, you can fish for piranhas, swim with wild dolphins, and even get up close and personal with monkeys, frogs, and caymans.
