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COLOMBIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Famous for its coffee, Colombia is situated in the northwest corner of South America. With a long history of guerrilla warfare Colombia was not always a prime tourist destination. However, recent peace processes and demobilized troops have increased the country’s popularity greatly. Gorgeous beaches along both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines combine with historic cities and a colourful culture to make this an exciting destination for visitors.
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COLOMBIA WEATHER - When to Go
Due to Colombia’s location near the equator, temperatures do not vary considerably throughout the year, regardless of season. The only variation recorded is that of rainfall. The country is divided up into five geographical regions that have markedly different climates due to their altitude. These are recorded as the Tropical Rainforest, Tropical Savannah, Steppe, Tropical desert and Tropical Mountain areas.
While the Tropical Rainforest has high humidity and hot temperatures with heavy rainfall all year round, the Tropical Savannah is semi-humid and has both a rainy and dry season. The steppe region has five months of dry weather per year whereas the Tropical Mountain become colder the higher the altitude. Though an average estimate shows that June to July are generally the driest times in the country as a whole, tourists would find that any time of year is a good time to visit Colombia. You should bring along a wardrobe as diversified as the country itself.
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COLOMBIA HIGHLIGHTS - Places to Visit
- Bogata: Sitting at a lofty height of over 2,500 metres above sea level, Bogotá is the country’s capital and a destination brimming with attractions of cultural interest. Museums are especially plentiful and include venues such as the Gold Museum (El Museo del Oro), the National Museum (Museo Nacional), the Museum of Colonial Art and the Museum of Modern Art of Bogota. The city’s dining and evening entertainment scenes are lively and boosted by a large selection of establishments.
- Cartagena is located on the northern Caribbean coast of Columbia. Cartagena was founded in 1533 but found itself at the centre of many pillages and attacks including those of pirates. It was for this reason that the city was fortified with walls, castles and fortresses. This colonial architecture is the main attraction of the city and can be seen in the walls baring cannons, the old city and the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. Though Cartagena de Indias is a thriving, modern city, it is also a UNESCO site that reflects Colombia’s rich heritage.
- Tayrona National Natural Park is a one of the country’s most popular nature reserves that encompasses the diversity of the Colombian terrain. Biodiversity ranges from arid Caribbean beach fronts to the mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range up to 900m above sea level. The park is home to a wide range of both animals and plant species including birds, deer and many different bats. You can hike a variety of paths within the park that take lead to various noteworthy ecological destinations including the Piedras River, the Pools, the San Juan Out and the Castilletes Beach. The Archaeologic Museum of Chairama located at the Cañaveral Site has evidence of early civilizations that lived within the park up until the early 1600’s.
- Amacayacu National Park & Amazon Jungle: A trip to Amacayacu National Park provides you with the opportunity to explore the Amazon jungle. This 293 500 hectare area is based within the southern Amazon trapezoid. Features include viewing the varzea (seasonally flooded rainforest) as well as river systems, swamps, marshes and other beautiful areas that are characteristic of the Amazon forest. Arranged tours will allow you to visit native Indian settlements. The amount of wildlife in the park is staggering and includes among many others the lion marmoset, 469 bird species, enormous reptiles, crocodile, turtles, jaguars, tapirs, river dolphins and the famous Amazonian manatee.
- Sante Fe de Antioquia is an agricultural city that produces maize, beans and coffee. The Colonial centre was established in 1541 and literally seems to be suspended in time as it retains all of the architecture from its early beginnings. This has resulted in entire city being declared a National monument. Places of interest include the Bridge of the West, the Plaza Mayor Juan de Corral, the Archiepiscopal Palace, the Museum of Religious Art, the House of the Two Palms, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and a famous ranch named La Playita.
- Other cities and towns of interest: Other colonial towns of interest include Villa de Leyva, Popayan, and Santa Cruz de Mompox. Each hosts monuments and architecture that emulates the rich history of the country. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá and Las Lajas Cathedral are two other popular tourist destinations. Medellín, the country’s second largest city, offers pretty parks, modern architecture and art galleries.
- Beaches: Colombia has a Caribbean coast of 1,600km in length and a Pacific Ocean coast 1,300km long. The result is over three hundred sun drenched tropical beaches that play host to both resorts and untouched public beaches that epitomize the Garden of Eden. The Caribbean coast is characterized by beautiful beaches with swaying palm trees, tropical vegetation and calm waters. Conversely the Pacific coast has stronger tides and dark sands. Both however boast warm water and amazing diving opportunities. Some famous areas are Chocó , Providencia Island, Pacífico, San Andrés and Santa Marta.
- Other Highlights - Nature: Colombia has policies that strongly favour the eco tourist. This coupled with the wide variety of natural environments on offer has resulted in a plethora of natural parks and attractions to choose from. These include among others the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, Cabo de la Vela, the Cocora valley , the Pacific islands of Malpelo and Gorgona, the central Andean region's Tatacoa Desert and the Amazon River basin. The Andean mountains and the glaciers based within them are simply beautiful to behold. These also give rise to strong rivers which are the ideal location for river rafting.
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COLOMBIA HOSPITALITY - Eat, Drink, Sleep
Food and eating out: Colombian dishes have both African and Spanish influences. National specialities include Ajiaco which is a chicken stew with potatoes that is served with cream, corn on the cob and capers. Arepas are corn pancakes that are usually eaten in the place of bread and may be served with different fillings. If you are a meat lover then visiting the area of Medellin, Bendeja paisa is well worth trying. It is a meat dish served with fried plantain, red beans and cassava rice. On the Caribbean coast seafood is plentiful and you will likely be able to choose fresh fish and how you would like it prepared. Lobster is a specialty of this region. Colombians rarely drink alcoholic drinks with their meals but wine is served in most restaurants. You would do well to select an Argentine wine over a Colombian one.
Entertainment and Nightlife: Clubs, cafes and bars are plentiful in Colombia. All the main cities have a vibrant nightlife but Cali has been identified as the country’s party capital. There are no licensing hours in Colombia so both clubs and pubs select their own closing hours, some of which go on until well after sunrise. A popular Colombian alcoholic drink is Canelazo. This is a rum based cocktail and can be enjoyed either hot or cold.
Accommodation: Accommodation options in Colombia vary from five star hotels to backpacker’s hostels and everything in between. Visitors wishing to indulge in the beauty of the National Parks will find lovely cabins and chalets to stay in as well as some camping options. Camping is however prohibited in the Amazon forest due to the extent of dangerous animals that live there. Many of the historical towns and cities offer hotels based in historical buildings which provide a quaint and authentic touch to your holiday.
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COLOMBIA FLIGHTS - Flying from the UK
Colombia is best reached via one of its larger airports, which includes those at Bogotá, Barranquilla and Medellínn. Connections between these airports and and North America are available. As there are no direct flights between the UK and Colombia, either fly there via the USA, or fly to Bogata via Spain (Madrid), Brazil (Sao Paulo) or Venezuela (Caracas).
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