Colombia boasts an enviable geographical location with breathtaking coastlines along both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. After many years of conflict due to its strategic location, the country is now re-emerging as a desirable tourist destination. Colombia offers a wide range of captivating highlights, diverse landscapes, rich culture, and with newfound stability, makes it an exciting destination for travelers seeking adventure, history, and natural beauty.
Bogota: Colombia's capital city boasts a wealth of cultural attractions, including incredible museums, graceful cathedrals, and architectural wonders. By day, immerse yourself in history and culture, and by night, experience the city's vibrant nightlife. Don't miss La Candelaria, a neighborhood filled with cafes, parks, and points of interest.
Cartagena: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage-listed walled city on the Caribbean coast, often described as more Spanish than Spain itself. Learn about its pirate history, wander through enchanting narrow streets in the old town, and soak up the Afro-Caribbean flavor.
The Coffee Triangle: This beautiful region is renowned for producing the majority of Colombia's coffee, considered some of the best in the world. Visitors can sample local coffee while exploring mountain passes, coffee farms, and cloud forests.
Rosario Island: Located off the Caribbean coast, Rosario and San Andres Islands provide a perfect getaway. These islands are within a national park about an hour from Cartagena. Visitors can kayak through mangroves, relax on stunning beaches, and savor fresh seafood.
Tayrona National Park: Situated in northern Colombia, Tayrona National Park covers the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta before meeting the Caribbean. It is known for its stunning palm-shaded coves, coastal lagoons, lush rainforests, and rich biodiversity.
In Colombia, the best times to visit are generally during the dry seasons, which are:
Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)
Language: Spanish
What makes it special: With its vast rain forests, sprawling savannas, huge mountains, and 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) of coastline on two oceans, Colombia is one of the most biologically diverse countries on Earth. Colombia is the only country in South America that has coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The area covered by modern day Colombia was originally inhabited by the indigenous tribes Muisca, Quimbaya, and Tairona. In 1499 the Spanish arrived and colonized the area, calling it New Granada.
Weather: Colombia's climate varies based on altitude, with different regions experiencing different temperatures. Here are some average temperatures for various areas:
Social customs: In Columbian culture, families can be conservative and protective of their children, no matter how old they are! It is not unusual to find grandparents living at home. Individual privacy is limited by the small size of the houses and the commonly big families, and therefore children usually share rooms.
