Colombia is a land of rich cultural heritage with fascinating historical ruins, colonial cities and archaeological sites. The unique and diversified Colombian nature with the Andean Mountains, the Caribbean coastline with tropical beaches and the lush rainforests of the Amazon is ideal for outdoor activities from trekking and mountain climbing to water sports and wildlife viewing. Plagued by internal conflicts and violence in the recent past, Colombia is now calming down and returning to the map of international tourism, for which it has a lot to offer.
Colombian beach cities. The major Colombian tourism destination with magnificent beaches by turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, Santa Marta and the nearby tourist resorts offer excellent opportunities for sunbathing and water sports activities. The oldest city in Colombia, Santa Marta is an important port city with a colorful history which serves as a gateway to the fascinating destinations along the Caribbean coast, such as the ancient ruined city of Ciudad Perida built by the Tayrona Indians. Another fascinating port city by the turquoise Caribbean Sea, the spectacular Cartagena is exceptionally rich in history. The beautiful colonial walled city and fortress are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The most visited city in Colombia, Cartagena hosts a lively nightlife and many festivals.
More Colombian destinations. Besides cities, Colombia also has many interesting smaller destinations. Off the coast of Central America, the Colombian island province of San Andrés and Providencia is a paradise for divers and snorkelers, while picturesque colonial towns like Popayan draw visitors to the mountainous inland of Colombia. San Augustin in the Southwest Colombia is a magnificent archaeological site with numerous statues and stone tombs from the pre-colonial era. Located on the banks of the mighty Amazon River, Leticia is a small isolated town serving as a gateway to the Amazon Basin which is exceptionally rich in flora and fauna and still inhabited by many Indian tribes. In the Colombian National Coffee Park you can taste the famous Colombian coffee.
How to get there. The easiest way to travel to Colombia is by air. There are direct, good and relatively cheap flights to Colombia from North and South America and some European cities. The majority of the foreign visitors arrive at the major international airport in Bogotá. The country can also be accessed by car via excellent highways from Venezuela and Ecuador.
Historic cities, National Parks and beaches in Colombia
The mountain capital of Colombia, Bogotá is a lively city with spectacular colonial buildings and museums and a vibrant cultural and entertainment scene. This modern and metropolitan city has excellent opportunities for entertainment and shopping. The surrounding magnificent Andes Mountains and the National Park Los Nevados offer excellent climbing and trekking. Another vibrant Colombian city, Cali is the City of Salsa with similar attractions as Bogotá, and a pleasant tropical climate.Colombian beach cities. The major Colombian tourism destination with magnificent beaches by turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, Santa Marta and the nearby tourist resorts offer excellent opportunities for sunbathing and water sports activities. The oldest city in Colombia, Santa Marta is an important port city with a colorful history which serves as a gateway to the fascinating destinations along the Caribbean coast, such as the ancient ruined city of Ciudad Perida built by the Tayrona Indians. Another fascinating port city by the turquoise Caribbean Sea, the spectacular Cartagena is exceptionally rich in history. The beautiful colonial walled city and fortress are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The most visited city in Colombia, Cartagena hosts a lively nightlife and many festivals.
More Colombian destinations. Besides cities, Colombia also has many interesting smaller destinations. Off the coast of Central America, the Colombian island province of San Andrés and Providencia is a paradise for divers and snorkelers, while picturesque colonial towns like Popayan draw visitors to the mountainous inland of Colombia. San Augustin in the Southwest Colombia is a magnificent archaeological site with numerous statues and stone tombs from the pre-colonial era. Located on the banks of the mighty Amazon River, Leticia is a small isolated town serving as a gateway to the Amazon Basin which is exceptionally rich in flora and fauna and still inhabited by many Indian tribes. In the Colombian National Coffee Park you can taste the famous Colombian coffee.
Practical information for your trip to Colombia
Colombia is located in the North of South America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It is a large country with very diverse landscape, including flat coastal plains, central highlands and magnificent Andean Mountains, Amazonian rainforests, arid desert and tropical grasslands. Colombia has a pleasant tropical climate along the coasts, while the temperatures are somewhat cooler in highlands. The dry season in Colombia is from December to March, while the most rainfall is expected between July and August. The dry season is the best time to visit Colombia and the majority of the annual festivals also take place during those months.How to get there. The easiest way to travel to Colombia is by air. There are direct, good and relatively cheap flights to Colombia from North and South America and some European cities. The majority of the foreign visitors arrive at the major international airport in Bogotá. The country can also be accessed by car via excellent highways from Venezuela and Ecuador.
Photo: *L*u*z*a* is Back, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
The several ports on the Pacific and Caribbean Coasts of Colombia receive boats and cruiseships.
Public transportation in Colombia is handled by an extensive network of inexpensive but often crowded buses. Taxis are widely available in the biggest cities and they are reasonably priced. Colombia has an extensive road network. Some of the roads in Colombia are in poor condition traffic accidents are common in the country. Driving is on the right hand side.
Visitor services. Colombia has a wide selection of hotels, restaurants and facilities for tourists. The major cities in Colombia have lively nightlife with bars and nightclubs. Some Spanish skills are needed for independent travel in Colombia.
Safety. Colombia has suffered from violent internal conflicts and drug-related crime, and used to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Today, it is not as dangerous any more, but as armed robberies, kidnappings and pickpocketing are still common in Colombia, it is advisable to exercise caution while visiting in Colombian cities. Travelling in the rural areas should be avoided due to the land mines and guerrilla activity. Natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are not rare in Colombia.
Indians, Colonialism and Salsa music in Colombia
The first inhabitants in the area today known as Colombia were the Incas in the south and indigenous people named Muisca, Quimbaya and Tayrona in the other parts of the country. Colombia was conquered by the Spanish in the end of the 15th century. Liberated by Simon Bolivar, Colombia gained independence from Spain in 1819. Since then, it has suffered from internal problems. There have been conflicts between the government and leftist insurgents since the 1960s with attacks against civilians. This conflict has fortunately calmed down from the worst years of the 1990s. Drug trafficking is a big problem in Colombia, creating problems especially in the rural areas.Inhabitants of Colombia are ethnically diverse: in addition to the indigenous Indian people, there are people of Spanish, African, European and Middle Eastern origin. The rich cultural heritage of Colombia is influenced by the Latin American culture, as well as all of these ethnic groups. The Roman Catholic church still has a high influence in the society. Salsa music can be heard almost everywhere in Colombia and numerous festivals are held throughout the year.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Cali, Cartagena, Bogota
