By Patrick Connelly
Colombia is a country of stark contrasts: Rugged Andes peaks and lush rainforest valleys, modern cities and Spanish colonial villages, hot Caribbean beaches and snowy mountains. Best of all, much of the country is untouched by the tourist and expat industry because of the country’s less than reputable past. With so little literature out there about Colombia (Lonely Planet has the only book, and it is an admitted fraud), knowing where and what to do can be challenging. Throw in the ever present security question, and the planning process is downright frustrating. Here are my top five places to go in Colombia. I could go on, but gotta keep it short. If you have anything to add, please do so below.
1. Cartagena – No-brainer. Every Colombian will tell you the same. This is a jewel not only for Colombia, but for the entire continent. Centuries of history (pirates rock), whitewashed Spanish architecture, cool Caribbean breeze, crazy nightlife, beautiful people….I could go on. A few too many tourists and half of Bogota comes to visit on holidays, but still a place you can’t miss. Plus it is a good base for exploring the coast (or substitute Santa Marta, if you wish)
Bogota offers tons of sightseeing options
2. Medellin and Bogota- Lumped these two together since time outdoors is time well spent in Colombia. Bogota is a high-fashion business and education center with ample history, sites to visit, and a nightlife to rival any city in South America. Check out Candelaria in the city center for museums as well as Andres Carne de Res in nearby Chia for a night you will never forget. Alse servers as a jumping off point to visit the historic Boyaca department to the north.
Medellin is the city of eternal spring, full of proud paisas and blooming flowers. Smaller and more asthetically pleasing than Bogota, it can be reached by a short, short plane from the capital or by bus.
3. Parque Tayrona- Nestled against the Caribbean and bordered by small mountains, Tayrona National Park offers deserted beaches fringed by jungle, coral reefs, deep bays, and an established visitors infrastructure. Also within striking distance of of Ciudad Perdida, the Lost City, which every adventure-minded person should experience.
4.Mompos (Mompox)- The town that time forgot, stuck in a giant swamp in the northeastern part of the country. Famous for hospitality and rocking chairs, this is supposedly the town that Gabriel Garcia Marquez based Macondo off of in One Hundred Years of Solitude. Getting there is an adventure of its own…don’t miss this place! You will be happily surprised.
The Amazon is a nature lover's dream
5. The Amazon- Definitely not for everyone, the southern town of Leticia offers endless rainforest adventure. Forget what you saw in Costa Rica; the Amazon is another world. Truly awe-inspiring.
Honorable Mention: San Andres and Providencia- Wayyyyyy up in the Caribbean by Honduras, these two islands are the sort of funky, mixed-bag cultural paradoxes that you expect to find in El Caribe. Beautiful, duty-free, and less developed and cheaper than other Caribbean islands.
Front photo provided by Marathoniano at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24462866@N00/3058453915/
second photo provided by Kingstongal at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kingstongal/2133699876/
To find Colombia real estate, you can check out VivaReal. They have Cartagena real estate like beachfront apartments or inland you will find Bogota real estate and medellin real estate.
Lonely Planet does NOT have the only Colombia book out there. Viva Travel Guides published a much more comprehensive book on the country, and the book contains the entire country not just half like Lonely Planet.
Very beutiful is Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta, a went with my wife in 1996. No to expensive, and are variety of activities to do.
want to visit Colombia
I’m doing a project on Colombia…..i wanted to do it on Puerto Rico
PUERTO RICO IS BETTER!!!
I’m a fan of the Colombian Amazon region and specially Leticia.
Year round, there’s lots of wildlife to be seen, including monkeys, ocelots and dolphins, and array of birdlife and there are also indigenous villages that can be visited. You might also go fishing or Caiman spotting. I studied in Leticia at The Amazon Spanish College, http://www.amazonspanishcollege.com/
It was perfect! Because the course included many cultural activities and I really came close to the local community and met many people.
If you ever dare to visit Colombia and wanna feel like in Heaven, you gotta visit the well-known branch of Heaven and the salsa world capital: Cali. Really, women, clubs, food, landscapes, women, women and women simply that, oh and Rumba (party) 24/7, and several historic places such as churches and museums: don’t forget to have an amazing contact with nature in Pance which has a huge crystal white water river: simply gorgeous and precious. Many people speak english more than any country in Latin America.
No longer a destination for just daredevils, this extraordinary country has battled decades of civil turmoil to emerge as one of South America’s hottest new destinations. It is jammed with unspoilt mountains, coastline and jungle, not to mention stunning archaeological sites and vibrant culture.
Ten years ago, Colombia was famous only for its drug dealers, left-wing guerrilla groups and paramilitaries. But with the militant groups now at their weakest point in decades, this beautiful country is enjoying a travel renaissance with more and more tourists emboldened to visit.
I’ve travelled in 40 countries and for me personally no country (of the ones I know) comes even close to Colombia… Incredible nature, great, great, great, great people.. Go check it out!
VIVA COLOMBIA
omg! colombia is so beautiful! by just readung and looking at the pictures..i wanna visit colombia so badly i have a bunch of friends from colombia and i lovr how they talk..colombia rocks!!
BOGOTA BOGOTA BOGOTA. is the best city in Colombia, Has everything. Cartagena is beautiful too.
BOGOTA HAS IT ALL! COLOMBIA OWNSS!:)
the best point of colombia is the rock named la piedra del peñol, near to medellin city, the place is marbelous
Witch is the best and most beautifull place at the coast for a few days of layback ?
i was in cartagena colombia 10/20/2010 nothing nice aboutit .not the weather and you not feel safe.
Great Post.
Partying is what the people in Bogotá do best. Mingle with the hip, fun and cool in Bogota’s best bars, lounges and clubs to get a taste of what contemporary Bogota is all about
Check this out
http://oasiscollections.com/4-great-places-to-go-out-in-bogota/
One place not mentioned in any guide books is a small town Sabaneta. Sabaneta is very close to Medellin. It is an old fashioned town that has all the amenities. Streets are kept clean by sweepers. The townspeople are famous for feeding birds. A truly amazing place to see.
Forget about Bogota and Medellin. CALI is the best city in Colombia, it bring the true Latin Salsa dancing spirits, it women are gorgeous and the weather is by far unique. Much better than cold and boring Bogota at least!