Colombia travel tips - Popular Colombian attractions
Cities
- Bogotá - The Republic's Capital, a city where all the country converges. Bogotá hosts various internationally acclaimed events such as the Iberoamerican Theatre Festival (largest one on Earth) and "Rock to the Park", a concert featuring rock stars from around the globe. The city also offers a great variety of restaurants and museums, such as Andrés Carne de Res and the National Museum of Colombia.
- Barranquilla - Colombia's Golden Port and capital of the Atlántico deparment. Barranquilla hold's its world famous Carnival each February.
- Cartagena - The Heroic City, Capital of the Bolívar department is Colombia's tourist city by excellence. The colonial architecture and the skyscrapers can be be seen together in this city that offers a unique experience of festivals, restaurants and hotels.
- Manizales - The City of Open Gates, capital of the Caldas department. A city full of parks and republican architecture, is one of the getaways to the coffee region.
- Medellín - The City of Eternal Spring and capital of the Antioquia department is famous for having a large textile industry, which produces top quality clothing that is sent all over the world. It's also the birthplace of Master painter Fernando Botero, therefore it houses the great majority of his works.
- Santa Marta - One of the most touristic cities in Colombia, capital of the Magdalena department. Santa Marta is unique in the sense that it offers you beautiful beaches one day, and the next one a walk to the foothill of a snowy mountain, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the highest in the country. It's also the place where Liberator General Simón Bolívar died, at La Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino.
- Cali - Salsa capital of the country, this city offers various festivals and events.
- Leticia - Capital of the Amazonas Department, this city is the a place to experience the Colombian Amazon in it's full.
Other destinations
- San Jeronimo, Sopetran and Santa Fe de Antioquia - Going north-west from downtown Medellin, you arrive to the longest and newest southamerican tunnel: 4.7 km. After you pass trough that tunnel, you start descending montains and a few minutes later, you are in San Jeronimo, Antioquia. Waether here is 25 degrees during the whole year. Very close you eill find Sopetran, the Antioquias fruits lovely capital. Finally, you get to Santa fe de Antioquia. One of the five colonial destines in Colombia. Is the way to the Caribbean. This road, will take you to Turbo and to the Panama frontier line and its the real safe backpacker choice, since you can meet the whole southamerican caribbean coast, starting in Turbo and go all the way to Cartagena or keep going until you find the Guyanas!.
- El Club Hostel, Finca Villa Aurora, El Rincon, San Jeronimo de Antioquia, Colombia. (From Terminal del Norte, bus minibus, or taxi. (6000 COP to 12000 COP)), ☎ 0057 4 858 0343 (info@elclubhostel.com). Check in: 24 hr; Check out: 4 pm. 17.000 COP.
- San Agustín and Tierradentro - archeological sites in south-western Colombia
- Isla Gorgona - This former prison island in the Pacific Ocean is now a nature reserve open for visitors. There is abundant wildlife like monkeys, snakes, whales and sea turtles. It offers excellent diving conditions.
- Ciudad Perdida is pre-Columbian city located in the Colombian jungle close to Santa Marta. Built between the eighth and the fourteenth century by the Tayrona Indians. Nowadays only stone circular shaped terraces covered by jungle remain.
Tourism in Colombia
Tourism in Colombia has grown in the last few years with the increase in safety and growth in the economy.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (Spanish: Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo) is the Colombian ministry in charge of tourism affairs.
During the most famous festivals such as the Cali Fair, the Barranquilla Carnival, the Bogota summer festival, the Iberoamerican Theater Festival and the Flower Festival is when the most tourists come to Colombia. Many people visit Colombia during Christmas time and the celebrations surrounding the Independence of Colombia.
Attractions
World Heritage Sites
There are a number of UN World Heritage Sites located in Colombia:
- Cartagena
- Ciudad Perdida
- Los Katíos National Park
- Malpelo Island
- Santa Cruz de Mompox
- San Agustín, Huila
- Tierradentro
Attractions in Bogotá
- Bogotá Botanical Garden
- Bolívar Square
- Capitolio Nacional
- Gold Museum
- La Candelaria
- Luís Ángel Arango Library
- Maloka Museum
Other attractions
- Colombian National Coffee Park
- Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá
- San Andres island
Ecotourism
Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is a form of tourism which appeals to the ecologically and socially conscious. Generally speaking, ecotourism focuses on local culture, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth, and learning new ways to live on the planet; typically involving travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.
Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is in the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for the local communities.
Colombia has coastline, mountainous areas, and tropical jungle. There are volcanoes and waterfalls.
- Amacayacu Park
- Cocora valley
- Los Nevados
- Doña Juana-Cascabel Volcanic Complex
- Gorgona and Malpelo islands
- Los Katíos National Park
- Munchique National Park
- Serranía de la Macarena
- Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park
- PANACA Park
- PANACA SABANA Park
- Tayrona Park (Santa Marta)
- Desierto de Tatacoa
- Chicamocha Canyon National Park