Nature, culture, history and amazing people.
There are thousands of reasons to visit Colombia.
Over the last few years this beautiful Latin American country is becoming more and more popular.
In 2017, Colombia was declared the second best tourist destination in the world to visit.
1. Eje Cafetero (the Colombian Coffee Triangle)
If you are a real explorer, one of the most exciting experiences to have in Colombia is to join an organized tour group and to visit a real Colombian coffee plantations.
Where?
In the Colombian Coffee triangle of course (or as they call it here Triángulo del Café)!
The place was inscripted as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2011.
The triangle covers 1,2% of the territory of the Latin American country, but produces more than ½ of the coffee of Colombia.
2. The islands of San Andres and Providencia
Colombia has some gorgeous tropical islands.
Among the best known are the islands of San Andres and Providencia.
They are located hundreds of kilometers off the north coast of mainland Colombia, amidst the emerald waters of the Caribbean Sea.
They are an attractive destination for recreation, and their popularity is constantly increasing.
These tropical paradise islands offer something for everyone.
While San Andres is a full of entertainment options place, the island of Providencia is very quiet and calm place to relax and recover your energy.
3. Tota Lake
Colombia is well known for its beautiful beaches.
Believe or not, you will find them even far away from the coast, in the interior of the country.
Tota Lake is a lovely mountain lake in Colombia, which will fascinate you with its beautiful white-sand beaches and pleasantly refreshing climate.
It is situated approximately 3015 meters above sea level in the Andes and offers probably the highest beach on the planet.
4. Chicamocha Canyon
This is an amazing place where the landscape will take your breath away!
Situated near the small town of Soata, in northeastern Colombia, the canyon is nearly 2000 meters deep.
On January 1, 2006, the area is declared a national park.
In addition, Chicamocha Canyon is a candidate of the new seven natural wonders of the world.
5. The coastal city of Cartagena
The wonderful coastal resort city of Cartagena looks so colourful and bright, as if it combines all the colours in the world.
Brightly coloured buildings in colonial style will make you fall in love with this place.
Cartagena is a favourite place to spend their holidays for hundreds of thousands of Colombians.
And with good reason.
The beaches are just magical.
They offer white gentle sand and limpid waters in combination with the perfect year round warm and sunny weather.
6. Las Lajas Cathedral
Colombia is known as a country where the Christian religion plays a very important role.
It is not surprising that here you will find one of the most beautiful catholic cathedral in the world – the incredible Las Lajas.
It is situated amidst a picturesque canyon, in one of the southernmost departments of Colombia, Nariño.
The light white-grey color of the cathedral contrasts strongly with the emerald green landscape in the vicinity.
7. The castle of San Felipe de Barajas
Yes, we are talking about a real castle.
You are wrong if you think that there are no old buildings and castles in the Americas.
Indeed, Colombia has some very beautiful castles, and you will be literally amazed by their magnificence.
Located in Cartagena, the castle of San Felipe de Barajas is one of the greatest treasures that the Spaniards left behind on the territory of Colombia.
8. Boyaca
Boyaca Department is not just one of 32 departments in Colombia.
This is a special place that combines an incredible cultural heritage, lovely colonial architecture and rich historical past.
According to Colombians all across the country, this place is a blessed paradise for tourists because of its pleasant refreshing climate, numerous architectural monuments, colorful festivals and welcoming people.
The most famous places here are the towns of Villa de Leyva, Tunja, Tibasosa, Paipa and many others.
9. Los Katíos National Park
Located in the Northwest of Colombia, Los Katíos National Park offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the whole of South America.
Since 1994, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It covers a huge area of about 72 000 ha, mostly tropical rainforests, wetlands and lush green plains.
Approximately ¼ of the species of plants in the park are endemic and can be found only here, within the borders of Los Katíos.
10. The most modern city in Colombia – Medellin
In 2013, the fast developing city of Medellin won the award for the most innovative city in the word.
Its major competitors were the global financial capital New York and the super modern Israeli metropolis of Tel Aviv.
Medellin is considered the most modern and attractive city in Colombia, the place that provides the best business and education opportunities in Colombia.
11. The Amazon rainforest
Southern Colombia is occupied by the Amazon rainforest.
Here you will find some of the most unknown and isolated corners on Earth.
There are still wild and untouched places where no man has gone before.
These forests offer the greatest variety of species of plants and animals on the planet.
Because of the almost daily precipitations, some of the species of trees reach the amazing height of more than 50 meters!
12. San Agustín Archaeological Park
This place is an amazing ceremonial stone complex of the pre-Colombian era and is associated with indigenous burial rituals.
Sometimes called Stonehenge of Latin America, today the complex is an important cultural landmark and is probably the best place to visit in the country if you are searching for something historical and spiritual to touch your soul.
San Agustín is under the auspices of UNESCO.
13. The cultural centre of Popayan
The White city, as they also call the city of Popayan, is considered to be one of the places that everyone should visit in Colombia.
It is famous for its beautiful churches and old architecture, but what distinguishes Popayan from all the other Colombian cities is its incredible cultural life.
This is a city of festivals, and the most famous one is the Easter festival.
14. The town of Santa Marta
Often called Miami Beach of South America, the town of Santa Marta is not only an exclusive resort town on the coast of the Caribbean Sea.
Founded in 1525, it is also the oldest city in Colombia, and the second oldest city on the continent as a whole.
It is famous for its paradise beaches and old historical buildings with beautiful architecture.
15. The Andes
Stretching from the Caribbean coast to Tierra del Fuego, not far from Antarctic, the Andes are the longest mountain chain in the world.
The highest peak on the territory of Colombia rises 5700 meters above sea level and is covered by a permanent ice cap, despite its location on the equator.
To visit this part of Colombia is an amazing experience.
Mountain slopes covered with lush vegetation, grey rainy clouds and charming small villages make this corner of Colombia the last wild piece of heaven on Earth.
16. La Chorrera Waterfall
The cascade of La Chorrera waterfall is 598 meters high, making it one of the highest waterfalls in the world or more than 10 times higher in comparison with the Niagara Falls between USA and Canada.
Another advantage of the waterfall is its location in a picturesque area not far from the capital Bogota (about 1 hour drive from the city).
17. Malpelo Island
The island is a relatively remote and lonely place, located about 506 km off the coast of Colombia.
Because of the great variety of marine animals, the clean deep waters around the island are an attractive place to dive.
Since 2006, this magnificent Pacific island and its surrounding waters are under the auspices of UNESCO.
18. La Candelaria
This is an incredibly beautiful center of history and culture within the borders of the Colombian capital Bogota.
The Old City, as they also call this place, offers an amazing combination of art deco, Baroque and colonial architectural style with bright colours such as yellow, red, blue or orange.
The old spirit of La Candelaria brings the strong feeling that you are walking on the streets of an old Mediterranean town.
19. Caño Cristales
Falling within the borders of Serranía de la Macarena National Park, Caño Cristales is considered the most interesting and beautiful river in the world.
It is probably very different from all the river you have ever seen in your life.
Reaching the river bank, most tourist can’t believe their eyes.
In contrast to the regular rivers, this one is colored in red, pink, green, blue, yellow and other colors.
This natural phenomenon can be explained by the seasonal algal bloom process in the river.
20. Capital Bogota
The multi-million Colombian capital is one of the most famous cities in Latin America.
Tall skyscrapers, modern shopping centres, museums, cathedrals, colonial architecture, restaurants offering cuisine from around the world and unlimited entertainment options make Bogota an exciting place that everyone should visit at least once in their life.
