Colombia
Colombia is an entrancing country of superb beaches and mountains, emerald rainforest, historic sites and the world’s best coffee.
The romantic walled city of Cartagena, with its colonial buildings and narrow cobbled streets, is beautifully situated beside the Caribbean. It was immortalised by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in his novel Love in the Time of Cholera and is just as magical today. Literature lovers can plan their trip to coincide with the De Indias festival, organised in partnership with Hay-on-Wye!
A little further east is Santa Marta, famous for its lovely bay, coral reefs, Simón Bolívar’s mausoleum, and the oldest house in the Americas. It’s also the access point for nearby Tayrona National Park, in the shadow of the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada and a varied haven for wildlife, with dense jungle and sandy beaches where turtles come to lay their eggs.
The capital Bogotá, built on a high Andean plateau, has an attractive colonial quarter, with fine museums and art galleries. Nightlife pulses with rumba, salsa and cumbia rhythms. By contrast Medellín is a modern metropolis with lively street markets, fascinating museums, a renowned flower festival and a delightful climate. Between the two is the Magdalena valley and Colombia’s coffee region, where a stay at a traditional hacienda provides yet another dimension on a visit to this friendly and welcoming country.
Highlights
Here are some of our Colombia highlights
Beaches and rainforest
Tayrona National Park, on Colombia's Caribbean coast is home to some of the world's most remote and enchanting beaches. At the foot of the Sierra Nevada, the park has many opportunities to hike, swim, snorkel or simply relax.
Colonial cities
Cartagena de las Indias is Colombia's most visited tourist destination, and deservedly so. This beautiful coastal city has an impressive 19km of well-preserved colonial city walls and the maze-like cobbled streets of its old town are a joy to explore.
The coffee region
Considered by many travellers to be the most beautiful area of the country, Colombia's coffee region is awash with natural beauty, fantastic trekking opportunites, charming, laid-back towns and villages and distinctive cuisine.
At the outset we wanted a trip which would include the best of Colombia and also to see some of the famous birdlife. Overall the trip was excellent and the guides and your local agents were very good. Our one day in Bogotá was perfect, Hacienda Venecia in the coffee region was an excellent choice and the highlight of the birding side of the trip was Rio Blanco Cloud Forest and the wonderful hummingbirds. Jardin was a smashing little town and the visit to see the Cock of the Rock was something else - we saw around 20! We very much enjoyed Medellin but were disappointed by Tayrona. Cartegena was very hot but I think we covered every single street in the old town, ate in some excellent restaurants and enjoyed the plunge pool at our hotel, Alfiz.
- PC