Andrew Dier - Moon Colombia

Sierra Nevada del Cocuy.

Idyllic colonial towns, fast-paced cities, stunning archaeological sites, jaw-dropping scenery, and secluded beaches should be enough to put Colombia on your must-see list. But what really seals the deal is the contagious alegra (happiness) of the people you will meet along the way.

Bogot offers all the architecture, culture, restaurants, and nightlife that you would expect in any major city, while growing Medelln is known for its can-do spirit, transformative infrastructure projects, and perfect weather. These are destinations in their own right. But they are also excellent bases for visitors who wish to enjoy creature comforts while exploring the rest of the country.

Cartagena, Villa de Leyva, and Barichara will transport you back to the 18th century, when the regions citizens were ruled by a king in Madrid. Cartagena never fails to seduce those who stroll along its narrow cobblestone streets adorned by bougainvillea cascading from balconies above.

The Andes Mountains combined with Colombias tropical location mean that every possible natural setting is within reach. The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy offers incredible trekking amid glaciers and snowcapped peaks. Coffee farms are nestled in verdant valleys abundant with fruit trees and bamboo forests. Los Llanos, Colombias eastern plains, and the dense jungles of the Amazon basin are tropical wonderlands, with innumerable opportunities for nature and wildlife viewing.

Puente Navarro, Honda

bougainvillea spilling onto the streets of Cartagena

humpback whale

Even the beaches here are varied. Colombia is the only country in South America with both Caribbean and Pacific coastlines. The Caribbean coast features gems like Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, where glacier-fed streams flow from snowcapped mountains into the sea. The Pacific coast offers solitude and a chance to spot humpback whales breaching. And, far from the mainland in the Caribbean, the islands of San Andrs and Providencia are a sultry respite.

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet. Its people are just as diverse. Beyond differences in language, dialects, and accents, you can tell where someone is from by the songs they sing, the instruments they play, and the dances to which they move. In Cali, salsawith its fancy footwork, color, and hypnotic percussionis nothing less than an obsession. In Los Llanos, joropo is a tribute to Colombian cowboy tradition. Vallenato music, heard along the Caribbean coast, relates tales of lost love accompanied by instruments with African, indigenous, and European roots.

Forward looking and hopeful, Colombia has turned the page from its past. Now is a great time to experience this change firsthand. Colombia has laid out its welcome mat and beckons: Bienvenidos!

beach in Providencia

young Colombian musician.

golden tanager

Where to Go

Bogot

Against the backdrop of the Andes Mountains, the countrys cool capital is a cosmopolitan melting pot. Its a city of stunning colonial and modern architecture, art and culture, glitzy shopping, five-star dining, and euphoric nightlife.

Cartagena and the Caribbean Coast

Cartagena is the seductive, colonial jewel of the Caribbean. Beyond, the Caribbean coastline runs the gamut from the eerie desert landscapes of La Guajira in the far north to the untamed jungles near Capurgan along the Panamanian border. In between are the tropical jungles and the ruins of the Tayrona indigenous settlement of Ciudad Perdida in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Boyac and the Santanderes

The cradle of Colombian independence, the departments of Santander and Boyac are graced with stunning countryside, from the awe-inspiring Can del Chicamocha to the snowcapped peaks of the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy. San Gil is the outdoor adventure capital, while nearby Barichara is one of the most beautiful colonial pueblos in the country. The sacred Laguna Iguaque and the nearby town of Villa de Leyva, with its serene whitewashed buildings and cobblestone streets, are truly picturesque.

Can del Chicamocha

ONE WEEK: Visit Medelln, stay at a coffee farm, and fly to Cartagena.

TWO WEEKS: Add the Caribbean coast, then Bogot and colonial Villa de Leyva.

THREE WEEKS: Add Cali and Popayn or the Pacific coast.

FOUR WEEKS: Add an excursion to the Amazon or Los Llanos.

Medelln and the Coffee Region

Ambitious Medelln is known for its temperate climate and fun nightlife. For a break from the city, the Reserva Natural Ro Claro