Raub Kevin - Colombia Travel Guide

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File under Colombia: soaring Andean summits, unspoiled Caribbean coast, enigmatic Amazon jungle, cryptic archaeological ruins, and cobbled colonial communities. Colombia boasts all of South Americas allure and more.

Waterfront and village, Taganga ()
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Colombias equatorial position affords it a diversity of landscapes matched by few countries. A slight tinkering in altitude takes you from sun-toasted Caribbean sands to coffee-strewn, emerald-green hilltops in the Zona Cafetera. Continue to climb and theres Bogot, the bustling cradle of Colombia and the third-highest capital city in the world. Throw in another few thousand meters and youll find snowcapped peaks, high-altitude lakes and the eerie, unique vegetation of the pramo (high-mountain plains). Then the bottom drops out as the Andes give way to Los Llanos, a 550,000-sq-km swath of tropical grasslands shared with Venezuela and often called the Serengeti of South America. From the towering dune desertscapes of Punta Gallinas to the Amazon jungle, Colombias kaleidoscopic range of color and landscape has few rivals.

The countrys varied terrain is fertile ground for outdoor adventure and Colombia dives, climbs, rafts, treks and soars with reckless abandon. The undisputed adventure capital is San Gil, but the country boasts alfresco pleasures in all corners. Two of the continents iconic treks are here, both dramatically different: Ciudad Perdida is a five-/six-day jungle walk to the ancient ruins of the Tayrona civilization, while the weeklong GicnEl Cocuy trek places intrepid hikers on the highest reaches of the countrys Andean mountaintops. Providencias world-class reef spells aquatic heaven for scuba divers, while whale-watchers journey to Colombias Pacific coast to see majestic humpbacks in the wild.

A wealth of ancient civilizations left behind a fascinating spread of archaeological and cultural sites throughout Colombia. The one-time Tayrona capital, Ciudad Perdida, built between the 11th and 14th centuries, is one of the continents most mysterious and lovingly preserved ancient cities, arguably second only to Machu Picchu. Even more shrouded in mystery is San Agustn, where more than 500 life-sized, ancient, sculpted statues of enigmatic origin dot the surrounding countryside. And then theres Tierradentro, where elaborate underground tombs scooped out by an unknown people add even more mystique to Colombias past. Mix in the influences of Spanish colonizers, African slaves, 20th-century European and Middle Eastern immigrants and large, intact indigenous groups like La Guajira Peninsulas Wayuu, and you get a rich recipe complex in both form and function. This intoxicating cocktail unravels in the food, music, architecture and lifestyles that shake and stir the melting pot of contemporary Colombia.

Plaza San Pedro Claver (), Cartagena
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Cartagenas Old Town

The hands of the clock of the Puerta del Reloj wind back 400 years in an instant as visitors enter Cartagenas walled old town (). Strolling the streets here is to step into the pages of a novel by Gabriel Garca Mrquez. The pastel-toned balconies overflow with bougainvillea and the streets are abuzz with food stalls around magnificent, Spanish-built churches, squares and historic sites. This is a living, working town that just happens to look a lot like it did centuries ago.

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Trekking in El Cocuy

The weeklong GicnEl Cocuy trek in Parque Nacional Natural (PNN) El Cocuy () is one of Colombias most coveted and for good reason. In season (December to February), everything throughout the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy region is characterized by burnt-auburn sunrises that bounce off craggy peaks, and the pramo ecosystem of glacial valleys, mountain plains and high-altitude lakes. On clear days, the entire swath of Los Llanoscan be seen before you from the surrounding 4650m-high peak viewpoints.

Valle de los Cojines ()
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Coffee Fincas in the Zona Cafetera

Jump in a classic WWII jeep and go on a caffeine-fueled, coffee-tasting adventure. Many of Zona Cafeteras () best coffee farms have thrown open their gates and embraced tourism eager to show visitors what sets Colombian coffee apart and share a little of their hardworking culture. Strap on a basket and head into the plantation to pick your own beans before heading back to the traditional farmhouse to enjoy the end product, accompanied by the sounds of flowing rivers and birdsong.

Hacienda Guayabal ()
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Bogots Museo del Oro

There are few places in the world where one can get a sense of what finding a long-lost buried treasure might be like, but Bogots Museo del Oro () one of South Americas most astonishing museums will floor you with a sensation of Indiana Jones proportions. Over 55,000 pieces of spit-shined gold and other materials from all the major pre-Hispanic cultures in Colombia are exhibited thematically over three floors, culminating in the astonishing and intricate Balsa Muisca, found in 1969.

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Wildlife Lodges on the Ro Yavar

The sheer size of the Amazon is nearly incalculable to the average person (Colombias portion alone is bigger than Germany), so it goes without saying there are many places to bed down on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. But the protected Ro Yavar (), which forms the border between Brazil and Peru for over 800km, is one of the only spots to access all three Amazonian ecosystems: terra firme (dry), vrzea (semi-flooded) and