AMAZONIA AND LOS LLANOS

AMAZONIA AND LOS LLANOS

The largest part of Colombia’s territory (60%) with the least populated areas are formed by the basins of two powerful rivers flowing through the eastern part of the country: the Amazon and Orinoco. The difficult accessibility of these areas and the lack of infrastructure make the tourism here grow much slower than in other parts of the country. For many, however, this is the biggest attraction of this region. The capital of the Colombian Amazon is the city of Leticia, which can only be reached by air from other places in Colombia and which is one of the few places with a range of accommodation in this region. Located on the border with Peru and Brazil, Leticia is the ideal starting point for visiting the surrounding virgin Amazon forest and villages inhabited by indigenous communities. The Orinoco region is popularly known as los llanos, and, like Amazonia, is a paradise for avid naturalists. Especially during the rainy season, when much of the region turns into a wetland, one can observe an abundance of different species of birds and animals.

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PACIFIC COAST

PACIFIC COAST

The western part of Colombia is characterized by pristine, deserted beaches, pure nature and a tropical climate with some of the world's highest rainfall (world record belongs to the town of Lloró). This region, also known as El Chocó, extends along the Pacific coast and is one of the world's most important centers of biodiversity. El Chocó is also inhabited by the largest population of Afro Colombians in the country - as much as 90% of the local inhabitants are the descendants of African slaves. In addition to clean, secluded beaches, the biggest attraction of this region are the humpback whales, which, every year between July and October, visit the Pacific coast to breed and raise their offspring. Apart from the largest city of the region - Buenaventura, the only way to get to the most attractive places in the region such as Nuquí, and Bahía Solano is by plane or boat.

Read more: Amazonia and Los Llanos

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CARIBBEAN REGION

CARIBBEAN REGION

Tayrona National Park

Cartagena de Indias

In the north, the country borders the Caribbean Sea where the beaches and tropical climate attract most tourists visiting Colombia. In the eastern part of the region, near the border with Venezuela, lies the windswept, desert-covered Guajira Peninsula with popular among the kitesurfers, laid-back Cabo de la Vela. Farther west the landscape changes dramatically - inland rise up the highest mountains of Colombia - Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and at their foot stretches the picturesque Tayrona National Park. Less than 30 kilometers and the climate changes again to a drier one. First, popular with diving enthusiasts Taganga, followed by Colombia's oldest existing town - founded in 1525 Santa Marta. Party and music lovers should also visit the nearby Barranquilla where, every year in February, one of the largest carnivals in the world takes place. Southwest of Barranquilla lies a city of Cartagena whose massive fortresses and historic center form a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site and which, apart from the buzzing nightlife and cultural attractions, offers cruises to the nearby Rosario and San Bernardo Islands and farther away to Panama.

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THE ANDES

THE ANDES

Chingaza National Park near Bogota

Nevado del Ruiz

Running along the entire western coast of South America the Andes mountains split into three distinct ranges in Colombia: the Cordillera Oriental, Central and Occidental, and it is this region that concentrates the largest part of the country's population. Their valleys are also where the largest cities of Colombia - Bogotá and Medellín are located. One of the must-sees is the area known as eje cafetero (Coffee-Growers axis) along with the town of Salento and the now-famous Cocora Valley where the highest wax palm trees in the world grow at the foothills of the Los Nevados National Park. Trekkers also should not miss the opportunity to visit one of the best “hidden gems” of Colombia - the massif of Sierra Nevada del Cocuy in Cordillera Oriental with trails surrounded by spectacular, reaching more than 5000 meters above sea level peaks, páramo and crystal clear glacial lakes.







Read more: Caribbean Region

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ABOUT COLOMBIA

 

ABOUT COLOMBIA

For the past several years the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia has been running a promotional campaign with a catchy slogan: “The only risk is wanting to stay”. Anyone who has ever visited this country has probably experienced the “danger” at first hand. For many years, the Colombian armed conflict kept tourists from visiting the country and the official travel warnings about travelling to Colombia discouraged even the most adventurous travellers. The only news coming from Colombia have usually been related to drug trafficking, paramilitary organizations and occasional kidnappings of tourists. Meanwhile, in the last few years the security situation in Colombia has changed significantly. Hacienda Nápoles, once occupied by the most famous drug lord in history - Pablo Escobar, is open to visitors, and the previously inaccessible trails of the Andes are being rediscovered by hikers and climbers. At the same time the port of Cartagena de Indias has become a must on the maps of cruise ships sailing the Caribbean, and the 5-day trek to the discovered in 1972 Ciudad Perdida (Spanish for Lost City) is now known to nearly every explorer of South American continent.

Kitesurfing in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira

Museo del Oro in Bogota

Hot climate of the Caribbean with Carnival de Barraquilla and Tayrona National Park in the background, glacier-covered peaks of Sierra Nevada del Cocuy and smoking craters of the snow-capped volcanoes of Los Nevados, coffee plantations in the “Coffee Triangle” region, and the vast lowlands of the Orinoco and Amazon - all this is open and waiting for tourists once again. There are 56 national parks in Colombia that include ecosystems from coral reefs and tropical forests to deserts and páramo. However, geographical diversity is not the only magnet that attracts more and more visitors here. Colombians are extremely friendly, open and always smiling, and their country is a true melting pot of races and traditions. Climatic diversity goes hand in hand here with the ethnic and cultural mélange. In addition to the mestizo (the main ethnic group of Colombia), the country is inhabited by 86 different indigenous groups including Wayuu in Guajira Peninsula, the descendants of the ancient Tayronas - Kogi in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and at least 26 tribes living in the Colombian Amazon. Accents, music and cuisine also change here with latitude. In the north of the country dominate rhythms of cumbia and vallenato, in the Andes - bambuco, and in the plains of los llanos - decorated with sounds of bandola and maracas joropo. Residents of the Caribbean coast (often called costeños) talk a lot and quickly, while the paisas living in the “Coffee Triangle” region  use (common in Argentina and Uruguay) form voseo. Although the cuisine varies from region to region, the traditional Colombian dishes include sancocho (a soup with large pieces of meat and vegetables) and empanadas (stuffed pastry usually fried in oil). An important part of the diet is also arepa (a type of corn flour patty), and from dawn to dusk the whole country sips tinto - small, usually sweet, black coffee. It is worth trying exotic fruits while in Colombia - their variety can make your head spin. Guanábana, carambola, zapote, lulo and pitaya - these are just a few examples of what can be found in the grocery store here. Almost everywhere you’ll also find a stall serving fresh fruit juices (usually mixed with water or milk).

Read more: The Andes

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