The Republic borders Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Venezuela, and its shores are washed by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The area of the Latin American country is half the size of our Krasnoyarsk Krai.
Here it is easy to combine modern beach vacations on the islands and walks in the jungle, hiking to a lost Indian town in the Tayrona Reserve and traveling to the wax palms in the Cocora Valley. Sights of Colombia can be seen in the capital Bogota and in “colored” Cartagena, during historical excursions and “coffee” routes.
What to see on a trip to Colombia and where to vacation – in the selection and on the map.
Bogotá
It is better to start your sightseeing in Colombia from the capital. Bogotá is located among the Andes mountain ranges at an altitude of about two and a half thousand meters above sea level. Because of this, the city seems to be multi-level and voluminous.
Bogotá is a city of contrasts with slums and upscale neighborhoods. Tourists usually stay in the north, for example, in the Chapinero neighborhood, built up with large red brick houses. Interestingly, the poor neighborhoods exist on a semi-legal basis. People in them do not pay taxes and use water and electricity for free. Even in prosperous neighborhoods, if there is a shack next to a luxurious building, the owner of the shack enjoys public utilities but does not pay for them.
A couple of days is enough to explore the capital. In the afternoon you can walk in the historic part of La Candelaria, pass by colored houses with unusual “riveted” doors and wooden balconies, take a ride on the red tourist streetcar along the ancient streets. In Simon Bolivar Square, see the Cathedral, the Parliament and the Palace of Justice; the Columbus Theater (“Colón”); the Presidential Palace; admire the graffiti-painted facades.
It is immediately apparent that Bogotá has a lot of graffiti. They became legal folk art in 2011. There are still areas in the city that are forbidden for street art, but the “freedom of creativity” is not stopped by fines.
Some of the mountains flanking the capital can be climbed to see a panorama of Bogotá and the surrounding area. The most popular viewing platform is located at an altitude of 500 meters – on Monserrat Mountain. The place is well-equipped: there are chic restaurants, souvenir shops and even a wishing well.
Another attraction at the top is the 17th century monastery dedicated to the Black Madonna of Monserrat. It was built in honor of the Spanish monastery of Monserrat, which is located in the vicinity of Barcelona. A tradition has been preserved: everyone who comes to the top of Monserrat Mountain brings a brick or a stone for the construction and repair of the historic sanctuary.
Among Colombians it is a very significant place. A chapel with a statue of the “Crucified Christ” is open in the neighborhood of the monastery. In times of need, such as earthquakes, crises, droughts or crop failures, the statue was brought down to the city accompanied by a crowd of worshippers. Even before Columbus, the indigenous Chibcha and Muisca tribes considered the summit sacred, held rituals on it, followed the movement of the stars and the sun. Today, residents and pilgrims come here to ask for blessings, health or help.
You can climb Monserrat in different ways: five minutes in a cable car and a funicular with a transparent roof, or two hours on foot. The path up the mountain is comfortable and wide, but very steep at the end.
The cable car operates Monday through Saturday from 6:30 to 23:30 and on Sunday until 18:30. The cable car operates Tuesday through Friday from 6:30 to 23:45, Saturday until 16:00 and Sunday until 18:30. Round trip fare is from 28,000 pesos.
Gold Museum
A must-see in La Candelaria is the world’s richest Gold Museum. More than 35 thousand gold pieces are exhibited here. Most of them are real masterpieces of art from the period before the Spanish invasion. Today we can only guess about the true size of the Colombian Indians’ wealth. It is estimated that the conquistadors for three centuries took out about a thousand tons of precious metal.
Interestingly, the museum’s collection includes 30 stylized figurines known as “Colombian Inca Planes”. The miniature golden winged rarities are made in the form of fish, birds or insects. When aircraft designers enlarged copies of the mysterious Inca figurines and launched them into flight in an aerotube, they came to believe that they were prototypes of flying machines.
Salt Cathedral
The list of unique sights in Colombia includes the underground temple in Sipaquira in the suburbs of Bogota. Colombians call it the first of the country’s seven modern wonders.
This fantastic church was built in a salt mine 200 meters deep. It is divided into 14 chapels dedicated to different biblical stories and can accommodate three thousand worshippers. Architectural details, interior decorations and even icons are hand-carved in the salt walls.
Even before the discovery of America, salt was mined in Sipaquira, which was then valued more than gold. It was sold to other tribes and paid with it instead of money. To this day, Colombia still exports salt.
Sipaquira is a small cozy town, pleasantly free from crowds of tourists in contrast to Bogotá. Another local attraction is the house of the famous Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, author of the famous novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. This is where he lived when he was studying.
How to get there: from Bogotá’s North Terminal by bus with the ZIPA sign. The journey takes 1 hour and 18 minutes. The distance is 52 kilometers. It takes 50 minutes by cab.
There is a fee to enter the Salt Cathedral and only in English- or Spanish-speaking groups that leave every half hour. The concentration of salt in the air is good for people with lung diseases. But wounds on the skin should be hidden under clothes or bandaged, otherwise they may become inflamed.
Lake Guatavita
Lake Guatavita is located 50 kilometers from Bogotá. This small circular body of water in the crater of an extinct volcano was featured in the cartoon “The Road to Eldorado”. People standing on a raft threw gold gifts into it.
Guatavita is not only a natural attraction in Colombia. The lake was sacred to the Indians, where sacrifices were made to the gods and even the coronation of a new lord was held.
According to legend, many gold ornaments rest at the bottom of the lake: they were thrown there during coronations according to the local ritual. English rich merchants who heard the legend tried to get the treasures from the bottom. They built a drainage channel to the reservoir to drain the lake and even lowered the water level by three meters. Some of the artifacts found can be seen in the Museum of Gold in Bogota. But the bulk of the treasure remained in the muddy clay bottom.
The nature reserve around Guatavita is home to rare animals. For example, the endangered short-faced bear. A local symbol is the freylechon plant (another name is Espelecia), which grows only one centimeter per year.
How to get there: from Bogotá by two buses with a transfer in the city of Guatavita, by cab or rental car. It takes about 1.5 hours to get there. The bus to Guatavita costs from 6,500 pesos, to the park from 2,000 pesos.
A ticket to the reserve starts at 13,200 pesos.
Las Lajas Cathedral
To see a medieval castle in Colombia, reminiscent of the German Lichtenstein, you need to go to the canyon of the Guaitara River. Unusual for Latin America, the Las Lajas Cathedral was built on a 30-meter arched bridge, and the adjacent rock became the wall of the altar part of the sanctuary.
The construction of the cathedral was preceded by legends about the face of the Mother of God found in a cave on the wall and two miracles of healing. At first the inhabitants built a small church at their own expense. Over the course of a hundred years, the number of cases confirming the power of the miraculous place grew even more. Then the authorities decided to build a cathedral.
The road to Las Lajas is cut through the rocks, and all along the way there are plaques on the stone walls thanking people for deliverance from illness. If you walk upstream from the Las Lajas cathedral to the river, you will find comfortable bathing places.
How to get there: from Bogotá, take a bus to the city of Ipiales. The distance from the capital is 850 kilometers, the journey is 15 hours, the ticket price is almost 100,000 pesos. Then take a shuttle bus or cab to the path to the temple and then walk for 15 minutes. The cathedral is open around the clock.
Tyrone Nature Reserve
Ecotourism is developing rapidly in Colombia. Therefore, trekking through the tropical jungle and hiking in the Tayrona National Reserve are very popular. On 150 square kilometers of the park you will find traces of ancient civilizations, relic flora, rare fauna and several beautiful beaches of the Caribbean coast of Colombia.
In Tayrona Park, several routes of varying difficulty have been laid out for tourists. The most mysterious one leads to the interesting place of Colombia, located on Cape San Juan. Through tropical forests, along the rocks with panoramas of beautiful white-sand beaches travelers get to the lost Indian town of the Tayrona tribe.
Along the way there are stunning panoramas of the bay. Tourists are often accompanied by monkeys galloping through the trees. It is best to keep bags closed and valuables hidden from curious thieves.
The road is designed for hikers with good physical fitness. On the way there will be tight and narrow passages between boulders and rocks, a crossing of a mountain river, a stone staircase of a thousand steps. But in the end you can enjoy a stunning view from the top to the valley, see the picturesque ruins of houses and terraces of the ancient city.
Surprisingly, the descendants of the Tayrona Indians, who built a large and quite developed metropolis before the Inca civilization, still live here in huts. Local tribes Aruaco and Kogi say that the city was never “lost” and they always knew about its existence, they just hid the rarity from the world.
On the trek, you can make overnight stops on the coast in a tent or thatched bungalow, or relax in nature in a simple hammock. According to reviews, the trip is very educational and quite safe, and groups are always accompanied by experienced guides.
The trips to the abandoned jungle city are organized for four and six days. They start from Santa Marta. The trek is about 50 kilometers through terrain with hills and rivers. There are campgrounds and even restaurants along the way.
It is more convenient to take a shuttle bus from the Santa Marta bus station to Palomino. Ask the driver to stop at the main entrance of the park. You can also take a boat from the village of Taganga, near Santa Marta.
Cartagena
This resort town on the Caribbean coast will appeal not only to beach lovers. What to see in this corner of Colombia? The colorful facades of colonial-style houses echo the bright, bouffant skirts of Afro-Colombian women who strut about carrying fruit baskets on their heads.
The main attractions are the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajai fortress, the clock tower, the Museum of the Inquisition and the 11-kilometer wall of fortifications. It protected the port city, through which the Spaniards transported to themselves the riches “extracted” in Colombia.
Those wishing to try Caribbean cuisine will find many authentic restaurants in Cartagena. Fans of unexpected flavor combinations can appreciate cocktails in Del Mar Cafe. But I do not recommend swimming in the city: the port pollutes the water, and the sea often has strong disturbances. Only 20 kilometers from here there is a decent beach “Playa Blanca”: white sand surrounded by palm trees.
Tekendama Falls
The 157-meter waterfall is located 30 kilometers from Bogotá. Tons of water from the Tequendama River falling into the gorge can be seen from the observation deck opposite. The building next door is a nature museum.
How to get there: from the capital’s train station, take a bus to Mesitas. The site will be on the route, the driver should be asked to stop at the waterfall.
The Rock of El Peñón de Guatape
It is one of the largest rocks in the world. The visible part is 200 meters high, more is hidden underground. El Peñón de Guatape is over 70 million years old.
From afar, the curves of the stairs look like the lacing of a ball. The way up is difficult, but quite manageable. At the top, incredible views and a rest with a cup of coffee in the restaurant await you.
Guatape is called the Venice of Colombia: it was built on the site of an old flooded Indian village. Colombians themselves often come here on weekends: it is quiet, cozy and beautiful. An unusual tradition of this small town is to decorate the facades of the houses with drawings of the family life and occupations of the inhabitants.
How to get there: by bus from the North Bus Terminal in Medellín. The ride takes about two hours.
Cocora Valley
The main attraction of the valley is the world’s tallest wax palms growing here. It is one of the symbols of Colombia. In 50 years, the tree grows up to 60 meters. There are specimens up to 200 years old. The trunk of this palm is covered with a thick layer of wax.
How to get there: from the main square of Salento from 7:00 and then once an hour, colorful jeeps leave to the valley.
San Andres
Colombia’s mainland beaches are slightly disappointing and fall short of the popular resorts. The beach has a gray shade, and the sea has a brownish color and unsafe waves. For a beach vacation, it is better to choose the islands of the Caribbean Sea. Thus, thanks to the exotic light yellow sand and turquoise water, San Andres y Providencia resemble a paradise corner of the planet.
The capital is a large city with high-rise buildings. There are a lot of hotels, entertainment, stores. Fans of a quiet beach vacation stay in the village of San Luis or go to the island of San Andres.
How to get there: by airplane. By the way, the airport runway on the island starts and ends by the water.
Pablo Escobar’s hippos
For a long time, travelers were afraid to come to Colombia because of the long-held opinion that the country was ruled by drug traffickers and radicals who disagreed with the regime. TV series and the story of local celebrity Pablo Escobar added to the passion. Today, the situation has changed dramatically. In 2016, rebel groups signed a peace treaty with the government, and the country has become an attractive tourist destination.
It is interesting that in addition to dozens of villas in different corners of Pablo Escobar in the vicinity of Puerto Triunfo built a luxurious estate Hacienda Napoles with an airfield and a ranch with a bullfighting arena. The territory was equipped with a zoo with elephants and lions, as well as a lake with four hippos. After the owner’s death, the animals were distributed to Colombian sanctuaries and zoos. However, the hippos not only survived on “free bread” in an uncharacteristic place, but also multiplied. Now their herd numbers more than a hundred heads. They have settled in the Magdalena River and sometimes enter the city, annoying and frightening the locals.
When is the best time to go
The climate of Colombia is mild, but due to high altitude differences it is not homogeneous. On the coast there are classical tropics and the average annual temperature is +24… +27 °C. With the ascent to the mountains up to two kilometers weather conditions correspond to the subtropics, and above the temperate zone begins. For example, in Bogota at an altitude of about 2600 meters in summer and winter the temperature shows values of +14…+20 °C, and on the Caribbean coast comfortable for rest +27…+28 °C.
Heavy rains in Colombia occur from April through June and in late fall, especially in November.
The best period for visiting sea resorts is the European winter. From December to March there is no rain, the air temperature stays around +29 °С. This is the time of the tourist season.
Tips and information for tourists
- Before traveling, doctors recommend vaccinations against hepatitis, malaria and yellow fever.
- When buying souvenirs, such as leather and woolen goods, you should take the receipt and keep it until you leave the country. You may be asked to show it at customs.
- Despite the proximity of the USA, American currency is not accepted here. You can exchange dollars for local Colombian pesos at exchange offices at the airport.
- Book a hotel in Bogotá better in an elite neighborhood. For example, in Chapinero. It is safe here, there are many restaurants with delicious food, and there is a respectable crowd around.
- Visiting the observation deck at the top of Monserrat in Bogotá in the early morning will be more comfortable than during the day, when the weather can change dramatically.
- Shopping in the capital is the most expensive, and prices in local markets can vary many times over. In addition, there is a lot of haggling.
- It is forbidden to photograph strategic, government and military sites.
- You should not flaunt expensive things and money, walk the streets in the evening and at night and accept “gifts” from strangers, even if it will be cigarettes or drinks.
- If a tourist stays late at a bar, even if it is not far from the hotel, it is better to take a cab, especially since there are many of them: Cabify, DiDi, InDrive and Uber. There is a saying in the country that trouble will pass by if you don’t dar papaya, literally – don’t “give papaya”, i.e. be on your guard. Always carry your passport with you.
- Colombia’s coastal waters are home to poisonous creatures and even sharks. When swimming, be careful and heed the advice of the locals.
- Colombia offers many options for “coffee” tours, with trips to the plantations, learning about the stages of bean processing and tasting the best coffees. Many tour companies in Bogotá and Salento organize day trips.
