Bogota
Bogota is a vibrant and cosmopolitan capital city, 2,640 metres above sea level and brimming with architectural contrasts.
There are few countries in the world that the vast tourist industry has not assimilated but Colombia is one of them, and we urge you to travel to Colombia before the rest of the world wakes up to the fact that it has neglected one of the highlights of South America.
We strongly urge spending some time in Bogota to visit the old colonial area of Candelaria with its classic Spanish architecture, huge plaza and old-world ambience as well as the buzzing modern zones that are replete with bars, restaurants, coffee shops and a wave of young Colombians who are revelling in a new safe and more liberal social world. Urban addicts should also visit the salsa city of Cali and modern Medellin, infamously associated with Pablo Escobar.
Colombia produces some of the world’s finest coffee and a visit to the picturesque Coffee Region or any of the small family-run haciendas that are springing up around the country should feature in your trip.
Even if coffee is not your drink of choice, there are some highly scenic walks and horse treks to be had through coffee-country. Alternatively, you may choose to hold onto your hat and travel in the back of one of Colombia’s famous Willy Jeeps to explore plantations and a vertiginous landscape dotted with 60 metre high Quindian Wax Palms, the national tree of Colombia.
History and archaeology buffs will revel in the UNESCO-designated San Agustin Archaeological Park and sister sites of Alto de los Idolos and Alto de las Piedras. Enormous pre-Colombian statues and funerary complexes dot the Andean landscape and it’s likely that you and your guide will be the only visitors.
If an Indiana Jones experience is more your style, then head to Tayrona National Park and embark on a six-day trek from a wild boulder-strewn and jungle fringed coast to Ciudad Perdida (Lost City). This is a challenging hike that ascends the slopes of the impressive Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. A less testing hike is to the ruins of Pueblito that can be visited as a day trip.
Those interested in Spanish colonial legacy should head out from Bogota to the white-washed buildings and cobble-stoned streets of Villa de Leyva, stopping on the way to explore the huge underground Salt Cathedral at Zipaquira. Continue further into the countryside and arrive at the picture-perfect town of Barichara. The fortified port city of Cartagena should be high on your “to-see” list. The centre is a maze of Bougainvillea-draped balconies and terracotta roofs with coastal ramparts and forts to clamber over that will please the most demanding of military historians.
If you have enough holiday time for a few beach days, then the rugged Tayrona coast, the calm waters around the Rosario Islands or the coral encircled Caribbean island of Providencia are all worth considering.
Discover some of our suggested activities to include on your Colombia holiday
Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.
Alfiz Boutique Hotel is located in the heart of Cartagena. A former smuggler’s house, and then the British Consul, each of the eight rooms are dedicated to a specific period in the history of Cartagena. Alfiz…
Akawanka Lodge is located in peaceful countryside just 1km outside San Agustin and offers tremendous views of the surrounding Andean scenery. There are just 22 rooms, all of which are decorated with pictures of and are…
Located in the Canaveral area of Tayrona National Park, Ecohabs has 14 double bungalows and can provide extra beds to sleep up to two children within most of them. Ecohabs makes a comfortable base from which…
Casa de Campo El Delirio, is a beautiful colonial-style house a kilometre away from Montenegro. Surrounded by a large garden and with great mountain views, it is an ideal base from which to explore the country’s…
Combine a host of Colombia’s cultural highlights, spending time in vibrant cities, peaceful mountain villages and fertile coffee growing valleys, topped off with time on the coast.
This Colombian adventure unveils some of the nation’s most offbeat locations, while still taking time to privately tour the galleries and architectural highlights of the cosmopolitan capital.
An extraordinary trip for intrepid visitors to “the gateway to South America”, it traverses both the Amazon Rainforest and the Guajira Peninsula.
December to March is peak season in the country, with plenty of sunshine and dry weather perfect for relaxing on the beach or hiking in the Andes. December and January, in particular, is a busy time both for locals and tourists holidaying, so it is worth booking accommodation in advance.
December to March is peak season in the country, with plenty of sunshine and dry weather perfect for relaxing on the beach or hiking in the Andes.
December to March is peak season in the country, with plenty of sunshine and dry weather perfect for relaxing on the beach or hiking in the Andes.
April to June is the beginning of the rainy season, but it is mainly restricted to short, sharp, showers. Easter is a popular time for locals to travel so be prepared to plan ahead should you wish to visit then.
April to June is the beginning of the rainy season, but it is mainly restricted to short, sharp, showers. Easter is a popular time for locals to travel so be prepared to plan ahead should you wish to visit then.
April to June is the beginning of the rainy season, but it is mainly restricted to short, sharp, showers. Easter is a popular time for locals to travel so be prepared to plan ahead should you wish to visit then.
July to September is a great time to explore the Andes region, as it is a mini dry season. The Amazon continues to receive a lot of rain throughout the year.
July to September is a great time to explore the Andes region, as it is a mini dry season. The Amazon continues to receive a lot of rain throughout the year.
July to September is a great time to explore the Andes region, as it is a mini dry season. The Amazon continues to receive a lot of rain throughout the year.
October and November are the wettest months in much of the country, so visitor numbers are low. Road travel can become tricky, but periods of bright sunshine can still be enjoyed.
October and November are the wettest months in much of the country, so visitor numbers are low. Road travel can become tricky, but periods of bright sunshine can still be enjoyed.
December to March is peak season in the country, with plenty of sunshine and dry weather perfect for relaxing on the beach or hiking in the Andes. December and January, in particular, is a busy time both for locals and tourists holidaying, so it is worth booking accommodation in advance.
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