Colombia: Places to visit and things to know

There are quite a few contrasting things one usually knows about Colombia. On one hand, there’s magic realism, salsa, carnivals, friendly locals and incredible biodiversity, while on the other hand, there are thousands of tragic stories caused by the longest civil conflict in the world fuelled by the infamous drug trafficking. However, there’s so much more to this beautiful country and that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about in the following guide. We’ll look into the local culture and cuisine, as well as the classic tourism-related stuff, such as the most popular places to visit and so on. Furthermore, we’ll also briefly touch up on local history through some major historical events that shaped the region, and last but not least, we will attempt to answer the rather frequent question regarding safety in this troubled but truly incredible country.

A few basic facts about Colombia

Let’s start with the size, because it matters, at least when it comes to planning trips. To give you an idea, República de Colombia‘s territory of 1 139 million km² makes it nearly 5 times larger than the United Kingdom and it would cover the area of France and Spain together. Administratively, the rugged character of the country’s terrain splits the land into 31 departments.

Geographically, Colombia is the only country in South America with both, the Pacific as well as Atlantic oceans. In combination with its rugged terrain, it boasts of massive biodiversity, which is among the highest in the world. For instance, when it comes to birds alone, Colombia’s home to 1826 species, which is apparently more than anywhere else.

The country’s biological wealth comes from the wide variety of its ecosystems, which include tropical forests in the Amazon, mountain habitats like the Andes or the Sierra Nevada, grasslands as well as numerous islands. Further reading on Colombian terrain, diversity, climate and so on could be found here, in Encyclopedia Britannica, in case you were interested.

Understanding the culture

When it comes to people, given its location and historical consequences, Colombia’s DNA is naturally also rather diverse. In addition to the 87 indigenous ethnicities, there were also numerous immigration waves that led to the process of intermixing of the indigenous, Asian, Middle Eastern, Jewish, North American, European and African people. It is estimated that about 75% of the present population of the country is of mixed heritage.

This cultural diversity is also reflected in the languages spoken in Colombia. Except for Spanish (99,5%), there are 65 other languages spoken in the country, while the Ethnologue database lists 101 languages in the region.

The combination of various elements, such as the above-mentioned rugged terrain and the large migration, but also the traditional caste system, as well as several significant historical events make Colombian national identity a rather complex subject to grasp. Colombians are basically divided by the mountains, social classes and the country’s troubled history.

One could argue, that rather than some sort of united national identity, it would be a much easier task to talk about various unifying cultural elements, such as music and dancing, where it would be hard to ignore the omnipresent existence of salsa or cumbia in every corner of the country.

There are also numerous unifying public figures and artists, most notably it would be the acclaimed Nobel Prize laureate for literature Gabriel García Márquez or one of the important contemporary artists in Latin America Fernando Botero but also a few pop stars, cyclists or footballers, such as Nairo Quintana, Carlos Valderrama or René Higuita, who make many Colombians proud of for one reason or another.

Basic history of Colombia

Pre-Colombian and Colonial Periods

There are numerous significant archaeological findings in Colombia from the pre-Columbian period. The oldest finds date back as far as the Ice Age (Pubenza and El Totumo sites from 18 000 – 12 000 BCE). From the traveller’s point of view, the most popular sites appear to be: Cerrejón, Villa de Leyva, Tierradentro as well as Tatacoa Desert and San Agustín, the last two being on the list of Colombia’s nine UNESCO World Heritage sites.

If we jump to the conquistador period, we have to start with the Caribbean city of Santa Marta (1525), which was the first Spanish settlement in the region and one of the oldest surviving cities in South America. Colombia’s current capital, Santa Fe de Bogotá, has been established 11 years later, in 1536. It is perhaps worth mentioning that except for the usual Spanish “explorers”, Colombia also had the “pleasure” of “welcoming” a famous German conquistador Nikolaus Federmann, who was among the first people searching for the legendary city of gold, El Dorado.

Administratively, back then the territory of present Colombia was part of a massive colonial state Viceroyalty of Peru. It covered nearly all of South America except for Brazil. In 1717, it became part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada (present-day Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela), with Bogotá as the capital. In case you were interested, click here to read further about Colombian history in the colonial period in Encyclopedia Britannica.

Independence, Gran Colombia and Nueva Granada (1819 – 1858)

Like in all Latin countries, the independence movement kicked in the early 19th century. The significant event for Colombia was when Simón Bolívar defeated the Spanish in the Vargas Swamp Battle (1819), which resulted in forming the Republic of Gran Colombia, covering the territory of present Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador. This newly formed superstate however lasted only 11 years, until the separation of Venezuela and Ecuador in 1830.

Present-day Colombia and Panama then become a state known as Nueva Granada. Unfortunately, a conflict between regional leaders that wanted to seize power over the country, however, resulted in a Civil War that became known as The War of the Supremes (1839).

The next major event that affected the Colombian people takes us to 1848-49 when Liberal and Conservative parties entered the political scene in the country to kickstart events which were to play a very significant role in Colombian history, mainly during the century to come but also even until the present day.

The names of the respective parties give a hint of what could be the difference between their goals. Liberal Party rule between 1861-85 first divided the territory into nine semi-autonomous entities and separated the church from the state. However, with the turn of events, in 1885 the Conservatives came to power. In the following 45 years, they re-centralised the power and restored the influence of the Catholic Church.

The War of the Thousand Days and La Violencia (1899 – 1958)

The increasing heat between these two political rivals resulted in yet another Civil War that became known as Guerra de Los Mil Días (1899-1903), in which around 120 thousand people died, while Panama, supported by the USA, became an independent state in the process. Liberals returned to power in 1930 to allow the newly elected President Olaya Herrera to introduce social legislation and encourage trade unions in the country.

In 1946 Conservatives returned to power, only to start the re-centralising the power in the country. These sharp political swings however went even further, which has proven very unfortunate for many Colombians. Only two years later a leading opponent of the use of violence, a presidential hopeful (sort of) left-wing candidate Jorge Eliécer Gaitán was assassinated, which ignited massive riots, known as El Bogotazo.

The following events resulted in yet another Civil War La Violencia. Nearly 300 thousand people died. To end this conflict, Conservatives and Liberals agreed to form a National Front in 1958. The talks however ignored the voices of other political parties, which proved to be a move that came with catastrophic consequences for Colombia for the decades to come.

El Conflicto (1958 – 2016)

The thing is that their exclusion of other political parties from the peace talks led to the formation of various armed factions of political movements. The result was (and technically still is) the longest-running Civil War conflict on the planet. Between 1958 and 2013, the conflict claimed as many as 220 thousand lives, out of which more than 177 thousand were civilians.

Furthermore, it forced 5.7 million people to flee their homes, generating the world’s second-largest population of internally displaced people (this is pre-Putin’s attack on Ukraine data). Among the displaced population, there were as many as 2.3 million children and they were still the luckier ones because according to UNICEF, as many as 45 000 children were killed. In total, one in three of the 7.6 million registered victims of the conflict are children.

Because of the fact that this horrible conflict is too complex to explain in a few paragraphs, Quaint Planet prepared a separate piece to cover the basic facts and general misunderstandings about this tragic part of Colombian history. The article covers the country’s journey from the social and political struggle; through more than 5 decades of a bloody Civil War; the rise of the narco-trafficking and the terror it came with; up to the 2016 peace agreement and the subsequent political aftermath. Over here, we’re therefore going to jump over to the brighter days and pick things up from 2016 onward.

Post-2016 Peace Deal events in Colombia

• 2016: Colombian government led by President Juan Manuel Santos sigh a historic peace deal with the largest rebel group FARC
• 2017: Colombian government and the (now largest) rebel National Liberation Army (ELN) agree on a temporary ceasefire and complicated Peace talks which are still being negotiated now in 2022
• 2017: a small fraction of FARC “dissidents” continue to battle the armed forces
• 2018: Ivan Duque from Uribe‘s Democratic Centre Party wins the presidential election
• 2019: Duque begins the process of obstructing the peace process by cutting the funds delivering the numerous programmes to improve life in rural communities, work with the conflict’s victims, etc.
• 2020: Court ordered the detention of ex-president Uribe amid fraud inquiry
• 2021: Following a massive migration wave from neighbouring Venezuela, which was already stretching the humanitarian crisis even before the global Covid-19 pandemic, the Colombian government grants legal status to 1.7 million Venezuelan migrants
• 2022: Following similar rulings in Mexico and Argentina that improve access to abortion in the conservative Latin American region, Colombia also legalises abortion
• 2022: Gustavo Petro was elected president, becoming the country’s first leftist leader

Food

When it comes to cuisine, Colombia is IMHO among the best in the whole Latin World, even though it’s not as internationally acclaimed as for example Peruvian, Mexican or Argentinian cuisines. Maybe it’s the country’s massive diversity, maybe it’s the way the cuisine was influenced by a mix of indigenous and immigrant ways of preparing meals, I don’t know – but I just loved the Colombian meals.

Overall, it’s still pretty much about different variations of potatoes, beans, corn, rice and meat, like in the whole region but – how can I say it – it could get very yummy, while I’d say that quite a few meals are rather thick and stomach-filling like. Below, you’ll be able to find some of the most popular dishes in the country, which I would personally recommend trying upon your visit to this beautiful country.

• Arepa is a classic flat corn that works as a side dish to accompany any Colombian and pretty much any Latin American meal
• Bandeja Paisa is a Colombian national dish. It’s a yummy mix of a lot of ingredients, typically you’d get a steak, ground beef, chicharrones, rice, beans, egg, avocado, arepa and plantains
• Ajiaco is my fav Colombian dish. Imagine an epic stew made of chicken, three types of potatoes, corn, capers, avocado and sour cream
• Cazuela de Mariscos is considered to be an aphrodisiac. I’m not sure about that but I can tell you that the sounds you’ll make once you taste it might come across as affirmative. As the name suggests, it’s an ocean-product-based meal. We’re talking about gorgeous thick soup that should include lobster, shrimp, white fish, and vegetables, all in a broth of creamy coconut milk. So it must be an aphrodisiac then 🙂
• Sancocho is a yummy broth (or a thick soup?) that is made of chicken, beef and pork (or fish) with vegetables and tubers
• Tamales: Depending on the region, Tamales are either meat (mostly pork belly, chicken or pork ribs); cheeses; fruits; vegetables and/or chillies wrapped in banana leaf and steamed. Yummy!
• Empanadas: the ever-present empanadas in Latin American cuisine can’t be missed in Colombia either. Here they are smaller, deep-fried and corny. Fillings are usually the classic mix of shredded beef and pork
• Patacones or tostones are twice-fried green plantain slices
• Buñuelos are usually considered to be Christmas treats in this part of the world. They are something like cheese fritters with a hint of sweet taste
• Coffee. With the exception of Argentina and a few other locations south of Colombia, the coffee culture isn’t exactly something worth mentioning, when it comes to South America. However, in Colombia, it all changes. Coffee plays a massive role in the culture here and if you’re a fan, you’d notice the difference. In the taste, style and even in the general attitude towards coffee so even if you aren’t a coffee-lover, I’d suggest trying it, once you visit Colombia

Tourism in Colombia

It’s crazy how fast things can change. 15-20 years ago, it would be considered rather insane to travel to many parts of Colombia, as it then was one of the most dangerous countries to visit, while neighbouring Venezuela and its people would still be flourishing from the profits of its rich oil industry. Thousands of Colombians would be seeking a better life in Venezuela, than a major tourist destination as well as an economic power in the region.

Both countries made a long way since then and things are the exact opposite of what it was back then. Flights from Europe to Bogotá are now some of the cheapest to get to South America due to the high demand. In the multiple forms of increased security, one can still observe the echoes of the conflict but the numbers of tourists in the country have risen by a tremendous amount, making pre-Covid Colombia one of the 10 fastest-rising tourist destinations on the planet. The graph below explains it all.

When it comes to the infrastructure, well, that is a different subject. Given its conflict-ridden history and rugged terrain, Colombia is one of the most unequally developed countries. For instance, the roads in some parts of Colombia are matching those in Western Europe, just as well as the luxury segments of the tourist industry, however, in other parts of the country there aren’t even proper paved roads. If you look at the map of Colombia where you can see the roads, you get the idea of what parts of the country were controlled by the government and which parts were rebel-held. The same works with the tourist infrastructure.

When to visit Colombia

As most of you know, because of its geographical proximity to the equator, Colombia isn’t a four-season country so it requires a bit of planning to catch the suitable weather for your activities. The best time to visit the country is December to March/April, however, due to the huge diversity of the country, the climate and weather patterns are a bit more complex than that.

Safety

I guess that the main question people normally ask about Colombia is: Is it safe? Well, the graph above suggests that is not unsafe, otherwise, the numbers of tourists simply wouldn’t be going steadily up. Personally, I haven’t experienced or witnessed any dangerous situation. But I admit that it doesn’t mean that bad stuff doesn’t take place in Colombia. Even the security measures in the whole country are immense if compared to European levels but there are not many places that aren’t.

So what does it exactly mean to be safe? Speaking for myself, there is no doubt that while visiting some places in Colombia I was very cautious – far more cautious than if I were in for example Prague. But it still doesn’t answer the question of what exactly is being a safe destination. It all depends on what kind of traveller you are and what things you are looking for. If you are looking for trouble, I’m sure that you can find it even in Iceland.

Taking all that into consideration, the only answer I can give you is that there certainly are areas in Colombia where tourists are as safe as anywhere else in the world, like for example Cartagena. But there are also areas, where even the locals wouldn’t go unless they had to…

I can say that if you stick with the tourist places and/or if you use reasonable precautions, adequate for the area you are in, you should be fine. In general, those are basically not to advertise your expensive gear, jewellery, phone and so on, plus being aware of what hood you’re at, especially when partying. In case you were interested, here are more practical tips about safety in Latin America.

Colombia: Places to visit

Tip: the links highlighted in red are Google Maps locations to give you an idea about where we're talking about. If you save the locations you're interested in into: "want to go", once in place, it was easier to find those places, once you hit the city ;)

Southern Colombia

Cali

Heading north from the Ecuadorian border, you’d enter the even more popular city of Cali, AKA “the world capital of salsa” which also comes with a massive party scene (obviously). There’s however much more to this large 2 million-people city in the cosmopolitan centre of southern Colombia than just party, salsa and a troubled past connected to one of the largest drug cartels in Colombia.

The city has numerous impressive sites and museums to visit, plus at about 1000m elevation only, that is combined with the Pacific winds it has a nearly ideal climate for your hangovers, not to mention the nature that surrounds the city. Read more about Cali here on Colombia Travel, the country’s official tourism guide, in case you were interested.

Popayán

Only a few hours north of Pasto, there’s one of the more visited destinations in Colombia. Dubbed “White City” because of the facades of its old colonial houses, Popayán undoubtedly belongs to a group of the most picturesque cities in Latin America. The city also has a strong and well-reputed coffee and restaurant scene and some decent nightlife options. If you are in the region, it is definitely worth your visit for a few days. Read more about Popayán here on Colombia Travel, in case you were interested.

Tatacoa Desert

Another little place I was told about by my Colombian friends is Desierto de la Tatacoa. It’s a magic little place with beautiful rock formations that is worth checking out if you were in the area, especially if you are in need to take a little break and when you’re into destinations with an off-the-beaten-path kinda vibe. More information, including some useful practical tips, could be found here.

Guaviare and The Amazon Region

For a traveller that is keen on the hardcore “off the beaten path” locations, here’s a true gem I was recommended by a few local friends: Guaviare province. Due to its remote character, this previously guerilla-held Amazon-bordering area which was considered a no-go zone just a few years ago is now open to be explored by curious travellers. Whether it’s the hospitality of the friendly locals, mysterious cave pictograms in Serranía La Lindosa or Caño Cristales AKA the river of seven colours, one can apparently expect priceless memories. More info could be found here, in Encyclopedia Britannica.

Nariño Province

For another location with an off-the-beaten-path vibe, that is easier to access, I’d recommend checking out the Nariño Province, located just north of the Ecuadorian border. Except for the iconic Las Lajas Sanctuary (see the pic below), the province comes with a charming rural vibe. The low level of tourism makes the experience of visiting the region rather authentic because, for the most part, you’ll be interacting with locals only. That is unless you decide to visit the area during the famous Pasto Carnival. In case you were interested, Quaint Planet has prepared a separate informative piece about this cute province and you can check it out here.

Central Colombia

Bogotá

Although the Colombian capital doesn’t have the best reputation, as a cultural and economic centre, if you’re into history, art or people, Bogotá has a lot to offer. It’s true that this megacity of 8 million people isn’t for everyone as some people find it a bit intense. The 2021 spike in anti-government unrest, followed by the rise of crime and violence in the country furthermore appears to work against the massive progress, Colombia made in the last few decades.

Given these alarming tendencies, some travellers raise questions about their safety, while others still opt to visit Colombia, including its capital, to check out its numerous landmarks, museums and vibrating nightlife scene. More details about Bogotá, including places to see, hoods to stay, safety, history and so on, could be found in this separate piece by Quaint Planet.

Medellín

Given its tricky past marked by one of the world’s highest homicide rates due to the rise of narcotrafficking, Medellín wasn’t exactly the place to go less than two decades ago. Perhaps even more than some parts of Colombia, the second biggest city in Colombia has gone through a massive transformation, and today it is enjoying huge popularity among travellers, digital nomads and tourists.

The city came up with its own set of unique attractions. Those include guided tours to Communes 13 or 8, the poverty-stricken hoods of the city one could not even dream of visiting a few decades ago. There’s also the vibrant Plaza Botero and the surrounding historical centre, a wide range of museums and a very lively nightlife scene. Together with its very pleasant climate that earned Medellín the nickname “City of Eternal Spring”, the city’s newly earned reputation is well deserved.

In case you were interested to learn more about Medellín, here‘s a piece that compares it with its biggest Colombian rival Bogotá.

Guatapé

Only about a 2 hour’s drive from Medellín there’s a rather cute and very colourful village with the iconic El Peñol Rock, surrounded by stunning lakes. Except for climbing up the rock (between 8 am and 6 pm for 20,000 COP/5,50 USD), the visitor could enjoy the laid-back vibe, very friendly locals, fantastic coffee and great restaurants. And photos. Guatapé is a true #nofilter Insta paradise. And don’t forget about the lake, whether from its shores or from one of the numerous vistas to bomb your Insta followers with further beauty 🙂 More info here on Colombia Travel.

Salento

Touristy, laid back, colourful and picturesque, coffee farms and the postcard-perfect wax palms of the nearby Cocora Valley. That sums up this popular small Andean town of Salento that multiplied its attractiveness with a lot of outdoor adventure activities, such as hiking, paragliding or horseback riding. If you add that up to the numerous artisan crafts, viewpoints, restaurants and cafes – you’ll get a perfect breakaway place to chill for a few days. Here are more details about this nice weekend gateway town on Wikitravel.

San Gil and Barichara

When it comes to adventure activities, San Gil claims to be Colombia’s capital. It’s rafting, kayaking, hiking, bungee jumping, paragliding and caving opportunities that certainly do a good job to support such a claim. This small town of just over 5000 residents is a perfect place to have a lot of fun, not to mention the local hospitality. More details about San Gil could be found here, on its official tourism website (esp).

The close proximity of the stunning Chicamocha National Park offers amazing trekking options on top of the already rich menu of activities. And that is not to mention the trips to the quaint towns and villages in the area, out of which, the most popular perhaps is the cute town of Barichara. Further information could be found here, on the Colombia Travel website.

Villa de Lleyva and Ráquira

About a 5-hour drive north of the Colombian capital Bogotá, there’s another popular destination for tourists: Villa de Lleyva. It’s a pretty colonial town with great cafés and pretty cobbled stone streets. There are also a few museums and various hiking options available in the area that are apparently well worth exploring. It’s a pretty place for a weekend break. Maybe it’s just my opinion but I found Villa de Lleyva incredibly posh. More info about this pretty town could be found here, on the Colombia Travel website or here on its tourism website.

Just under an hour’s drive south from Villa de Lleyva, there’s a small colourful town of Ráquira, a place that I found rather more authentic, as well as slightly off the beaten path kind of place if compared to its famous neighbour. FYI, the whole town appears a bit nuts about its pottery tradition so in case you were into handicrafts, you’re in for a treat. More information on this “artisan could be found here, on the Colombia Travel website.

On your way to Ráquira, I’d also recommend stopping at Santa Ecce Homo an old Dominican convent. Except for its purpose and historical significance in the region, it’s one of those small peaceful places that are just perfect if you can use a break from driving. And it comes with an interesting representation of the second female character from the oldest book.

Caribbean Colombia

Cartagena

Cartagena is the most visited city in the whole country. If you are all right with the mass-tourism-related noise, Cartagena de Indias is truly a beautiful city and there are plenty of spots to admire and enjoy, not to mention the nearby Islas del Rosario (official website). After all, in 1984, it’s become the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Colombia. Most of the tourism concentrates in and around the picturesque walled colonial city Ciudad Amurallada, which boasts of many restaurants, shops, great cafés and hotels.

Please note that like in every other overly popular destination, such buzz comes with an adequate amount of overcrowding and a lot of SCAM PhD that any major tourist destination comes with, not to mention the fact that the city is rather expensive, in comparison to any other Caribbean destination in Colombia. The official tourism website of the country, Colombia Travel lists things one can do/see in Cartagena here.

Sarta Marta

Santa Marta is a popular stopover for tourists heading to Tayrona National Park and other natural destinations nearby. The city itself however also boasts a few rewarding activities to check out. Upon your visit, make sure you won’t skip its pretty and colourful historical centre that dates back to 1525, making it the oldest in Colombia and one of the oldest colonial cities on the whole continent.

Also, check out the shoreline promenade with sculptures of the indigenous Tayrona tribe people Paseo Bastidas and enjoy the services of plenty of stylish cafés and restaurants that serve great fresh seafood and numerous tasty beverages. By the way, Santa Marta isn’t as pretty as Cartagena IMHO, but is much more real, as well as tougher, if you know what I mean.

Tayrona National Park

If you are into stunning nature, only 30km away from Santa Marta, there’s one of the ultimate highlights of the region, Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona (website). We’re talking about an amazingly beautiful 150km² park that comes with some of the most spectacular sandy beaches in the world, 900m peaks and the unique biodiversity of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. If you are into nature – I would say that it’s a must-go kinda place 🙂

Mompox

Santa Cruz de Mompox is located on the Magdalena River about 6 hours drive south of Cartagena. Its historic center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. Within some tolerance, you might get away with calling Mompox an off the beaten path colonial town destination, especially if compare it to for example Cartagena. Some even say that Mompox resembles Gabriel García Marquez‘s fictional town of Macondo from his epic novel 100 Years of Solitude. Aventure Colombia site lists things you should explore while visiting the town here.

The Lost City

Although trekking to the “new Machu Picchu” significantly gained popularity in recent years, these ancient ruins, which actually predate Machu Picchu by more than half millennia, are still regarded as less crowded and therefore a more cool alternative to its Peruvian counterpart. Please note that the site is only accessible by a 3-6 days long 44km trek, which is known to be rather challenging. If this is something that got your attention, please make sure to check out the popular multi-day trek to the Lost City here.

Minca and El Dorado Reserve

Minca is a small friendly mountain town, located 650 metres above sea level, that boasts some spectacular panoramic views of hills and the Caribbean coast. In case you liked the views, nature and general tranquil atmosphere around Minca, you can push a little further up the hill to reach El Dorado Reserve, a location that is also very popular with birdwatchers.

Barranquilla

Some call Barranquilla the most underrated city in Colombia. However, located on the Caribbean coast, this 4th largest city in Colombia certainly has its treats, especially when it comes to culture, history and the cosmopolitan vibe of a major port city. Except for the second largest carnival in the world (right after Rio’s) that takes place in February, the 1,2 million city is also proud of its waterfront promenade Malecón with plenty of cafes and restaurants to treatoneself with the yummy seafood and great coffee.

Other landmarks and activities that aren’t to be missed upon your visit include the impressive cathedral, and several interesting museums, such as Carnival Museum; Modern Art Museum of Barranquilla; Caribbean Museum; Tequila Museum or even a Museum of Romance. Read more about Baranquilla here, on the Colombia Travel website. To learn more about the Carnival, check out this piece on Colombia Travel site. And by chance, if you’re into Shakira – this is her hometown 😉

Cabo de la Vela

The off the beaten path locations hunters have recently added this little beachside town on their itineraries. Cabo de la Vela is located about 5 hours’s drive north from Santa Marta, on the La Guajira peninsula. The unique deserty landscapes, pristine beaches and the indigenous Wayuu culture as well as some pretty decent kite surfing opportunities make this place well worth checking out before you’ll head further to the “How north we are” location, Punta Gallinas. To find out more about Cabo de Vela, please check out this piece on Colombia Travel website.

Rincón del Mar

Imagine that you need a break while having a slightly off-the-beaten-path tranquil Caribbean fishing village in mind, where you can just soak up the sun, enjoy the vibes and eat great food and where you can score some spectacular hangovers if that was what you were into. In addition, you could also take a boat trip to the San Bernardo Islands with a large coral reef and vibrant marine life, if you are a diver. Find more details about this special Caribbean spot in a separate piece by Quaint Planet here.

Necoclí

A small, off-the-beaten-path coastal Afro-Colombian town in the Gulf of Urabá comes with some stunning beaches, strong unique culture, perfect weather and friendly locals. In spite of being one of Colombia’s oldest towns (1509) Necoclí doesn’t exactly offer many tourist attractions like some of its Caribbean counterparts further west. For most travellers, Necoclí is usually just a stopover on their way to or from Panama but if you like to relax and take things easy for a few days, I’d say that you won’t have anything to complain about, unless you’re into luxury spots, because this segment isn’t much developed in these parts. For more detailed information, check out this post by Tom Heyden in Colombia Reports.

Capurganá

If you are into places which do feel like outposts, this is definitely a place to go for you. Located right on the border with Panama, in the otherwise hostile Darién Gap, Capurganá ticks all boxes of a true outpost town. While the town itself is rather small, there are a few trekking options one can explore in the stunning lush jungle that surrounds Capurganá. Find more details about this true outposty village in a separate piece by Quaint Planet here.

In conclusion

Being so huge and diverse, Colombia has a lot to offer. A nature lover could explore the Andes, Sierra Nevada, grasslands, the Amazon, numerous islands, 1 300 km (808 miles) of Pacific coast, 1 600 km (995 miles) of Caribbean and so on, while the Colombian cultural wealth matches its nature. I’d personally say that in Colombia, there’s too much to explore for a curious traveller to be able to squeeze it into the usual holiday length only.

So how much time would it take to get a good picture and explore the major highlights of Colombia?

I’d say that if you had 4 weeks and took things in a very efficient manner, you should be able to say that you know only a wee bit about Colombia. However, given what’s on “the menu”, I would personally recommend doing things more properly and splitting your explorations of Colombia into a few visits. For instance, give yourself 3+ weeks to explore the Colombian Caribbean coastline only and then come back to explore a different region next time.

When it comes to Colombians, for quite a lot of travellers, the locals are another reason to love Colombia. It is IMHO the only country that could match the friendliness of Argentinians, from within a tough competition of general friendliness that goes on in the Americas. Maybe it’s because tourism in many parts of the country was literally nonexistent only a decade ago and seeing tourists is still a somewhat exotic experience for the locals who lived under the self-governed rules of paramilitaries or guerillas for more than half a century.

Well – I don’t know that for sure – it’s just my theory backed up by a few rumours and stories I was told by my local cherished friends I’ve known for ages since we shared a house in North London in the 2000s. The fact is that you will have a chance to have numerous real conversations with locals as opposed to purchase-orientated conversations in other countries, with a more evolved tourism industry.

I’m talking about a wide range of topics, such as life, politics, sports – you name it. I found Colombians to be very curious about individuals as well as other cultures. For me, that was extremely refreshing, especially after visiting Cusco, where I felt reduced to a walking wallet only, on many occasions. Would I go back to Colombia, had I had a chance? Right away 🙂

Sources and other possible reading

Demographics, culture and biodiversity

• Biodiversity: Here‘s further reading on Encyclopedia Britannica
• Ethnicities: Read more about Colombia’s indigenous groups here on the official Colombian tourism website
• Caste system: Further details about the traditional caste system in Colombia could be found on the Bogotastic blog here
• Gabriel Garcia Marquez: Read more about the acclaimed Nobel Prize laureate for literature here
• Fernando Botero: Here’s more info about one of the most important contemporary artists in Latin America.

History

• Colombian history: Further reading about the history in the region could be found here, on Encyclopedia Britannica
• Pre-Columbian period: Read more facts about the ancient history of Colombia here on Encyclopedia Britannica
• UNESCO World Heritage sites: Further reading about Colombia’s UNESCO sites could be found here
• German conquistador: Read more about Nikolaus Federmann here
• El Dorado: More information about the legendary golden city could be found here
• Latin American Independence movements: In case you were interested, here‘s more information about the independence movement across the continent
• Simón Bolívar: More information about the legendary Spaniard who successfully fought against the Spanish crown can be discovered here
• The Republic of Gran Colombia and Nueva Granada: Further details about the two short-lived post-colonial countries can be found here, respectively here
• The War of the Supremes: More details about the first Civil War in Colombia can be found here, on Wikipedia
• The War of a Thousand Days: Further information about the second civil conflict in Colombia (Guerra de Los Mil Días) could be found here
• La Violencia: More information about the causes and consequences of yet another civil conflict in Colombia could be found here, in Encyclopedia Britannica
• El Conflicto: Many facts, fighting groups, causes as well as the narcotrafficking impact on the longest-running civilian conflict in the world (1958 – 2016 – ????) can be found here on Quaint Planet
• The 2016 peace agreement: To read more about the historical agreement between the Colombian government and the rebel group FARC, which ended the majority of El Conflicto, please click here to read the informative piece by Sibylla Brodzinsky in The Guardian
• Venezuelan migration crisis: The New York Times piece that talks about the crisis and the decision of the Colombian president to grant legal status to 1.7 million Venezuelan migrants here
• The legalisation of Abortion: To learn more about how did the historical law that legalised abortion in the traditionally conservative country, please click here to read Joe Parkin Daniels‘ article in The Guardian
• The first leftist President in Colombia: Read more about Gustavo Petro on Encyclopedia Britannica, in case you were interested in the objective information about the former M-19 guerilla member turned president.

Food, including the recipes

• Arepa: Erica explains what are Arepas here on her blog My Colombian Recipes
• Bandeja Paisa: Learn how to make this a Colombian national here on Travel Food Atlas
• Ajiaco: Andrea shares the recipe for this yummy epic stew on her blog Andrea Recipes
• Cazuela de Mariscos: Nohora instructs us how to make this alleged aphrodisiac here, on her blog My Colombian Cocina
• Sancocho Erica‘s recipe for this yummy broth could be found here, on her site
• Tamales: Hispanic Kitchen’s recipe for the Colombian version of Tamales can be found here
• Empanadas: The recipe for the Colombian version of empanadas could be found here on My Colombian Recipes
• Patacones: The food blog Tasty AZ shares a recipe for these twice-fried plantain slices
• Buñuelos: Erica also shares the recipe for these Christmas treats with us on her blog My Colombian Recipes here.

Locations

• Cali: Read more about the World’s Capital of Salsa here on Colombia Travel, the country’s official tourism guide
• Popayán: Read more about the White City here on Colombia Travel
• Tatacoa Desert: Find some useful practical tips here on Quaint Planet
• Guaviare and The Amazon Region: More info could be found here, in Encyclopedia Britannica
• Nariño Province: An informative piece about this province could be found here on Quaint Planet.

• Bogotá: A guide to the Colombian capital, that includes places to see, hoods to stay, safety, history and so on, could be found here on Quaint Planet
• Medellín: Here‘s a Quaint Planet‘s piece that compares the second-biggest Colombian city to Bogotá
• Guatapé: More info about this popular Medellín day trip location with the iconic rock to climb could be found here on Colombia Travel
• Salento: Here are more details about this nice weekend gateway town on Wikitravel
• San Gil: The official tourism website (esp) for this popular adventure spot is here.
• Barichara: Further information about this heritage town could be found here, on Colombia Travel
• Villa de Lleyva: More info about this pretty town could be found here, on the Colombia Travel website or here on its tourism website
• Ráquira: More information on this “artisan could be found here, on the Colombia Travel website.

• Caribbean Colombia: Here‘s a separate piece by Quaint Planet that lists some of the major highlights from this marvellous region
• Cartagena: Colombia Travel lists things one can do/see in Cartagena here. UNESCO website that describes the historical value of the Ciudad Amurallada
• Islas del Rosario: official website for the archipelago with a lot of info
• Sarta Marta: Colombia Travel‘s (official Colombian tourism site) page on Santa Marta with plenty of information
• Tayrona National Park’s official website with plenty of useful info
• Minca: Wikitravel’s page on Minca
• El Dorado Reserve: American Bird Conservancy page on El Dorado Reserve
• Lost City treking company website with useful info
• Santa Cruz del Islote: The Guardian‘s photo essay by Charlie Cordero about the world’s most densely populated island nearby Rincón del Mar
• Necoclí: Tom Heyden writes about the town for Colombia Reports
• Capurganá: The City Paper Bogotá‘s article on the town
• Rincón del Mar: Find more details about this special tranquil Caribbean spot in a separate piece by Quaint Planet here
• Barranquilla: Read more about the 4th largest city in Colombia here, on the Colombia Travel website. To learn more about the Carnival, check out this piece on Colombia Travel site.
• Cabo de la Vela: Learn more about Cabo de Vela, please check out this piece on Colombia Travel
• Mompox: Learn more about this UNESCO World Herritage Site colonial town here, on the Aventure Colombia website.

Dark stuff

• The Dark Side of Darién Gap: hidden reality of thousands of migrants as well as the lives of the locals in the area nearby Capurganá could be found here.

Other Traveller’s Guides to explore on Quaint Planet

• Chile: popular as well as off-the-beaten-path places to see, general travel tips, history, culture, cuisine, safety and more
• Argentina: places to see, general travel tips, history, culture, cuisine, safety, off the beaten path and more
• Uruguay: popular as well as off-the-beaten-path places to see, general travel tips, history, culture, cuisine, safety and more
• Bolivia: history, cuisine, safety, places to see, including some truly incredible off-the-beaten-path locations and more
• and there are more guides to come in the future…

Some general tips about travelling in Latin Americas

• Budget: in case you were interested, here‘s an article listing the country-by-country basic expenses for a traveller in Latin America
• Safety: Few safety tips on how to secure your valuables, what to watch out for and more can be found here
• Transport: Information, safety and some other practical advice regarding public transport in Latin America can be found here
• ATM withdrawal charges: Some practical info, including the list of free-of-charge ATMs in Latin America, can be found here
• Border fees: To find out how much you will have to pay to enter or exit certain countries in Latin America, please click here
• Pre-trip preparations: Few things you can do ahead of time before you’ll become frantically busy prior to your departure are listed here
• Packing list: What to take with you for an extended trip as well as some security tips could be found here
• Cheap Flights: few tips on how to score a cheap/er flight, get a better seat on a plane, where to get a nap at a particular airport and so on

Latin American locations covered on Quaint Planet

Santiago de Chile ► Valparaíso ► Santiago de Chile ►Punta Arenas – Ushuaia – Punta Arenas ► Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales ► El Calafate (Perito Moreno Glacier, Arg) ► El Chaltén (Los Glaciares National Park) ► Chile Chico (Ch) – Puerto Rio Tranquillo (Marble Caves) ► Coyhaique – Puyuhuapi – (Carretera Austral) ► Puerto Chacabuco – Quellón/Castro ► Puerto Varas – San Carlos de Bariloche (Arg) ► Buenos Aires ► Colonia (Ur) ► Montevideo ► Punta del Diablo – Cabo Polonio ► Montevideo ► Salto ► Concordia (Arg) ► Puerto Iguazú (Iguazú Falls) ► Salta ► San Salvador de Jujuy ► Tilcara ► San Pedro de Atacama (Ch) ► Uyuni Salt Flats Tour (Bol) ► Uyuni ► Sucre – La Paz (Death Road Tour) ► Copacabana (Lake Titicaca) – Isla del Sol – Copacabana ► Cusco (Per) ► Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) ► Cusco ► Lima ► Máncora – Montañita (Ecu) ► Puerto López ► Quito ► Ipiales (Col) – Pasto ► Tatacoa Desert ► Bogotá ► Medellín ► Villa de Lleyva ► Santa Marta – Cartagena – Rincón del Mar Necoclí ► Capurganá ► Puerto Obaldía (Pan) ► Panama City ► Las Lajas ► Cerro Punta ► David ► Bocas del Torro ► San José (Costa Rica) ► San Juan del Sur (Nic) – Ometepe ► Granada ► Managua – El Rama – Bluefields – Corn Islans ► Léon ► El Tunco (El Salvador) ► La Antigua Guatemala – Lake Atitlán ► Lanquín (Semuc Champey) – Flores (Tikal) ► Belize City ► Bacalar – Tulum – Playa del Carmen – Mérida – Valladolid – Cancún ✈️ .