Don’t let Colombia’s former bad-boy reputation fool you: it’s one of South America’s most captivating travel destinations.
Criss cross the country and you’ll experience a whirlwind of geographic variety: Amazonian rainforests and savannahs, brilliant Caribbean beaches and Andean mountain peaks.
Colombia is renowned for its coffee, alluring dance moves and passionate soccer fans. Okay, and its cocaine. The Spanish-speaking country has largely overcome a decades-long civil war and opened its doors to tourism and urban revitalisation in a big way. But, yes, there the coco leaf trade still exists, and it’s best to give that particular tourist trail a very wide berth.
Besides, there are much better things to do in Colombia: stroll the cobblestoned streets of romantic Cartagena; sunbathe at the beach with a copy of ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’ by the Nobel-prize winning Colombian author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, or shake your hips to a Shakira tune – she, too, is Colombian.
San Gil is an adventure-lover’s haven with heart-pumping mountain biking, river rafting, horseback riding and caving.
Intrepid travellers can trek Colombia’s Amazon jungles at the Reserva Natural Zacambu or explore once-lost archaeological digs at San Agustin.
Meanwhile, city-dwellers can revel in Bogota’s vibrant, up-and-coming arts scene.
Active Travellers, Adrenaline Junkies, Arts + Culture Lovers, Eco Travellers, Nature Lovers