The sands of the Caribbean and Pacific shores, the heights of the Andes, and the depths of the Amazon rainforest all make Colombia a desirable holiday destination. There are remnants of both the indigenous peoples and the Spanish colonisers in its history and culture.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Colombia
For the better part of two decades, Colombia was off the tourist radar due of security concerns. Yet the government is making great efforts to improve security so that tourists can once again visit and enjoy everything that Colombia has to offer. A rundown of the top tourist destinations in Colombia:
1. Popayan
Popayan is among the most stunning colonial cities in all of Colombia. It is located in southwestern Colombia and has earned the nickname “Ciudad Blanca” (White City) due to its predominantly white architecture. With its pleasant environment, the city swiftly attracted affluent Spanish families who, beginning in the year 1537, erected palaces, academies, churches, and monasteries.
The city is well-known for its lively nightlife and solemn Maundy Thursday procession. In 1546, construction began on what would become the city’s oldest church, the Iglesia de Ermita, while the Iglesia de San Francisco claims to be the city’s most magnificent. Popayan is a nice area to relax because of its serenity and allure.
2. Medellin
Being the centre of Colombia’s notorious cocaine cartel, Medelln earned a reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous towns in the 1980s and 1990s. With Pablo Escobar’s death in 1993, however, Medelln has been able to put its terrible past behind it and flourish once again.
More and more people are visiting this city since it is a warm and welcoming modern metropolis with one of the nicest climates in the United States. The city enjoys an average annual temperature of 24°C/72°F thanks to its location in the Andes’s narrow Aburra Valley.
Beautiful flowers help make Medellin a vibrant city, and in August, the city has a 12-day festival dedicated to them.
3. San Andres y Providencia
There are two island chains in the Caribbean that are closer to Nicaragua than Colombia: San Andres and the Providencia Archipelago. The capital and largest island is San Andres. The first English settlers on Providence Island engaged in privateering and plantation slavery.
San Andres is most famous for its palm trees and white sand beaches. With its varied marine life and seven distinct colours of blue, the Caribbean is a fantastic destination for scuba divers and snorkelers. Visitors must rely on antiquated school buses to get around the island, and lodgings aren’t as plush as they would be on other Caribbean islands.
4. San Agustin
San Agustn is a tranquil village surrounded by breathtaking scenery and the ruins of an ancient culture. More than 500 monoliths, statues, petroglyphs, and sarcophagi may be found at the archaeological park of San Agustin, making it one of the most fascinating ancient sites in Colombia.
Between the years 100 and 1200, most of San Agustin’s stone sculptures were crafted. Human beings, monsters both happy and sneering, and creatures like snakes, birds, and jaguars are all represented.
The stone sculptures’ pre-Incan creators remain shrouded in mystery. Their true identity is shrouded in mystery. The interpretation of the carved sculptures and other remains is the primary source of information about this ancient culture.
5. Zona Cafetera
Zone Cafetera (Eje Cafetero) is where over half of Colombia’s coffee crop is grown, thus it’s a must-see for any coffee-loving tourists in the area. El Park del Café is a park in Medelln, Colombia, that features a coffee-themed amusement park and a botanical garden filled with coffee plants.
There is a pre-Columbian item gold museum in the Zone. One of the best views of Manizales, one of the region’s major cities, can be had from the tower of the Catedral de Manizales. Santa Rosa and San Vincente both have hot springs that tourists can enjoy. Anyone interested in hiking in the Andes will find the area to be ideal.
6. San Gil
Northeast Colombia is home to the historic colonial town of San Gil. The Spanish established this city in 1689, and by 2004 it had become the regional tourism capital. The distinction is meant to celebrate the most popular types of outdoor recreation.
The cathedral, constructed in 1791, the lively Park La Libertad, the riverside Parque El Gallineral, and the Plaza de Mercado, a covered market where visitors may try a wide range of traditional Colombian delicacies, are also possible day trips for couch potatoes.
7. Villa de Leyva
Although though Villa de Leyva is only a few hours away from Bogota by car, its Plaza Mayor is among the largest in all of South America. This massive square, once the site of public executions, is now frequented by revellers during festivals like the onion beauty pageant.
White buildings with wooden trim and balconies characterise the Villa de Leyva, which has been likened to Andaluca due to its architecture’s resemblance to Spanish and Moorish styles. Heroes of Colombia’s independence movement are commemorated at museums across the country. It is the very first distillery in the area.
8. Bogota
Bogota, sometimes known as “the Athens of South America,” was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples, yet a Spanish adventurer is widely credited with establishing the city in 1538. The city has grown into one of South America’s largest and Colombia’s capital.
Bogota, Colombia, was once on the “don’t go there” list, but it has since cleaned up its act and is now one of the top tourist destinations in all of Colombia.
Bogota is a city in Colombia that sits at an elevation of 2,640 metres (8,660 feet) in the Andes, and it is home to a planetarium, a gold museum, botanical gardens, cultural events, and a vibrant nightlife. La Candelaria is the city’s historic neighbourhood and a charming area filled with cafes, churches, and museums.
9. Tayrona National Park
Visitors interested in nature and archaeological sites won’t want to miss Tayrona National Park. The park, which is found on the northern coast of Colombia, features a wide range of ecosystems, from wetlands and scrublands to cloud forests.
The park’s beaches, which are tucked into secluded coves and lined with coconut trees, are a major draw for visitors. The beaches at Tayrona are some of the most stunning in all of Colombia. Birdwatchers go to the area to catch a glimpse of the endangered Andean condor.
The indigenous Tayronas left their stamp on several archaeological sites, notably Pueblito Chairama, giving the park its name. Tayrona is a great place to go snorkelling, hiking, and wildlife watching, especially for lizards and monkeys.
10. Cartagena
Joan Wilder, played by Kathleen Turner, travels to Colombia for the first time in the thriving city of Cartagena. The city is as bustling as it was when it was a major Caribbean port in the 16th through 18th centuries, so visitors will want to get off to a good start.
Cartagena was one of the most heavily fortified cities in South America, and its defences are still visible today, despite being fought over by multiple governments. Visitors should spend some time to explore the historic district, which features several examples of colonial architecture such as museums, palaces, and cathedrals.
A famous tourist destination is “Bocagrande,” a lengthy stretch of hotel towers and residences directly on the beach.
