COUNTRY PROFILES


Colombia C


THE NEXT BIG THING Capital city: Bogotá | Language: Spanish | Currency: Colombian Peso | Visa: Not required by British citizens | Time zone: GMT -5hrs


olombia is Latin America's rising star. While it was once


something of a no-go destination for overseas visitors, it is now featured by around 60 UK tour operators and visitor numbers from these shores have increased by 50 per cent in the past six years. The rise in Colombia's popularity


is testament to its wide-ranging appeal and the turnaround of its image following sweeping changes across the country in the last ten years. This land of colonial cities, Andean mountains, coffee plantations, rainforest and two different coastlines – the Caribbean and Pacific – has been transformed through massive investment in security, infrastructure and tourism promotion – ProExport Colombia adopted the tagline ‘the only risk is wanting to stay‘ – and visitors can be assured of a warm welcome. The enthusiasm Colombians have


for their own country is heart- warming and infectious. From hoteliers to local guides, and tourism officials to shop keepers, Colombians are determined to make a good impression and are effortlessly warm and welcoming to all. Their optimism for their country is tangible and irrepressible. Capital city Bogotá is a bustling


metropolis with shiny skyscrapers, international hotel brands and the


■ The colourful streets of Cartagena


biggest network of parks in Latin America. But it is Bogotá’s historic heart, La Candelaria, and its wealth of museums and galleries that are the real stars of the show. Probably Colombia’s best-known destination is beautiful Cartagena on the country’s Caribbean coast. Founded in 1533, the city’s old quarter is today a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site, home to the most extensive historic fortifications in the Americas and streets of picturesque colonial buildings. Along the coast to the northeast


SAMPLE PACKAGE Journey Latin America's 12-day Highlights of Colombia itinerary travels from capital city Bogotá to Villa de Leyva, Cartagena on the Caribbean coast, the Rosario Islands, and Pereira to explore the Coffee Triangle, before returning to Bogotá.


of Cartagena are Baranquilla – the birthplace of Colombian popstar, Shakira, but best known for its annual carnival held every February – and Santa Marta, the departure point for tours of stunning Tayrona National Park, which occupies a 50-mile stretch of the Caribbean. The park is considered one of


Colombia’s most important ecological reserves and features pristine beaches, coral reefs,


HIGHLIGHTS  Colonial Cartagena  The Coffee Triangle  Tayrona National Park  Cosmopolitan Bogota  San Andres and Providencia


TIPS FROM


THE TOP “Colombia is one of the hidden treasures of Latin America. For a country with so much on offer, it still remains largely untouched by tourism. As one of the most diverse countries in the region, Colombia is the only South American nation with both a Caribbean and Pacific coastline, and is also home to part of the Amazon rainforest, the Andes mountain range, and the largest number of bird species in the world. Aside from its rich diversity, a real highlight of Colombia is its people. With such a positive outlook on life, the locals are extremely welcoming and open to tourists.”


James Adkin, Product Executive, Explore


rainforest and accommodation in the form of thatched ‘ecohabs’. For a more commercialised beach


break experience, consider directing clients to the Colombian islands of San Andres and Providencia, which actually lie off the coast of Nicaragua. On the lush, green western slopes


of the Andes is Colombia's Coffee Triangle (known locally as the 'Zona Cafetera'), a rapidly emerging tourism destination. At its heart are the cities of Armenia, Manizales and Pereira, but it is the pretty rural areas, parks and coffee plantations between the cities that are the real attraction. Accommodation options are on the rise here, with plenty of chances to stay on working coffee plantations and learn more about Colombia's biggest export crop.


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