COLOMBIA - the land of Sabrosura

Colombia lies at the extreme north-western tip of the South American continent. The openness and zest for life that characterizes its inhabitants, the six totally different regions that the country unites in itself and the diverse flora and fauna make it a truly unique and very rewarding destination. Here, beaches combine with dense jungle, the rugged cliffs of steep mountains with rolling hills and beautiful colonial cities with vast plains. To describe Colombia – it is untouched Amazon, Caribbean flair, Latin rhythms and pre-Columbian cultural artifacts. Colombia is a country full of spectacular landscapes, cultural highlights, happiness and pure nature, which more and more travelers from all over the world discover for themselves. The country with 48 million inhabitants in the northern part of South America borders with Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador and has a coastline of over 3,000 kilometers which touches the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. To the west, the country’s landscape is dominated by the Andes with the mountain ranges of the Cordillera. The plains of Eastern Colombia are crossed by forested wetlands and the vastness of the tropical rainforest. The region, criss-crossed by natural waterways is a paradise for plants. 55,000 different species are native here. After Brazil, Colombia is the most populated country in South America. As early as 4000 BC Indian civilizations on the present territory of Colombia traded goldsmith's art. In 1502, Christopher Columbus reached the mainland of Colombia, but left its development to his successors. Jiménez de Quesada founded Bogotá in 1538. In the first half of the 20th century, Colombia experienced a strong economic recovery through the production and export of coffee, the main export of the Colombian industry alongside bananas, cut flowers, emeralds and bamboo.

COLOMBIA - an unforgettable adventure!

The Colombian Caribbean coast extends from the Golfo de Urabá in the west (Capurganá and Sapzurro) to the desert of the Guajira Peninsula in the east. The snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta are striking. At the foot of the highest coastal mountain in the world lies Santa Marta. From here you can visit on day trips several abandoned settlements and remains of the Tayrona Indians. An experience of a special kind is a multi-day trek to Ciudad Perdida, the 'Lost Indian City'. It is terraced and is surrounded by a very special and mysterious atmosphere. In the idyllic National Park Tayrona there are many sandy white beaches, secluded coves and brilliant lagoons that are perfect for swimming and relaxation. If one follows the Caribbean coast in eastern direction, one comes to the village of Palomino with its beautiful beach, which is bordered by two mountain rivers that flow down from the Sierra Nevada and open here in the Atlantic. In fact, here you can lie on the beach, enjoy a swim in the waves of the Caribbean and then cool off with a dip in the freshwater river. Also a great adventure is a trip down the river on tubes. Further east, on the border with Venezuala, lies the Guajira Peninsula. This part of Colombia is known for its desert, which is still inhabited by the Wayúu, an indigenous tribe. Beautiful, secluded beaches await the visitor. There are also to be observed, significant colonies of red flamingos and other water birds. Particularly beautiful cities on the Caribbean coast are Barranquilla and Cartagena. The latter is also known as the Pearl of the Caribbean. She lures with typical Caribbean flair. With its completely walled old city center with fortress ring, the Caribbean beauty is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mounted in front, there are a number of small islands with beaches and crystal clear waters, that are ideal for snorkeling and relaxation (Rosario Islands). Along the coast there are still some natural mangrove forests that form a unique habitat for plants and animals. In addition, here you can still find numerous unspoilt fishing villages with unique charm. The volacano Totumo is located in the hinterland - the ideal place for a relaxing mud bath. Barranquilla is an extremely cheerful and fun-loving city. She is known for her excellent Arabic cuisine. In the evening salsa sounds breeze through the streets. A special highlight represents the Carnival in February – also named as World Heritage by UNESCO. Near Cartagena, in the interior, lies the colonial village of Santa Cruz de Mompox. At the time of colonization, this community was an important trading center. Located on the banks of the Magdalena River, it oozes history, architecture and romance. A rewarding destination away from the tourist crowds. Also not far from Cartagena, we have the village San Basilio de Palenque. It is considered the first free village of South America. It was founded by escaped African slaves. Many ancient customs and traditions have survived to this day. Further inland lies the city of Valledupar. Located on the riverside of Guatapurí, the surrounding area of the city offers plenty of pristine nature, which is ideal for walking. Valledupar is the home of Vallenato, a typical Colombian style of music from the Caribbean. Annually they hold the well-known Vallenato Festival and the whole city celebrates. Nabusimake is a traditional village of Arhuaca Indians in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It can be reached from Valledupar and is still inhabited by Indians. It is an ideal destination for those looking for natural and authentic adventure. About 700 kilometers off the coast lies the archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia. It rises in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean and the pearly white beaches of the islands sparkle in the sunshine. The crystal clear water provides an incredibly good view of the shimmering coral reefs and the underwater world glowing in all rainbow colors. The islands are ideal for swimming, relaxing and snorkeling.

The center of the world-famous Colombian coffee lies between the three major cities of Armenia, Manizales and Pereira, and is therefore also called coffee triangle. The fertile slopes of the Andes provide the ideal conditions for growing coffee and the best varieties in the world come from here. The ‘Zona Cafetera’ offers two extremely attractive National Parks with the well-known Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados and lesser-known but no less attractive Parque Nacional Natural Tatamá. Montane rain forests, rivers, waterfalls, cloud forest, beautiful views of the ranges of the Andes and of course the so typical vegetation zone of Colombia, the Páramo, can be found here. But the ‘Zona Cafetera’ offers even more - in particular there are numerous coffee fincas for tourists, individual accommodation full of charm and plenty of excursions in the region. A good option also for travelers, who do not envisage multi-day treks in the national parks mentioned above. We highly recommend a visit to the nature reserve ‘Otún Quimbaya’, which is very close to Pereira and can also be easily combined with a visit to the National Park Los Nevados. Salento is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Colombia. Located near Armenia, the village has preserved the traditional architecture of the coffee zone. It serves as a starting point for hiking through the beautiful countryside. In particular, through the nearby valley ‘Valle de Cocora’, which is famous for its wax palms, a landmark of Colombia. From here, multi-day trips can be made to the National Park Los Nevados with its snowy peaks. Antioquia is essentially the region around Medellin and offers many destinations. Thus, for example, the colonial city of Santa Fe de Antioquia, the nature reserve ‘Río Claro’ invites for a swim. The nearby Hacienda Nápoles, once the country seat of the legendary drug lord Pablo Escobar, is no longer a place of horror. The rock ‘El Peñol’, with its stunning views over the lakes on the edge of the colonial village of Guatapé, is another unforgettable attraction of this region. Also, there are places that are less well known, but equally worth a visit. To be mentioned here is Jardín, a small village in the middle of the Andes, surrounded by coffee fields, waterfalls, rainforest and the fascinating ‘Esplendor Cave’. Medellín itself is often called the ‘city of eternal spring’, because the climate throughout the year there is very pleasant, not too hot, but never too cold. Medellín is Colombia's city of fashion; every year they host the most important fashion show in the country - the ‘Colombiamoda’. The most important cultural event each year is the ‘Feria de las Flores’ (flower festival), a huge city festival, which takes place in early October. Pablo Escobar once made millions in drug business, today he is even marketed himself in Medellin as a tourist attraction. Colombia's violent cocaine king died in 1993 in a hail of bullets. Once Medellín had the reputation of being the 'most dangerous city in the world', today it she a magnet for tourists. On the Plaza Botero, the sculptures of the artist Fernando Botero can be admired. Furthermore, there are many churches in Medellín, museums and monuments that are worth a visit. For example, the 'Catedral Metropolitana', the 'Iglesia de la Candelaria' or the 'Museo de Arte Moderno'. Also recommended is a visit to the 'Pueblito Paisa', a reconstruction of a typical village of the region. Situated on a hill, it offers a wonderful view of the city. The 'most innovative city in the world' is best viewed from the air. In a cable car of the 'Metrocable', that connects since a few years the poor neighborhoods on the slopes with the public transport system in the valley. The view wanders over tin roofs and busy streets of Santo Domingo district, where formerly rival drug gangs fought each other. A unique opportunity to observe the social reality of the city.