For most of the 20th century, many of the so-called civilized countries of the world shunned Colombia, regarding it as nothing more than a rapidly failing state. For decades travelers avoided this destination out of fear that the numerous narco and guerrilla groups were going to do to them what they had done to so many others over the years. Then something amazing happened: seemingly overnight, there was a crack in the veneer of Colombia’s infamous reputation, and the world saw through to a nation of unrivalled beauty, both in its landscapes and its people.
Playa Blanca, Rosario Island.
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Cable car to Monserrate.
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This is no longer Pablo Escobar’s Colombia. It is a nation that is finally achieving its unparalleled potential; Colombia is welcoming visitors with open arms and every department is open for business. Come to Cudinamarca and soak up the culture and colonial heritage of the country’s capital, Bogotá. Head southeast to Santander, and paraglide through the skies, or brave the raging rivers and class V rapids. Continue to Valledupar, home of Colombia’s biggest music festival, the Fiesta de la Leylenda Vallenata, where the pace of life is markedly slower, and the area is teeming with running rivers.
Plaza Santo Domingo, Cartagena.
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Then there’s the coast. From the deserts of the Guajira Peninsula to the ramparts of Cartagena’s walled city, Colombia has some of the most stunning beaches and national parks anywhere in the world. Fly to the Chocó, on the Pacific Coast, and go whale watching, or relax in Medellín, the City of the Eternal Spring. Continue to the Amazonas and discover your inner Indiana Jones with a nighttime wildlife tour, swimming with pink river dolphins, or fishing for piranha.
These are but some of the places in Colombia. You could spend your entire life traversing Colombia and you’d barely scratch the surface of this land of fantasy-meets-reality. It’s true you’ll probably never know all of Colombia, but what better way to spend your life than by trying?
