Exploring the Rich Culture of Colombia: Places to Visit.

Dawn Bradnick Jorgensen
4 min readJul 22, 2019

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Colombia is a beautifully vibrant and colourful country in South America, packed full of nature, culture, and history. The perfect destination for any traveller, whether seeking out luxury, a backpacker on a budget or simply wanting for a relaxing vacation. Although some visitors to Colombia can underestimate how big a country it is and how much there is to see and do, finding themselves overwhelmed with the planning. This list of six places you should consider visiting may help with that.

Cartagena

This colourful, energetic city is full of Afro-Caribbean song and beauty and boasts an artistic heritage. Cartagena can be found in the Caribbean Coast Region in the northern coast of Colombia. Here, you can visit the colonial Old Town and the stunning Rosario Islands, where you will be mesmerised by the clear warm water.

Medellin

Medellin is a city found in Colombia that has been completely reinvented over recent years. It used to be full of violence and drug cartels yet is now one of the best cities to live in Colombia and has seen a huge increase in the number of foreign expats. Museums, education and science institutions, galleries, culture and idyllic weather all year round are just some of the things Medellin has to offer. Learning some of the native languages is extremely useful when it comes to exploring the hidden and culture-rich areas or getting stuck into the local markets and community. Baselang’s Spanish school in Medellin can help you with that. The city also has a sultry nightlife, which is ideal for younger explorers.

El Peñol and Guatape

El Peñol and Guatape are just a few hours from Medellin and are definitely worth a visit. This area is best known for its landscape views. Guatape is a small, colourful town full of local art and restaurants. It is the perfect place to visit if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. El Peñol is located just outside of Guatape and is said to offer the best views in the city.

Pasto

The Carnaval de Negros y Blancos is hosted in Pasto during the first and second week of January each year. Not many people outside of the country have heard of this event, so it is the best place to go if you really want to be immersed in something truly local. The streets will be packed full of colorful parades, foam fights, and a buzzing atmosphere. There’ll be dancing too.

Salento and the Coffee Triangle

Salento is a laid-back town that can be found in the centre of the famous Coffee Triangle of Colombia. This is the best place to visit if you are a coffee lover. All the local restaurants serve the freshest coffee’s, alongside the delicious local cuisine. You can also explore the coffee region by guided tour or by taking a day trip to Vale del Cocora, the Coffee Park or any of the other towns found in the coffee triangle.

Santa Marta

In Santa Marta, you will find Tayrona National Park. Scenically, this park will take your breath away. From snow-capped mountains to tropical rainforest, this area of the world has been described as paradise on Earth. To top it off, isolated white sandy beaches can be found on the other side of the jungle. You can hang up a hammock and enjoy this fantastic area while you take in the Caribbean Sea breeze. What’s not to love?

With so much to see and do in this fantastic country, planning your excursions in advance is a must. This will ensure that you achieve everything you want to see and do. Getting stuck in is the best way to explore the rich culture of Colombia.

** Pics sourced on Pixabay, although I look forward to getting there to take my own soon x.

Originally published at http://theincidentaltourist.com on July 22, 2019.

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Dawn Bradnick Jorgensen
Dawn Bradnick Jorgensen

Written by Dawn Bradnick Jorgensen

Writer. Earth Advocate. A Conscious Traveller. Consultant in Sustainable Travel Practices. Determined to save a species 🌱 http://theincidentaltourist.com/

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