Do you want to have an unforgettable trip? We tell you what are the five best experiences you must live when you visit Colombia.

Traveling will always be an unforgettable experience and in Colombia, the land of deliciousness, you will surely live unique moments. This wonderful country offers much to see and do, with paradisiacal destinations and charismatic people; Colombia is a multicultural nation where you can pamper your stomach with its varied gastronomy and enjoy a pleasant climate all year round.

• Delight in the best dishes of Colombian gastronomy

If you really want to know Colombia, you should try its most popular dishes, such as the paisa tray, the ajiaco santafereño and the sancocho. The latter is a perfect example of the gastronomic variety that can be found in this territory, since each region has adapted it according to their tastes and traditions. In Antioquia it is very popular the sancocho with beef and also the one that carries beef, pork and chicken at the same time. In the Caribbean area, because it is coast, it is common to eat fish such as bocachico or sábalo, but they also prepare chicken, goat or salted meat.

In Valle del Cauca you can enjoy a good chicken stew and rice is also very popular, a dish that takes pork, chicken, different types of potatoes, vegetables and seasonings; as well as the tamales, a delicacy based on corn, meats and vegetables wrapped in banana leaf. 

 

If we go to the eastern plains, it would be a sin not to try the Veal a la Llanera: a meat seasoned with onion, garlic and spices, roasted over low heat and accompanied by yucca or potato and guacamole.

Finally, you can not leave Colombia without enjoying its street food, because the gastronomic wealth of a country always shows itself more authentically in its streets. In every corner you will find a temptation, from arepas, empanadas and pies of potatoes or yucca, to fritters and roasted ears of corn.

• The same country, two oceans

If you are looking for a place to enjoy spectacular beaches with the best climate, Colombia is the perfect destination. Not only because it has tropical paradises like San Andres, Santa Marta or Cartagena, but because you have the opportunity to bathe in two different oceans without changing your country.

The location of Colombia gives you the privilege of having a spectacular climate throughout the year and having white, yellow or black sand beaches in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific. This particularity makes it a perfect place for lovers of beach tourism, diving and all nautical activities.

To enjoy the Caribbean Sea you can visit the islands of San Andrés and Providencia. The warm and crystalline waters of these two havens will make you love them from the first moment. If you want more offer of sun and beach in this ocean, you can visit the Tayrona Park, near Santa Marta, or the Rosario Islands, in Cartagena.

And to enjoy the Pacific coast you have the paradisiacal landscapes of waters surrounded by tropical jungle in Nuquí or in Bahía Solano (the whale park), both in the department of Chocó. Among the best beaches of the Colombian Pacific are also those of Juanchaco and Ladrilleros. In this place both the sea and nature are equally impressive. Both populations are located to the north of the Bay of Malaga and have beautiful beaches whose main attraction is to see the humpback whales.

• Marvel at the second most biodiverse country in the world

If you love nature in all its splendor, Colombia will captivate you in every step. It is the country with the most species of birds and orchids, and the second country with the greatest biodiversity in terms of amphibians, plants, butterflies and freshwater fish.

This wonderful country has the largest number of ecosystems in the world: wet and dry forests, different types of forests, savannas, páramos, rivers, coasts, mangroves, deserts, snow-capped mountains and coral reefs, among others.

If you visit the El Tuparro National Natural Park, located in the department of Vichada, you will reach the cradle of nature, because hundreds of species of birds and plants live there, as well as dozens of mammal species. In this park you will also enjoy wonderful natural pools and waterfalls where you can see aquatic algae full of colors.

If you are looking for imposing scenarios, you must travel the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. According to the Center for Research on Ecology, in France, this is the most difficult natural reserve to replace on the planet, given that no mountain in the world harbors such a wealth of ecosystems.

In this place, located between the departments of Magdalena, La Guajira and Cesar, you will find a wide variety of fauna and flora thanks to the fact that it has all the thermal floors, from crystalline beaches to snowy peaks. In addition, it is not only home to numerous birds and monkeys, but also several indigenous communities.

• Live the Colombian fairs!

If something is characterized Colombia is for the joy of its people, and there is no better way to see the uniqueness of their culture expressed than in the fairs. If you want to live completely the experience of being in the land of deliciousness you will have to attend some of these celebrations that, fortunately for all tourists, abound in the country throughout the year.

Because Colombians are a multiracial people, each region has its own festivities. There are some more popular than others, however, all are characterized by being full of flavor, rhythm and lots of music. In them you will live moments like few in life.

You have probably heard about the famous Carnival of Barranquilla, in which the city is filled with joy and flavor. The Cali Fair is also one of the best known for its “rumbera” nature and its characteristic display of salsa orchestras. But they are not the only parties.

If you come in August you must visit Medellin and its Flower Fair. It is one of the most important festivals in the country, which receives thousands of visitors. You can not miss its traditional parades, such as the silleteros, the old cars and many other events.

There are many other regional parties. If you go to Valledupar, there is celebrated the Festival of the Vallenata Legend; in Chocó, the Carnival of Riosucio; in Sucre, the Fiestas of January 20 in Sincelejo; and in Nariño, the Carnival of whites and blacks. These are just some of the most popular, because parties and fairs abound in all regions.

• Take a walk through the most picturesque villages in the country

In Colombia you will be amazed by the beauty of some of its towns. Such is the case of Guatapé, two hours from Medellín, known as the “Paraíso turístico de Antioquia”. Taking a walk through the streets of Guatapé is marveling at the vibrant colors of its balcony houses, all of colonial style and with different ornaments on the facades. The color of Guatapé surprises so much that it looks like a town from a painting.

In Antioquia you can also find Jardín, a place that has won prizes on several occasions such as the best decorated by the beautiful colors on its facades. And in Boyacá is Monguí, a small town whose buildings made entirely of stone make it an unmissable destination and the contrast of white houses and green mountains make the landscape something unique. And it looks like a place taken from old books, as if it had stopped in time. Its ancient monuments and cobblestone streets are one of its main attractions.

Colombia is a land that will conquer you in all its corners. Your kind and cheerful people will make you want to stay and get to know it thoroughly. Your landscapes will amaze you, and the varied food will make you feel that you delight in a delicacy of the gods.

Do you want more reasons to visit this land? Discover them all in the land of flavors!

* Note taken from the website of Colombia Travel