Magical Colombia
7 Magical Things about Colombia
The Colombian government came up with the slogan ‘Magical Realism’ to promote the country to the world and we think it perfectly encapsulates the wonders of Colombia.
The phrase comes from the style of literature personified in the works of one of Colombia’s most famous sons, the Nobel Laureate, Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Marquez is a great introduction to Colombia and anyone intending to visit Colombia, and Cartagena in particular would do well to begin with a few chapters of ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’ in part a homage to this most beautiful of Caribbean cities.
Magical Cartagena
Simply one of the most beautiful cities in Latin America, the old town of Cartagena is a fitting inspiration for novelists, romantics and dreamers.
The old town of Cartagena is a network of lanes lined with brightly painted traditional houses, whose bougainvillea bedecked balconies overlook busy street scenes.
Music is everywhere in Cartagena and it’s hard to walk more than a couple of hundred metres without the sound of Caribbean rhythms drifting from a hidden courtyard or from an impromptu street performance in one of the old town’s charming plazas.
Several old villas in Cartagena have been transformed into boutique hotels, and Casa San Augustin and Casa Pestagua are two of our favourite boutique hotels in Cartagena – ideal for a stay in this unmissable city.
Romantic Villa de Leyva
Villa de Leyva is a beautifully preserved colonial-era town just two hours by road from Bogota and a great destination to get a feel for the Spanish era in Colombia.
White-washed buildings line cobbled streets which lead towards the magnificent central plaza watched over by the cathderal.
Villa de Leyva is a magical place to wind down a gear after Bogota and to enjoy the somnambulant pace, the boutique shops and cafes and the evening stroll around the Plaza Mayor.
Around Villa de Leyva are several fosil excavation sites and the journey from Bogota usually encompasses a visit to the spectacular underground Salt Cathedral.
Magical Coffee
Love coffee? We do too, and Colombia of course is one of the world’s great coffee destinations.
Although Colombian coffee can be experienced throughout Colombia, true coffee buffs will want to head to Colombia's Coffee Region.
The Zona Cafetera is a very scenic area of Colombia and staying in a hacienda in Colombia's Coffee Region is a highlight for many visitors on a tour of Colombia.
This is a great way to learn more about the coffee production process in Colombia and is a must for coffee lovers.
Most finca's also offer activities such as horse riding in addition to coffee plantation tours.
The Colombian Amazon
The Amazon is a lesser visited part of Colombia, being relatively inaccessible in the southern extreme of the country.
The wildlife in the Colombian Amazon is superb of course, with over 869 species of birds, 85 animal species, 140 species of amphibian and almost 150 different reptile species. Amazonian pink dolphins are a major attraction.
Tourism is much less developed in the Amazon of Colombia than it is in Brazil, Peru or even Ecuador.
The Colombian Amazon is reached via a 2-hour flight from Bogota to Leticia from where it’s a river boat transfer to the Tanimboca Nature Reserve or on to the eco-village of Puerto Narino.
Tayrona National Park
Magical Tayrona National Park offers crystal clear turquoise water and powder white sand Caribbean beaches backing on to lush rainforest and the world’s highest coastal mountain range, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
The beaches here are divine, although many are off-limits for swimming. Tayrona National Park is reached in about an hour from the city of Santa Marta which is the best base for making a trip into the park.
Medellin
Infamous for being one of the world’s most violent cities (in the 1980’s and 90’s) and home base for Pablo Escobar’s infamous Medellin cartel – what could possibly be magical about Medellin you might wonder?
Well the infamous days are something of a distant memory as Medellin is booming and it’s a wonderful place to spend a few days getting to know modern Colombia.
A walking tour of Medellin is highly recommended, and a visit to Pablo Escobar’s former house makes for a fascinating albeit rather dark insight into the recent history of Colombia.
San Andres
San Andres is a pristine island in Colombia situated off the coast of Nicaragua and reached by flight from mainland Colombia.
This little magical pearl is only 10 square miles in area and has historic links with England, meaning English is widely spoken.
In addition to San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina islands are two other inhabited islands in the archipelago which are popular with visitors.
Flights to San Andres will certainly put the cost of a Colombia holiday up somewhat, but the islands are definitely worth it.
Discover some of our most popular Holidays to Colombia
or Call Us on 0333 7000 747
and Speak to a Colombia Expert
