Colombia is a land of astonishing natural beauty, inhabited by hospitable and open
people. The country's principal novelist, Gabriel García
Márquez, captures this magic perfectly in One Hundred Years of
Solitude. Don't let Colombia's well-documented problems put
you off.
Cityscape
Bogotá's urban mishmash spreads out from the Plaza de
Bolívar, a short stroll from the red-tiled roofs of the old colonial
district of La Candelaria. Head north to the Caribbean for the churches and
plazas of Cartagena's walled old town, or west for
Medellín's modern skyscrapers and sculpture park.
Wonder at enigmatic, stone statues in San Augustín's verdant
countryside. Ride horses through lush valleys in the Zona Cafetera. Get a
taste of the Amazon on a jungle trek in Leticia. Hike to the Ciudad
Perdida (Lost City) through the Sierra Nevada mountains, or dive the
coral reefs off the Santa Marta Caribbean coast.
Find rich, smooth and aromatic Colombian coffee nationwide. Seek out the best
emeralds, for the most reasonable prices, in Bogotá and track down
the finest filigree gold jewellery in Mompós. Go artisanal in
Boyacá, where basketry and pottery are specialities. Snap up
fashion bargains and luxury leather bags and boots in Medellín.
Try Bogotano speciality,
ajiaco
in the capital's restaurants. A hearty chicken and potato soup, it is
served with corn on the cob, cream and avocado. For the seriously hungry,
bandeja paisa
comes with minced beef, blood sausage, pork crackling and beans. Caribbean
coastal favourites include savoury coconut rice with sizzling fried red snapper.
An efficient, high-speed bus line, the TransMilenio, has revolutionised public
transport in Bogotá. Modern, articulated buses zip down dedicated lanes
with numerous elevated stations.
