One of the most misunderstood countries in the world today, Colombia is a perfect example of what a diverse country can offer to any traveler in the world. From modern cities like Bogota to lush mountains and valleys like those in Armenia or tropical beaches like Playa Blanca in Cartagena there is something for everyone. Unfortunately it’s turbulent past has basically pulled Colombia out of the tourist maps, yet those in the know are using this opportunity to visit and explore an unexploited beauty.

I had the opportunity to travel across Colombia for over three weeks over a year ago, and was mesmerized by its beauty, diversity and the charm of its people, the paisas, who are not only friendly in nature but happy to show visitors the real Colombia that has been kept underground for so many years. Sure, there are some hot zones that are best avoided (like central Bogota after midnight) but these safety issues are common to pretty much any big city in the world- the occasional military checkpoints in roads along the South usually don’t affect independent travelers, and in any case are proceeded with politely and without hassles.

And then there’s the food. Zancocho, empanadas or what has now become my favorite fruit in the world, the lulo (particularly good for fresh juice) are sure to indulge your taste buds in new flavors you had not tried anywhere else. Where as the food in the South tends to be heavy in protein (the bandeja paisa is perhaps the country’s most famous dish which consists of a large plate with more than 6 or 8 different meat steaks… that countrymen have for breakfast!) that in the north tends to be lighter, juicier and as varied and colorful as its people. This might be a free travel guide of Colombia, but it leaves nothing behind!

Like the free travel guide of Mexico this free travel guide of Colombia includes all the information you need to get around and visit 11 major destinations in Colombia and suggests other nearby attractions you might want to explore as well. Available in PDF end ePub it has more than 50 color photos that will show you  what each destination looks like before you get there, and introduces you to the local cuisine you must try.

Click Here to Go to Colombia Travel Guide Download Page

Have you visited Colombia? Would you if you could? Why or why not? Share your thoughts and opinions on what you believe Colombia currently is like, and this post too if you think other might like it!

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Cartagena

This city plays a very important role in terms of international trade, being home to one of the mains ports in Colombia. You will feel how the colonial period has impacted the city, just by walking through the streets. Cartagena has a variety of attractions including visiting the “Casa de Marqués Valdehoyos” (an old house portraying old Cartagena), the Cathedral, and the “Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas”, a fortress which was built to protect the city from pirates. Finally, if you’re a beach lover, Playa Blanca will not disappoint you. You can hop on one off the tourist boats or save some money and head there early in the morning with a public speedboat.

Bogota – Colombia’s Capital

This city is influenced by a mixture of cultures from English, Spanish and Indian. Bogota is very modern with lots of interesting architecture, restaurants and shops. There are many districts in Bogota, such as “Norte”, “Noroccidente”, “Occidente”, “Sur” and “Centro” – all having their own character and uniqueness. Expect to find a lot of things to do in this capital, including the “Cerro de Monserrate” – which is a stunning monastery located on top of a hill. You can take a cable car here and remember to take your camera to shoot some amazing views of the city. As for lodging, you’ll find some amazing accommodation in Bogota, including private bed and breakfasts in the city center or in one of the city’s exciting districts.

Cali

This is Colombia’s third largest city and was founded in 1536. If you want to go somewhere hot this summer then Cali is the place for you. Of course like Bogota and Cartagena, there are lots of things to do . The “Iglesia de la Merced” is a wonderful stunning cathedral, located in the Plaza Caycedo. There are of course plenty of museums to visit here, including the “Museo de Arte Colonial” and the “Muse de Oro”, and if dancing is your thing, there’s no better place to learn Cumbia and master salsa till the wee hours of the morning.

Popayan

Perhaps Colombia’s most spiritual city, Popayan exudes a charm and beauty that does not go unnoticed- even to the untrained eye. Known as the “white city” because of the white walled buildings that dominate the cobbled streets, the old quarter is easily walkable and the best place where to stay. The best of Popayan can be visited in just one day, but just a 45 minute bus ride away is Silvia, a small village with an indigenous population (the Guambinos, easily identified by their black hats and blue capes) that will keep you in awe for the day.

Today the locals have earned their reputation as visionaries and entrepreneurs who love life on the streets and are famous for exaggerating their colorful stories. The hospitality, frugality and proactive spirit associated with the region are proverbial and the enticement of this wondrous place stretches even beyond the picturesque landscape and beauty.

Have you visited Colombia? Do you agree with my pick or do you have other favorites? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below, and this post too if you liked it!

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In a country where breathtaking views are nothing extraordinary, Colombia’s Valle del Cocora in Salento offers what I believe are some of the most spectacular of them all. On a clear day the intense green mountains engulf you as you ride a Jeep Willy’s to the trekking area, where small paths eventually lead you to where these edemic palm trees grow. These palm trees in Quindio state are Colombia’s national tree and can be up to 60 m high. Imagine what it can feel like to sip a cup of the world’s best coffee after enjoying a trek with these views!(click photo to enlarge)

Have you visited Colombia? If you have, I hope you did not miss this unique valley…what did you like best? Share your thoughts below, and this photo too if you liked it!

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There’s enough budget accommodation within walking distance of this area to cater your needs- I showed up without knowing where I was going to stay and it only took me 15 minutes to find the hostel I would spend my next 3 nights fater asking around and with the help of Rafael, a Spanish traveler who’d been there for a week.

The neighbourhoods around the centro amurallado seem sketchy at fist glance but are very safe (pick pocketing is common though) and have all the restaurants and shops you’ll need during your stay. I didn’t waste too much time dumping my backpack and getting some bearings of the area, and was soon after taking my first look of the illuminated wall right before having a tasty dinner in one of the few restautants that were still open at 11 pm. The meal felt delicious after the 4.5 hour bus ride from Santa Marta and I was ready to sleep like a baby after paying the bill.

I had breakfast with Rafael the following morning and was soon after on my own walking to the walled center under a clear blue sky and temperatures not ear close to what they would be a couple of hours later. The wall and buildings within it are voer 300 years old, yet are as vivid and colorful as the people who walk along the cobbled streets: blacks, caucasians, mulattos, mestizos, indians and all ethinicities in between make up the population of this caribbean city, mingling as if slavery had never really happenned here. It took me about seven hours to slowly walk around the wall and within the old quarter, visiting Santo Domingo’s church, the Palace of Justice, the Cathedral, the Public Clock, Saint Philip’s castle and many other attractions.

During the hottest moments of the day I drank Lulo juice, a fruit only found here and in Ecuador that is the ingredientof what has become my favourite juice in the world. it tastes like a combination of kiwi and maracuja: rich in flavour, more refreshing than a Coke and quenching thirst better than a Gatorade. Once the sun set again I joined Rafael for dinner and we later went on a night photography tour of our own and planned on visiting Playa Blanca (White Beach) the following day.

Playa Banca is the best beach you can conveniently reach from Cartagena, and one of the best in Colombia’s caribbean coast altogether: deffinetly better than that in Santa Marta and many agree that better than those in Tayrona National Park.

To reach Playa Blanca I recommend you skip the more expensive and much slower tourist boats and ride one of the publis speedboats that depart from the old harbour early in the morning. Sure, the harbour is quite disgusting but after 45 minutes of skipping over the ocean you’ll reach the turquoise waters of spectacular Playa Blanca. Best of all the tourist boats won’t appear in the next four hours. The beach is ideal to walk along and the water is perfect for snorkeling; foodwise fresh fish is cheap and tasty and overnight sleeping is possible in a tent at one of the camping grounds- I really recommend this option if you have the time. We got the 4:30 pm boat back to Cartagena de Indias that afternoon and took a few more pictures in the historical center while drinking lulo juice again (of course!).

Cartagena is my favourite big city in South America and will probably yours too: the very well preserved centro amurallado is excellent for people watching and jistorical learning, I love the budget friendly delicious and assorted cuisine and spectacular Playa Blanca is one of the best I have seen in the world_ and I’ve seen quite a few. All things considered Cartagena de Indias is one city you should visit at some point in your life, and is probably the best place where to finish a trip in Colombia because it has it all: food, history and natural attractions.


Did you like Cartagena as much as I did? What about playa Blanca? If you liked this post please share it…and “Like” it!

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I only chose Popayan as my first destination in Colombia because of a recommendation made by a couple of travelers I had met in Ecuador a few days earlier, and the prospect of visiting this World Heritage site was nothing too extraordinary. However things already began to get interesting on my way there, as my bus companion was a friendly ecuatorian businessman who had a 24 hour bus ride ahead of him and was open to entertaining conversations. He initially could not understand why I was traveling alone, but by the time I got off the bus in Popayan he had changed his return ticket to include an extra night in this city to not only experience what solo traveling is all about but to visit this this small city he had passed so often without takeing a second glance. After all if a foreigner was comming from afar to visit it there must be something going on.

I am convinced he was not let down. Popayan is an easy going and simple to visit town, with the modern area perhaps not one to remember for ever but with a superb old square that exudes a colonial flare and displays exquisite illumination at night. As for accommodation look no further than Hostel Trail, a superb hostel near the city center with dorm and single rooms, friendly staff and spotlessly clean.

Despite the devastating earthquake of 1983 the city has been completely rebuilt, and besides the colonial historical center Popayan also boasts several churches, museums, a university, an archaelogical site nearby, the National Park of Purace with great treking and Purace volcano to contemplate and what I found the most interesting of all places: the small town of Silvia.

To visit Silvia simply hop on a van in the central bus station and enjoy the 45 minute ride: the views along the way will make the trip appear shorter than wht it is, and very soon you’ll find yourself in this small Andean town which is the kind of place every traveler loves to find: a relatively isolated small town with a lot of activity and an indigineous population doing it’s everyday chores.

I was lucky enough to visit Silvia on a Tuesday, the day the local market is most active, and was immediately captivated by the mood and ambience. I recommend you get there no later than 9 or 10 am to fully enjoy all the action and have your camera poised for a plethora of photo opportunities of the Guambinos. This indigenous population has been here for over 500 years and despite their traditional clothes don’t let yourself be fooled because eventhough in peace with their neighbours they are a closed community not to be tamed easily: drug cartels and FARC guerillas were never able to install themselves here because they would be chased away by the Guambinos with sticks and stones.Spend a few hours here simply observing people, walking to the church at the top of the hill to better appreciate the area and enjoy a great yet superb meal at the far end of the indoor market which is also very interesting by itself.

Popayan and Silvia were a great introduction to my Colombia trip, and after some long bus rides from Ecuador I was happy to chill around for 3 days. They are two towns I highly recommend visiting: with 2 full days (3 nights) you will have enough time to enjoy the best of them, but throw in 2 more to fully explore the area. As a final recommendation make sure your camera is ready at all times: the pictures you take here will definnetly be among those you’ll want to share back home.

Have you visited Popayan or Silvia? What did you like most of Silvia? What other small towns like these do you know about in the world? Remember to “Like” this post and please share it !

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A few more facts about pelicans:

• Diet: Carnivore
• Average life span in the wild: 10 to 25 years or more
• Size: Body, 5.8 ft (1.8 m); wingspan, 10 ft (3 m)
• Weight:30 lbs (13 kg)

And if you thought you have seen it all about these birds, check out this video:

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