Colombia

Colombia has shaken off its troubled past and is blossoming into one of South America Travel Specialist must-see destinations, such natural beauty all around and a vibe you cannot match make this the year to visit before others do and leaving you wishing of what may have been. Colombia is fresher than its coffee!

We at South America Travel Specialist have fallen in love with Colombia and have long been desperate to share our infatuation.  As this is such a beautiful country full of surprises. Home to one of the world’s most beautiful cities in Cartagena on the steamy Caribbean. Not to overlook the ancient Amerindian cultures in the high Andes, Colombia is a riot of colour, music, changing landscape and a mass of contradictions. Sure, Colombia has had well-known challenges in its past and recent history and continues to work through them. For now, Colombia is an intriguing and spectacular place to take a tour before others learn its secrets.

Bogota

Bogota, Colombia’s mountain capital, has opened up with the rest of the country in the last ten years or more. Along with a very atmospheric old city centre, called La Candelaria,  where Spanish style plazas are looked over by colonial churches, there’s a funky new part of the city called the Zona Rosa which is home to design-led boutique hotels, creative restaurants and an ever-changing night scene. Bogota is worthy of a few nights on any Colombia tailor-made tour. Be sure we’ll make sure you get the most of it. Whether it be the world-renowned Gold Museum on Treasures of Colombia, a private tour to Zipaquira salt cathedral and the amazing Guatavita lake, which Spanish Conquistadores thought to be the legendary El Dorado city of gold.

The Colombian Andes

Travel a few hours out of Bogota, into the picturesque Andes mountains.  You shall then be in what has become known as the Zona Cafetera. This is the coffee-growing triangle where you can stay in beautifully converted farmhouses. This is a chance to get out into the mountains with picnics in the plantations and walks in the green valleys sounds as lush as the jungles are.

Medellin

Becoming a more regular fixture on Colombia touring itineraries like Magic of Colombia is the city of Medellin. There’s no escaping it was once a stronghold of the drug cartels, but it’s in the process of a renaissance which is amazing to visit and witness. Medellin is in a spectacular mountain setting and is a progressive, creative city. They are also confronting the past with things like the Casa de la Memoria – House of Memories – and the Parque de Los Desos – Park of Wishes.

Cartagena

No visit to Colombia is complete without a stay in Cartagena. South America Travel Specialist believe that it’s one of the upcoming top ten most beautiful cities in the world.  Looking out over the dome of the Cathedral and the rambling rooftops glowing in the afternoon sun. With the Caribbean shimmering as a backdrop, we challenge you to argue otherwise. In the last ten years, Cartagena has been receiving more and more day-trippers from visiting cruise ships. We believe they’re missing out as it’s at night that Cartagena puts on a show. You can stay in a converted monastery or arty boutique hotels.  Meander through cobbled streets lined with tempting eateries, drink a cocktail or a fresh tropical juice on the city walls. Cartagena is like a museum, yet a city full of life.

The Coast

Off the coast of Cartagena lie the tiny Rosario Islands. The hotels here are not quite the right level, we think it’s best to explore on a yacht trip. Or head east along the Caribbean and stay in the blissfully undeveloped Tayrona National Park. With a limited number of beach resorts in Colombia right now, which is one of its charms as many understand space is a luxury.

In the next ten years and onwards, we’re sure more areas will open up like Cali, a city of dance and culture, prehistoric sites like San Augustin, colonial towns like Popayan and adventure treks like the Lost City in the north.

In a nutshell

We’re not sure if we want Colombia to become a major destination on the travel circuit. Its attraction lies in how different it is, and we urge you to go see it and feel it for yourself and fall in love just as South America Travel Specialists have! 

So why did you start a travel business in a post-apocalyptic travel world, the answer, the travel world needs a saviour and The Travel Specialist are here to save it!