Colombia is a South American country with some of the most beautiful landscapes and cultural attractions. The country of Colombia has it all, from sandy beaches and towering mountains to jungles and the mighty Amazon River. When imagining the ideal vacation to Colombia, travelers should include visits to the country’s many national parks, historic sites, and cultural centers. Use this travel guide as a road map to all the best sights Colombia has to offer.
10. Valle de Cocora
the iconic wax palms of the Cocora Valley in Colombia. Image source: Exequiel Schvartz/Shutterstock.com
Valle de Cocora is the best place to observe wax palms, the national tree of Colombia, in their natural habitat. As the mists clear, the wax palms atop the valley’s hills reveal their towering height against the bizarre backdrop of lush greenery.
Valle de Cocora’s terrain is the major draw, and visitors may make use of a number of different viewing options to take it all in. In addition to the six-hour trek round, horseback riding is another popular choice.
9. Ciudad Perdida
the ancient terraces of Ciudad Perdida, Colombia. Image source: Joerg Steber/Shutterstock.com
Ciudad Perdida is located smack dab in the middle of the Colombian rainforest, which is still mostly underdeveloped. Ciudad Perdida, also known as the Lost City of Teyune, was a Tayrona Indian town from before the arrival of Europeans.
Once a cultural center, the town is now little more than a scattering of circular stone terraces that have been taken over by the forest. Longer guided treks are common here, and they often include moving from camp to camp so that their participants may take in the unspoiled forest in all its natural glory.
8. Cano Cristales
the multicolored Cano Cristales river in Colombia. Image source: VarnaK/Shutterstock.com
Cao Cristales, also known as the Liquid Rainbow and the River of Five Colors, is a sight that no tourist should miss. Cao Cristales has been off-limits to visitors since 1989, when the FARC took control of the region. However, in recent years, a select number of travel operators have begun organizing carefully planned excursions there.
Outside of La Macarena, in the Serrana de la Macarena National Park, is where you’ll find the river. The river’s appearance varies from black to white to green to yellow to brilliant red, depending on the plants, pebbles, sand, and algae that give it its color.
The Cao Cristales riverbanks are a great place to go on a hike, and visitors can also explore the nearby Los Cuarzos waterfall and swim in the river’s natural pools.
7. Los Nevados National Park
the peaks of Los Nevados National Natural Park in Colombia. Image source: Antoine Barthelemy/Shutterstock.com
Some of the most impressive volcanic peaks in the nation may be found in the Los Nevados National Park, which is located at a high altitude. The snow-capped peaks of Nevado del Ruiz and Nevado del Tolima, among others, are a major draw to the park.
Popular activities in the park include hiking and backcountry camping for the more adventurous. Spectacled bears, tiger cats, Andean condors, and pumas are just a few of the native animals that may be seen here.
the Barranquilla Carnival Festival in Atlantico, Colombia. Image source: OSTILL is Franck Camhi/Shutterstock.com
Although most people think of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when they think of Carnaval, the city of Barranquilla in Colombia has the second biggest Carnaval in the world. Festivals, live music, and street parades take over the city during Carnaval de Barranquilla.
La Batalla de Flores, the flower-decorated parade floats that start off the celebrations, is a sight to see. Attendees frequently dress in garish hues or outfits based on historical figures or folktales from Colombia.
5. Santuario de Las Lajas
A stunning view of Las Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia. Image source: Ksenia Ragozina/Shutterstock.com
The Santuario de Las Lajas, just north of the border with Ecuador, is one of the country’s most remarkable religious monuments. The Santuario de Las Lajas is a stunning structure that was constructed on a bridge over the Guaitara River.
A modest museum may be seen within the Gothic-style church that was erected in the early 20th century with donations from townspeople. Tours of the Santuario de Las Lajas may be easily arranged from the adjacent town of Ipiales.
4. Monserrate
A panoramic view of Monserrate Mountain in Colombia. Image source: Zdenka Mlynarikova/Shutterstock.com
Bogota is the capital of Colombia, and its height makes it stand out from other capitals, especially when you take in the view from the top of Monserrate. Overlooking the city from the peak of Mount Monserrate, is a church built in the 17th century that attracts worshippers from all over the world.
Taking the funicular or the aerial tramway up to Monserrate is one of the greatest ways to see the city of Bogota. Incredible sunsets over Bogota’s downtown may be seen from that vantage point.
3. Cartagena’s Old Town
the vibrant and colorful streets of Cartagena’s old town in Colombia. Image source: Patrakov sergei/Shutterstock.com
The historic district of Cartagena is one of the most visited places in all of Colombia. This city was the first Spanish colony in Colombia, so it naturally has a wealth of colonial-era buildings in its Old Town. Several historic districts and sites may be found within the walled Old Town, also called Ciudad Amurallada.
The oldest section of the colonial city is located in the Getseman area, where the Plaza Trinidad serves as a focal point for locals and visitors alike. Benefit from being near the water by eating fried fish with a side of coconut rice (arroz de coco).
2. Tayrona National Park
A stunning view of the beaches and jungle in Tayrona National Park in Colombia. Image source: Olga Kot Photo/Shutterstock.com
Tayrona National Park is located in northern Colombia, on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, and it has beautiful beaches and landscapes. La Piscina, a lagoon in Tayrona National Park, is a popular destination due to the natural reef that forms its perimeter and makes it a safe swimming location.
When snorkeling amid the seagrass and on the reef at La Piscina, it is possible to see lobsters, fish, and rays. Many of the sandy hiking routes that run to or from the shore provide breathtaking panoramas of the Caribbean.
1. Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
The underground Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira in Colombia. Image source: Jess Kraft/Shutterstock.com
Zipaquirá, one hour north of Bogotá, is the salt mining center of Colombia. For a very long time, Zipaquirá has been home to an extremely wealthy minority, because of the city’s salt mining industry.
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, a Catholic cathedral built nearly completely of salt within a now-defunct mine, is one example of this. In spite of its popularity as a tourist attraction, the Salt Cathedral serves as a regular place of worship for almost 3,000 locals each Sunday.
The cathedral is located in a district called Salt Park, where guests may also explore other mining attractions and learn more about the brine business at the Brine Museum.
