Attractions of Colombia

Colombia's capital is set at an altitude of 2,600 metres and is a city of impressive colonial architecture, interesting museums and a vibrant cultural scene. The colonial part of the city is known as 'La Candelaria' and is characterised by colourful old buildings, some fine museums, restaurants and ‘chocolaterias’. Some of the most impressive historical structures are located around the vast Plaza de Bolivar including the Catedral Primada de Colombia, San Bartolome College, the Chapel of El Sagrario, the Cardinal's Palace, the Congress Building and the Presidential Palace. The Gold Museum has a fine collection of pre-Hispanic handcrafted gold items. A cable car up to Mount Monserrate provides fantastic views of the city and is the site of a 17th century church and place of pilgrimage.

Villa de Leyva is a small town north of Bogota that has been exceptionally well preserved to make it one of Colombia's colonial treasures. Lying in the Andean foothills, the town of 4,000 people is characterised by cobblestone streets, whitewashed colonial buildings and handicraft shops. The town is centred around the Plaza Mayor, one of the largest town squares in Colombia, which includes the church and many fine museums. Close to Villa de Leyva lies the Muisca Observatory, El Infiernito, used in pre-Hispanic times by the native Muisca Indians as an astronomical observatory and a place of worship. The observatory comprises thirty cylindrical stone monoliths and was used to plan planting seasons and harvests.

The salt mines of Zipaquira north of Bogota have been carved into an immense cathedral deep within the mine, capable of accommodating 8,000 people. The Cathedral includes 14 small chapels representing the Stations of the Cross which illustrate the events of Jesus' last journey and a temple at the bottom with three sections representing the birth, life and death of Jesus.

Los Nevados National Park, located west of Bogota, is home to some of the most striking scenery in the Colombian Andes. There are five main snow-capped peaks in the park, including the active volcano Nevado El Ruiz at 5,325 metres. Driving through the park on 4WD provides some stunning views of the mountainous landscape while the trek to the Glacier del Ruiz at 5125 metres offers the chance to walk on the ice. There are also some thermal baths in the area to relax in after a day of trekking.

Manizales is a major centre of coffee production in Columbia and is surrounded 'Eje Cafetera', or Coffee Country, a region of lush green valleys and coffee plantations producing Colombia's main export. Here it's possible to visit a local plantation to learn about the cultivation, collection and threshing processes, stay on a local finca (or ranch) and experience this key part of Colombian culture amidst beautiful scenery.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia

Cartagena was founded in 1533 by Spaniard Don Pedro de Heredia and soon became one of the three most important Spanish ports in the West Indies along with La Habana and San Juan de Puerto Rico. It was used to export gold and silver from the mines in New Granada and Peru back to Europe and import goods and slaves - the only city along with Veracruz in Mexico authorised to trade in slaves. To protect the city from attack by pirates, a vast system of fortifications was developed in the 17th century which today surround the old city and constitute the most complete example of this type of military architecture in the New World. The historic attractions in the San Pedro quarter include the Church of Santo Domingo and the Convent of San Pedro Claver, in addition to the imposing Castle of San Felipe de Barajas Fortress and the Convent of La Popa, built on a hilltop overlooking the city. Elsewhere in town, the narrow streets have colonial buildings characterised by heavy wooden doors and balconies while Los Bovedas, previously a row of old dungeon cells, today house charming boutiques and tourist shops.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena

Tayrona National Park is located within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the highest coastal mountain in the world, which plunge from 5775 metres through thick, green jungle to the isolated and pristine, palm-fringed beaches on the coastline. The white sand and turquoise waters, in addition to scattered sea-sculptured boulders, make it one of the most beautiful coastal regions in the world. The diverse wildlife found in the park includes black howler and dusky titi monkeys, red squirrels, red woodpeckers, collared peccaries, iguanas, jaguars and a wide variety of lizards and birdlife.

Ciudad Perdida, or the Lost City, is located near Columbia's northern coast 40km south-east of Santa Marta. It is one of the largest pre-Hispanic cities discovered in the Americas, built by the Tayronas between the 11th and 14th centuries. The Tayronas were wiped out by the conquering Spaniards and the city disappeared underneath the jungle vegetation until it was rediscovered in 1975. There are about 150 stone terraces which were used as foundations for buildings which have been well preserved. Ciudad Perdida can only be reached on a 6 day round trip trek from El Mamey on organised tours from Santa Marta. At an altitude of up to 1,300 metres, the uphill trek can be tiring in the heat, in addition to the muddy paths, creeks to wade across and possibility of guerrilla activity in the area.

The Spanish colonial city of Santa Cruz de Mompox was founded in 1540 and was a key commercial centre and transport hub linking traffic and goods between the interior of Colombia and the port of Cartegena. The town is very well preserved with many of its buildings still used for their original purpose providing an excellent example of a Spanish colonial city of the period.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic Centre of Santa Cruz de Mompox

Los Katios National Park is located in north-western Colombia near the border with Panama and is an area of exceptional biodiversity with many endemic plants, over 450 species of bird and 550 vertebrate species. Covering 720 km², the park comprises two sections - the mountains of the Serrania del Darien in the west covered by tropical rainforest and the floodplains and swamp forests of the Atrato River in the east.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Los Katíos National Park

The National Archaeological Park of Tierradentro bears witness to a now vanished northern Andean society that existed in this region between the 6th and the 10th centuries. The site is notable for its hypogea, or underground burial chambers, up to 12 metres wide and decorated with motifs that reproduce the internal decor of homes of the period. There are also some remarkable stone statues of human figures carved from volcanic stone revealing a culturally wealthy and complex society.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: National Archeological Park of Tierradentro

Dating from the 1st to the 8th centuries, the group of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in the San Agustín Archaeological Park is the largest of its kind in South America. The 300 or so sculptures depict gods, warriors and mythical beasts in abstract and realist styles. The site includes platforms, terraces, mounds and a temple-like architecture which reflects a complex system of religious beliefs.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: San Agustín Archeological Park

The Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary is located 500km off Colombia's eastern coast and includes Malepo Island and the surrounding marine environment. This undisturbed environment provides a critical habitat for endangered marine species including short-nosed ragged-toothed sharks, hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, whale sharks, giant grouper and billfish. The dramatic underwater rock formations and the diversity of species make this one of the top diving sites in the world.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary