Colombia

Let the people of Colombia show you the most welcoming place on Earth
The most welcoming place on Earth is ready to greet you with a beaming smile, a hot cup of coffee and the boundless warmth of its people, giving you the most memorable of experiences.

Colombia is a topographically diverse country, where you’ll find mountainous regions, stretching plains, mysterious rainforests and—obviously—stunning, world-famous beaches. And just like its geography, its people are varied and charming. Colombians will always greet you with a smile on their face, are more than willing to help out anyone who might need it, and will no doubt share with you that joy they carry within them, making you feel right at home in the most welcoming place on Earth.

Each region has unique characteristics that its inhabitants often reflect through their personality and outlook on life, the one thing that remains the same is their kindness and warmth. Join us for a brief tour of Colombia’s 6 tourism regions and the people that’ll welcome you in each one of them.

Western Colombian Andes, Mountains of coffee and flowers, people as warm as coffee
Colombian coffee enjoys quite the level of world renown thanks to its soft taste and outstanding quality, which—believe it or not—are attributes also shared by the people who inhabit the region it’s grown in; a region that transforms society and aims to create a bright future rooted in tradition. This region, in which you’ll find cities like Armenia, Pereira, Manizales and Medellin, you’ll also find kind, friendly people ready to make you feel right at home. Those who come visit will meet friendly farmers to share delightful conversations and cups of the world’s best coffee with.

Greater Colombian Caribbean: Much more than Caribbean, smiling as ever
A welcoming land where summer never ends: warm temperatures, a fresh breeze, paradise-like beaches and joyful people, home to fascinating cultures, indigenous and raizal people, to carnivals and music, to sacred archeological sites, to García Márquez’s inspiration and to the world’s most beautiful colonial city. Those who inhabit this region are people that’ll treat you like lifelong friends from the moment you meet; cheerful greetings and countless smiles make up their routines. They live for music, and the typical rhythms of Colombia flow through their veins and can be heard in their iconic song-like accent. Once there, just let yourself go with the flow and soon you’ll feel like a true Colombian who enjoys every aspect of life.

Colombian Pacific: Flavors of forest and sea, a true natural paradise
Upon visiting the Colombian Pacific—definitely Colombia’s best-kept secret—you’ll soon fall under this region’s joyful spell. Just the city of Cali, capital of Salsa, with its gastronomy and festivals, will take you on a vibrant journey of flavor and dance moves that its inhabitants will be more than happy to share with you.

Beyond the city and the rainforest, you’ll get a unique opportunity to admire majestic beings that’ll leave you in awe: humpback whales. These honored visitors join us between July and November each year to give birth to their calves in the warm waters of the Colombian Pacific. Their jumps are without a doubt one of life’s most amazing spectacles, the kind only a megadiverse paradise such as this one could offer.

Eastern Colombian Andes: Legendary valleys and moors, brimming with history and culture
The Eastern Colombian Andes are the place where history and modernity meet, what with heritage towns such as Villa de Leyva and Barichara, as well as modern metropolises like the capital city, Bogota, which is itself home to ancient legends like that of El Dorado.

In this region, defined by the mountain range’s various moors and valleys, you’ll find sweet people who, despite a slight shyness, are more than willing to share with you the warmth of their home and soft, kind words that resonate with the mountainous tranquility. This region is also home to quiet, helpful farm people who treat their crops and animals with the utmost respect. Without a doubt, you’ll wish to return every time you visit Colombia.

The Colombian Amazon-Orinoco: Sacred rainforests and plains, Colombia’s green heart
The Amazon-Orinoco is Colombia’s green heart, a mind-blowingly huge and diverse region consisting of age-old rainforests, imposing skies and formidable rivers, where you’ll enjoy one of the world’s best nature tourism destination.

The southern half of the Colombian Amazon-Orinoco is inhabited by indigenous communities that are more than willing to share with you the secrets of the rainforest and provide you with ancestral wisdom that’ll make you feel immense respect and love for their land.

This is perhaps the country’s least-populated region, but that doesn’t mean the warmth of Colombian people can’t be felt there. Upon visiting, you’ll find lots of Colombians from different parts of the country that have moved there for various reasons but that are all delighted to call this place home.

The northern half of this region is defined by wild plains that stretch beyond the horizon, where cattle and native species share the rich land. Colombia’s Eastern Plains cover various departments and are home to the famous River of Five Colors: Caño Cristales. This is one of the country’s most impressive tourist destinations, where the water takes on countless hues as it flows over the colorful algae that grows below. Colombians who inhabit this region are known for their solidarity and commitment, and are always happy to give you a smile as they share the many aspects of life on the plains.

The Colombian Massif: Ancestral origins, timeless Andean wisdom
Welcome to the cradle where ancient Andean traditions and wisdom were born and still thrive today. Here you’ll find archeological sites like San Agustín and Tierradentro, where you’ll travel back to a timeless land.

This region is home to people that hold ancestral indigenous wisdom close to their heart and that will share with all visitors the traditions and culture that are bound to open up their minds.

This was just a quick tour of Colombia across its people and landscapes. A mere taste of the warmth and joyfulness Colombians have in store for you. So go ahead and come visit the country that’s always happy to greet you, the most welcoming place on Earth.

Trips to Colombia will make you feel just like home
No matter where you come from, Colombia, the most welcoming country in the world, will always greet you with open doors, starting with our people. Get ready to discover why destinations in Colombia are so unique.

Colombia, a country that welcomes you with hospitality wherever you go
It does not matter if the weather in the destination you choose to visit is cold or warm, because in the most welcoming country in the world, what adds warmth to each place is its people. That’s right, Colombians and their interest in being the greatest hosts will hold the doors wide open for you from the very first day. They will join you during your tour to make sure you feel like home, and they will say goodbye to you with a warm “See you soon!”

Before you come to see it for yourself, we will tell you what makes travels to Colombia unforgettable experiences. Let’s begin!

In Colombian cities, the climate merges with the warmth of its people
Colombia is synonymous with joy and hospitality, as well as cultural diversity. It is a country where people are as warm as the weather, sometimes even warmer, and you can feel it from the moment they greet you and as they accompany you throughout your stay. For example, it happens in the Colombian Caribbean, where not only the rays of the sun embrace you, but also the warmth of tourist hospitality that is found at every corner.

It may be of interest: Have fun solving these travel trivia questions to find out your next destination according to your home routine.

The most welcoming destinations are in Colombia
In destinations such as Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, and San Andrés and Providencia, the ‘coastal people’ welcome you with a joyful, outgoing personality and great kindness. This makes it easy to enjoy emblematic places such as the Historic Center of Cartagena, wondrous places like Bocas de Ceniza in Barranquilla, the contrast of the beach with the whitecaps of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the sea of seven colors in the San Andrés Archipelago, declared a World Biosphere Reserve.

In these places, you can also enjoy homemade preparations that will delight you with the spectacular flavors of Colombian cuisine, such as the traditional fried food of the Caribbean Coast. Locals will make you fall in love with the famous arepa e’ huevo (a fried corn cake with an egg stuffed inside) or a carimañola (a fried yucca cake with cheese inside). Just a taste will be enough to discover the love Colombians put into each dish.

You can also discover the characteristic warmth of Colombians through dance. The most welcoming country in the world is also the land of 1,000 rhythms, and the music of Colombia invites you to take part in fairs and festivals such as the Barranquilla Carnival. Every year this special event celebrates the emblematic expressions of the identity of the city, its people and the culture of the Colombian Caribbean.

Colombian hospitality makes visitors fall in love with the country
Thanks to a pleasantly warm climate, incredible tourist attractions, and the Paisa culture, you’ll want to experience cities like Medellín, also known as “The City of Eternal Spring.” Here, culture is expressed through its friendly and resourceful people, who celebrate the variety of flowers and the work of the silleteros, the artists who make beautiful flower compositions of the Feria de las Flores in Medellín.

Something very similar happens in the Coffee Cultural Landscape, where you will find the best coffee experience in Colombia. Here, the intense green mountains where the coffee plantations are located produces the best coffee beans. The beans are collected by coffee growers who take care of even the smallest detail to give you a unique cup of coffee.

From one Colombian region to another, tourist hospitality doesn’t change, but transforms depending on the destination. Each locale takes a new style, as is the case in cities such as Bucaramanga or Cali which welcome you with a wide gastronomic variety, nature and adventure tourism, and dance. The latter is especially popular in Cali, the Capital of Salsa.

Explore our warm culture on your trips to Colombia
Another way to familiarize yourself with the warmth of culture is by visiting the capital of Colombia. Bogotá is a city where people from all over the country coexist, making it a diverse and multicultural melting pot, and an ideal destination full of history, culture, authentic cuisine, and big business.

Very close to Bogotá, you can enjoy cultural tourism by visiting some of its 17 Heritage Towns, such as Guaguas and Villa de Leyva. This is of the most appreciated jewels of Colombia, which with cobbled streets and colonial architecture will transport you through the rich history of the most welcoming country in the world.

What are you waiting for? Surround yourself with the warmth of our culture! Plan your trip to Colombia, we will be waiting for you with arms wide open.

Trying to gather a list of nice places to visit, unforgettable experiences, and breathtaking moments? We already did the homework for you with this bucket list of the best tourist attractions in Colombia that you just can’t miss.

All you need to do is put the list into action on a fantastic journey of your own!

Connect with the wildest part of Colombia with this bucket list adventure
Begin this tour with a sense of the wild beauty that some Colombian tourist attractions hide, those that have been protected by nature and promise to renew your soul.

1. Fly over the largest rainforest reserve in the world
There’s a hidden world in the middle of Colombia’s Amazon called Serranía de Chiribiquete National Natural Park. Symbolically located deep in the heart of the country, it easily holds our number one spot on this bucket list.

This captivating landscape was declared a Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco in 2018 and 14% of all animal species on earth call its 4.3 million hectares home. If this wasn’t stunning enough, its majestic geological formations preserve human-created artwork dating back over 20,000 years!

You can even explore this paradise by plane, flying over the area to appreciate the tepuis, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and rainforest from above. This is definitely one of the Best places to visit in South America, but how can you get there? Simply take a flight from Guaymaral airport north of Bogotá, the capital of Colombia.

2. Sleep under the stars in one of Colombia’s four deserts
Just 30 minutes away from the city of Neiva, an abrupt change in the landscape takes center stage. By day, varying shades of orange paint an unforgettable landscape, while at night an abundance of stars join you for company.

This is the Tatacoa Desert, a tropical dry forest that is undoubtedly one of the best tourist places to add to your bucket list through Colombia. A place where cacti of different shapes and sizes reign, some growing up to five meters, and where extensive labyrinths of earth and plateau deliver unparalleled majesty.

It is here, like nowhere else, where you can appreciate the best starry sky, either from the La Tatacoa Astronomical Observatory or from the comfort of glamping, making it one of the world’s best places for couples to travel.

Discover some bucket list visits that represent the urban culture of Colombia
Colombia’s big cities enrich the country with their style, tradition, and art. Not only do they embody the past, but they also build a future every day through a refreshing urban landscape.

3. Walk among urban art in Medellín
Let yourself be surrounded by the ‘paisa’ culture of Medellín, also known as the “City of eternal spring” due to the warmth of its people and year-round pleasant climate, while you tour a vibrant art scene throughout its streets.

Enjoy the creative air of the city streets, including 23 works by Colombian artist Fernando Botero, and dive into an epicenter of culture: the Comuna 13. If you like to travel alone, book an urban art and graffiti tour to discover a curated collection of works that represent the incredible cultural transformation here.

4. Visit studios of talented artists in Cartagena de Indias
Without a doubt, “La Heroica” or “The Heroic City”, as Cartagena de Indias is also known, will surprise you on every corner. Its streets are full of history and culture, inviting you to stay and explore it nonstop. Begin with the San Felipe Castle, an iconic point of the city that was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Afterwards, take a stroll to Getsemaní, an old bohemian neighborhood where graffiti art adorns every street. Tour galleries and even visit the studios of renowned local artists who the city inspired for an unmissable tourist attraction and must-see for any bucket list.

Schedule your experience in the ancient streets of Getsemaní in Cartagena through one of the many urban art and graffiti tours that the city offers.

You may also be interested: Unwind and uncover the secrets of a true Caribbean culture

Fall in love with earthly paradises, some of the best vacations spots
For a moment you’ll wonder if you’re witnessing heaven on earth, as few tourist attractions can warm your soul and make time stand still as these do.

5. A paradise in the middle of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is also on this list
Just 45 minutes away from the city of Santa Marta is Minca, a destination located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park where you can go hiking and find natural freshwater wells and coffee farms.

The impressive Marinka Falls originate from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a haven for bathing and enjoying the soundtrack of nature. Go for a swim, rent a large hammock to relax, or why not, take advantage of the fact that you are in the middle of a vast cocoa growing area and prepare some artisan chocolate!

6. Enjoy the vastness of a lush green valley
The landscapes of the Cocora Valley will captivate you instantly. Located in the heart of the Coffee Cultural Landscape, this nature reserve is home to the tallest wax palms in the world, a national emblem of Colombia which can measure up to 70 meters in height.

This undisputed destination of best tourist attractions in Colombia was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco is a must on any list if you are a nature lover, enjoy bird watching and crave fresh mountain air.

When traveling here, you must pass through Salento, a picturesque town of colorful houses just 16 miles from Armenia, another great stop on your trip through Colombia.

Discover: Why Colombia is known as the land to feel the rhythm?
Now that you know about these six experiences, what are you waiting for? Let’s start crossing them off your bucket list!