Colombia – The Gateway to South America

Colombia is one of the world’s most diverse countries with two oceans, a range of climates, energetic cities, astonishing wildlife and things to do including kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, paragliding, surfing, diving, dancing and more.

Dance, music, art and culture make Colombia unique. Can you believe that Colombian art history has been evolving for 3,000 years? There is archaeological evidence of the existence of pottery in Colombia earlier than anywhere else in the Americas.

A wealth of ancient civilizations left behind a fascinating spread of archaeological and cultural sites throughout Colombia. The one-time Tayrona capital, Ciudad Perdida, built between the 11th and 14th centuries, is one of the continent's most mysterious ancient cities, arguably second only to Machu Picchu. Even more shrouded in mystery is San Agustín, where more than 500 life-sized ancient sculpted statues – some 5000 years old and of enigmatic origin – dot the surrounding countryside. And then there's Tierradentro, where elaborate underground tombs scooped out by an unknown people add even more mystique to Colombia's past.

Key Facts

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Population

50,882,891

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Location

Bogota

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Currency

Colombian Peso (COP)

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Language

Spanish

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Time Zone

GMT -5

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Calendar

Dec - Mar/Jun - Sep

Key Cities

Cultural expressions as significant as fairs and festivals in the country are a vehicle that allows to know the Colombians’ idiosyncrasies within its great cultural diversity.

Each region has infinite spaces in which converge the art, creativity, music and traditions that, for years, have built an imaginary about how the Carnivals, parades and festivals, among other cultural events take place every year in Colombia. To know Colombia, you have to experience its festivals! We invite you to be part of them.

Colombia's equatorial position affords it a diversity of landscapes matched by few countries. A slight tinkering in altitude takes you from sun-toasted Caribbean sands to coffee-strewn, emerald-green hilltops in the Zona Cafetera. Continue to climb and there's Bogotá, the bustling cradle of Colombia and third-highest capital city in the world. The bottom drops out as the Andes give way to Los Llanos, a 550,000-sq-km swath of tropical grasslands shared with Venezuela, often called the Serengeti of South America.

Led by Cartagena's extraordinarily preserved old city, Colombia offers an off-the-radar treasure trove of wonderfully photogenic cobblestoned towns and villages that often feel like they hail from a different century. Unweathered Barichara and sleepy Mompós feel like movie sets, while whitewashed Villa de Leyva appears stuck in 16th-century quicksand. Colombia's panorama of postcard-perfect pueblos are among the best preserved on the continent.

Colombia also has a rich and diverse gastronomic scene. The ethnic diversity of Colombia manifests itself in Colombian gastronomy. In Colombian food there's a rich mix of Spanish and Indigenous ingredients with African, Arabe and Spanish preparation.

Soaring Andean summits, unspoiled Caribbean coast, enigmatic Amazon jungle, cryptic archaeological ruins and cobbled colonial communities. Colombia boasts all of South America's allure, and more.

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