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Introducing Colombia
Colombia’s back. After decades of civil conflict, Colombia is now safe to visit and travelers are discovering what they’ve been missing. The diversity of the country may astonish you. Modern cities with skyscrapers and nightclubs? Check. Gorgeous Caribbean beaches? Check. Jungle walks and Amazon safaris? Check. Colonial cities, archaeological ruins, high-mountain trekking, whalewatching, coffee plantations, scuba diving, surfing, the list goes on.
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No wonder the ‘magic realism’ style of Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez emerged from here – there is a dreamlike quality to Colombia. Here at the equator, with the sun forever overhead, the fecund earth beneath your feet, heart-stopping vistas in every direction and the warmth of the locals putting you at ease – you may find it difficult to leave.
Colombian culture, like the country’s weather, varies by altitude. The essence of Colombia resides in the mountains in the alpine cities of Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, and the smaller cities of the Zona Cafetera. This is the industrial heartland of the country. Geographical isolation has kept the accent relatively unaffected by outside influence; Spanish here is precise and easy to understand. The infrastructure in the mountain region is good, the water drinkable, the roads well maintained. In the heat of the Caribbean coast, life is slower, and the culture more laid-back. The accent is the unhurried drawl of the Caribbean basin, and the infrastructure, unfortunately, is still in need of some attention.
In darker days people used to say, ‘if only it weren’t for the violence and drugs, Colombia would be paradise.’ Well the drugs may still be here but the violence is gone, at least for now, and it is, indeed, paradise. It is an easy country to fall in love with, and many travelers do. It could well become your favorite country in South America.
Travel Alert: Travelers should exercise vigilance at all times due to the level of violent crime. Although kidnapping and homicide rates in urban areas have dropped in recent years, they remain high. Check out Safe Travel or the Thorn Tree travel forum for advice from travelers.
Last updated: Oct 20, 2009
Tips & articles
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YOUR top 10 countries for 2010
19 November 2009
A couple of weeks ago, we published our list of hot destinations for 2010. You sure had a lot to say!...
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Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled Colombia itinerary
4 November 2009
Having weathered years of civil strife and daunting press, Colombia has only recently reappeared on the...
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Ride ‘em, Cowboy: Valledupar’s vaquero culture
27 October 2009
Smack-bang between the Andes and the Caribbean coast, the dry plains of Valledupar were home to South...
Colombia
Our Top Picks For Colombia
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1 Bogotá
Cosmopolitan metropolis with splendid museums, bustling markets and scintillating nightlife
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2 Villa de Leyva
Laid-back colonial-era town preserved in its entirety, plus good hiking and biking opportunities in the surrounding hills
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3 Ciudad Perdida
Straight out of an Indiana Jones film, a three-day hike to the pre-Columbian ‘Lost City’ is Colombia’s ultimate adventure trek
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4 Providencia
Lush, volcanic island offering tranquil waters, deserted beaches, and excellent dive sites
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5 Parque Nacional Tayrona
A beautiful stretch of Colombian Caribbean coast, graced with deep bays and white sand beaches
Fast Facts about Colombia
- Number of 'u's in country's name
none
- Population
46 million
- Percentage of vote President Uribe won in the 2006 election
62.35%
- Internet country code
.co
- GDP growth
5.2% (2008)
- Life expectancy
69 years (men); 77 years (women)
Related Groups
Our favourite Colombia Blogs (beta)
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The Best Hostels in Latin America
Blog: Itinerant Londoner - 14 November 2009
Travelling for a year, constantly on the move, rarely staying more than three or four days in one place, where I end up staying makes a huge difference to my my stress levels. End up in a nice hostel, with things like comfy beds, warm showers, free breakfasts, a good location and a nice atmosphere [...]
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Lady in Cartagena
Blog: A Lady in London - 7 November 2009
After our short stint in Miami, my boyfriend and I headed to Cartagena last Sunday to enjoy some equatorial sun. One of Colombia's most beautiful coastal cities, Cartagena had long been on my list of places to visit.
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Lady in Bogota
Blog: A Lady in London - 7 November 2009
The final leg of my Colombian odyssey was Bogota. Reaching an altitude of 2640 meters (8300 ft), the city is the third highest capital city in the world. As such, getting off the plane from Cartagena is quite a shock. After only one hour of flying, the thin, chilly air in Bogota is a world away from the turgid heat on the coast.
