Colombia has become a very important touristic spot in South America, and it’s gaining more and more importance in the region because of the happy visitors who share experience in this incredible country with all its diversity and charm.

When talking about Colombia many people still believe that Colombia is a dangerous drug heaven but things have changed a lot. In this post I will show you why when planning your next vacation you should consider Colombia:

1) Beautiful and diverse landscapes

Colombia is a biodiverse country, here you can find from the tropical rainforest to deserts, beautiful beaches to indigenous ruins and so on. When you travel by bus you can discover the magic of this place between the mountains, how vegetation changes from one place to another and for some foreigners it is difficult to believe that traveling to another city means you are going to a totally different weather. The weather in each city is most of the time the same, without seasons because of the height change and that we are located in the equatorial zone.

2) Dancing culture

All Colombians know how to dance as we love Latin music and we are proud of it. When you go partying in a club in Colombia you can always hear Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton, Vallenato and some other Latin rhythms. Don´t worry if you don’t know how to do it, any Colombian could be a good teacher for you!

3) Charming people

When you arrive here you will feel the warm people who welcome you and offer the best they have for you. We are proud of being Colombians and we want the world to know our country and all the beautiful things we have.

We know about our history and we are going to do our best to share it with you. Some Colombians probably cannot speak English easily, but they will give the best effort to help you in whatever you need. Colombia is well-known for their friendly and charming people, and also because of the beautiful women!

4) Delicious food

The Colombian cuisine has so many typical dishes you have to try. In the beginning it might be shocking because it could be very different from your country, but at the end you will love things like arequipe, arepa, ajiaco, bandeja paisa, arroz con coco and more!

Also, because of the biodiversity we have different kinds of exotic fruits that you might not see in your home country and are a perfect complement to your meal! When you come make sure to try some lulo, passion fruit, soursop and all exotic fruits we have to offer.

5) Learn Spanish

If you really like to learn Spanish this is your place. Colombians speak with an understandable and neutral accent compared to the rest of the region and we are very patient so if you say something wrong we will help you to correct or understand what you are saying. Additionally, in Colombia you will find many good universities and institutes that offer Spanish courses.

6) The coffee

Colombia is known worldwide because of the quality of the coffee produced here, so if you have the time you should definitely go to the coffee region ( Armenia, Quindio, Pereira) where you will find the best coffee in the country and an incredible coffee culture behind of it. Just ask for a “tinto” and fill with energy for the day!

7) Adventure and extreme sports

Colombia is the perfect place if you want to do some adventure or extreme sports, such as snorkeling, scuba diving or water sports. Taganga is the perfect location, with open water courses at a very good price. If you are in the mood for paragliding, rafting and this kind of extreme sports San Gil it’s a great place to go. If you like hiking , climbing or caving Suesca is your place. And the list goes on with the number of activities you can do here!

8) Location

Colombia is conveniently located at the north of South America, it has coast in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. It is very close to United States and Canada and flights to Colombia are generally inexpensive from most of the American international airports!

If you come from another part of the world it is also good to come to Colombia because it’s a good starting point for a tour in South America.

9) History

In Colombia we have some well-preserved spots such as La Candelaria in Bogotá and the walled city in Cartagena. These places have a lot of history behind of it, the Spanish colonization, the independence process and many intriguing stories of mulattos and different ethnic groups. When you visit these places you feel like you’re going back in time!

10) The only risk is you want to stay more

You may have heard something about the drugs and violence in Colombia in the past years. We Colombians recognize that’s true, but nowadays the safety in the country has improved a lot and tourists are arriving to this country because it is an incredible place to visit and even some of them stay here because of its genuine charm. It is not coincidence that the country’s slogan is “the only risk is you want to stay” because that happens quite often. After you visit this country and seeing all its wonders you won’t want to leave!

I invite you to come, go beyond your preconceptions, go beyond the traditional tourism and go beyond Colombia!

If you have other reasons why you should come to visit Colombia please write it down in the comments section!

Christian,

Beyond Colombia