Colombia and its unique blend of history and modernity / Photo: Canva Pro
  Colombia has emerged as one of the very top destinations in the world.  One of the reasons for its rise is its incredible diversity.  One of only a few countries in the world with a coast on the Atlantic and Pacific, it has incredible beaches but also mountains, forests, and even deserts.  It is considered one of the most bio diverse countries in the world is home to more bird species than any other country in the world. However, it’s not just natural diversity and beauty.  Colombia’s major cities blend its history and modernity, while its charming small towns recall a simpler way of life, and everywhere you go you encounter a vibrant culture that will have you understanding why the country’s official tourism motto is “Colombia:  the only risk is that you will want to stay!” In this article, you’ll be learning about some of the incredible diversity on offer in Colombia and how best to enjoy it yourself with tips on the top places to visit.  

Colombia’s Caribbean

 
Islas del Rosario, Colombia / Photo: Canva Pro
  Colombia’s best known beaches are unsurprisingly along its Caribbean coasts.  The gorgeous Playa Blanca on the Island of Barú and the Rosario Islands are can’t misses near Cartagena, the main destination in Colombia’s Caribbean.   Travel tip:  Book a day a Rosario Island resort or a day trip to Barú to enjoy these incredible beaches.   Of course, Cartagena is also a great place to learn more about Colombia’s history with its impressive colonial walls and fortifications.  It also has a vibrant culture that shows off its rich and diverse cultural heritage.   Travel tip:  See all of Cartagena’s top attractions easily on the hop on hop off bus or enjoy the .  See more great Cartagena activities here.   Further north, visitors can also find the terrific beaches of Tayrona National Park as well as beach town destinations like Palomino.  Finally, those looking for even more impressive beaches should include a visit to the island of San Andres during their time in Colombia.   Travel tip:  Book a day trip to Tayrona or check out the top activities in San Andres.   However, the Caribbean is not just beaches.  The forest covered mountains of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta mountain range offer up an excellent chance for nature lovers to enjoy the rich lushness of the area.  The aforementioned Tayrona offers great hiking in addition to the beaches.  Meanwhile, the small town of Minca offers great bird watching and several waterfalls amidst the beauty of the tropical forests in the mountains.   Travel tip:  Book a day trip to Minca to enjoy all it has to offer.   Finally, if you’re looking for a true adventure, you can head to the most northern point in South America by crossing the desert of La Guajira and arriving to Punta Gallinas.  There’ll find incredible sand dunes running into the sea.  In sum, the Colombian Caribbean offers a wealth of natural wonders.  

The Pacific

 
Visit the beautiful city of Cali / Photo: Canva Pro
  For lesser-traveled beaches, visitors might want to consider the largely underdeveloped beaches of Colombia’s Pacific Coast.  The Pacific Coast is especially well known as a place to see humpback whales, and the jungles bordering the ocean show off the natural beauty of the country even more. Also in the Pacific, you will find the city of Cali.  This city is Colombia’s salsa capital and has its own vibrant culture and a number of neat cultural sites.   Travel tip:  Take a Cali city tour or sign up for salsa lessons.  

The Andean Highlands

 
Beautiful sunset in the Colombian capital, Bogotá / Photo: Canva Pro
  The Andes run through central Colombia and offer a mixture of major, modern cities and charming small towns.  In Colombia’s capital city Bogotá, visitors will not only see a bustling, international metropolis but also incredible colonial buildings and history.  While a big city, its location nestled in among the mountains is also extremely pretty and can be enjoyed from atop Monserrate Hill.   Travel tip:  See Bogotá’s major attractions on a day tour or check out more activities in Bogotá.   The other major city in the Andes is Bucaramanga, to the north of Bogotá in the Santander region.  A nice, medium sized city, the nearby Chicamocha Canyon is perhaps one of Colombia’s most beautiful natural wonders.  Nearby, visitors can visit Colombia’s extreme sports capital of San Gil and go paragliding or white water rafting.    Travel tip:  Book a tour from Bucaramanga to the Chicamocha Canyon.   The Andes also offer some of Colombia’s most well known towns.  A few hours outside of Bucaramanga, you can find the charming little town of Barichara, considered Colombia’s prettiest small town.  Meanwhile, nearer to Bogotá, you can find Villa de Leyva, which in addition to being known for its pretty colonial buildings, also has dinosaur bones found nearby on display.   Travel tip:  Book a tour to San Gil and Barichara or a tour to Villa de Leyva.  

Colombia’s Coffee Region

 
 Its magnificent landscapes lead us to the best coffee harvests in the world. Cocora Valley / Photo: Canva Pro
  Everyone knows Colombia is famous for its coffee.  Part of the reason it is such a prolific producer of great coffee is the area often referred to as the coffee triangle.  In this region the mountains help to capture rain clouds and create two rainy seasons a year, which means there are two coffee harvest seasons, giving the country a major advantage. A visit to the coffee region is also a must include on a trip to Colombia.  While technically just outside the coffee triangle, the city of Medellín is one of the worlds’ best turn around stories.  From being the home town of Pablo Escobar, it is now one of the safest and most developed cities in all of Latin America.  There are lots of cultural sites here, including several neat parks and museums like the Parque Explora and the small town of Guatapé and its famous giant rock known as El Peñol are great destinations.   Travel tip:  Book a Medellín city tour, a transfer to and from the airport, and a tour to Guatapé and El Peñol.   However, you will have to get out of the big city and see the coffee triangle itself as well.  Armenia, Pereira, and Manizales are the best-known smaller cities in the region.  The National Coffee Park, aka Panaca, near Armenia is a popular attraction and offers an amusement park in addition to a celebration of this wonderful bean.   Travel tip:  Book a city tour of Armenia, Pereira, or Manizales.  For a truly unique experience, consider going on a hot air ballon ride in Pereira.   The small town of Salento and the nearby Cocora Valley are also can’t miss in the coffee region of Colombia.  In the valley, you can see Colombia’s national tree, the Wax Palm towering in all their glory above the hills.   Travel tip:  Book a tour to Salento and the Cocora Valley.   And of course, while in the coffee region, you’ll have to tour a coffee plantation and make sure you enjoy plenty of cups of your own!  

Colombia’s Amazon

 
 Colombia is not just beaches, its Amazon is one of the most diverse in the world / Photo: Canva Pro
  You’ve already seen mountains, beaches, forests, canyons, and even deserts, but Colombia’s greatest natural wonder happens to also be the world’s.  The Amazon rainforest takes up much of Colombia’s southern territory and is largely uninhabited. However, visitors can go to the town of Leticia, which lies along the Amazon River itself and at the point where the borders of Colombia, Brazil, and Peru meet.  Here visitors can take a tour of the river itself, see its famous pink dolphins, and see the monkeys at Isla de los Micos.  It’s a neat experience, and caps off a a trip enjoying all of Colombia’s wonderful diversity.   Travel tip:  See the top things to see and do in Brazil and in Peru for an even more unforgettable trip.  

Conclusion

Now you can see there is so much to do and see in Colombia.  In addition to the different places and diverse sites you’ll get to see throughout Colombia, you’ll also get to interact with its diverse peoples.  A trip through all of Colombia feels almost visiting three or four or even more different countries.  In short, you’ll undoubtedly be absolutely wowed at all you’ll find to enjoy in Colombia.  With so much to see, you could easily spend a month or even more to properly see it all.  You’ll also want to have a good tour guide on your side, so be sure to check out more articles on Colombia and see the top activities from Daytours4u  in Colombia.
  By:  Adam McConnaughhay, who lives in Cartagena, Colombia and has been able to visit much of the country.  In addition to working as a teacher he also writes about his experiences at CartagenaExplorer.com