The first thing that came to my mind when I wanted to write a blog on Colombia is the popular Colombian artist Shakira! Besides the talented Shakira who shot into fame with her composition of the official song for 2010 World FIFA cup- “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”, Colombia is also popular for other music artists such as Fernando Botero Angulo, Juanes, Maluma, and many more. Tourists flock to Colombia to explore its glorious beaches, colonial cities, mystical Amazon Rainforest, natural parks, Andes Mountain Ranges and the flora and the fauna.
Colombia is famous for its Coffee farms
Colombia is famous for coffee and the Valley de Cocora found in the Andean Ranges. If you like drinking coffee then the good news is this region is famous for producing some of the best tasting coffee beans of the world. The coffee fertile land in Colombia lies in the heart of the Andean Range, the climatic conditions and the geographical location are ideal for the growth of coffee plantations in this region. The must-do activity when you are here is taking a tour of the coffee plantations so that you can taste the various coffee beans grown here, learn how coffee is produced and take photographs of the beautiful Andean Ranges. Another must-do thing for you is hiking on the Valley de Cocora to discover some great terrains. During your hike you will also be sighting a few palm trees, an intriguing fact is Colombia’s National tree is a palm tree! Taking snapshots of the palm trees is what I recommend for treasuring memories of your vacation.
Colombia has the world’s best Emerald mines
Colombia is also famous for some natural treasure-Emeralds. The world’s finest Emeralds are produced from the mines of Muzo, Chivor, and Coscuez located in the Andes Mountains. The Emeralds sourced from Colombia are highly priced and they account for most of the world’s Emeralds. A visit to these Emerald producing mines in Colombia is a must and don’t forget to take a tour of the mine to learn how emeralds are extracted.
Colombian art and culture
Most of the Colombian art and culture has a strong influence from the ancient conquest of Spain. Over the years the Colombian art has changed from traditional art to more contemporary art. For admiring the Colombian art I recommend visiting the many museums in Colombia that have a good collection of ancient artwork.
Colombia is the most biodiverse country in the world
Colombia is well known for its diversity for flora and fauna and is regarded as the most biodiverse country in the world. Colombia boasts of occupying #1 position when it comes to having the most diverse species of birds and orchid species and #2 position when it comes to having the most diverse plants, butterflies, freshwater fishes, and amphibians.
Colombian food is a must-try
While you are in Colombia trying the Colombian cuisine is a must-do for an enhanced experience. The food varies from region to region and most dishes are made from exotic spices and indigenous ingredients. A typical Colombian dish is made up of beans, rice, potatoes, meats, and native spices. For your gastronomy, just make sure you try these signature Colombian foods: Bandeja Paisa, Lechona, Ajiaco, Sancocho, Changua, Fritanga, Arepas, and Hormigas Culonas.
Colombia has some very best National Parks
Colombia has some amazing National Parks and protected areas which include attractions such as deserts, coral reefs, Amazon Rainforest, ancient ruins, and Andes Mountain Ranges. I recommend taking a tour of these parks: Amacayacu National Park- This National Park lies in the Amazon Rainforest and is a delight for sighting monkeys and pink dolphins, Cocuy National Park- This National Park has amazing landscapes which are perfect for trekking and mountaineering, and Los Nevados National Park- This National Park is on a very high altitude and is perfect for trekking.
San Andres and Providencia island attractions
For an island vacation in Colombia head to the San Andres and Providencia islands in the Caribbean which are found halfway toward Jamaica. Both the islands have mesmerizing beaches and some very good diving spots. You can do scuba diving to explore the underwater coral reefs or relax on the warm sands of the beaches while sipping some champagne and eating some great tasting Colombian seafood dishes.
