Colombia
Colombia (not Columbia) is South America's best kept secret. For decades the country was torn apart by drug wars and conflict but today the country is safe - and tourists are beginning to look to Colombia for their next getaway. Set amidst the striking backdrop of the Andes Mountains and bordered by the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, it's a country bursting with colonial charm, aromatic coffee plantations, stunning greenery and wildlife in the Amazon rainforest, and silky-soft white sand beaches. Colombia boasts all of South America's allure, and more. Now is the time to explore.
Cartagena
Preserved by ancient fortifications built by the Spanish, Cartagena de Indias, commonly called Cartagena is a fairy-tale city of romance, legends and stunning beauty on the shores of the Caribbean. Cartagena's Old Town is a maze of cobbled alleys, bougainvillea covered balconies, and massive churches that cast their long shadows across leafy plazas. As the country moves beyond the shadow of it's criminal past, you will find world-class music, film and literature festivals, talented chefs, and chic hotels and shops that are luring travelers in search of seaside culture.
Top Highlights
- Tour the Old City - walk along the impressive 13 kilometer, centuries-old fortified stone walls, learn about Spanish colonizers and pirates, and hear stories of iconic fortresses, plazas and colonial mansions along the way.
- Take a guided tour of author Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Cartegena, including the architecture, points of interest and other landmarks that inspired the Nobel-prize-winning novelist's "magical realism" style.
- Escape dry land and with a sun-drenched escape to the Islas del Rosario, an archipelago of coral islands teeming with diverse marine life.
- Explore the quickly gentrifying Getsamani neighborhood, Caragena's bohemian hub and home to artists' studios, magnificent street art, hip bars, and Caribbean music from cumbia to champeta which both originated on Colombia's Caribbean coast).
- Indulge in Cartagena's Caribbean flavors. Enjoy mouth-watering ceviche, sip small-batch local rums, and taste exotic tropical fruits from the local markets.
Bogota
Bogota is at the heart of Colombia - an engaging and vibrant capital cradled by chilly Andean peaks and steeped in sophisticated urban cool. The city's cultural epicenter is La Candelaria, the cobbled historic downtown to which most travelers gravitate. Here you will find a potpourri of preciously preserved colonial buildings, museums, restaurants, hotels and bars peppered amid 300-year-old homes, churches and convents. Bogota doesn't have the beach appeal of Cartagena or the financial might of Medellin but it embraces the soul of the country and is not to be missed.
Top Highlights
- Ride the cable car 10,000 feet above sea level to Monserrate mountain for breathtaking views of the city.
- Visit Bogota's Gold Museum to see intricate gold artifacts made by indigenous tribes and recovered from tombs.
- Take in the dizzying display of the city's main fruit and flower market to buy the necessities for a hands-on cooking class focused on Colombian specialties.
- Explore La Candeleria, Bogota's historic district and the heart of the city.
- Visit the city's myriad art museums - including Museo Botero del Banca de Republica for contemporary art - or take a guided tour of the blossoming street-art scene.
- Explore Usaquen, a historic colonial district with an up-and-coming restaurant scene and one of the best flea-markets in town.
Medellin
It's been more than a decade since Medellin was best known as the murder capital of the world. Now it's gaining a reputation as a cultural center, with its own international fashion week and a thriving arts scene. Known for its cutting edge vibe and dynamic architecture the city is a bustling metropolis of industry and commerce especially textiles and flowers. And as its industry grows so too does it's tourism. The city of Eternal Spring - moderate temperatures make it a year-round destination - is bursting with new bars, restaurants, boutique hotels all set against a backdrop of jagged peaks in every direction.
Top Highlights
- Stroll through the city on a walking food tour, listening to tales of the history and rebirth of the city while indulging in traditional dishes such as, Bandeja paisa, Colombia's national dish made of rice, beans, shredded meat, eggs, plantains, avocados and arepas.
- Explore the city's criminal past with a guided tour about the life and death of Pablo Escobar, one of Medellin's most famous figures and Colombia's most notorious drug lord. Learn why he was both feared and loved by millions.
- Ride into the clouds on a cable car and witness the lush wilderness of Paque Arvi. Spend the day outside the city surrounded by nature, hiking the trails, or visiting the butterfly sanctuary.
- Head out of the city to the vibrant colonial town of Guatape or to other parts of Antioquia, including hiking in Santa Elena and up the rock of Piedra de Penol for views of the surrounding verdant mountains.
- Learn the art of salsa dancing with a salsa master then try out your new skills at one of Medellin's iconic salsero venues.
The Coffee Region
Colombia's coffee region, set amidst the rugged hills between Medellin, Cali and Ibague, produces some of the finest coffee in the world. The Coffee Triangle, as it's known, consists of three destinations, Armenia, Pijao, and Quindio. A visit to these areas will not only give you a glimpse into how the coffee is cultivated and produced but you can also experience stunning national parks, vibrant cities and quiet pueblos.
Top Highlights
- Spend the night at a working coffee farm and see how coffee beans are cultivated - you may even be able to harvest your own beans!
- Saddle up your horse or lace up your hiking boots and head to the Valle de Cocora from Salento to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of misty green hills punctuated by soaring palma de cera (wax palms), the largest palm tree in the world, standing 60 meters tall.
- Check out the hot springs of Termales San Vicente near Manizales.
- Bamboo raft through La Vieja River and enjoy a picnic lunch on a shaded beach.
- Hike through a hypnotizing cloud forest, bike past river scenery and forest views, or descend into jungle canyons past secluded waterfalls.
Contact us for more information about Colombia or any destination. 847.868.4502 or info@houlahantravel.com