We may not talk about Bruno, but we can’t stop talking about Colombia! The original land of Magical Realism (and the setting of Disney’s Encanto) embodies everything we’ve come to love about South America. Colourful Caribbean architecture? Cartagena has you covered. Ancient ruins? Take an epic trek to Colombia’s Lost City. See the beauty of a blooming red river or catch a glimpse of the cheeky wildlife in Tayrona National Park. Discover Colombia’s shiny side at Bogota’s Gold Museum or learn about Medellin’s incredible transformation into one of South America’s most exciting cultural hubs.
Bogota puts you at the centre of it all.
With non-stop Air Canada services flying from both Montreal and Toronto, Bogota is a great place to start your Colombia tour, as well as the perfect spot to immerse yourself in Colombia’s culture via its national museums, nonstop nightlife, and ever-evolving food scene. Start your exploration in La Candelaria, a showcase of colonial architecture in a city more known for its grit. Here, you’ll find Bogota’s most famous museums, including the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), and the Botero Museum, devoted to one of Colombia’s most famous artistic sons, whose exaggerated, plus-sized caricatures make his work instantly recognizable.
When it’s time to eat, lose yourself in the sights, sounds, and aromas of Plaza de la Concordia. While not the biggest of Bogota’s traditional markets, it offers a wide variety of options that combine shopping and dining, including delicious specialties like ajiaco, a hearty chicken and potato soup, or lechona, roast pig stuffed with rice, peas, and spices. With year-round spring temperatures, Bogota isn’t known for its warm sunny days, so warm, hearty meals are the go-to for visitors and locals alike. Don’t think it’s all about street or market food though. Bogota’s ever-evolving restaurant scene has you covered for both fine dining and diversity.
How Medellin became a cultural powerhouse in the mountains.
Perhaps no city in South America has seen a more dramatic turnaround than Medellin. Once an organized crime hotspot off limits even to the boldest traveller, today, it’s one of the safest big cities in South America. Start your explorations at Botero Square, where you’ll find—you guessed it—some more of the master’s cheeky plus-sized sculptures (the cat might be our favourite). Admire the dizzying (and controversial) black and white geometry of the Rafal Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture while you’re there. It’s certainly a different style to the modernist facades of the Explora Park, a family-friendly science museum, the Santo Domingo neighbourhood’s Spanish Library, best reached by Metrocable for a bird’s eye view of Medellin, and the sobering Casa de la Memoria. This museum tells the story of Colombia’s turbulent history, including the drug wars that once raged in streets that artists now work to revitalize, and tourists now eagerly explore.
No neighbourhood better captures that can-do attitude than colourful Comuna 13. Public art, escalators, and increased safety measures have turned one of Medellin’s most dangerous neighbourhoods into a must-visit. A guided tour here is no nosy slum tour, but instead beautifully illustrates the transformation of both the neighbourhood and Medellin as a whole. Don’t stay after dark though. As much as things have improved, change doesn’t happen overnight, and there are much safer areas such as Poblado, where you can salsa the night away in true Colombian style.
Fancy a day trip? Guatapé embodies Colombia at its most colourful, and offers spectacular views from La Piedra del Penol, the unmissable rock standing guard over the nearby lake. You can easily spend a couple of days here, but a day trip will do in a pinch. You will however need a couple of days if you’re planning to visit Colombia’s coffee regions, including Armenia, which makes a great home base, or the smaller and more laid-back Salento. If you’ve got a nose for Java, you’ll want to see first-hand how Colombia grows some of the world’s finest.
The lost cities and alluring beaches of Tayrona.
The traditional lands of the Tairona, this region just to the east of Santa Marta offers a blend of wildlife, natural landscapes, beaches, history like nowhere else in South America.
Built around 800AD, La Ciudad Perdida (the Lost City) predates Machu Picchu by more than six centuries. One hundred and sixty-two terraces make up the city, along with plazas and tiled roads. Tourism authorities work closely with the Kogi—the indigenous people who today preserve the traditions of the Tairona—to ensure sustainability. To that end, there are no scenic trains or other tourism-driven developments. It’s a four- or five-day trek to reach La Ciudad Perdida. Still, setting your eyes on this incredible testament to Colombia’s pre-colonial sophistication is worth the effort. Go between January and March for the best weather, and even then, pack a light poncho to keep things dry. The trail is closed every September.
Lining the Caribbean, Tayrona National Park bursts with life including tamarins, basilisks, iguanas, caimans, and even the odd jaguar. Set out at either dawn or dusk for the best sightings and remember to keep a respectful distance. Tayrona is also famous for its beaches, and while the Instagram-ready Cabo San Juan remains a favourite, a quieter alternative is never far away. Hikes cris-cross the park, allowing easy access from the numerous hotels that surround it. For something unique, pay a little extra for an eco-hub stay inside the park’s boundaries.
Move to the beats of Cartagena.
Of all Colombia’s cities, few possess the energy and inspire the imagination like Cartagena. If you’re a fan of beach cities with colourful architecture, a rich history, and a diverse population that loves a good party, Cartagena might easily become your new favourite city break. It makes sense to stay in the historic walled city, the most beautiful part of Cartagena, close to most of its attractions. But you can also stay close to the waterfront if you’d prefer having the beach at your fingertips. If you’d prefer to enjoy your beach time away from the city, a trip to the Rosario Islands, located about an hour’s boat ride from Cartagena, is a must. For something completely different, visit El Totumo and soak your cares away in some bubbling…volcanic mud. Trust us, it’s more soothing than it sounds and your skin will thank you.
Back in town, take in the view from San Felipe fortress, or at Convento de la Popa, the highest point in Cartagena. Steel your nerves for the grim stories inside the Palace of the Inquisition or get a feel for today’s Cartagena on a street food, cocktail, or street art tour with a local. There’s a flourishing fine dining scene here too, which takes full advantage of the range of ingredients offered by Cartagena’s climate. You’ll also find shiny things to distract you at the Museum of Emeralds, and the Gold Museum of Zenú, which showcases pieces from the Zenú tribe.
Flying further on your Colombia adventure.
There’s more to discover in Colombia than we can hope to cover in one article. You can explore Colombia’s corner of the Amazon, take in the wonders of the Tatacoa Desert, or admire Caño Cristales, a phenomenon unique to the rivers of the Serranía de la Macarena, which turns their waters a dazzling mix of reds, pinks and greens between June and November.
Air Canada can fly you nonstop to Bogota, and partners with Avianca to offer connections throughout Colombia, so speak with your South America travel specialist about which chapter of Colombia’s story is calling you, then lose yourself in a book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, or make Encanto your next family movie night. Colombia is calling, and its Magical Realism is just the beginning.
Christian’s first globetrotting adventure saw him get lost exploring the streets of Saigon. Following his nose to Asia’s best coffee, two lifelong addictions were born. A freelance writer and novelist, Christian’s travels have since taken him around his native Australia, Asia, Europe, and much of North America. His favourite trips have been through Japan, Spain, and Brazil, though with a love of off-beat, artsy cities, he’ll seize any opportunity to return to Paris, New York, or Berlin.
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