Colombia holidays

Colourful Cartagena is one of South America’s oldest cities. Stroll its colonial city walls and admire epic fortresses by day, then enjoy rooftop bars and street eats by night.

From cutting-edge museums and salsa bars to some of the best street art in South America, Colombia’s lively capital moves to the beat of its own drum.

You can’t escape the rhythm in Cali, Colombia’s salsa capital. But beyond the mesmerising dance parties, you’ll find vibrant neighbourhoods, sprawling parks and local markets.

Colombia is the second-most biodiverse country in the world, home to hundreds of frog and bird species and more orchids than anywhere else — over 4,200 species. Head to the coastal region of Chocó to see waterfalls, spider monkeys and marine mammals like dolphins and migrating humpback whales. Colombia’s wild eastern Andes are swarming with tropical birds and butterflies.

Some of the best things to do in Colombia involve coffee. Ordering a ‘tinto’ (strong black coffee) is a rite of passage. It can be slow-dripped from a huge metal urn or poured straight from a street vendor’s thermos. A ‘tinto campesino’ is coffee sweetened with sugar. For a full coffee immersion, head to the Eje Cafetero, the country’s green, hilly coffee-growing region.

Colombians know how to have a good time, whether it’s a night of clubbing or meeting up with friends for shots of ‘aguardiente’ (the local cane spirit). Different regions throw their own annual parties too. Two big ones not to miss are Pasto’s Carnaval de Negros y Blancos in January and coastal Barranquilla’s Carnaval, held the four days before Ash Wednesday.

Colombia’s best beaches are on its islands. From Cartagena, book a boat to Islas del Rosario. The trip takes about an hour, but when you dock, you’ll notice the water is bright turquoise and stunning. Or do as the locals do and fly to Isla San Andres, located off the coast of Nicaragua. This family-friendly island is famous for its snorkelling, swimming and diving.

If you like water activities, Colombia presents endless opportunities, like rafting down the cliffs-flanked Río Güejar or splashing in the rainbow-coloured pools of Caño Cristales. For waterside camping, head to Parque Tayrona on the country’s northern edge. Into hiking? Head to the Andes and their cool-weather ‘páramos’ (alpine tundra) or to Valle de Cocora with its lush hillsides and enormous, spindly palm trees.

The best restaurants in Colombia put ingredients first. The local dishes are simple, like pork or seafood cooked on the grill. You’ll also find lots of tasty native potatoes and other starches like yuca and plantains. And never pass up the local fruits. Try whichever ones you see, whether cut in an ‘ensalada de fruta’ (fruit salad) or pureed into a ‘jugo’ (juice).

Bogota has some of the best museums in Colombia. Visit the enormous Gold Museum to learn the story of the capital from Spanish colonisation to today. Overlooking the city is the Monserrate Sanctuary. Walk the three-kilometre path to this centuries-old pilgrimage site and see a shrine painted by artist Pedro de Lugo Albarracín. Or take the funicular to enjoy expansive views of the city.

The best time to visit Colombia depends on where you plan to go. If you’re heading to the central and eastern mountain ranges to explore cities like Medellin and Bogota, then you’re in luck. The weather tends to be temperate throughout the year. Cartagena can get quite hot, except from December to April, when you’ll also see less rain.

It’s easy to have a cheap holiday in Colombia. You can expect a local beer to cost around 5,000 Colombian pesos ($), and a modest meal will set you back less than $20,000. Getting around is also a bargain. A short taxi is usually priced at under $35,000.