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Colombia
With its dream Caribbean beaches, exuberant Amazon rainforest and three majestic mountain ranges traversed by winding roads that connect bougainvillea-shrouded villages and vibrant cities, Colombia reveals to the world a tropical cocktail of attractions. It is a country of passion, the land of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1982 Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, and of the great artist Fernando Botero whose sculptures are found all over the world. Colombia offers varied landscapes for all forms of adventure tourism, from hiking and canopying to Scuba diving. The main fascination of the country however relates to its generous, joyful and enthusiastic people, a fascinating racial mix of Indigenous, Africans and Caucasians that keep their traditions and culture alive.
Caribbean Sea
Barranquilla Cartagena
Tayrona National Park
Cartagena
Santa Marta
Riohacha
VENEZUELA
Cúcuta Bucaramanga Arauca
Manizales Pereira Armenia Calí Bogotá Villavicencio
COLOMBIA
Florencia Mitú
Equator
Amazon Basin
PERU
Bogotá Colombia's capital situated at an altitude of 2600m is a busy, cosmopolitan city where modern buildings and avenues contrast with colonial churches and stately houses. With an intense and vibrant cultural, intellectual and social life, Bogotá also hosts the world's best PreColombian art collection and a visit to the Museo del Oro is a must on every itinerary. Cartagena de Indias The walled city of Cartagena, jewel of the Caribbean Coast, is legendary both for its history and its beauty. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, visitors go back in time when they stroll through the narrow streets, framed by picturesque colonial mansions, cloisters and castles. Immortalised in countless books and paintings, this fascinating city comes alive at night, with numerous bars, exquisite restaurants and live Caribbean music. The nearby tropical Islas del Rosario make for a great day excursion. The Coffee Triangle In the fertile soils of the central mountain range near the towns of Pereira and Armenia, Colombia's high quality coffee is cultivated. Travelling through lush green valleys you can observe traditional villages, colourful architecture, the spectacular Los Nevados National Park and endless coffee plantations from the midst of which emerge traditional coffee haciendas - the ideal base from which to explore the lush green coffee valleys and become passionate about Colombia's traditional drink. Tayrona National Park Unspoilt forest-lined beaches, coral barriers, the turquoise Caribbean Sea, mangroves and mountains, this is the stunning Tayrona National Park situated 34km from Santa Marta and the majestic coastal Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta with the country's tallest peaks of up to 5755m. Nearly deserted, the park is home to a few Indigenous communities as well as a unique eco-system with numerous species of mammals, birds and reptiles.
Colombia Travel Tips
* Time: GMT 5. * Flying Time from UK: Approx 14 hours to Bogotá. * Language: The official language is Spanish. English is spoken in most of the larger hotels and tourist areas. * Currency: Colombian Peso (COP) £1 = COP 3,474. * Visa Requirements: Visa not required by UK passport holders for tourist stays of up to 90 days. * Festivals, Events & Busy Times: Numerous local events and national holidays occur throughout the year including the International Music Festival and Hay Festival in Cartagena (Jan), Barranquilla Carnival (Feb), Flower Fair in Medellin (Aug), National Beauty Contest in Cartagena (Nov). Christmas, New Year and Easter are the main holidays in Colombia. * Departure Tax: US$30 for int. departures from Bogotá and US$42 from Cartagena, subject to change. * Tourist Office: Contact Colombian Government Trade Bureau, 2 Conduit Street, 6th Floor, London W1S 2XB, Tel: 0207 4913535, http://www.travelingcolombia.com/ For more useful information, see pages 96-97.
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