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Beyond its undeniable natural beauty, Colombia possesses a rich culture that exemplifies Latin America via its own exceptional people.
Colombia is one of the most incredibly different travel experiences due to our well-known multicultural identity as well as the variety of our landscapes.
There are many locations to explore and things to do that will help you get in touch with our essence, from Indigenous customs and the Spanish past to our modern metropolitan culture and natural paradises. ¡Awaiting your arrival!
The lineage
There are several remnants of the pre-Columbian cultures that once occupied Colombia; in fact, some of their ancestors still live here and their traditions are preserved.
The best destination to discover old civilizations is San Agustín, where totems revive the traditions of a tribe that once inhabited the Huila and Caquetá regions and dates back to 1000 BC. Enormous statues representing enigmatic and magical gods and goddesses elevate this park to the status of a world historic site.
With the remnants of the Tayrona Empire, Ciudad Perdida, often known as the “lost city,” is a fascinating location in the Sierra Nevada that should not be missed. A spot where you can marvel at the amazing stone building of the bridges, walks, balconies, terraces, and walls that perfectly balance nature.
The Gold Museum in Bogotá features an incredible array of gold artwork created by all of the prehistoric tribes that formerly inhabited our region. With 34.000 pieces of goldsmith work, it is the largest collection of its kind in the world and has recently been designated as a national monument. This is the area where the legend of “El Dorado” comes to life if you’ve heard of it.
If you have the time, you should definitely visit Guatavita Lake, the setting for the legend. The lake is so deep that it is still unknown if there is additional gold beneath the surface that has not been accessible.
Alternatively, if you’d like to know how contemporary indigenous groups live, there are a number of settlements dispersed over the region. Among others, you can go to the Wayuu in Guajira, the Emberá in Chocó, the Tikuna in Amazonia, and the Arhuac tribe in the Sierra Nevada.
A Trip Through Time
Explore some of the most picturesque cities that have been preserved since colonial times to get a sense of our cultural heritage and its distinctive fusion with Spanish culture. Select the locations that will make seeing them the easiest for you from our network of historic towns. Some of the locations that will astonish you with their colonial architecture and the distinctiveness brought forth by their history include Barichara, Santa Fé de Antioquia, and Villa de Leyva.
To just a couple, the northern coast of Colombia has two excellent specimens. First, the most well-known destination, Cartagena, commonly referred to as the “Heroic City,” is a walled city with exquisite architecture that transports visitors to a bygone era and envelops them in a romantic ambiance complete with upscale lodging, fine dining, and exquisite homes.
Mompox, which is close to Cartagena, is one of Colombia’s most stunning but less visited places. It boasts remarkable architecture and talented craftspeople who are experts at the gold and silver filigree method. In addition, Mompox has been listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1995.
However, the traditional expressions also offer a window into our fusion of cultures. Carnivals, local cuisine, music, dances, and handicrafts combine to create an amazing patchwork that is reinvented over time by African slaves, Spanish colonists, and our indigenous ancestors.
Worldwide Local
Should you choose to delve deeper into Colombia’s modern landscape, the country’s largest cities provide an intriguing blend of traditional and cutting-edge styles.
Colombia offers the following:
At music events like Bogotá’s Estéreo Picnic or Barranquilla’s Berbetronik, up-and-coming bands fuse traditional instruments like the accordion and drums with foreign rhythms like jazz, swing, and rock.
Festivals of art and performance, including ArtBo and Hay, bring together international and local artists to showcase the finest of the region.
a broad range of culinary options when cooks combine regional ingredients with cuisines from Europe or Asia.
This is undoubtedly a site where innovation and distinctive urban style meet traditional Colombian tastes, setting trends.
Colombia is the ideal destination for anyone seeking an exceptional cultural experience, as it strikes the ideal mix between time-warped ruins and bustling cities that strive to keep up with global trends.