The beauty of South America: Why you’ll be charmed by Colombia

Please note: this article is sponsored by our partners at Colombia Travel.

It won’t take long to be captured by Colombia’s charm. A country as rich and alluring as its coffee, this South American stunner is packed with lush rainforests, tropical beaches and ancient sites just waiting to be explored.

Whether you go for the cities, scenery or salsa, we’ve tapped our partners at Colombia Travel to reveal why this enchanting South American nation should be on your bucket list.

There are unforgettable beaches for days

Think island getaway and it’s unlikely Colombia springs to mind. It should. You’ll find little slices of Colombian island paradise scattered off both its Caribbean and Pacific coastlines – imagine white-sand beaches lined with swaying palms, incredible marine life and idyllic sunsets and you’re just about there.

Closer to Nicaragua than mainland Colombia, the San Andrés archipelago in the sparkling Caribbean is a snorkeller’s paradise. Its ‘sea of seven colours’, named for the assorted shades of blue and green water created by coral reefs, has to be seen to be believed. Nearby Providence, also part of this protected marine biosphere, is the place to be for deserted stretches of sand lined by coconut palms.

On the mainland, nestled between forest and ocean, Magüipi Beach is hard to beat for secluded paradise on the west coast. Go north and Bello Horizonte Beach in Santa Marta will treat you to a Colombian sunset like no other.

The cities are a culture hit like no other

You’ll quickly discover no two cities are the same in Colombia – and that’s all part of the appeal.

Cosmopolitan capital, Bogotá, combines both old and new, blending colonial mansions and historic plazas with modern museums and hip bars. It’s also the country’s foodie hub, and you’ll find restaurants bringing together dishes from across the country. Be sure to seek out ajiaco santafereño, a chicken and potato soup that’s typical of this central region.

Nearby Cali grooves to its own beat – quite literally, as this is the salsa capital of the world. Expect street dancing and parties around the clock.

Cartagena is the jewel of the Caribbean coast. Its enchanting walled city is full of colourful buildings with balconies overlooking the bustling narrow streets below.

It’s got bags of natural beauty

Colombia’s natural beauty is as diverse as it is endless. In the north, the golden sand dunes of the Guajira Desert could easily be mistaken for the Sahara, yet the south is awash with wild and wonderful Amazon rainforest.

In the middle? Everything else you could imagine. Verdant valleys covered in coffee plantations sit between snow-tipped mountains and volcanoes in the Nevados Natural National Park; the rivers and waterfalls of Caño Cristales run bright in magical hues of red, yellow, green and blue; and the colossal depths of the Chicamocha Canyon (the second largest in the world) will make your jaw drop, whether you see it on foot or by air.

Its festivals are among the best in the world

Colombia’s festivals are up there with the best in South America – and in a continent known for its incredible celebrations, that’s saying something.

One of the biggest carnivals in the world, Barranquilla Carnival is the highlight of the year. There’s so much going on during this four-day festival of colour and sound that you’ll probably just manage to scrape the surface of it, but you certainly won’t miss the huge floats of the Battle of the Flowers and Grand Parades.

Smaller in scale but equally as vivid, Medellín’s Flower Festival decks out the city in a riot of colourful blooms come August. Local flower growers see out the event with the Silleteros Parade, marching through the city with exotic arrangements on their backs to celebrate the beauty and variety of Colombia’s flora.

Cartagena International Music Festival in January is another one for your radar, where churches, theatres and town squares play host to classical concerts and performances.

Wow-factor wildlife is just waiting to be discovered

Binoculars should be high on your packing list for your Colombian adventure – its animal world is enthralling, and you won’t want to miss a second of it.

Twitchers have over 2,000 species of bird to spot across the country’s six regions, ranging from delicate hummingbirds to dazzling emerald and scarlet crested quetzals, while wannabe marine biologists can head to protected turtle nesting areas on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Visit between May and August for the best chance to see baby turtles hatching.

Seeking something bigger? Jaguars, spectacled bears and capuchin monkeys can all be spotted in the jungle canopy, and dolphins and whales roam the seas. Nuquíon is one of the best destinations for whale watching. Hundreds of humpback whales travel to Colombia’s Pacific shore every July to give birth and raise their young in the tropical waters.

You can explore thousands of years of history

There’s nothing quite so enticing as tales of long-forgotten societies and eons-old civilisations rediscovered centuries, or even millennia, after they end. Colombia has its very own story in its ‘Lost City’ (La Ciudad Perdida).

Hidden away in the Sierra Nevada mountains and only accessible by a several-day hike, The Lost City was once the centre of Tairona civilisation, and the incredible ruins of terraces, ceremonial sites, bridges and canals from 700 AD remain among the forest foliage.

At the San Agustín Archaeological Park, you can see South America’s largest collection of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures dating back more than 2,000 years, while Tierradentro National Archaeological Park has colossal pre-Colombian tombs, buried up to 8m (26ft) underground and covered in indigenous art.

There’s adventure activities galore

The Amazon is ripe with adventure and you can get your heart racing as you paddle past waterfalls and tackle rapids on a rafting adventure or wander through the treetops some 35m (115ft) above the ground.

If you prefer to keep your legs on solid ground, take a horseback riding tour in Bogotá or hit the hiking trails of the Sierra Nevada to explore Colombia’s beautiful scenery at your own pace.

Venture south of Neiva and the Riviera hot springs promise a dip you won’t forget any time soon. The series of mineral-rich warm pools shimmer blue against the backdrop of the jungle.

The best time of year to go to Colombia

There’s never really a bad time to visit Colombia – its location near the equator means there are no real seasons, just glorious tropical weather almost all year round.

As a guide, December through March and July to August are generally considered the best times to travel as these are the driest months with minimal rainfall and moderate temperatures, ideal for exploring the cities and countryside. Carnival is also at the beginning of February.

For the cheapest deals, look to the shoulder months leading up to the dry seasons such as November and April.

How to get to Colombia

You can get a direct flight from London Heathrow to El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá with Avianca Airline. Flights operate daily and the journey time takes approximately 11 hours. Alternatively, there are several one-stop flight options from London to Colombia’s major airports, including Bogotá, Cartagena and Medellín.