Colombia is the only country on the South American continent to share its coastline with both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Bordering Panama to the north, Venezuela and Brazil to the east and Ecuador to the south, this country is so rich and varied it almost puts others to shame. Travel across the delicate beauty of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, venture into the tropical Amazon rainforest or dare yourself to reach the vertiginous peaks of the snowy Andes. On the shores of the Caribbean lies Cartagena, Colombia’s undisputed crown jewel. While there, you shouldn’t forget to visit the gorgeous Old Town of Cartagena, categorised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason. A 13-km-long stone wall dating back to the colonial era surrounds a pretty and charming village-like city centre where flowery balconies hanging over cobbled streets lead their way down to picturesque plazas. The wall reaches up to 20 metres in width in some parts and it harbours some very fetching colonial architecture.
Bogotá is the sprawling, high-altitude capital of Colombia. In fact, it is the third highest capital in the world! Cradled by chilly and lush Andean peaks, the city features colonial-era historical centre La Candelaria. Colonial buildings and cobbles streets attract visitors to explore the pre-Colombian Gold Museum, Fernando Botero's art and ornate churches. Bogotá’s monumental government buildings and human-scale brown brick houses are a real treat for architecture lovers. Another major attraction is the city's vibrant and varied nightlife.
Cartagena is the undisputed queen of Colombia's Caribbean coast and easily the most attractive city in the region — this given its apparent shortage of attractions in the classical sense of the word. Instead, what draws travellers in is the city itself: a microcosm of the Caribbean, walled in by defensive ramparts built to ward off unwelcome visitors, the likes of Sir Francis Drake, who held Cartagena de Indias captive for months during his 16th-century raids on the Spanish New World.
