No two Colombia vacations packages should necessarily follow the same itinerary, mainly because there is much to see and do in this small nation. Bogota, the capital, is experiencing a boom in new hotels and a surge in its thriving restaurant and nightlife scene. Cartagena's Old Town, Botero's hometown of Medellin and the world capital of salsa, Cali, offer much to experience and enjoy.

Colombia is a mountainous country, and any part of the country that lies below one thousand meters over sea level is referred to as “hot land.” This zone makes up more than eighty percent of the total area of Colombia, and is the second least populous zone. The majority of Colombians live in the temperate zone between one and two thousand meters of elevation. Temperatures in the temperate zone range between sixty and seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. The third zone is the second most populous in the country and ranges between two and three thousand meters of elevation, with median temperatures of between fifty and sixty degrees. Above the “cold land” of the third zone lies the zone of permanent snow, above four thousand meters.

Beginning in 2024, our preferred partner, AmaWaterways, will be operating cruises in Colombia on the Magdalena River, visiting the interior of Colombia and six UNESCO sites along the way! Contact us for more information.

In Colombia’s big cities, buses, taxis, and motorcycle taxis are the most common forms of transportation. Transportation in Colombia can be a bit tricky once you get outside of the major cities. There is no real train service in the country currently. Shared rides are available between towns on colectivos (shared truck or shuttle bus) or chivas (a step-sided bench bus), as well as on bigger buses. We can readily arrange private car transport with guides as desired.

Food here is generally filling and carb heavy, more so to energize. Deep fried empanadas are a popular quick food in Colombia. More traditional, however, is arepa, a round bread cornmeal patty topped with butter or cheese or meats and vegetables. Cazuela de mariscos is a hearty soup with lobster, shrimp, white fish, and vegetables in a coconut milk broth. Bandeja paisa is a national one-plate meal of steak, ground beef, chicharrones, chorizo, rice, beans, fried egg, fried port rind, avocado, an arepa, and plantains! Sancocho is a soup made from meat or tripe, with plantains, potatoes, corn, and yucca. Lechona is a complete pig stuffed with rice, peas, onions and spices. Arroz con pollo is a rice dish with chicken, stewed together with chicken stock, Ajiaco is a traditional stew, with chicken, various potatoes, corn, capers, avocado, and sour cream, If you are so inclined, wash your meal down strong alcoholic aguardiente. We can't leave off the chocolate con queso ipopular at breakfast or as an afternoon snack: hot chocolate and stringy, melted cheese... yum!

Colombia a Comedy of Errors (V. Kellaway & S. J. Lievano), The Making of Modern Colombia: A Nation in Spite of Itself (D. Bushnell), One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera (G. García Márquez), Fruit of the Drunken Tree (I. Rojas Contreras), Oblivion (H. Abad Faciolince).