Home to the Columbian Congress and Senate, the grand National Capitol (Capitolio Nacional) building is the center of Colombian politics. With its grand colonnaded frontage and neoclassical design reminiscent of ancient Greece, it makes a dramatic addition to Bolivar Square, over whose south side it reigns supreme.
An active conical volcano in Los Nevados National Natural Park, the cloud-wrapped and glacier-covered Nevado del Ruiz offers sweeping views of Colombia’s coffee triangle. Vegetation thins as the 17,320-foot (5,279-meter) summit nears, and endangered Andean condors wheel on updrafts. Rivers tumble downwards from snow fields on their way to the lush farmland far below the park boundary.
Backed by verdant mountains and lined with swaying palms, Playa Blanca is a tropical paradise situated just outside of Santa Marta. Go for a swim in the calm waters, enjoy a fresh seafood lunch, and relax under a thatched roof palapa for a quieter alternative to El Rodadero Beach.
With more than 200 species on display, Santa Marta’s Marine World Aquarium (Mundo Marino Acuario) is a must for nature lovers of all ages. Discover sharks, turtles, starfish, octopuses, seabirds, and more, while learning about conservation efforts in the region.
Amusement park rides bring color and excitement to Parque del Café, a theme park about coffee and Colombian culture in the department of Quindío. Set up among the region’s coffee plantations, Parque del Café celebrates its subject through museum exhibits, interactive experiences, and performances. Fun and thrills surround the site’s educational core, making the most of the park’s lush hillside scenery.
With its white adobe façade, red-brick tower, and an entryway fronted by a set of crumbling stone steps, Cali’s humble San Antonio Church (Iglesia de San Antonio) stands in stark contrast to the fanciful Metropolitan Cathedral just a few blocks east. Perched on a small hill in the lively historic district of San Antonio, the church affords beautiful views of the city.
Renowned for his soccer skills and outgoing personality, former Colombian football player Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama is immortalized by the 22-foot (7-meter) bronze statue of him in his hometown of Santa Marta, outside the Estadio Eduardo Santos. Nicknamed “El Pibe” (or “the Kid”) for his curly blond head of hair, he was one of the most recognizable figures in football worldwide, and one of the few Colombian players to ever join Major League Soccer in the United States.
Those who know tango may be familiar with Carlos Gardel, the celebrated tango musician who helped make Medellín the capital of tango in Colombia. Although Gardel died in an airplane accident in 1935, his legacy (and tango itself) is celebrated in this compact museum through exhibits and special events.
A small Colombian fishing village-turned-beach hangout, laidback Taganga is a hub for party-loving backpackers and scuba divers alike. Use Taganga as an affordable jumping-off point for exploration of Tayrona National Park, Ciudad Perdida, or mountainous Minca, before returning to admire the sunset from one of Taganga’s many beach bars.
Abutting the Plaza de Caicedo, the Metropolitan Cathedral is arguably Cali’s most important church, as it is the official seat of the city’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese. Construction of the cathedral began in 1772, although it was not completed until 1841, 69 years later, for political reasons. It was designated as a national monument in 1982.
Officially called the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Medellín Metropolitan Cathedral is one of the largest brick buildings in the world and the largest cathedral in South America. Designed by French architect Emile Charles Carré and completed in 1931, the tawny towers took 56 years to construct.
Wrapping around an artificial lake in northern Medellín, Parque Norte is an expansive theme park filled with rides and games for kids and adults alike. Attractions include mini bumper cars for little kids, a "prehistoric jungle" filled with massive replica dinosaurs, and a thrilling Kamikaze ride that slings visitors upside down and back again.
Founded under the order of Sebastián de Belalcázar in 1555, Guadalajara de Buga is one of Colombia’s oldest cities. Guadalajara de Buga—or Buga, as it’s more informally known—attracts more than three million pilgrims a year seeking its salmon-pink Basilica of the Lord of Miracles (Basílica Menor Señor de Los Milagros) and its crucifix, which legend says grew from a small statue to its current life-size version without human intervention.
Located in Villavicencio, Bioparque Los Ocarros is a nature reserve dedicated to protecting the flora and fauna of the Orinoquia region of Colombia. Spanning 14.3 acres (5.8 hectares), the biopark is home to more than 190 species and 1,900 specimens of mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish, many of which were rescued.
The former regional capital of Popayán is best known for an abundance of whitewashed buildings, earning it the nicknameCiudad Blanca (White City). Popayán is among Colombia’s best preserved colonial cities, and is home to one of the country’s oldest, most prestigious universities, which counts 16 Colombian presidents among its alumni.
Learn about marine dinosaurs that inhabited prehistoric Colombia and modern paleontological research techniques at the Paleontological Research Center (Centro de Investigaciones Paleontológicas). A modern research facility, CIP also houses a large collection of fossils from the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras.
At Biopark Reserve (Bioparque La Reserva) outside Bogotá, get up close and personal with animals rescued from illegal trafficking, while immersing yourself in several unique and varied Colombian ecosystems. Visitors can learn about the importance of conservation and sustainability at this family-friendly animal sanctuary.
Located outside of Paipa, Manoa Park (Manoa Parque) is an adventure theme park for the whole family. Choose to suit up for the ziplines and ropes courses, or opt for a ride on horseback or via electric car, motorcycle, train, or boat. There's also a giant chess board, inflatables, and large labyrinth.
Situated on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, Cartagena Cruise Port welcomes 30 different cruise ship lines and features several attractions that reference the country’s natural resources—before exiting, pass through a replica emerald mine and an aviary with birds such as flamingoes, peacocks, and parrots.
Located in the heart of Cartagena, Plaza Bocagrande is a one-stop shop for all your retail and entertainment needs. Once a fishing village, this sleek and sophisticated neighborhood is now home to the vast Plaza Bocagrande Centro Comercial shopping mall, perched on a peninsula that juts out into the Caribbean Sea.
Perched on the banks of the Magdalena River in Barranquilla, the Gran Malecón del Rio is the top spot to soak up the Caribbean charm of the city. It boasts bars, restaurants, sports fields, and a giant golden statue of Shakira (the singer was born and raised in Barranquilla), and overlooks Salamanca Island Nature Reserve, where mangrove forests shelter almost 200 bird species.
Situated around 20 miles (32 kilometers) southwest of Bogotá on the Bogotá River, Tequendama Falls (Salto del Tequendama) is a massive cascade with waters that drop 515 feet (157 meters) before crashing into a forested valley below.
Housed in an angular red-brick building, the Bogotá Museum of Modern Art is one of the country’s foremost contemporary art spaces. Here, across four floors and six exhibition halls, visitors can marvel over some 4,000 permanent works of art, design, and photography, by both Colombian and international artists such as Diego Rivera, Andy Warhol, and Francisco Goya.
Designed by Barranquilla-born architect Diana Escorcia, the Monumento Ventana al Mundo (Window to the World) towers over the Colombian city on the Caribbean coast. At 147 feet (45 meters) high, this avant-garde architectural landmark is made from aluminium, steel, and glass, and serves as a symbol of Barranquilla’s progression and modernity.
Shrouded by lush green forest, Juan Curi Waterfall (Cascada de Juan Curi) is one of San Gil’s natural highlights. The 590-foot (180-meter) waterfall has natural pools at its foot, ideal for cooling off after the short hike to reach it. Thrill seekers can rappel down the cascade.
The focal point of Villa de Leyva—a whitewashed colonial town seemingly frozen in time—Plaza Mayor is a sprawling, cobbled square ringed by mountains. It boasts the title of one of the largest town squares in the Americas and is home to plenty of cafés serving fragrant Colombian coffee, which are perfect for people-watching.
Established in the 16th century, La Merced Church Museum (Iglesia de la Merced) boasts the title of Cali's oldest church. While the exterior is whitewashed and quaint, the interior features a wooden nave, stucco decoration, and a fabulously gilded Baroque altar, which serves as an impressive centerpiece.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site at the foot of the Colombian Andes, Eje Cafetero (aka the Coffee Axis or Coffee Triangle) produces some of the finest coffee in the world. Comprising the departments of Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda, the region is also known for its unique hacienda-style architecture and friendly locals. Verdant, steep-sloped valleys make Eje Cafetero visually stunning as well.
One of Cali’s most impressive buildings, the National Palace (Palacio Nacional) demands attention from its perch at the head of Caicedo Plaza (Plaza de Cayzedo). Built in 1928, the 4-story palace’s neoclassical design was the work of Belgian architect Joseph Martens, and features an ornate, chalk-white façade capped with a slate-gray roof and dome.
Providing respite from the bustle of Armenia, Parque de la Vida (Park of Life) is one of the city’s prettiest green spaces. At 20 acres (8 hectares), it’s Armenia’s largest park and offers a wealth of hiking trails that wind through manicured gardens, wild forests, man-made lakes, tiered waterfalls, bamboo bridges, and a stream.
