Colombia encompasses all the environments of the tropics: perennial snow, beaches, jungles, and deserts. It is a modern nation with an infrastructure that takes advantage of its natural resources and human capital.
In just short while, you can go from perpetual snow to the warm sand of the beaches of the Caribbean or from enjoying the company of friendly country folk in the cool Andean highlands to participating in outdoor fiestas in warmer climates.
Welcome to Colombia!!
Colombia, the only risk is wanting to stay!
Many who haven't travelled to Colombia mistakenly imagine the country as a dangerous land of drugs, guerrillas and rainforests. However, those who do travel to Colombia, discover something very different, and many visitors find it to be their favourite vacation destination in all of South America. Large parts of Colombia are perfectly safe for travel, while in other areas caution must be taken.Colombia is one of the few countries in Latin America that genuinely has almost everything travel wise - amazing beaches, rainforests tours and jungle lodges, archaeological ruins and sites, colonial towns oozing charm, buzzing nightlife and trendy hotels in cosmopolitan modern cities, wildlife viewing tours and whale watching trips, scuba diving, fantastic trekking, rafting and adventure tours and beautiful and welcoming locals. One could easily spend up to two months travelling around Colombia. For for those less on time, this online Colombia travel guide should help choose where to visit on your vacation.
Colombia's inland travel highlights
Capital city Bogota is a gateway for travel elsewhere in Colombia, though it also has palaces, plazas, museums, buzzing nightlife and fantastic hotels to appeal to visitors. To the north lie Villa de Leiva and Mompos, two of Colombia's most tranquil and charming colonial cities. Nearby San Gil is Colombia's adventure travel and watersports centre.
Travel South to Medellin, known as the city of the eternal spring due to it's fantastic climate. Most visitors to Colombia who make their way to Medellin agree that it's one of the prettiest modern cities in Latin America. Nearby Medellin, tours into Antioquia's countryside offer a spectacular backdrop to experience rural life in Colombia. Nearby tourist attractions include El Penol, a huge rock (aka Sugar Loaf in Rio) protuding from the lush green landscape and surrounded by a lake with beautiful islands. Santa Fe de Antioquia is small traditional Paisa town just outside of Medellin. A few hours overland travel from Medellin, Rio Claro is a beautiful place to relax and take nature tours. In addition, Colombia's beautiful coffee country is just a few hours away and is gateway to some fantastic scenery and trekking in Los Nevados Park.
Travel still further South to discover Cali's buzzing salsa scene, the colonial town of Popayan, and the mysterious archaeological sites of San Agustin and Tierradentro. Alternatively, catch a flight deep into the Amazon rainforest and stay in a jungle lodge hotel near Leticia.
Capital city Bogota is a gateway for travel elsewhere in Colombia, though it also has palaces, plazas, museums, buzzing nightlife and fantastic hotels to appeal to visitors. To the north lie Villa de Leiva and Mompos, two of Colombia's most tranquil and charming colonial cities. Nearby San Gil is Colombia's adventure travel and watersports centre.
Travel South to Medellin, known as the city of the eternal spring due to it's fantastic climate. Most visitors to Colombia who make their way to Medellin agree that it's one of the prettiest modern cities in Latin America. Nearby Medellin, tours into Antioquia's countryside offer a spectacular backdrop to experience rural life in Colombia. Nearby tourist attractions include El Penol, a huge rock (aka Sugar Loaf in Rio) protuding from the lush green landscape and surrounded by a lake with beautiful islands. Santa Fe de Antioquia is small traditional Paisa town just outside of Medellin. A few hours overland travel from Medellin, Rio Claro is a beautiful place to relax and take nature tours. In addition, Colombia's beautiful coffee country is just a few hours away and is gateway to some fantastic scenery and trekking in Los Nevados Park.
Travel still further South to discover Cali's buzzing salsa scene, the colonial town of Popayan, and the mysterious archaeological sites of San Agustin and Tierradentro. Alternatively, catch a flight deep into the Amazon rainforest and stay in a jungle lodge hotel near Leticia.
Colombia's Pacific CoastThere's more stunning rainforest backed empty beaches and surfing in Choco department on Colombia's Pacific Coast, one of South America's wettest and most biodiverse places. Throughout the Pacific coast, whale watching tours can be taken between July and October, the old prison island of Gorgona Island being a unique place to see such whales. There's also lovely beaches and wildlife tours offered at the laid back beach vacation resorts of Nuqui and Bahia Solano.
Colombia's Caribbean Coast
The top travel highlight is Cartagena, quite possibly Latin America's most beautiful colonial city, a must see on all vacations to Colombia. There's nearby fantastic beaches at both the Rosario Islands and Park Tayrona (the best beaches in South America?). The beach resort of Santa Marta (clic here for travel packages) is the base for an amazing 6 day jungle trek to the amazing ruins of Ciudad Perdida. Travel further East to discover the remote indigenous communities of La Guajira Peninsula, an arid landscape of empty beaches and flamingoes. A short flight from Cartagena and one encounters great beaches and scuba diving at the beautiful Caribbean islands of San Andres (more developed) and Providencia (unspoilt and idyllic), alternatively one can travel West to the beaches of the rarely visited San Bernardo Islands and Capurgana.
The city of Santa Marta was Colombia's first Spanish settlement, it offers a superb mix of colonial and republican architecture.
Santa Marta is the capital of the Magdalena department in Colombia. It is the oldest city in South America and today a major port on the Atlantic with a population of nearly 500,000 people.
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Location and Orientation
Santa Marta is located on the Caribbean Coast in the North of Colombia, it sits between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Caribbean Sea. The rocky island El Morro lays in front of the Santa Marta bay.
Santa Marta's principal center (El Centro) is along Avenida Rodrigo de Bastidas (in front of the beach) and the commercial street of Carrera 5. Other point of interest is the beach resort El Rodadero and Playa Blanca, 5kms south of the center.
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Climate and Temperatures
Santa Marta has a tropical climate with sun and temperatures ranges from 27 to 35 degrees. The temperatures and the climate are relatively constant throughout the year with June and July being the rainiest months (this shouldn't stop you from going anyway).
Near Santa Marta, the highest snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta enjoy lower temperatures and higher rainfalls.
The district of Rodadero is one of the most popular touristic destination of Colombians (with Cartagena and San Andres).
It can be a very crowded resort though, so if you are seeking quiter beaches, head to Taganga only 10mins away!
As soon as you will put feet out of the plane, you will feel it: the fantastic heat, the refreshing winds, the sugared smells... Santa Marta, your door to some of the most diverse and monumental natural sites in the world : National Park Tayrona, Taganga, The Lost City, La Guarira desert... And of course a typical Caribbean city with beautiful colonial architecture.
The main event in the calendar of Santa Marta is the Sea Festival, or Fiestas del Mar, held in July each year. it includes the usual beauty pageant election as well as watersports games'. The Sea Festival mainly takes place in El Rodadero. There are parties on most beaches around the city and events in Santa Marta itself.
In September, Santa Marta hosts the increasingly popular Caribbean Theatre Festival.
Santa Marta is the birthplace of Colombia's most famous football player, Carlos Valderrama, as well as current football star Radamel Falcao. It is also the hometown of singer and songwriter Carlos Vives.
Santa Marta does not have the touristical depth of neighboor Cartagena and most people go there to enjoy the resort of Rodadero or prepare their visit to PNN Tayrona or their trek to the Lost City. Nevertheless there are still activities and attractions worth visiting during your stay.
Start with a walking tour of the city including Santa Marta cathedral and the waterfront. For culture and history, don't miss the Hacienda Quinta San Pedro Alejandrino, the place where Simón Bolívar died, It is also a botanical garden and a modern art museum.
Santa Marta is rarely the destination, more a stop over on your way to the beautiful PNN Tayrona or the Lost City Trek (Ciudad Perdida).
To relax and recover from your travels, head to Taganga, just 15 minutes away from Santa Marta but a world away. For something even quieter, discover Palomino, one hour north of Santa Marta, a little paradise off the tourism trail for now.
*Este texto fue tomado de la pagina Paisatours.com. Note: Paisatours.com does not offer any travel related services - they are not a tour operator, nor a travel agency. Simply put, this is Colombia's only dedicated online travel guide., Colombia Trip Advisors.,
http://off2colombia.com/santa-marta, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/colombia/caribbean-coast/santa-marta
http://off2colombia.com/santa-marta, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/colombia/caribbean-coast/santa-marta
