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Tourism - Regional Areas

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Caribbean Region

Colombia's major tourist attractions are in the north of the country, where the main towns and resorts are Cartagena, Santa Marta, Barranquilla, Valledupar, Sincelejo, Montería, Riohacha and the San Andrés and Providencia Islands in the Antilles.

Cartagena de Indias

Also known as "The Heroic City", Cartagena de Indias, capital of the province of Bolivar, is situated in one of the most beautiful bays in Latin America. Since its foundation in 1533, Cartagena was the most important port in the Spanish empire.

Cartagena is a vibrant city, pulsating with Caribbean rhythms, music and flavours that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Its white sandy beaches and its warm, crystal-clear water and palm trees are only some of its attractions. Popular beaches include El Laguito and Bocagrande, where there are modern hotels, restaurants, cafes, soft drink stalls and traditional regional fruit. It is a common sight to see palenqueras (women fruitsellers) carrying baskets on their heads loaded with coconuts, watermelons, papayas, pineapples and granadillos.

With its bright lights, Cartagena invites visitors for an evening stroll along its main streets to sample its numerous restaurants and bars and experience diverse cultural events that are available throughout Cartagena and, in particular, in the old walled city.

Cartagena is the most popular tourist destination both for Colombians and for overseas visitors. It boasts the best hotels in Colombia.

Its leading attractions are:

The Old City. A fascinating section of Cartagena, with its narrow cobbled streets, colonial style buildings, imposing stately mansions, large doors and typical balconies, small squares, churches and cloisters. The Clock Gate leads into the Walled City and to the Coach Square, where slaves used to bought and sold in colonial times.
Architecture. Religious buildings of note include the Cathedral, San Pedro Claver Church and cloisters, the Church of Santo Domingo and the former San Diego cloister and Inquisition Palace, now a historical and archaeological museum.
City walls. Here the Spanish built the most extensive and imposing fortification system in the New World - a must for visitors.
San Felipe de Barajas Castle. One of the masterworks of Spanish military engineering, this imposing castle on San Lázaro hill played a crucial part in the city's defence. Its underground galleries are also worth a visit.
The San Fernando and San Sebastián de Pastelillo Forts should not be missed out.
Popa Monastery. Outside the city walls, a cloister on the top of a hill offering excellent views of the city.
Rafael Nuñez Museum. A former presidential residence at the end of the 19th century.

In the surrounding areas, the following places are worth a visit:

Rosario Islands. Only 45 km and a two-hour boat trip away from Cartagena, an archipelago with coral formations and crystal-clear that allows one to enjoy the variety of sealife. Also an ideal spot for water sports.
Turbaco Botanical Garden. A former cotton plantation, this garden with its lush vegetation is 20 km along the Western Trunk Road.
San Jacinto Village. Over 100 km away from Cartagena, this village is renowned for its craftwork and enticing hammocks and knitwear.

Mompox

Founded in 1530 and one of the architectural gems of the Spanish colonial period, this city in the province of Bolivar is 248 km away from Cartagena. Because of its well-preserved colonial buildings, Mompox acquired the status of National Monument in 1959 and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1995.

The traditional churches of Santa Barbara, San Agustín, San Francisco, Santo Domingo, La Concepción and San Juan de Dios are renowned for their Holy Week celebrations and are just some of the places that should be visited.

Santa Marta
Capital of the province of Magdalena, Santa Marta is the oldest Spanish city in Colombia. Its historical importance stems from the fact that it was the last home of the liberator Simón Bolivar and that the campaign to conquer the New Kingdom of Granada was conducted here.

Its superb beaches - such as Taganga, El Rodadero and Gaira -, excellent opportunities for water sports and natural resources make Santa Marta another popular seaside resort for Colombian and international tourists. Places of interest include:

The National Tayrona Park. A nature reserves of outstanding beauty on the Colombian Caribbean, this 15,000-hectare national park is 34 km out of Santa Marta on the Riohacha road. Places of interest include Cañaveral (camping area), Neguange, Arrecifes, Playa Linda and La Piscina (quiet beaches); Los Naranjos; Playa del Muerto, Playa Coralina, Bonito Gordo, Bahía Concha, Ensenada de Chengue, Ensenada de Gayraca, Cinto, Guachaquita.
The highest mountain in the world on a seacoast, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta extends over 383,000 hectares in the provinces of Magdalena, Guahiria and Cesar. Visitors require prior authorisation from the Indigenous communities living in this area. This is home to about 30,000 Kogui, Arhuaco and Wiwa (Arsarios) and the cradle of the fascinating ancient Tayrona Indian civilisation. Two of the highest mountain peaks - Colón and Bolívar - are in this snowcapped mountain range, which is a major source of water for the north Caribbean coast.
Taganga, a delightful small fishing village, is well worth a visit.
Other attractions include the Cathedral, Santo Domingo Convent, Church of San Francisco, Customs House, Gold Museum and the San Pedro Alejandrino Quinta (country home).
The Morro Island Fort, an 18th century fortification rising up in the middle of the Santa Marta Bay.
San Fernando Fort and ruins of the Bonda Fort.

Barranquilla

Barranquilla, near the near the River Magdalena estuary, is the capital of Atlántico Province. An expanding, modern city, Barranquilla is now a major Colombian port. A driving force in the region's development, Barranquilla is also a thriving cultural centre that has made a significant contribution to art in Colombian and has spawned many well-known Colombian artists and writers, making up the group of artists known as the Barranquilla Group. This group includes Nobel Prize novelist Gabriel García Márquez and the painter Alejandro Obregón. Some sites of interest are:

The Anthropological Museum, the Romantic Museum and the Natural History Museum.
The most important Botanical Garden in Colombia.
The Barranquilla Carnival, one of Barranquilla's most traditional events takes place in February. It is a popular procession consisting of music groups, dances and masked persons representing typical figures of the region.

Places to visit in the surrounding areas include:

The Usiacurí craft centre where traditional regional products, like iraca palm woven goods, are available.
The Puerto Colombia beaches are popular.
Bocas de Ceniza, where the River Magdalena flows into the Caribbean Sea.

La Guajira
The economy of this semi-desert region, which is rich in coal reserves and sea salt, revolves around mining and trade. The main places of interest are:

Los Flamencos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary.
The Macuira Natural Park.
The Vega Cape.
The caves between the Macuira and Punta Espada mountain range.
The pyramid-shaped hills of La Teta and Pilón de Azúcar.
The historical ruins in Puerto López.

Places of interest in the surrounding areas:

El Cerrejón, the largest open cast coal mine in the world, in Barrancacas, which is 105 km away from the provincial capital Riohacha.
Media Luna Bay.
Manaure where sea salt is treated by the Wayú Indigenous community to make it edible.

Tolú and Coveñas
These magnificent seaside resorts are in the Gulf of Morrosquillo on the Sucre coast. Tolú and Coveñas have an extensive area of reasonably priced tourist accommodation cabins.

San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina

This archipelago in the Antilles has managed to preserve its ancestral traditions. With its "sea of seven colours", as its sea is traditionally called, these islands are ideal for water sports. A tour of the largest island, San Andrés, is only a 30 km drive. The traditional Moon Festival with Central American reggae groups takes place in September. Only a 20 minute flight from San Andrés, Old Providence and Santa Catalina are tranquil and relatively uncommercialised islands, with no big hotels and discotheques. Some of the places of interest in San Andrés are:

Sardine Bay - the major tourist and commercial sector on the Island.
Morgan's Cave.
The Cove - the deepest bay on the Island.
La Piscinita - a pool of natural, clear water frequented by divers.
Hoyo Soplador.
Punta Sur, the southernmost point of the island provides excellent views of San Andrés.
San Luis, one of the prettiest and most typical spots.
La Loma, a residential area that has preserved its traditional buildings.

Gulf of Urabá
The Gulf of Urabá on the Panama Frontier boasts lush vegetation and first-class beaches, such as the Bahía de Sapzurro in Chocó Province. From there one can take trips to the beaches of Capurganá, Aguacate and Acandí.

Pacific Region

The provinces of Chocó, Cauca, Nariño and Valle del Cauca are in this region where there are major seaports from where most of country's exports are shipped abroad. The following are the main tourist attractions:

Gorgona Island
International visitors and, in particular, scientists are drawn to this island for its humpbacked whales, rich variety of flora and fauna and coral reefs. Around June whales gather in groups of 100 in the island's waters after their long swim from the Antarctic. The only way to get to this island, a former penal colony, is by sea. Visitors to this island require a permit issued by the Colombian Environment Ministry Natural Parks Division.

Cauca

Capital of the province of Cauca, Popayán is one of Colombia's architectural jewels because its buildings date back to colonial times. Popayán was rebuilt after the 1983 earthquake. It is renowned for its Holy Week traditional celebrations and international Religious Music Festival. Places of interest include the Belén Chapel, the Hermitage, the Churches of St Francis, El Carmen, La Encarnación, San José and Santo Domingo and the San Agustín Church and Convent.
Tierradentro. Largely inhabited by the Paeces Indigenous community, this extensive archaeological site in the province of Cauca was declared a World Heritage Site in 1995. On the mountainsides there are pre-historical burial sites. Some 7 metres underground and are decorated with red and black geometric shapes on a white background. Those in Loma de Segovia, Alto del Duende, El Tablón, Alto de San Andrés and Loma de Aguacate are some of the most interesting. The gigantic stone statues are another feature of this region.

San Juan de Pasto
Capital of the province of Nariño, San Juan de Pasto includes the following places of interest: the Churches of St. John the Baptist and Christ the King and the Alonso Zambrano, Juan Lorenzo Lucero and Mary Diaz Museums. It is famous for its barniz de Pasto (Pasto varnish), made from local plants and applied to wood to produce sophisticated and colourful designs. One of the main Colombian festivals, the White and Black Carnival, is held here from 4 to 6 January. Some of the places of interest are:

Galeras Volcano, 2,527 m above sea level with an average temperature of 14°C. The climb up to the volcano is relatively easy.
La Cocha Lake, the biggest lake in the country, is surrounded by mountains with forest covered summits and cultivated slopes. One can take a boat along the lake to Corota Island, which has been declared a Flora and Fauna Sanctuary.
Azufral Volcano. Túquerres is at a distance of 74 km from Pasto and this 4,070 m high volcano is one and a half hours away. Once a place of Indian pilgrimage and worship, the intense emerald-green lake on its crater is a special feature. From the top there are superb views of the Galeras and Cumbal volcanoes.

Cali
Cali, capital of the province of Valle del Cauca, is the country's third major industrial and commercial centre. The most important sugar refineries are located here. Cali is known as the salsa "capital" since the natives are considered to rank among the best dancers of Colombia. There are many discotheques in Juanchito, which is on the outskirts of Cali, where visitors can enjoy and dance to traditional salsa music.

Cali Fair. One of the most renowned fairs in the country held between 25 and 30 December, this Fair includes horse shows, bullfighting in the Cañaveralejo Bullring and the International Sugar Cane Beauty Contest.
Buga, Palmira, Tulúa and Cartago are small picturesque Valle del Cauca towns notable for their well-preserved seventeenth and eighteenth century buildings.
Calima Reservoir, half an hour away from Buga, is an ideal spot for water sports.
Los Farallones National Park spreads out west of Cali. On a clear day there are excellent views of the Chocó jungle, the Cauca River and the snowcapped peaks.
The Mono Nuñez National Song Festival of typical Andean music, namely, bambucos, pasillos, waltzes and torbellinos.

Chocó

The main attractions of Solano Bay in the Province of Chocó are its fishing, rainforest and wonderful sea. Marzo Cape, near Solano Bay, is frequented by professional fishers.
Los Katios National Park is one of the main attractions in Chocó and Antioquia. This park covers 72,000 hectares and adjoins the Darién National Park.

Andean Region

The Eastern, Western and Central Cordilleras go through the Andean Region, the most densely populated and developed area in Colombia and where the biggest cities are located. Bogotá and its surrounding area, Boyacá, Santander and Norte de Santander and the Alto Magdalena areas are in this region.

Bogotá
Surrounded by the Andes mountains, Bogotá, the nation's capital and political, administrative, economic and cultural centre. has developed considerably in recent years and offers visitors a broad range of activities and entertainment. There is a lot on to suit all tastes at Bogotá's cultural centres, theatres, concert halls, art galleries, libraries and parks.

The following are the most important city centre tourist sites:

La Candelaria is the historical centre where the city founders built the first twelve huts in Bogotá. Visitors can see old Spanish colonial mansions here.
Bolivar Square is the traditional meeting place for the citizens of Bogotá and the national political centre. In the middle of the square there is a statue of Liberator Simón Bolívar.
The Primate Cathedral of Bogotá rises up on Bolivar Square. The Cathedral has been reconstructed several times between 1538 and 1823 and houses paintings and the remains of prominent national figures, including the founder of Bogotá, Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada.
The National Capitolium, the seat of the two chambers of Congress, is an imposing neo-classical and renaissance-style building.
The Liévano Building is the Town Hall.
20 July Museum. Anyone interested in the history of Colombia's capital city should visit this Museum, which was the house where the first steps towards national independence were taken. This Museum contains valuable documents dating back to colonial times, such as the Declaration of the Human Rights of Man.
The Colón Theatre is one of the country's most important and best-preserved cultural institutions. Major national and international performances with visiting artists are held here.
Casa de Nariño, the Presidential Palace, is the seat of the executive and both the President's residence and office.
Cerro de Monserrate. This 2800-meter high mountain is a popular traditional meeting place for the citizens of Bogotá and offers spectacular views of the city. In addition to the El Señor Caído de Monserrate church, in the centre there is a craft market and typical restaurants where one can enjoy Colombian cuisine.
Gold Museum. The Central Bank's Gold Museum houses a magnificent collection of over 33,600 pre-Spanish gold pieces, a legacy of the people and cultures inhabiting Colombia thousands of years ago. Gold, which was considered a sacred metal, was used to on the attire of political leaders and as an offering to the gods. Skilled craftsmen of these civilisations created the typical masterpieces of the so-called Gold Cultures. Set up in 1939, this Museum is a real gem and a must for visitors.
The District Planetarium on Independence Square in the city centre offers educational activities, lectures and artistic events.

The following two areas in north Bogotá are famous for their lively night life:

Zona Rosa - with its famous bars, restaurants and discotheques.
Parque de la 93. An exclusive area surrounded by a broad selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs.
The Andean Shopping Centre with its major Colombian and international stores.
Hacienda Santa Bárbara, another shopping centre offering high quality goods.

Suggestions for day trips out of Bogotá:

Zipaquirá, a peaceful town 50 km away from Bogotá. The Zipaquirá Salt Dome, one of the largest salt deposits in the world, is here. The Cathedral, a majestic 8,500 square meter building, was carved on the same rock. Ancient indigenous communities had exploited these salt mines and called the dark salt flowing down the mountain "chiqua".
Nemocón. A particularly charming small village where traditional sweets can be purchased.
The Neusa and Tominé Reservoirs, with pine forests, draw campers, picnickers and water sport enthusiasts. Boats are available for hire for fishing and touring the reservoirs.
Guatavita Lake. The El Dorado Legend sprang up from this Lake, the ceremonial site for the Muisca Indians, who offered gold to their gods.
La Calera, which is under a 30-minute drive from Bogotá, provides good viewpoints of the city in addition to well-known discotheques and nightlife.
The Chingaza Natural Park between the Provinces of Cundinamarca and Meta covers 50,374 km². Its temperature ranges from 4° to 21°C. The Chingaza Lake, which used to be a sacred place for the Muisca Tribe, is in this Park.

Just a few hours away from Bogotá there are a number of holiday resorts where one can escape from the colder weather of the capital and enjoy warmer climes with temperatures of over 20°C. These are mostly small towns with modest tourist accommodation and traditional crafts. Melgar, Villega, Gaduas, Girardot, Anapoima and Zipacón are some of the places that are worth a visit.

Boyacá
Boyacá was the home of the ancient Muisca tribe and many villages are still inhabited by Indigenous people who have maintained their culture and traditions.

Colonial architecture, rooted in profound religious sentiments, is well preserved in this region that produces some of the best Colombian craftwork.

Mainly rural, the population of Boyacá devotes itself to working in the countryside, cattle farming, agriculture and crafts. It is Colombia's second potato producer and major grower of different onion and cassava varieties. Maize, wheat, barley, plantain and cassava are grown on family smallholdings.

The countryside of Boyaca was the setting for some of the decisive battles in the struggle for Colombian independence. Pantano de Vargas and the Boyacá Bridge are important historical sites.

The following are some of the places of interest for visitors:

Nevado del Cocuy National Park. Covering 306,000 hectares, this national park contains over 20 snowcapped peaks, glacial lakes, moors and the typical fauna and flora of the Andean woodlands.
Pisba National Park. Covering 45,000 hectares, this national park is characterised by the diversity of its cloud forests, moors, flora and fauna. One can tour the lakes and historical sites, such as Laguna del Soldado, the Freedom Trail to Pisba and the house where the Liberator Simón Bolívar stayed.
Iguaque Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. Eight lakes and an amazing variety of plant life are spread over 6,750 m².
Tota Lake. A beautiful, serene natural lake, full of colour and excellent for fishing and enjoying rainbow trout, which is one of the prides of the region.
Tunja, the capital of the province, has some notable examples of colonial and religious architecture, such as the Casa del Fundador (Founder's House), Plaza de Bolívar, Casa de Don Juan de Vargas, the Cathedral and several outstanding churches and convents, such as the churches of San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Santo Domigo and the convent of Santa Clara.
Villa de Leyva is popular among Colombian tourists, who enjoy its colonial buildings, cultural and sporting activities as well as its peaceful, picturesque landscape. Some of Colombia's most imposing squares are here. Villa de Leyva is renowned for its cobbled streets, magnificent convents - such as the Barefoot Carmelites, San Agustín and San Francisco convents - and events, like the National Kite Festival, that attract international visitors. The only Colombian hippodrome and the Colegio Verde, the first Colombian establishment devoted to environmental studies, are located in Villa de Leyva.
Ráquira. An area renowned for its pottery. Ráquira is justly proud of its reputation as the country's prime pottery producer, a traditional craft handed down from generation to generation. The Candelia Desert, with the convent of the same name, surrounds this small colourful village.
Paipa. Declared the tourist capital of Eastern Colombia, this small village is renowned for its healing thermal springs and its lake. It is also a major venue for conferences and conventions.
Duitama and Sogamoso. These two small towns that are 30 minutes apart, contain architectural and religious gems of the colonial period.
Relics of colonial times, Tópaga and Monguí are two small Boyacá villages that are close to each other and contain striking examples of religious architecture. Tópaga and Monguí are famous, both in Colombia and abroad, for their coal craftwork carved with hammer and chisel.

Santander
The provinces of Santander and Norte de Santander on the Venezuelan border are one of the most mountainous regions of Colombia. The main tourist sites are:

Bucaramanga. Capital of Santander and one of the most mountainous cities with the Eastern Cordillera running through it from north to south, Bucaramanga is the political, economic and cultural centre in the province of Santander. Its economy is based on manufacturing, trade and service industries. On a city tour tourists will discover numerous attractions including the Capilla de los Dolores, a particularly attractive colonial church; the Casa de Perú de Lacroix, the Casa de la Cultura de Custodio García Rovira, which houses the Fine Arts Museum, and the Botanical Gardens.
Girón. This charming village, declared a National Monument, is in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area. Girón's colonial architecture is a tourist attraction. The Señor de los Milagros Cathedral is a pilgrimage site.The Museum of Religious Art and the Capilla del Corregidor are well worth visiting.
Socorro. A historical city renowned as the cradle of the Comuneros and for spawning heroic feats in Colombia's struggle for independence from Spain. The Casa de la Cultura, a splendid colonial building, preserves valuable documents relating to the history of the region. Its Cathedral is an imposing carved stone building.
San Gil is the most important urban and commercial centre in the Province of Guanentá. One of its main attractions is the El Gallineral Park, a natural park on a small island in the Fonce River. Places of interest include Pozo Azul and caves like La Antigua and Alambre on the outskirts of the city.
Barichara, a village declared a National Monument for its exceptional beauty, cobblestones and colonial-style architecture, is situated on a plateau on the right-hand bank of the River Suárez in the Province of Guanentá 118 km away from Bucaramanga and 20 km from San Gil. Places of interest include the Chorrera National Park, Santa Bárbara Chapel and the Inmaculada Concepción stone Church. Canoeing is a popular sport in this region.
The Chicamocha Canyon is one of the principal tourist attractions in the Province of Standander. The Cicamocha River, which has generated copious waterfalls, caves and thermal springs, flows across this major canyon.
Cúcuta, the capital of the Province of Norte de Santander, is a bustling commercial centre on the Venezuelan border.
Pamplona. Another typical town in Norte de Santander, Pamplona is famous for its Holy Week celebrations and other attractions, such as the Cathedral, the church of the Humilladero, Casa de la Cultura and the Convent of the Clarisas.

The Upper Magdalena
This region covers the Provinces of Tolima and Huila, which is the base of the Colombian Massif, the point of origin of the Eastern Cordillera and the source of major Colombian rivers - the Magdalena, Caquetá and Cauca.

The highest altitudes in Colombia are in the Upper Madalena region, with its imposing volcanoes and snow-capped mountains. The archaeological site of San Agustín is also here.

The following are some of the main places of interest:

Tolima

Frequented by both Colombians and international visitors, Tolima is a popular holiday resort with large swimming pools, such as Melgar, Mariquita, Honda, La Dorada, Ambalema, Guamo, Carmen de Apicalá, Prado, Espina and Saldaña.
Los Nevados National Park is the most important national park in the area. Its main feature is its snow-covered summits.
Prado Dam. A major tourist attraction, 99 km south-east of Ibagué, the capital of Tolima and excellent for water sports.

Huila

San Agustín Archaeological Park. In the Province of Huila, this archaeological site, home to some of the most important ancient civilisations of Latin America, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1995. Tourists can visit a number of pre-Columbian statues and monuments erected by ancient Indigenous communities.
National Parks. There are a number of national parks - such as the Cueva de los Guácharos, Los Picachos, Nevado del Huila, Puracé and Sumapaz Parks that are popular among both national and international tourists.
Cities of interest for visitors include Neiva, capital of Huila, renowned for its Bambuco Folk Dance Festival; Betania with the Betania Reservoir where different types of water sports are carried out. Gigante, Garzón and Pitalito are small towns where one can purchase magnificent craftwork, such as chivas, a miniature of the typical buses of some parts of the country.
Tatacoa Desert in Villavieja. Known as Yararaca in the native Indigenous language of the region, Tatacoa means a fierce, poisonous snake. This desert area covers 330 km and its temperature soars to 43°C at midday. Its places of interest include the railway station and the Palaeontological Museum in Villaviejo, which are national monuments. The Cueva del Chulo (black vulture's cave) in the Doche district is another attraction

The Amazon Region and Orinoquía Region

The Amazon Region
The Provinces of Amazonas, Caquetá, Putumayo, Guainía, Guaviare and Vaupés spread over 35% of the country.

As 403,000 km of the total 6,869,344 km² of the Amazon Region are in Colombia, the Amazon region is a "lung" not only for Colombia but also for the whole earth as this region contains our planet's major ecosystem. The largest variety of plant and animal species is found here. The mighty Amazon River flows through this region.

Places of interest include:

Nature Parks - The Amacayacu, Cahuinarí, Chiribiquete, Puinawai, Nukak and La Paya Parks, inhabited by a number of Indigenous communities, are notable for their beauty and rich biodiversity.
Lakes. It is worthwhile paying a visit to Lake Yahuarcacas, near Leticia, the capital of Amazonas, and Tarapoto near Puerto Nariño.

The Orinoquía Region
Generally known as the Llanos Orientales (Eastern Plains), this natural region, extending over 20% of Colombia, mostly consists of vast plains and savannah, jungle large cattle farms and cultivated land. The Provinces of Arauca, Casanare, Meta and Vichada.

Mainly agricultural, the region's economy depends on farming, particularly cattle farming, and fishing. Its main crops are sorghum, sesame and African palm.

Over recent years discoveries of huge oil and natural gas reserves in the provinces of Arauca and Casanare have transformed both the region's and the nation's economy.

Folk music includes the joropo, galerón and corridos. Joropo Festivals and the International Llanera Song Festival are traditions of this region.

As in Venezuela, coleo (dragging a bullock by its tail) is a traditional sport in this region.

Places of interest:

La Macarena National Park is renowned for its beauty and scientific interest as it was the original habitat for numerous plant and animal species that spread to the whole continent. In hotter areas, temperatures reach 25°C and at higher altitudes 12°C.
The Tuparro National Park in the Province of Vichada covers 548,000 hectares. It is in savannah and the River Orinoco flows through it.

The Coffee Belt Region

The coffee belt in the provinces of Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío is characterised by its magnificent landscape, colonial architecture, family-run businesses and its important contribution to the national economy. For many years its pleasant rolling cultivated valleys and coffee plantations were the heartland of the country both due to its geographical position and to its high quality coffee, one of Colombia's major exports.

Some of the main places of interest are:

Medellín
Capital of Antioquia and Colombia's second major city, Medellín is an attractive city with a well-developed economy and a hardworking population. Well-established and newer Colombian industries, such as textiles, garments, food, iron and steel, agricultural machinery and tobacco are located here. Medellín is dubbed the "City of Eternal Spring" or the "Mountain Capital" because of its climate, gardens, colourful flowers, including a vast array of orchid species. The only Colombian metro is in Medellín and this elevated metro, which enjoys the reputation of being one of the cleanest in Latin America, runs from north to south and east to west. A trip on this mass transit is a good way of seeing the most important sights of Medellín.

Places of interest include:

Flower Fair. Flowers play a prominent part in the history of Antioquia and a variety of flowers bedeck streets, homes and squares. One of the major attractions is the 10-day Flower Fair, which includes a vintage car parade, the International Flower Beauty Contest, horse shows, flower exhibitions and special stage shows. A major event is the Desfile de Silleteros, a colourful spectacle of chairs embellished with splendid flower arrangements. It is an honour to be a silletero (flower growers in typical costumes carrying chairs on their shoulders), a tradition handed down from father to son. The weight of these chairs may reach 100 kilos.
Antioquia Museum. An important museum containing works of the famous paisa painter and sculptor Fernando Botero. The Medellín Town Hall is working on a special project known as Botero City with a view to displaying a major private collection donated by this painter. This collection includes the bullfighting ring and 14 sculptures.
The Zea Museum of Modern Art contains works by Fernando Botero.
The Anthropological Museum contains many pieces of pre-Columbian art.
City tour. It is worthwhile paying a visit to the La Veracruz Hermitage, the Basilica, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Bolivar and Berrio Parks with their lively day and night life.

Suggestions of places to visit for a day trip from Medellín:

Rionegro, a small town, with its main square, historical Casa de la Convención and Cathedral.
Peñol stone is close to the Guatapé dam, an excellent spot for water sports. Winding stairs take one to the top of this enormous rock, which is 200 m high and 700 m in diameter.
Now a cultura;l centre with an extensive collection of Pre-Columbian pottery, the Fizebal Country Estate is renowned for its orchid gardens and architecture.
Carmen de Viboral. A small town renowned for its handcrafted pottery and particularly its crockery, which is hand-decorated following family traditions handed down from generation to generation.
Santafé de Antioquia. 75 km away from Medellín, this colonial village is one of the most picturesque in Antioquia. The Cathedral, Cabildo (Town Council), Casa Negra, Hermitage and city museum are worth a visit.

Caldas
One of the main coffee producers in the Central Cordillera region, Caldas also grows maize, beans and potatoes. It has a temperate climate.

Among places of interest, there is:

Manizales, capital of Caldas, one of the country's cultural and educational centres with the Fine Art Palace, the Manizales Archaeological Museum and the Natural History Museum. Since 1969 Manizales has been the venue for an International Theatre Festival, which attracts artists from different parts of the world. The Manizales Fair is another popular traditional cultural event.
Riosucio. The Devil's Carnival is held every two years in this small town. A good devil is worshipped amidst cavalcades, music, quadrilles and much humour.
Salamina and Aguadas are two picturesque small towns that have been declared National Monuments.

Risaralda
This is a fertile mountainous region where coffee and sugar cane are grown as well as other crops. Its mining and cattle farming play an important part in the national economy.

Places of interest include:

Pereira, the provincial capital, known as "the City without Gates" and the "Pearl of the Otún". Its square is famous for its Unclothed Bolivar sculpture by the local sculptor Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt. Other scultpures of his can also be seen in Risaralda. Other attractions include the Jaime Mejía Archaeological Museum with its displays of Quimbaya culture; the Uribe Uribe Lake, the Church of Our Lady of Carmen and the Matecaña Zoo.
Santa Rosa de Cabal is 12 km away from Pereira and is notable for its architecture. A few minutes away is the Arbeláez Spa, with cascades of cold water and thermal springs.
Apía, Marsella and Santuario are three small towns in Risaralda with steep streets and which preserve regional traditions.

Quindío
This mostly rugged province has a variety of climates. Coffee is its main crop although plantain, cocoa and tropical fruit are also grown here. Places of interest include:

Armenia, the capital of the province of Quindío, is notable for its colonial architecture and coffee plantations. Armenia is dubbed the "Miracle City" because of the drive of its friendly people. Visitors are recommended to see Plaza Bolivar, the main square with myrtle and guaiacum trees; the Cathedral; the statue of the Liberator Simón Bolivar, the Los Fundadores Park, with its monument to the axe, a symbol of the region; the Sucre Park, with its hundred year-old ceiba (silk cotton tree); the Cafetero Park; the Uribe Park, with two churches and the El Bosque Park. The Quimbaya Museum, which specialises in Pre-Colombian culture, is well-known.
Towns of interest. On the outskirts of Armenia there are several exceptionally picturesque towns like Calarcá, with its traditional adobe architecture; Salento, regarded as the birthplace of the Quindio wax palm, the national tree; Montenegro with its coffee museum; Córdoba, a giant bamboo research centre and Pijao, winner of the Prettiest Village in Quindío competition