Colombia

One of Colombia’s greatest attractions is its stunning range of natural beauty – from sparkling beaches to chilly mountaintops, the country has everything. Luckily, the government and people of Colombia are generally aware of the amazing richness of their native terrain, and have taken steps to preserve it before it vanishes. READ MORE

To many people, Juan Valdez is just an image of a mustachioed guy in a hat – kind of like a caffeine cowboy. But in Colombia, he – and, more importantly, his namesake coffee shop – is much more than that. The cafe, run by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, is a way for the nation’s coffee-growers to showcase their product beyond an image and bring it into people’s daily lives. READ MORE

If you read enough guidebooks, you can be forgiven for thinking that half of a country falls into the “can’t-miss” category. While this phrase is heavily abused by the travel writers of the world, some things truly cannot be missed. This is the case for landmark restaurant Andrés Carne de Res near Bogotá.

The restaurant, which has been an institution in the central Andes since it opened its first location in 1982, is nothing short of a delicious, colorful, musical all-night party. Plus, the fact that the flagship location takes up the space equivalent to a city block makes it literally impossible to miss it if you’re within a mile of it. READ MORE

Most Latin American countries pulse with the rhythm of dance music, from reggaeton in the islands to sultry tango in Argentina. But when it comes to salsa, it’s all about Colombia. Sure, Cuba has a pretty strong claim on it, too but for a less logistically complicated dance break, Colombia is the best place to bring your dancing shoes. READ MORE

When you think of the world’s top skiing destinations, Colombia probably doesn’t immediately spring to mind.

That’s fine, though, because it shouldn’t. There’s only one region of Colombia where it snows – fittingly named Los Nevados (The Snowcapped Mountains) – and there’s hardly enough there to bother hauling snowshoes up the mountain, much less a full pair of skis.

But don’t let the lack of powder dissuade you from bringing your slalom-loving self to this corner of South America! We may not have sparkling slopes here, but who ever said skiing only has to happen in the cold? READ MORE

Marathons in Colombia have become an important leisure and fitness activity. For globetrotters looking for good places to run and practice for marathons throughout the year, check out a complete calendar of sport activities you won’t want to miss. In Colombia, May, August and September are great months to find road races and other competitions. You can sign up as an individual or as a group for a chance to win prizes of up to 30.000.000 Colombian pesos (USD$17.000). READ MORE

This year, the Festival de Música Interactiva de Uninorte en Verano is turning five years-old. Uninorte is one of the most important universities in the coast of Colombia. It is also a recognized institution in certain subjects such as engineering and law. The festival is sponsored by the Uninorte Centro Cultural Cayena, the Academic Viceprincipal and the music program of the university.

The Uninorte Music Festival is an important event because it promotes music and fosters new talent in Barranquilla and the surrounding region.

The event is open to all music lovers and admission is free. Events start in May and end with a final concert and announcement of winners in early August. READ MORE

Colombia’s Coffee Triangle has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Landscape. Grab a cup of coffee and keep reading to plan your trip to unique destination.

Armenia, Manizales and Pereira. The temperature in these cities that form the famous coffee triangle fluctuates from 72°F (22°C) to 32° F (18°C). From the small city of Armenia, make your way to the Parque Nacional del Café to enjoy the history and culture of coffee in Colombia. READ MORE