Cultural tourism in Colombia, an enriching experience

You can start with Bogotá, the capital, a good starting point to get an idea of ​​the cultural movement of the South American country. It is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city, characteristics that it has acquired due to the large number of cultural events recognized internationally as the Ibero-American Theater Festival, which takes place every two years and will be held in 2020.

Other must-sees are the Park Festivals such as Rock in the Park, Jazz in the Park, Hip Hop in the Park and Salsa in the Park, which bring together international and national artists.

Walking through the town of Candelaria in the historical and cultural heart of the city is a must for any traveler. It is the heart of the historic center of Bogotá and one of the most important places in the city, because the capital of Colombia was born there 436 years ago.

The Gold Museum is also a must as it is a national monument and is considered the most important in the world in its kind. There is also the Botero Museum with a large collection of works donated to Colombia by artist Fernando Botero, the National Museum of Colombia that is the oldest in Colombia and the National Library, the first national library in America and the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center .

In the land of the best coffee in the world

Going through the Coffee Cultural Landscape is also another unique experience. It is made up of the departments of Quindío, Risaralda and Caldas, proud producers of one of the best coffees in the world, which stand on the Central Mountain Range and make up one of the most prominent tourist corridors in the country.

Tour the huge coffee plantations, talk with the growers to the sound of a good tango and tour the Cocora Valley in the heat of a steaming cup of coffee, with some of the experiences offered by this destination.

To the west, the capital of salsa awaits all foreigners who want to learn to dance this fascinating rhythm. In Cali, for example, is the San Antonio neighborhood where there are high streets, colonial houses, crafts, parks, a special gastronomic offer and different options to learn from the typical rhythms of the region.

A little further up is Medellín, an example of transformation and several facts prove it: it has been listed by Forbes as one of the coolest cities in the world to travel and also takes the prestige of being one of the most innovative according to The Wall Street Journal It is taking a big step in the development of 4.0 policies in Colombia and Latin America by hosting the first Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the region.

Towards the Caribbean coast, vallenato, porro, merengue, champeta or mapalé are heard. There is the Tayrona National Park, half an hour from Santa Marta in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada the highest coastal mountain in the world, they sink into the sea between which bays and coves are formed where rocky, mangrove atolls are seen, thickets or forests. You can go hiking, horseback riding, snorkeling and autonomous diving.

There is also Barranquilla, known as The Golden Gate of Colombia. During the Barranquilla Carnival held in February, more than 500 folk groups parade through the streets infecting everyone with their dances and costumes typical of the region, which is why it was recognized with the title of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Likewise, walking through Barranquilla is to follow in the footsteps of Gabriel García Márquez in such emblematic places as the restaurant bar La Cueva, heritage of Colombia, meeting place for stories and experiences of writers such as literature nobel, Álvaro Cepeda Samudio and painters like Alejandro Obregón and Enrique Grau.

Finally, getting lost in the streets of Cartagena and ending in the tunnels of the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas, in the cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría or eating fruit from the palenqueras that sell fresh delicacies in any corner of the walled city, is a of the best ways to know the history of this country.