Colombia tops the list of the most popular tourist destinations in South America. Colombia has it all: beautiful Caribbean beaches lush coffee plantations the Amazon Rainforest and vibrant cities. With so much to travel & explore you'll want to be prepared for the trip of a lifetime. Colombia will enchant you with its captivating coastlines untamed jungle and high-altitude national parks. After decades of armed conflict and drug cartels this South American country is now one of the continent's most exciting and welcoming destinations.

Travelers to Colombia should brace themselves for a trip that will leave them wishing they didn't have to leave thanks to the country's remarkably warm and friendly people and uniquely Latin spirit. Read the following blog to ensure a safe and truly unforgettable trip to Colombia.

Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona

Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona on Colombia's Caribbean coast is a magical place with golden sandy beaches coconut palms and thick rainforest. The steep hillsides of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta the world's highest coastal mountain range rise behind it all. The park covers 30000 acres of land and 7000 coral-rich seas from the Bahía de Taganga near Santa Marta to the mouth of the Río Piedras 22mi (35km) east.

In December and January most of the beautiful beaches are unsuitable for swimming due to strong currents but a few are safe for snorkeling. Despite this Tayrona is a beautiful place that is both rewarding and exciting to explore. The 37000-acre Tayrona National Park is one of Colombia's most popular ecotourism destinations. Hike along the coast relax on the beaches snorkel among the coral reefs or simply get away from it all.

Caño Cristales

Caño Cristales also known as the River of Five Colors is the country's most spectacular natural wonder.

The Liquid Rainbow is caused by a one-of-a-kind phenomenon: a red plant growing in the riverbed called Macarenia Clavigera. Black rocks green algae blue water and yellow sand contribute to the iridescent effect. The river also has waterfalls pools and caverns which add to the drama. If you visit Cao Cristales during the wet or dry seasons in Colombia you might wonder what all the fuss is about.

The Serrana de la Macarena national park in Colombia's Meta province is home to the 62.1-mile-long River of Five Colors. Because of its vibrant colors this "liquid rainbow" is one of South America's most spectacular natural wonders. For the few months when the conditions are favorable the riverbed glows bright red yellow green blue and black. Although the colors can be seen as early as mid-May and sometimes as late as December they are most vibrant in June and November.

San Andres Island

San Andres is a Colombian island paradise despite being geographically closer to Nicaragua or Panama. It can only be reached by air due to its remote location. Fortunately flights from major Colombian cities are reasonably priced starting at $70 round-trip.

San Andres Island is located in the Caribbean 500 miles from Colombia. Both countries continue to argue over who truly owns this piece of paradise but for the time being San Andres Island is technically part of Colombia.

Aside from the many beautiful beaches the island also has some world-class scuba diving that you will enjoy. The many reefs that surround San Andres Island are vibrantly colored and teeming with sea life. This small island abandons traditional Colombian culture in favor of an entirely new one.

Salt Cathedral

Foreigners have mixed feelings about the Salt Cathedral which Colombians consider sacred and beautiful. Whatever your taste the place is very impressive in its architecture and lighting and it is well worth visiting in its national context. On Sundays up to 3000 visitors are permitted though there is no official religious status. Thousands attend Easter services commemorating Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.

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The Muisca Indians had been using halite mines since the 5th century BC. A vast network of grottoes pits and passageways was left by the late 1800s and 1815 commercial mining. Most exhausted mines have been abandoned and sealed but Zipaquirá's miners and church officials convinced the government to help build the Salt Cathedral.

Miners had originally carved a sanctuary for their daily prayers for protection before beginning work. The original Salt Cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary Patron Saint of Miners had three naves and a cross by the early 1950s. Structural issues and safety concerns prompted the construction of a new cathedral which lasted from 1991 to 1995. Its corridors and sanctuaries were extensions and modifications to the caves left over from the previous mine.

Cocora Valley

The Cocora Valley is without a doubt a must-see for all visitors to Colombia. Cocora is famous for producing the world's tallest palm trees known as "palmas de Cera" (wax palms) which are considered Colombia's national tree. They can grow to heights of up to 60 meters and only grow at surprising altitudes of 1.500 to 3.000 meters above sea level. The Cocora Valley has an entire chromatic scale of green among its mountains and stunning views that will not disappoint.

The Cocora Valley is open to the public all year. Spring appears to be here to stay with an annual average temperature of 15oC a high of 25oC and a low of 12oC.

However due to its altitude and the fact that Pacific Ocean winds are trapped in the Andean mountains creating a humid ecosystem it rains almost daily and the wax palms are often surrounded by fog. Even with the mysterious thin fog the views are still breathtaking. The Cocora Valley trek is not difficult; there are no technical difficulties but being in good shape is always a plus.

Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas

The Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas the greatest fortress ever built by the Spaniards in any of their colonies still dominates an entire section of Cartagena's cityscape. It should unquestionably be your first stop. The original structure was quite small. It was commissioned in 1630 and construction on the 40-meter-high San Lázaro hill began in 1657. This powerful bastion covered the hill after a 1762 expansion.

Despite numerous attempts to storm it it was truly impregnable and was never taken. Tunnels connected strategic points to distribute supplies and aid evacuation. The tunnels were built so that any noise reverberated throughout them making it easy to hear an enemy's footsteps and communicate internally.

San Felipe de Barajas Castle located just east of the Getseman neighborhood was completed in 1657. The castle is built on top of a 130-foot hill and has a complex network of tunnels running through its mountain base.

Plaza de Bolívar

The giant concrete Plaza de Bolvar the heart of the original town is the traditional starting point for exploring Bogotá. What it lacks in green foliage it more than makes up for in grandeur. A bronze statue of Simón Bolvar (cast in 1846) by Italian artist Pietro Tenerani stands in the center of the square. This was the first public monument in the city.

Plaza de Bolivar in La Candelaria Bogota Colombia is the city's beating heart and a great starting point for sightseeing. This concrete space measuring 149650 square feet encapsulates many eras of Colombia's turbulent history.

The Muisca a pre-Hispanic civilization used the site and is thought to have built several temples nearby. In the 16th century the Spanish built a makeshift cathedral on the east side and used the square for public celebrations of major cultural or religious events. Protests often begin or end at Plaza de Bolivar. It's also a popular spot for protesters to set up camp.

Botero Museum

Even if you've never heard of Fernando Botero you've probably seen his paintings of chubby characters like dictators dancers dogs and birds. Colombia's most famous living artist is also a prolific sculptor and his curvaceous bronze statues are equally generous.

Botero donated over 100 of his own works and 85 from his personal collection of other artists' work including Picasso Monet Matisse and Klimt to the Banco de la República de Colombia's Botero Museum in 2000. The painter himself curated the museum.

The museum is in a colonial house that was the archbishop's office until 1955 in Bogota's historic La Candelaria neighborhood. Banco de la Repblica restored and adapted the house to become a museum with the master artist himself serving as the guide and curator. A variety of activities including guided tours lectures conferences and workshops for both children and teachers are available fulfilling the master Fernando Botero's wish for this collection: to be there forever for the education and enjoyment of all Colombians.

Plaza Botero - Medellín Antioquia

The Antioquia Museum is one of Colombia's most famous museums located in Plaza Botero.

Plaza Botero is Medelln's most famous tourist attraction and its pride and it should be on every art lover's bucket list. The plaza near Parque Berrio metro station has "larger than life" Fernando Botero sculptures. After viewing the sculptures visit the Antioquia museum facing the plaza to see more of Botero's paintings and works. The museum also houses Pedro Nel Gomez's works and displays Colombian art through the ages. If you're in Medellin and want to spend some time with a herd of bronze Boteros there's no better place to go than the 75347-square-foot Plaza Botero. In 2002 Medellín installed 23 Botero sculptures in the park between the Palacio de Cultura Uribe Uribe and the Museo de Antioquia as part of an urban renewal program. Fernando Botero himself donated all of the pieces.

Monumental bronze figures adorn the surroundings of the Museum of Antioquia in one of Medellin's most iconic and traditional places. Berro Park is home to the only outdoor place in the world with 23 sculptures by Maestro Fernando Botero which were donated to the city in 2002. Botero's sensuality through volume is expressed in the bronze sculptures there.

The Clock Tower of Cartagena

The Plaza del Reloj is a tourist magnet so expect to be hassled by everyone and everything. It's a popular destination for walking tours and there are plenty of bars and shops on the old city side. You can't go inside the Torre del Reloj or climb it; the only way to get close is to walk through the archways beneath it.

The Torre del Reloj is located in Plaza del Reloj which is just off Avenida Venezuela. It's a short walk from the Centro Historico or a short walk from the Getsemani district. You can also get dropped off here by any taxi in the area. The Avenida Venezuela is a bus stop.

The gate was constructed over a thirty-year period from 1601 to 1631 and served as the city's main entrance. It was known as the Boca del Puente - the Mouth of the Bridge - at the time because it connected Getsemani to the Old City. The addition of a clock to the top of the gate at the beginning of the 18th century gave rise to the name Torre del Reloj. Its Baroque façade and Tuscan arches date from 1704 when the baron of Pointis rebuilt Torre del Reloj after it was partially destroyed in 1697. Meanwhile its original weapons room and chapel were replaced first with a pendulum clock in 1874 then with its current Swiss clock in 1937.

Wrap up!

So here is the complete guide to your next trip to Colombia. We hope our handpicked hotel property and must-visit places provide you with the comfort and best experience that you want. Keep reading and stay tuned to read about unique places and countries.