Exotic Colombia

Alongside mesmerizing beaches, Colombia also boasts numerous enchanting swamps, natural landscapes in the Amazon region, and notably, a vibrant culture with famous historical sites.

Exotic Colombia

When speaking of Colombia, people often immediately associate it with drugs, mafia, and bloody conflicts, overlooking the fact that like many countries in South America, Colombia is also incredibly beautiful and enticing. As the fourth largest country in this region, Colombia shares its borders with Venezuela and Brazil to the east, Ecuador and Peru to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and Panama and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Colombia's territory is about three times larger than that of Vietnam, yet its population is just over 48 million.

The distance from Vietnam to the capital city of Bogotá in Colombia is approximately half the circumference of the Earth, so flying in either direction yields similar results, whether crossing the Atlantic Ocean (with layovers in Europe) or the Pacific Ocean (with layovers in the US). Interestingly, layovers in Europe offer fewer stopover points, and obtaining a transit visa in Europe is relatively easier.

Bogotá – A Tranquil, Friendly Destination

The capital Bogotá sits at an altitude of 2,625 meters on the Andes range and is the largest city in Colombia, ranking third among the world's highest capitals. Despite a population of over 7.5 million, Bogotá boasts the best security situation in Colombia. The streets are lined with security checkpoints, and the police force regularly patrols on motorcycles.

Bogotá has a subtropical highland climate, with alternating rainy and dry seasons and an average temperature of about 14.5°C. Formerly a Spanish colony, Colombia predominantly speaks Spanish. The country's culture is a blend of Spanish, English, Indian influences, and the unique flavor of the Latin American region. The people are friendly, kind, polite, and hospitable. Tourist spots are marked on maps for safety, and locals are enthusiastic about guiding visitors away from unsafe areas.

The heart of the capital is the serene Plaza de Bolivar situated amidst the La Candelaria district. This is where the South American hero Bolivar is honored. The renowned Primada Cathedral attracts many international tourists, as does the long-standing La Puerta Falsa café, which opened in 1816, just six years after Colombia gained independence.

Walking east from La Puerta Falsa, up the hill, our group of tourists arrived at a neighborhood hailed by locals as the most beautiful and charming in the capital. Wooden balconies in colonial style adorn the well-kept houses, painted in harmonious clusters of colors. Many streets in Bogotá feature walls of public buildings painted with street art in the hip-hop style. The entire area resembles a vibrant, colorful painting, with some even offering guided Graffiti tours with narrators.

Home to numerous universities and libraries, Bogotá is also known as the “Athens of South America”. La Sabana stands out as one of Colombia's largest universities. Its campus is vast and beautiful, resembling a grand park with many modern facilities.

The Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo is considered the foundation of Bogotá since 1538. At the end of the square is a wall with 12 windows symbolizing the original 12 houses built at the city's inception. Nearby is the Botero Museum. Fernando Botero is one of Colombia's most famous artists. He has donated most of his works to the government, and this museum offers free admission to visitors all week except Tuesdays. Here, alongside Botero's works, are paintings by renowned artists such as Picasso, Miro, Dali, Monet, all purchased by Botero himself and displayed for public viewing.

Colombia's strength in gold exports is reflected in Bogotá's dedicated Gold Museum, housing around 55,000 artifacts, predominantly jewelry and gold pieces unearthed from indigenous tombs. Colombians believe that offering more gold to the Sun God will bring greater protection. Among the museum's treasures is the Muisca boat (Offering raft), a masterpiece crafted entirely from gold by the Muisca tribe who once inhabited the central highlands of what is now eastern Colombia. Like many tourists, we spent considerable time admiring the intricately crafted raft used in Muisca rituals.

To behold the dreamy cityscape amidst the valley, we took a cable car up the 3,152-meter Monserrate hill. This is a pilgrimage site for devout Catholics due to the presence of the El Senor Caido church (The Fallen Lord). The hill features numerous restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops. As dusk falls, sipping on a Canelazo – a unique drink made from the local Aguadiente liquor, which is 60% alcohol, mixed with cinnamon and raw sugar – becomes a delightful experience.

The Graceful Highlands of Salento

From Bogotá, we took a chilly overnight bus ride to Salento. The distance between the two places is equivalent to the Saigon - Dalat route. Salento, nestled in an Andean valley, can be considered a paradise for trekking enthusiasts and vacationers. Administratively, it belongs to the Quindio department – Colombia's coffee capital, a region where coffee culture has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site since 2011.

In contrast to many regions with Spanish colonial architecture, Salento epitomizes the traditional baroque architecture with small whitewashed houses adorned with colorful doors and windows. Salento is charming and picturesque, standing out yet blending seamlessly with the surrounding hills and mountains, retaining an old-world charm without any melancholy. Despite being just a few hours' bus ride from the drug epicenter Medellin (the hometown of drug lord Pablo Escobar), Salento is safe, tranquil, and its people are warm, friendly, and welcoming.

The town is quite small, easily explored on foot within an afternoon. In the evening, as temperatures drop, the cheerful baroque-style houses are illuminated by soft yellow streetlights. After a day's work, men gather in the main square for beer or billiards. What's unusual is the particularly serene atmosphere here. People sit for hours quietly sipping beer and admiring the town, without singing or speaking loudly like in many other places.

From the central square, we hopped on a jeep to traverse winding roads, passing through magnificent cloudscapes to reach the Cocora Valley, where lush green hills and towering wax palms, reaching up to sixty meters in height and living for over a hundred years, adorn the landscape. This palm-planted mountainous region is one of Colombia's top ten scenic spots.

The wax palm is a symbol of this nation. The tallest palm in Salento reaches 80 meters. With deep green and grayish leaves, cylindrical trunks, bright colors, and often a wax coating on the outside, wax palms were traditionally used to make soap and provide illumination in areas without electricity, playing a significant role in Colombia's economy.

Our final destination was the vast Los Nevados National Park spanning 60 thousand square kilometers. Situated at an altitude of approximately 2,000 meters above sea level, this area is often shrouded in clouds. However, the palm trees persistently reach upwards, piercing through the clouds, creating a surreal spectacle. Engaging in trekking through the virgin forest, we ascended to 2,800 meters in the Andes and had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in nature, delighting in birdwatching and wildlife.

Most hotels and guesthouses here are built in the traditional style of the coffee-growing region: spacious gardens, open spaces, and colorful door and window shutters. In the early morning, savoring a cup of Quindio coffee while listening to the chirping of birds, perhaps we need not worry about what time it is!

By Dai Thanh/Business Saigon

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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour