The capital and largest city in Colombia surprises first-time visitors with how green it is, set within a landscape of metropolitan parks, the eastern hills (home to the sanctuaries of Montserrate and Guadalupe), and the imposing Andes mountains.
Colombia. Beautiful inside and out
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Fly to Bogotá from 444 euro one way
Discover everything this land of beauty has to offer. Enjoy Colombia's traditions and avant-garde, surrounded by the region's most spectacular architecture and landscapes. Live a complete experience and immerse yourself in the personality of its people.
Bogotá, a blend of modern and colonial streets
Bogotá is a buzzing, multicultural and diverse city in the centre of Colombia, a meeting point for people from all over the country where old and modern dance to the same beat.
Strolling through the streets of Bogotá is like travelling between past and present, between colonial architecture and modern buildings. Don't miss the city's historical heritage - Plaza de Simón Bolívar, Primada Cathedral and Casa de Nariño (the seat of government) - or the bohemian atmosphere of the La Candelaria neighbourhood with its legendary Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo. And be sure to explore the wide range of museums and Bogotá's vibrant nightlife.
History, entertainment, business, fine food, culture... Bogotá has as many versions as travellers who decide to explore it. With its mestizo personality, the city boasts a piece of every region in Colombia: from the fine cuisine of the coffee-growing area to the joie de vivre of the Caribbean, through the heritage crafts of Boyacá and the festivals of the Cauca Valley.
This fusion of cultures has also made the city a gastronomic paradise, every dish a delight. The variety of local typical food and foreign imports is immense and recognised as one of the best in the whole of Latin America. Some of the traditional dishes you can try include "ajiaco" (chicken and potato soup), the local stew, tamales and "almojábanas" (cheese bread). And don't miss the Colombian fruit juices and desserts made with indigenous ingredients.
Eastern Colombian Andes: legendary moors and valleys
If you travel to Bogotá, take the opportunity to explore the impressive region in which it's located: the Eastern Colombian Andes.
You don't have to go very far from the capital to enter a completely different world. Dozens of charming villages and quiet towns just a short drive from Bogotá, home to many of Colombia's heritage treasures, bear witness to the country's history and shed light on its deep-rooted legends.
Visit the magnificent cathedral in Zipaquirá, buried deep in a salt mine, and Lake Guatavita, the place that inspired the legend of El Dorado.
Fall in love with the historic centre of Villa de Leyva, with its cobblestone streets lit up with lamps, and explore all the enigmatic pre-Hispanic monuments on the edge of the town.
As if frozen in time, Barichara is considered by many the most beautiful town in Colombia, home to whitewashed mud houses and the church of La Inmaculada Concepción that presides over the central tree-lined square. Dotted in the hills around Barichara are other colonial towns like Zapatoca and Honda, set in stunning landscapes. You can visit them on foot, following the trail of the indigenous people and first settlers.
You'll be awestruck by the views of the little town of Playa de Belén, tucked under the magnificent limestone columns in the Estoraques National Park, and Bucaramanga, surrounded by the Chicamocha canyon and the vast Los Santos plateau.
To enjoy Colombian nature in its purest form, don't miss the white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters of the magnificent Lake Tota, thousands of metres high in the Andes; or the natural parks in the region, like Natural Tayrona National Park, Chingaza National Park, Chicaque Park and, most especially, El Cocuy-Güicán National Park, where you'll find some of the most spectacular mountain landscapes in Colombia, including 23 peaks covered with glaciers and virgin lakes.
If you don't just want to admire the beauty of the Eastern Colombian Andes from a distance but experience the natural environment in a more hands-on way, take a boat up the mighty River Suárez, go rock climbing in Suesca or abseil down the imposing Juan Curí waterfall. Looking for something a little quieter? The region invites you to immerse yourself in any of its relaxing thermal baths.
Colombia: enchanting regions to fall in love with
Besides the Eastern Colombian Andes, the other five regions of Colombia invite you to experience wonderful destinations. Which will you visit next?
The Greater Colombian Caribbean, more than the Caribbean a region of exuberant natural landscapes and fascinating cultures. The Western Colombian Andes, coffee and flower mountains, extraordinary colourful villages and a mix of modernity and tradition. The Colombian Pacific, with its flavour of rainforest and sea, humpback whales and turtles against the backdrop of a salsa soundtrack. The Colombian Massif, ancestral origin of the country and cradle of the Andean culture. And last but not least, the Colombian Amazon-Orinoco, land of sacred rainforests and plains, is the green heart of Colombia with its ancient forests, vast skies and thundering waterfalls.