Announcing my next big adventure: one more month to Colombia! It will be my third time to South America, I love this continent so much. I am excited to explore this country which has both the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, Amazon rainforest, Andes mountains, coffee plantations and colonial towns. But what really seals the deal is the contagious alegria (happiness) of the people you will meet along the way.

Bogota and Medellin offer all the architecture, culture, restaurants and nightlife that you would expect in any major world city. For urbanites, these are destinations in their own tight. But they are also excellent bases to enjoy creature comforts while organising trips throughout the country.

Flying first into Cartagena which is my first port of call in the country, I am excited to be transported back to the 18th century, when citizens in Cartagena were ruled by a king in Madrid. Cartagena never fails to seduce those who stroll along its narrow, cobblestone streets adorned by bougainvillea cascading from balconies above.

The Andes mountains combined with Colombia’s tropical location mean that every possible natural setting is within reach. The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, virtually unknown outside of Colombia, offers incredible trekking amid glaciers and snowcapped peaks. Coffee farms are nestled in verdant valleys abundant with orchids. Los Llanos, Colombia’s eastern plains and the Amazon basin are tropical wonderlands, with innumerable opportunities for nature and wildlife viewing.

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet. Its people are just as diverse. Beyond difference in language, dialects, accents, you can tell where someone is from by the songs that they sing, the instruments they play, and the dances to which they move. In Cali, salsa, with its fancy footwork, colour and brass instruments, is nothing less than an obsession.

Colombia has experienced a number of positive developments in recent years, including a growing and diversified economy, improved relations with neighboring countries such as Ecuador and Venezuela, as well as a the substantial progress of peace talks between the government and internal guerrilla movements promoting a potential end to Colombia’s 50-year long civil war. However, Colombia still faces grave difficulties within the country. It has one of the highest rates of internally displaced people (IDP) in the world. The internal conflict is widely recognized as the principal reason behind Colombia’s large population of IDPs, though the drug industry also has displaced thousands of people in an effort to expand coca cultivation in areas formerly inhabited by local farmers. It does not affect the major tourist cities that I am going to visit, but more in smaller towns and mountainous areas.

Where am I going?

Bogota

Against the backdrop of the Andes mountains, the country’s cool capital is a cosmopolitan melting pot. It is a city of stunning colonial and modern architecture, art and culture, glitzy shopping, five-star dining and euphoric nightlife. I will leave this to my last city to visit because I will be flying out of Bogota for my flight to Toronto.

Cartagena and the Caribbean Coast

The Caribbean coastline runs the gamut from the eerie desert landscapes of La Guajira in the far north to the untamed jungles near the Panamanian border. Cartagena would be my first city after landing and is the seductive colonial jewel of the Caribbean.

Medellin and the coffee region

Ambitious Medellin is known for its temperate climate and fun nightlife. For a break from the city, the Reserva Natural Rio Claro makes a fantastic midweek distraction. Stay at one of the countless coffee haciendas in the lush rolling hills. The landscape is dotted with towering wax palms and brightly coloured barranquero birds. The snow-covered volcanic peaks of Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados beckon mountain climbers.

The Amazon 

The Amazon rainforest is the green lungs of the world. Visit an eco-lodge on the Rio Yavari, where you can take canoe rides above the treetops in the flooded jungle. Observe birds and pink dolphins by day and look for alligators as darkness falls. Spend a couple of days in the Ticuna village of San Martin and enjoy the blissfully car-free hamlet of Puerto Nariño. In Los Llanos, take in the astonishing wildlife at Hacienda La Aurora. Bathe in the multicoloured waters of natural wonder Caño Cristales.

Bienvenidos a Colombia! I can’t wait to visit this exciting country!