Colombia

Colombia

With the country’s political situation and image improving greatly in recent years, Colombia is quickly becoming recognised as one of Latin America’s most exciting destinations. It occupies around 1.1 million square kilometres (nearly 5 times that of the UK) in the continent’s north, bordered by Venezuela to the east, Brazil and Peru to the south, and Ecuador to the southeast. The cities and landscapes are wonderful, but it is perhaps the warmth and friendliness of Colombia’s 53 million people that will remain longest in the memory; they are proud of their country and often excited to share it with international visitors. 

Colombia’s cities are one of its key draws. Bogota, the capital, is a cultural hub with a beautiful colonial centre and many galleries, restaurants and bars. In two decades, Medellín went from being notorious as the home of Pablo Escobar’s Medellin cartel to one of the most innovative cities in the world, turning the city into one of South America’s biggest success stories. Picturesque Cartagena is a historical fortified city, known for its association with pirates.

The destination’s scenery is wonderful inside and outside of its urban centres; Tayrona National Park is comprised of Caribbean beaches and lush jungle trails inhabited by vast monkey and bird species. The rolling hills of the Coffee Region are home to the famous Arabica blend of coffee, and is an outstanding area of natural beauty.

Flying from the UK to Colombia requires a layover, often in the USA or sometimes in Europe. The journey can take between 14 and 18 hours, depending on your choice of flight and layover location. On arrival, Colombia is either 5 or 6 hours behind the UK, depending on the time of the year, so we recommend a stay in Bogota on arrival to adjust.

Our Colombia FAQs answer the most common queries we hear from customers considering a holiday to Colombia. If you are ready to explore our small group, great value tours of Colombia, you can do so here.