Located in the North section of South America, Colombia has a
colorful past to say the least. That doesn't mean the country
isn't doing what it can to turn things around and attract
tourists. In the 21st century, things are certainly changing as
more and more people travel to Colombia for vacation and fun.
Famous Colombia Festivals
Cali's Fair - Started in
1957, this fair is celebrated from December 25 to December 30.
Barranquilla's Carnival -
This carnival which lasts for four days preceding Ash
Wednesday, has been around since the 19th century.
Bogota Summer Festival -
Every year on August 5 and August 6, Bogota celebrates their
Hispanic culture in the streets.
Ibero-American Theater
Festival - Every two years, this is the largest theater
festival in the world.
Flower Festival - Every
August (since 1958) in the city of Medellín, there is much
celebration. Car lovers are going to love some of the parades.
As for the best time to visit Colombia, the peak seasons are
summer (June, July and August) as well as Christmas. If you want
to miss the crowds, you're going to want to plan your trip to
Colombia around those times. With the country's rich Roman
Catholic history, Holy Week is another important time frame for
people in Colombia. Whenever you decide to go, as long as you do
some planning before you leave, you're going to be okay.
Colombia takes tourism seriously and they do everything they can
to make it easy for tourists to get in and out of the country.
If you want to do something in between festivals, there are
plenty of places to go in Colombia. The country has quite a few
World Heritage Sites. If you're into cannons (or history), the
cannon museum is going to be a feast for your eyes. Los Katíos
National Park is another favorite destination because of the
diversity of plant and animal life found at the park. These are
just a couple of the different locations that you can check out.
There are many others, though, some that are a little more
difficult to get to.
While you're going to need written permission from the Colombian
Ministry of Ecology, checking out Malpelo Island is quite an
experience. It's basically a large rock, but the Colombian Army
has manned a fort there since 1986. It's cool to look at even if
you don't get close. If you spend any time on the beaches of
Colombia, you're going to want to see it for yourself. Be
careful, though, as the area is well known for all the varieties
of sharks that inhabit the area, including the feared
hammerheads.
Fun Colombia Facts
In the 19th Century,
Colombia was known for a short time as the United States of
Colombia before finally becoming the Republic of Colombia in
1886.
Spanish is the official
Colombian language.
The original people who
inhabited the land were the Muisca, Quimbaya, and Tairona.
The country of Colombia is
located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it a place that
experiences earthquakes more frequently than other parts of
the world.
The culture in Colombia is
a mix of a lot of different influences - from European to
Native American to African and others.
Colombia has a lot to offer travelers, which is why so many
people from all over the globe travel to this South American
country every year. The festivals and carnivals are well known,
but there are a lot of areas in the country that are just
beautiful. For those looking for a little extra in their
adventure to South America, Colombia should be on your short
list.
