Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Colombia

1. 6. Santuario de Las Lajas

1.1. north of the border with Ecuador is the Santuario de Las Lajas

1.1.1. one of the most fascinating religious structures in all of Colombia

1.2. Built spectacularly on a bridge that spans the Guaitara River

1.2.1. the Santuario de Las Lajas looks like it is straight from a fairy tale

1.2.2. The Gothic style cathedral was built in the early 20th century

1.2.3. there is now a small museum located within the building

1.3. Getting to the Santuario de Las Lajas is easy from the nearby town of Ipiales

1.3.1. where travelers can join guided tours to the cathedral

2. 7. Cartagena's Old Town

2.1. one of the most popular tourist attractions in Colombia

2.1.1. is the historic Old Town of Cartagena

2.2. This city was the first of the Spanish settlements in Colombia

2.2.1. and the Old Town is bursting with historic colonial architecture

2.3. The walled Old Town

2.3.1. known as the Ciudad Amurallada

2.3.2. contains several older neighborhoods and landmarks

2.4. Plaza Trinidad in the Getsemaní neighborhood

2.4.1. which is the oldest part of the colonial city

2.4.2. and a hub for local eateries

2.5. Take advantage of the coastal location

2.5.1. and try fried fish with a side of arroz de coco, or coconut rice

3. 8. Valle de Cocora

3.1. symbol of Colombia is the wax palm

3.1.1. and the Valle de Cocora is the ultimate spot to see these trees

3.2. The surreal landscape is a lush green

3.2.1. and as the fog lifts it is possible to see

3.2.1.1. the tremendous height of the wax palms

3.2.1.2. growing upright on the hills of the valley

3.3. Popular options include

3.3.1. horseback riding

3.3.2. Jeep tours

3.3.3. and a six-hour hiking loop

4. 9. Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira

4.1. Just an hour’s drive north of Bogota is Zipaquirá

4.1.1. a city known as the salt mining capital of Columbia

4.2. As a result of salt mining

4.2.1. Zipaquirá has long had a concentration of extreme wealth

4.3. Catholic church constructed almost entirely of salt

4.3.1. within a now defunct mine

4.3.2. Salt Cathedral actually accommodates nearly 3,000 parishioners every Sunday

4.3.3. attending a church service can be an unforgettable experience

4.4. Surrounding the cathedral is an area known

4.4.1. as the Salt Park

4.4.2. where visitors can see other landmarks within the mines

4.4.3. and learn more about the industry at the Brine Museum

5. 10. Cano Cristales

5.1. Whether it is known as Caño Cristales

5.1.1. the Liquid Rainbow or the River of Five Colors

5.1.2. this is one natural landmark that should be on every traveler’s itinerary

5.2. Unfortunately Caño Cristales, has been closed to tourism since 1989

5.2.1. due to FARC presence in the surrounding areas

5.2.2. but a few tourist agencies have recently began

5.2.3. offering carefully crafted tours to the area

5.3. river is located just outside of the small town

5.3.1. of La Macarena

5.3.2. in the national park known as Serranía de la Macarena

5.3.3. Plants, rocks, sand and algae give color to the river

5.3.4. which can look black, white, green, yellow or bright red depending on location

5.3.5. Hiking along the banks of the Caño Cristales is an adventure on its own

5.4. travelers can also head to the waterfall of Los Cuarzos

5.4.1. or swim in the natural pools formed by the river itself

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7. 1. Ciudad Perdida

7.1. Much of Colombia is still undeveloped jungle

7.1.1. Ciudad Perdida is nestled right in the heart of that jungle

7.2. Also known as the Lost City of Teyune

7.2.1. Ciudad Perdida is a pre-Columbian settlement

7.2.2. constructed around the eighth century by the Tayrona Indians

7.3. The settlement was once a thriving hub of culture

7.3.1. but today all that remain are stone terraces in circular shapes

7.3.2. many of them overgrown by the surrounding jungle

7.4. The area is popular for longer guided treks

7.4.1. participants can hike from camp to camp and experience the pristine

7.4.2. natural environment of the jungle

8. 2. Carnaval de Barranquilla

8.1. Colombian city of Barranquilla is actually home to the world’s second largest Carnaval

8.1.1. After the Rio de Janeiro Carnival

8.2. During the Carnival

8.2.1. the city is overrun with festivals

8.2.2. live music and street parades

8.2.3. festivities kick off with La Batalla de Flores

8.2.3.1. or the Battle of the Flowers

8.2.3.2. where parade floats are decorated with flowers

8.2.3.2.1. in magnificent and colorful designs

8.2.4. Attendees often wear bright colors

8.2.4.1. or costumes that represent a figure

8.2.4.2. or a fable in Colombian heritage

9. 3. Tayrona National Park

9.1. The northernmost part of Colombia is the Tayrona National Park

9.1.1. which borders the Caribbean Sea

9.1.2. and offers remarkable beaches

9.1.3. and scenery for visitors

9.2. top spots in Tayrona National Park is the lagoon called La Piscina

9.2.1. where a natural reef turns the lagoon into a protected swimming area

9.2.2. it is possible to spot lobsters, fish and rays

9.2.2.1. among the seagrass and in the reef

9.3. There are also plenty of sandy hiking trails leading to and from the coast

9.3.1. many of which provide spectacular views over the Caribbean

10. 4. Monserrate

10.1. Colombian city of Bogota is a unique capital

10.1.1. because of its high elevation

10.1.2. something that becomes pronounced with a visit to Monserrate

10.2. At the top of the mountain of Monserrate

10.2.1. which overlooks the city

10.2.2. there is a 17th century church that serves as a mecca for religious pilgrims

10.3. best ways to experience Bogota is

10.3.1. by riding either the funicular train

10.3.2. or the aerial tramway to the top of Monserrate

10.3.3. it is possible to view the sun setting over Downtown Bogota in a truly spectacular fashion

11. 5. Los Nevados National Park

11.1. Los Nevados National Park is perched at a high elevation

11.1.1. and is centered around some of the country’s most incredible volcanic peaks

11.2. snow-covered Nevado Del Ruiz and Nevado del Tolima

11.2.1. serve as the park’s main attraction

11.3. Hiking is a popular pastime

11.3.1. those with a streak of adventure can camp in the park’s backcountry

11.4. There is also the opportunity to spot the local wildlife

11.4.1. which includes spectacled bears

11.4.2. tiger cats

11.4.3. Andean condors

11.4.4. and pumas