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Top Locations to Visit in Colombia

Colombia is a South American country that offers something for all tastes – from rainforests to the mountain areas and the many coffee plantations to the beaches and cities.  It is a country that offers a high number of luxury hotels and high quality resorts as well as exciting experiences.

Cartagena

According to Lead Me To Luxury, Colombia ranks top of their list for countries with 5 star hotels and with Cartagena you can mix luxury with a true Caribbean vibe.  The old city is an UNESCO World Heritage Site while the larger city is filled with brightly colored buildings and horses pulling carriages through the cobbled streets.  There are plenty of places to visit in and around the city and it is known for the quality of the food on offer – as well as the ice cream!

Medellin

Medellin offers a contrast to the history of Cartagena and is a modern city that has renewed itself and become one of the best places to live in the country.  It is home to high number of ex-pats from around the world and was even voted the ‘World’s Most Innovative City’ in 2012 due to its work to modernize itself.  There are lots of museums, art galleries and cultural treasures to explore during a visit.

Salento

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If you are a coffee fan, then a visit to a part of the ‘Coffee Triangle’ is a must while visiting Colombia and the town of Salento is a great place to use a base.  With its mountainous backdrop, the town has a cool and refreshing climate and is known for the quality of food on offer.  You can see the local coffee farmers in their ponchos and traditional hats called ‘sombreros vueltiaos’ and visit spots around the area to see coffee being produced first-hand.

Tayrona

Tayrona is a national park but is also the perfect place to visit for a beach break.  It combined beautiful beaches on the Caribbean Sea with a background of snowcapped mountains and rainforests.  There are plenty of eco-friendly huts but not many signs of major development so ideal for those get away from it all style vacations.

Popayan

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Popayan is the religious capital of Colombia and Easter Week is a particularly important time to visit the city as it has a series of amazing street processions during the week – although it also gets very busy as thousands of people visit for the event.  The city itself is known as the ‘White City’ as it is made of almost entirely white colonial buildings for a stunning look.  Do bring a raincoat as the city has a reputation for frequent rain showers!

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