Colombia enjoys coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea,lush Amazonian jungle, rich colonial towns, ancestral cultures and cosmopolitan cities.

Colombia beckons travelers to experience its historic colonial cities, distinct cultural traditions and a new generation of luxury boutique hotels. Colombia was originally inhabited by several indigenous nations including the Muisca, the Quimbaya and the Tairona. The Spanish arrived in 1499, and brought African slaves to Colombia in the 16th century. The result is an intriguing cultural mosaic. The cities of Armenia and Pereira in the center of the western region of the country are the center of the coffee zone as well as the heart of Colombian culture.

Bogota and Cartagena combine old-world character and modern services. Colombia has eight established UNESCO sites – six cultural and two natural, with a further 18 sites under consideration. San Agustín Archaeological Park, in a wild, spectacular landscape, is one of these, noted for the largest group of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in South America. Gods and mythical animals are skillfully represented in artistic styles ranging from abstract to realist. These works display the creativity and imagination of a northern Andean culture that flourished from the first to the eighth centuries.

Misty Andean mountain ranges, great sweeps of the Amazon Basin, vivid blue lakes, vast plains and charming coastlines combine with adventure experiences from scuba diving to mountain biking to cave exploring to make Colombia an exciting, emerging destination.

From Big Five Tours