Travel by Katrin

Colombia

is named in honor of Christopher Columbus

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altstadt in Cartagena

Did you know that the name of the country was derived from the discoverer of America - Christopher Columbus. However, he never set foot in the country himself.

Colombia is in South America, the country borders with Panama, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela.

The Andes, Amazonas, Orinoco, coasts bordering the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, that is, the Atlantic Ocean. Simply an incredible variety of landscapes.

The largest cities in the country are Bógota, Cali, Cartagena de Indias and others. Colombia is the second most populous country in South America after Brazil. During the colonial period, the population was made up of 3 groups. Indigenous people, Europeans and Africans who were brought into the country as slaves by the colonists.

A little history of the country

Indigenous peoples have inhabited Colombia since 4000 BC and were great artists in the creation of figures made of gold, which they sacrificed to their gods.

Colombia was discovered in 1499 by Alonso de Ojeda and Amergio Vespucci but they thought it was an island.

The Land has long belonged to the Spanish crown and to this day Spanish is the official language of the country. Colombia gained independence on July 20, 1810.

Women in Colombia have only been allowed to vote since 1957.

Since the 1970s, the drug mafias have grown stronger, and the guerrilla movement FARC has become more brutal. On June 22, 2016, both sides agreed on a ceasefire. But to this day many parts of the country are still closed due to landmines.

faith and religion

Most of the population, around 90%, are Christians.

What is the best way to get to Colombia

There are also national borders that you can cross by bus or car, but the airplane is the fastest way.

The main airports with their IATA codes to make it easier for you to search for flights on Expedia or Kayak.

- Bogotá -BOG

- Cartagena de Indias – CTG

- Barranquilla—BAQ

- Cali-CLO

- Bucaramanga-BGA

- Armenia-AXM

- Cucuta—CUC

Book accommodation

The best way to book a hotel, house or apartment is via Booking. In Cartagena de Indias, for example, we had decided on an apartment and were therefore free to decide whether we wanted to cook something ourselves or go to a restaurant

To eat and drink

Fresh fish and shellfish on the shore are a must!

The national dish Bandeja Paisa – different kinds of meat and sausages, beans, rice and bread.

The national drink Aguardiente - sugar cane liquor - is also mixed in the coffee Carajillo in the highlands.


Country destinations already described:

Cartagena de India Colombia's port city with the beautiful, colorful houses


Coming soon to my site:

  • Bogota - Sights such as the botanical garden, Maloka and its many green parks.
  • Islas de Rosario - The islands are about 100km off the coast of Cartagena. Most excursions include a visit to the open sea aquarium. A really nice day trip to the Colombian Caribbean
  • Barranquilla – The Golden Gate of Colombia. Known for its carnival and registered with UNESCO since 2003 

bogambilla-haus

My favorite travel destinations