What to see in Colombia
Modern Colombia layman is virtually unknown. Knowledge about this country is usually limited to what there doing drugs and coffee. In fact it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Colombia is bordered on the West by the Pacific ocean and the northwestern Caribbean sea. Almost all the flowers and many tropical fruits, which are sold in Moscow, grown in Colombia or Ecuador. Here the richest fauna that will surprise even the most experienced traveler. This and many other questions in his lecture, held at the Cultural center ZIL, said a member of the Association of free guides, founder of the Colombian tourism company Anna Differences. .<url>” publishes excerpts from her speech.
Beginning of the journey
All travelers come first thing in the capital, Bogota, as there is an airport. The city is in the mountains, at an altitude of over 2600 meters, so the climate is cool but comfortable — the average temperature is about 18 degrees. Spring follows autumn, and flowers bloom constantly.
Here lives more than seven million people. Modern Colombians is a mixture of indigenous inhabitants (Indians), the Spaniards and Africans who were brought here as slaves. The Indians are in the country to 98 different groups, this is the biggest concentration of Indian tribes in the same country.
Bogotá — a city of contrasts. It is divided into several districts. There are poor areas, but tourists mostly stay in the historic part or to the North of the city, built with large brick houses. To explore the city enough for three days. Definitely worth a visit the world’s largest underground Cathedral and gold Museum. Moreover, the Museum no copies — only the original gold of the Indians.
Underground salt Cathedral Zipaquira — a fantastic facility. To get around it all, need an hour. It is a functioning Cathedral built in a salt mine, at a depth of 200 meters. In the days of the Indian salt replaced the money, and today it is the most important export product of Colombia, which in this mine is mined today. From the capital to the Cathedral of 40 kilometers, about an hour away by bus or car there in the single-track goes the special tourist train.
Salt Cathedral Zipaquira
Photo: Jimmy Baikovicius / Flickr
Popular with tourists and the Cathedral of Las Lajas, it is the most beautiful in the country and is located near the border with Ecuador. To get to it, you have two hours fly by plane from Bogota and another four hours to go by car. Despite such a long journey, tourists aspire to, but not only because the Cathedral is famous for the luxurious neo-Gothic architecture and is located on a bridge over the abyss, but also in order to see the rock icon Senora de las Lajas — the miraculous image of the virgin Mary, healing from disease.
The second most important city in the country — Medellin, only in Colombia, where there are overground. This is the most clean and well organized city with great Botanical garden, he is also famous because here were born two famous Colombian sculptor Fernando Botero and a politician-drug Lord Pablo Escobar. The city has a Botero square, lined with its three-meter statues. But a lot in Medellin made and thanks to Escobar — he opened schools and even built entire neighborhoods. Some townspeople adore him, his portraits hang in homes as icons.
Waterfalls
Everyone knows about the angel falls in Venezuela, but not all know that the greatest number of waterfalls is located in Colombia there are more than a hundred. For example, the waterfall Tequendama (translated from the Indian language — “Open the door”) with a height of 137 meters and 70-metre El Pacho, located just an hour away from Bogota.
Waterfall Tequendama
Photo: John Vizcaino / Reuters
Every waterfall associated legends. Their first visit was complicated by the fact that they were in the territory of the guerrillas, but recently in the country, peace was concluded, and natural attractions available for tourists. In Colombia is well developed trekking (Hiking — approx. “Of the tape.<url>”), and to the same waterfalls can be reached on foot, leaving the car nearby.
The sacred lake Moscow
The local Indians have many legends and stories. One of them is Guatavita, a sacred lake tribe Moscow. It went away the legend of the Golden country of El Dorado. This body of water the rounded shape is located in the crater of an extinct volcano at a height of 3100 meters above sea level. To him from Bogota only 50 kilometers.
According to legend, the election of the leader Moscow was very difficult and long. First, carefully selected the strongest boys (about 16 people), several years teaching, and weed out the Laggards, until there was one. Then the favorites took the clothes and for a year was placed in the cave. He was trying to seduce: I sent naked women, brought delicious food, tried to respect his privacy and durability. If he was tested, he was chosen leader.
During the ceremony it through tubes spat a Golden powder, then he’s on a raft, went to the middle of the lake, where he was thrown into the water all her jewelry, and then he was bathed, to wash off the gold. Returning leader already at dawn, and the Indians called it reborn.
Rich merchants, who heard the legend, tried to drain the lake to mine gold. In the rocky coast was made the channel. It took some of the water, reducing the lake level by three meters. Some gold items managed to get, now they are in the gold Museum. Here you can admire the emeralds, which are also found on the bottom. One of them is the size of an egg.
Lake Guatavita
Photo: jkraft5 / Depositphotos
Parks and trekking
Hiking nearby national Park Chingaza the village of Villa de Leyva, Parque El cocuy and the valley of cocora. From the capital to the Park Chingaza an hour and a half drive. If you have altitude sickness, you need to be careful, as the Park starts at an altitude of three thousand meters and can reach four thousand meters above sea level. The route is very interesting, it takes about three lakes of unknown origin (lakes SIECA) with clean water. It is home to a variety of animals (including tapirs, Cougars, jaguars, ocelots and rare plants.
The picturesque village of the XVI century, Villa de Leyva in the Spanish colonial style is located three hours away from Bogota. It was built by the Spaniards for wealthy compatriots. In this village is the largest square in Latin America — Plaza Mayor (14 thousand square meters), a popular place for locals at weekends.
The biggest trees in the world — cocora grow in the National natural Park Los Nevados (Los Nevados). The place is called the valley of cocora, where they reach 90 meters in height. Here well take a stroll on horseback and admire the waterfalls.
National Park El cocuy is the only place where there is snow. Here is a ski resort, however, the track is very short. The Park is interesting unforgettable Hiking route: to climb mountains, you need at least two days. Climbing is difficult, at some point, you have to use cats.
But the most difficult tracking (mostly because of the heat) — road to the lost city of Santa Marta. Lives near a Korean herbalist from the Altai, he believes that the climate of this place is ideal for the treatment of many diseases and recovery.
My favorite place in Colombia Chicamocha national Park. It was opened in 2006, with an area of 264 hectares, located along the canyon Chicamocha. This Park is known as the center of extreme entertainment. Here you can fly over the canyon on a wing (paragliding), to engage in rappelling or down in the cave.
Coffee from Armenia and carnival
Road in Columbia — entirely serpentine, so all movements are calculated in kilometers and time. For example, the famous Colombian coffee is grown in Armenia, which is an hour by plane from Bogota or six hours drive away. Coffee is harvested twice a year, and all the tourists have the chance to participate in it, and then a Cup of the Finca (traditional coffee house — approx. “Of the tape.<url>”).
Live in Armenia, the most kind and open for communication with local people. After visiting this city, the residents of Bogota will seem gloomy. In Armenia, the day is not below 25 degrees, the heat subsides in the evening.
The carnival in Barranquilla
Photo: Reuters
Second in popularity in the world after the Brazilian carnival takes place in the Colombian city of Barranquilla, where Shakira was born. It is divided into three parts: precorneal, carnival and postcensal. The carnival lasts for a week: dances, alcohol and dancing again. Postcensal continues for another week. Before six months, the city chooses the future king and Queen of the festival. Nine months after carnival in Colombia is the peak of fertility.
Red desert
Desert, Tatacoa known for the fact that it is two-tone. Part of it is the usual gray color, the other part is bright red, it was formed as a result of soil erosion. Tatacoa called one of the most beautiful deserts on the planet. It is a Paradise for photographers, the ability to take pictures as if from another planet.
The red part is not very big, all her go an hour and a half, but the gray isn’t around. This place is Columbia’s best to watch the stars — the sky is clean 360 days of the year. In addition, it is home to the astronomer, which entertainingly tells the tourists about the starry sky.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Photo: Eduardo Verdugo / AP Photo
Marquez’s birthplace and the river of Dreams
Writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez was born not far from Cartagena is the most visited tourist city of Colombia. The old town is around two hours. Brother Marquez lives in Cartagena and conducts a tour of this colourful colonial city. The city is a port, where people come to cruise ships that tour the Caribbean. In the winter they come three times a week, and in summer — one or two. The only disadvantage of Cartagena — it has no beach.
Finish the story about Columbia a story about the most beautiful river in the world caño Cristales (Crystal river). It is often called “the river of five colors”. It starts in the South of the ancient mountain chain Macarena, flows East and empties into the river Guayabero. She is listed as a natural heritage site by UNESCO and protected by the state.
The River Caño Cristales
Photo: Jose Gomez / Reuters
To see this beautiful river, you need to fly to the small village of La Macarena and walk on special paths. You can also swim 15 minute boat ride and then half an hour to go on the jeep. All these difficulties are worth it. The river is really very beautiful. Here there are all shades of yellow, blue, black, red and green colors. So the river becomes due to an unusual algae, which blooms from may to November, but the people in the Park is allowed only since June. Depending on the time of year the brightness of the color increases. The river is crystal clear, so the bottom can be seen even at great depths.
