I am planning a trip to Colombia SA and would love suggestions.
A new thread on this topic has been started here as requested by @Robertag on the thread Travels With Sam - Moderated by @Sam_F and started a new thread to complete this request.
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Hi @Robertag I have compiled some suggestions for you for your trip to Colombia, SA, the only country in South America to have a coastline on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. I shall start in the capital of Bogotá, which has become a vibrant and lively city that no tourist should miss. One of the best ways to start your understanding of the city is to take a free walking tour, a great way to get the lay of the land, see the main sights, and have a local expert answer your questions. One of the companies that offer this service is called BeyondColombia. They also offer a free food tour which is a terrific way to get a taste of some local Colombian dishes.
Visit the old heart of the city, the Plaza Bolívar and here you will find Colombia’s Palace of Justice, the Cathedral of Bogotá, the mayor’s office, and the Capital Building. The buildings date back to the 16th century. The Plaza Bolivar is named after Simón Bolívar who was a Venezuelan soldier and statesman who played a central role in seeking independence from Spanish rule.
If you are there on a Tuesday you might like to take part in a language and cultural exchange at Street 85 No.11-53 on the Promenade del Faro. Here, from 4pm onwards , you can meet with other travellers and locals for a few hours of conversation. Once that is over a street party starts at 8pm and goes on until 3am! Entry is free until 6pm, from 6-8pm there is an admission fee of 10,000 COP and 20,000 COP from 8pm onwards.
Possibly the most interesting museum in the entire country that sees over half a million tourists visit every year, is the Museo del Oro (The Gold Museum). The museum was opened in 1939 and documents the importance and use of gold in pre-Hispanic civilisations in Colombia, and has over 55,000 exhibits.
Bogotá stands at an elevation of 8,000ft above sea level but standing above that is the 9,840ft high Monserrate, which can be seen from pretty much everywhere in the town. It is a popular spot to take in the view of the city and you can walk up yourself in less than an hour or you can take a cable car or funicular to the top. If you do intend to climb up just be aware that you are starting and finishing the climb at high altitude.
Another attraction you might like is Museo de Botero which was created after artist and sculptor Fernando Botero donated hundreds of his works to be displayed in a free museum for everyone to see. In addition to his own pieces, included in the donation were works by Monet, Picasso and other world famous artists. Both the Museo de Botero and the Museo del Oro are located in the neighbourhood of La Candelaria. This is the old part of Bogotá and worth a visit in its own right being filled with narrow cobblestone streets and eclectic architecture.
One of the best known exports from Colombia that I’m sure everyone knows is coffee. Whilst in Bogotá you could take the opportunity to arrange a tour of a coffee plantation and enjoy a cup or two whilst you are there! The plantations are located in area known as the coffee triangle, made up of three departments, Caldas, Quindio, and Risaralda. One of the best known coffee houses that provide such tours is the Hacienda Venecia. It may surprise you to learn that the Amazon Jungle spreads in to the southeast corner of Colombia and whilst in the city you can arrange 1-5 day tours of the Amazon Jungle.
Just outside Bogotá an abandoned, calved out salt mine serves as the setting of the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira. Much of Colombia’s wealth stems from salt mining and Zipaquira is the salt mining capital of Colombia which is where this beautiful underground Cathedral can be found. During the week, visitors can learn more about the salt industry and the church itself, on Sunday the Cathedral opens its doors to around 3,000 parishioners for traditional Mass.
If you think this Cathedral is mesmerising there is an even more beguiling Cathedral called Santuario de Las Lajas which is considered to be one of the most beautiful works of architecture in South America that lies near Colombia’s border with Ecuador. Santuario de Las Lajas was built into and over a deep river gorge.
Another location you might like to place on your Colombia bucket list is the World Capital of Salsa, Cali. Lying to the southwest of Bogotá in the Valle del Cauca department, Cali is known as the ‘Rumba Capital’ by the rest of Colombia and the ‘Salsa Capital’ by the rest of the world. Something else you might like to visit whilst in Cali is the landmark attraction, Cristo Rey. This is a 26 metre high statue of Jesus Christ that stands on top of the Hill of Crystals. If you like, having visited Cristo Rey, you can reward yourself with some empanadas or snacking on some Pandebono which is a type of Colombian bread made of cassava starch, cheese, eggs and in some regions of the country Guava paste.
Sitting on the Caribbean coast of Colombia is one of the oldest Spanish colonial settlements in South America, Cartagena. It is a city rich with culture and history. By the sea is the walled Old Town, founded in the 16th century, with squares, cobblestone streets and colourful colonial buildings. With a tropical climate the city is also a popular beach destination, reachable by boat are Isla de Barú, with white sand beaches and palm trees, and the Islas del Rosario, known for their coral reefs.
I hope this helps in planning your trip to Colombia and I’m sure many other members on here will have some great suggestions to add to this thread for you too 
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