COLOMBIA

Colombia is nicknamed the "gateway to South America" because it sits in the

Thousands of years ago, Colombia was nearly completely covered in jungle. But
people have cleared most of the trees to create farmland, and now only a handful of
areas have their original forests. The government has set up several national parks to
protect habitats, but damage to the environment continues.

Monuments and landmarks:

Colombia has an unmistakable rhythm to life. Its cities are vibrant, colourful and full of

life, while its landscapes offer incredibly varied yet stunningly beautiful vistas and

landmarks. Colombia is famous for its artists, writers and gastronomy which year upon

year attract tourists to its shores.

Columbia is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and five other South

American countries, Colombia has a rich and diverse culture shown through its

architecture, festivals and food.

1- GUATAPE ROCK

The Rock of Guatape is one of Colombia’s famous landmarks. The local indigenous
people worshipped Guatape Rock which is now a national monument. Today the rock
has a zig-zag pathway, gradually scaling the high sides of the rock to reach the top,
however in the 1950s three local men scaled this Colombian landmark for the first
time, taking them five days to complete the climb. The top of the rock has stunning
views over the reservoir and islands.

2- MONSERRATE

Monserrate Church is a Bogota landmark to tick off your list of monuments to see in
Colombia. The people of Bogotá consider Monserrate, which towers above the city, a
symbol of spirituality and strength. Monserrate’s summit is 3512m (11,522ft) above
sea level and offers incredible views over the jungle and the city below. The summit is
reachable by cablecar, funicular or by hiking. Atop the mountain is a small church also
named Monserrate. The church is a popular pilgrimage destination for Christians and
tourists, particularly during Christmas when decorated with colourful lights.

3- COCORA VALLEY

The Cocora Valley is a lush green Columbian landmark of nature. Cocora Valley is in Las
Nevados National Park, a luscious green landscape of the Andes range. The valley is
filled with Quindio wax palms, the national tree of Colombia. Cocora Valley’s palm
trees are the tallest variation of palms globally, with the tallest reaching 60m (200ft).
The valley gives visitors a feeling of stepping back thousands of years due to the
towering palms, long grasses and mist-covered mountains. There are three
recommended hikes of the valley, with the shortest taking hikers straight to the palm
trees in 30 to 45 minutes and the longest taking in the whole valley and the
Hummingbird house in a six-hour loop.

Food:
If you are looking to enhance your knowledge and experience with cuisine from South
America, you really should try the culinary delights of traditional Colombian food.
The best Colombian dishes are not necessarily created by the finest chefs in Bogota,
Cartagena or Medellin.
Sometimes the finest Colombian food comes from their culturally diverse regions such
as the mountainous regions of the Andes, the coastal regions of the Pacific Ocean and
Caribbean Sea and of course the river basin region of the great Amazon River.

Typical Colombian dishes:

Obleas

Obleas are light brown-colored wafers that are round in shape.

Calentado

Calentado, Typical Colombian Breakfast The Calentado is the perfect example of pure
functionality. It began as a reheated traditional breakfast made by leftovers and has
transformed into a Colombian staple meal. Calentados are almost always prepared
with white rice. Beans that have been simmering since the night before are mixed into
the rice. On top of the beans and the rice, Calentado’s often have some type of meat.
This is often the common Colombian chorizo, a type of pork that is rolled into a tube.
Chorizo often comes with embedded spices to add a little bit extra kick to the meat. A
fried egg is almost always a staple in any Calentado To top it all off, Calentados come
with an arepa. Arepas are a dough that is thickened out. Think of a thick, hard soft taco
shell and you’re on the right track. Some Colombians like to add a hint of sweet to
their Calentado by adding a sweet plantain or by drinking Chocolate Santafereño, a
traditional Colombian hot chocolate with their meal. Preparing a Calentado can be
easy, tasty, and super fast.

Aborrajados

One way to start a good Colombian meal is with the popular appetizer known
as Aborrajados.
These savory yet sweet little delights are slices of plantains that have been stuffed with
the cheese of your choice, such as pepper jack to give them a little spicy kick.

Colombian celebrities:
Shakira: Shakira is a Colombian musician who achieved success in both Spanish- and
English-speaking markets. By the early 2000s she had become one of the most
successful Latin American recording artists in the world. She sings songs such as “Waka
Waka” and “Loca”.
Sofia Vergara: Sofía Vergara is a Colombian American actress who was perhaps best
known for her work on the television show Modern Family. Sofia has won many
awards.

Maluma: Maluma is a Colombian musician, known for Latin pop, urban, reggaeton and
salsa. A social media sensation, Maluma was the first male Latino artist to have more
than 10 million followers on Instagram in 2016. Among Maluma’s best-known songs
are “Felices Los 4,” “HP,” “Hawái”