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A huge city, in which for four days each year citizens drop all responsibilities and throw themselves into the whirl of carnival fun. Among high, modern buildings there are plenty of cosy, one-storey houses. This is Barranquilla – the city of contrasts and exquisite food.

This Colombian city by the Caribbean Sea  is one of the biggest in the country. Even though it was granted charter in 1813, there are notes claiming that Indians lived there already in 1533. The city’s port with time has become one of the destinations for immigrants from Europe, especially during world wars. Thanks to marine trading, the city got nicknamed the Golden Gate of Colombia.

You will get to know this region best, if you start your visit from Museo del Caribe. You will see house tools and equipment of ancient folks inhabiting that region, get to know history of European conquests and see what animals live on the bottom of the ocean. You will hear local music and learn about culture of this place.

The city is known for good amusement. This is where the Carnival de Barranquilla takes place, one of the most important folk feast in the country, which roots go back to the 19th century. Celebrations start four days before the Holy Week. From Sunday to Wednesday the city is paralyzed.  Crowds go out on the streets to dance, sing and admire colourful processions. The Carnival of Barranquilla is on the UNESCO world heritage list.

Cuisine of Barranquilla is a mix of tastes of the whole world. Dominating is Creole cuisine, but there are also dishes of Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian, French, Italian and Spanish cuisines. Characteristic for Colombia fast food bar is called frutería, a place where deep fried snacks are served with freshly squeezed out juices. You can find them on every corner street. If you step by Los Compadres, make sure to try empanadas – pies filled with beef, chicken or cheese or papas rellanas, which are balls from potatoes with beef filling. Of course everything is fried. Luckily, the neighbourhood of the Atlantic Ocean and a river means that lovers of fish won’t be hungry. The choice is vast.

Pereira is the capital of the Colombian department Risaralda, situated in the western part of the country. This department is located in the region Paisa, famous for its specific alternation of Spanish language (español antioqueño). 

The city is located on the foothill of the Andes, in the neighbourhood known for manufacturing coffee, whose quality was recognized by UNESCO (Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia). Coffee that grows in that place is considered by many experts as the best in the world. Pereira is a perfect base for trips to two reservations - Parque Ucumarí and Santuario Otún Quimbaya.

Pleasant information concerning the city is surely the fact that it is relatively cheap compared to the rest of Colombia, as well as that it is on top of the list of cities, whose citizens feel safe in their neighbourhood. The city is full of life, mainly due to the fact that one fourth of inhabitants are students as many public and private schools are located there.

Pereira is still an underestimated destination, by locals it is called the city with eternal spring. It is situated in a valley surrounded by the mountains, average temperature there is around 22 degrees and stays on the same level the whole year round. Climate is perfect for spending time outside – there are plenty of restaurants, specializing in various cuisines of the world, where you can spend pleasantly the evening.

Where to go to eat? If you want to try dishes of South American cuisine, go for instance to Aly Torres by Carrera 12, 2-62. Fans of Italian cuisine can be recommended La Trattoria by Carrera 17bis 21abis 04, where great pastas with seafood are served. A good choice will be a dinner at Lenos y Parrilla at Carrera 12 2-78, where you can try steaks of very good quality. If you don’t want to spend on a given day too much time for dining, go to bar Sayonara at Avenida 30 De Agosto 41 - 84, where you can eat tasty and quickly.

One of the oldest, founded by Europeans, cities in South America. The town is located at the foot of Sierra Nevada, and was founded in 1525 by Rodrigo de Bastidas. Why in that spot? Locals had a lot of gold, that they didn’t consider as valuable. Spanish were robbing them and sending the haul to Europe. Quite quickly though, the role of the most important colonial town was taken over by Cartagena. 

The huge asset of Santa Marta is the beach. Though it is humble as for Caribbean standards, it requites with numerous attractions. When you get bored with sunbathing or jumping though waves, you will have plenty to choose from. Diving, swimming with dolphins or water sports with a huge dose of adrenaline, will give you entertainment for many hours.  If you prefer more calm relax, we recommend a walk – in the seaside treetops you will see amazing birds. 

Staying in Santa Marta, make sure to visit Lost City – a place built around 700 years before the civilization of Tairona, slain by colonizers. You can walk through ancient squares, roads and channels, see old stairs and foundations of houses, that were built from clay and straw. If you are fascinated by archaeology, you will also like a visit at the nature reservation Taironaka. It has partly restored houses of Indians. Step by a museum, in which there is a collection of artefacts gathered on local areas.

If you are only just planning your trip, book a stay in Santa Marta on the verge of August and September. Since 1989 the International Theatre Festival has been taking place there, during which you can see plays by both Colombian and foreign troupes. These are accompanied by concerts, mainly of folk music.

Splendid local cuisine is something the Caribbean is famous for. No different it is in Santa Marta. The closeness of the sea provides fresh deliveries of amazing fishes. Try swordfish, bream or mackerel. Dishes are served mostly with rice, manioc or green, yellow bananas.

The city located by border with Venezuela, one of the biggest in the country. In the way of urban development from Cucuta extracted two other cities. It was in Cucuta, where for first time constitution was created, on base of which the Republic of Colombia was established.

First settlement was established there before Hispanics discovered this area for Europeans. Development of the city started only in the first half of the 18th century. A village, thanks to its strategic location for trade, developed quite quickly and became a town.

The battle of Cucuta of 1813 was one of the most important events in history of Spanish-American wars for independence. The battle, that lasted barely a few hours, launched a great campaign of Simon Bolivar. Under his command 400 men defeated 800 soldiers of general Ramon Correy.

If you happen to get there in first week of August, make sure to go to Festival Internacional de la Frontera, an international festival with parades, gigs and dances till morning dawn. By the way, you can buy on stalls products of local craftsmen.

On the turn of months October and November in Villa del Rosaria, 5 kilometres south from Cucuta, there is taking place Cachama Festival, which is a feast of fish pacu – from piranha family, that is bred in village Juan Frio, and is very popular in the whole country. During festival you can taste traditional dishes.

Do you know that Cucuta is one of the most green cities of Colombia? Despite high level of urbanization, it managed to have preserved a lot of greenery. After an earthquake, that in 1975 destroyed a vast part of Cucuta, the city was rebuilt with attentiveness to use every single metre of free space to plant trees. And so many streets are parks are now adorned by acacias and almond trees. The most beautiful of them is the Avenue of Lights.

When you miss sport, step by Ecoparque Comfanorte. You can use there swimming pools with slides and artificial waves, as well as rent canoes or play beach volleyball.

The founder of the city was Jesus Maria Ocampo, widely known as Tigrero (the killer of tigers), due to its love for hunting for wild cats. He arrived there in 1889 and for 100 pesos in gold bought the land. He built the trading centre and sold the land to other settlers. In that way in a few months number of citizens grew to one hundred, which allowed to officially establish a city.

You can realize that citizens of Armenia love jeep, if you come there in February, when you can witness one of a kind parade of jeeps – Yipao. Those vehicles came to the city after the Second World War. They were supposed to help residents of difficult, mountain area in moving around and transporting goods. Nowadays, vehicles are richly decorated, painted in extravagant patters and filled with goods to the breaking point. The parade is divided into a few categories, among others, transport of people, coffee, agriculture products, furniture.

You can see attachment to tradition and get a real lesson of Colombian folklore during beauty contest Chapoleras. Ladies are dressed in traditional gowns to gather coffee from the end of 19th century. The competition is accompanied by dance shows.

Armenia is a great starting point for people hiking on high, challenging mountains. Barely 30 minutes by car to the north of the city starts the National Park Los Nevados, where the highest peaks of central Colombia are situated. With height of even 4500 metres above the sea level, mountains are covered by snow all year round. In the city you can use services of a guide, who can securely lead brave men by the mountain range.

When you get hungry, go to a restaurant Balcon del Quinidio, that is situated on 10 km Via Armenia Pereira. In eagerly visited by Colombians spot you can eat home-made, cheap dinner. Additionally, the view is breath taking. If you fancy some fish, make sure to visit situated 30 km to the north of Armenia town Salento, famous for perfectly prepared river trout.

Probably first people on this area were Indians Zenú, that used to live by the riverbank. The Spanish settlement was established in 1777 by Antonio de la Torre y Miranda. He called it San Jerónimo de Buenavista, to commemorate Saint Jeronimo, but citizens preferred the name Monteria. 

In the beginning Monteria was located on the eastern part of the river. Miranda moved it to the western side. But as early as in 1803 the town was burnt by indigenes. Citizens moved it again to the eastern side. In recent years, once again the western part has become popular to live in.

There are two ways to get through the Sinu river. First one, obviously, is getting taxi or bus to pass through an enormous bridge. Second way is much older and characteristic for Monteria. You can use planchones – covered, wooden raft, that moves from one bank to another and looks like tram – they are attached to ropes, stretched between two banks. We recommend to travel on such raft at least once.

It is best to move around through the whole city by motorbike taxi. Except on Tuesdays. That day, as part of environment protection policy, motorbikes are forbidden to drive. Upon taking taxi, remember to first ask for price, that can be negotiated. In night taxis are much more expensive

One of the most beautiful colonial monuments of Monteria is the cathedra San Jeronimo. Details are highlighted with gold colour. The whole building is painted in white. On each of four sides of a tower, that can be seen from afar, there is a clock. Interiors are quite humble. For holidays the Cathedral is beautifully illuminated.  

Cheaply, quickly and tasty you can eat in Pasta e Salsa at Carrera 4. They served Italian cuisine – ravioli, pastas and soups. The choice isn’t vast, but dishes are fresh and filling. Whereas eating in Freeminds Gastro Bar is an original culinary trip. Classical pizzas or burgers in unusual form or with unique ingredients – you can definitely eat healthy there.