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Caribbean

Caribbean Region

Possibly the most attractive region of Colombia, the Caribbean coast shows different landscapes: desert, mountains, beach, marshlands, and historical colonial towns such as Cartagena and Mompox. A destination where the richness of the gastronomy and the warm rhythms of Cumbia will offer you an exceptional vacation. Depending on the part of the coast you’ll be visiting, the choice is yours to make: hike in the Sierra Nevada, safari in the Guajira peninsula, relax in the Rosario Archipelago or take a walking tour in Cartagena’s historic center and much more…

CULTURE & TRADITIONS

Atlantic Coast

 

Gastronomy

One can enjoy many dishes like fish, chicken, beans, meat, and cheese soups. There are different kind of fried fishes like crappie, hub, mullet, snapper, saw fish, and seafood like shrimps, lobster, oyster, mollusks. The meat can be roasted, broiled, fried, or stewed. Mountain animals like goats, rams, rodents, ducks, monkeys, armadillos, tapirs, deer, collared peccaries, buckling are also cooked in various ways. All sort of of arepas (kind of pancake made with corn flour dough), particularly the egg arepa, the carimañola (meat pie), the empanada (fried pie), and the famous Cartagena’s empanada con huevo (empanada filled with a runny egg). There also are various kind of pastries, tamales (dish prepared in a plantain leaf), cakes (especially rice cake), the patacon (fried plantain), buñuelos de frijol cabecita negra (fried mashed blackeye peas balls), bollos de maiz, yuca or platano (wrapped steam cooked corn, cassava roots or plantain dough). The diabolines (snack) almojábanas (colombian pastry), queques (literally cakes), kibbes, fried sweet plantain, queso costeño (local salted cheese), and the suero atollabuey (sour cream).

Cultural Visits

The heritage of Santa Marta and the colonial streets of the city’s historic center with its Cathedral, museums, and the Pier, offering a romantic sunset. The historical center located within Cartagena’s walls is the soul of the city. It inspired Gabriel Garcia Marquez, winner of the Nobel Prize of Literature in 1982. More than just a place where you can feel the history of the centuries-old cobblestone streets, the city also offers the possibility to explore the Fort San Felipe, admire ancient churches, and even swim in a nearby mud volcano.

Arts & Crafts

The Vueltiao hat, declared Symbol of Colombia by the National Congress, the Arahuaco bag, the hammocks from San Jacinto, the Wayuu sandals and clothing, and the handicrafts from Sampués.

Festivals & Cultural Events

The Carnival in Barranquilla was declared Cultural Oral and Intangible Heritage by UNESCO in 2003. The Holy Week in Mompox, Bolivar, declared Historic and Cultural Heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 1995. The Festival Son de Negros in Santa Lucia, Atlantico. The “Fiestas del Mar” festival in Santa Marta. The International Theatre Festival of the Caribbean in Santa Marta, taking place from the September 1 to September 8. The Vallenato Legends Festival in Valledupar was declared National Cultural Heritage in 2002. The Rice Festival in Badillo, Cesar, from June 3 to June 5. The Land of Composers Festival in Pitallal, Cesar, from December 23 to December 25. The Cartagena Independence Festivities taking place on November 11.  Both the International Music Festival and the HAY Festival are held in Cartagena during the month of January. These two festivals celebrate culture and literature.

San Andrés & Providencia Archipelago

 

Gastronomy

The gastronomy in the archipelago relies on fishes such as the red snapper, seashells, lobsters, and crabs. The dishes are often garnished with coco, plantain, yuca and coconut milk. The most traditional dish is the Rondon, a kind of fish and seashells casserole slowly cooked in coconut milk with yucca and yam. The dumpling, a pie made with wheat flour.

Arts & Crafts

The handicraft is varied and mainly created from coconut shells and wood, using vivid colours, a style inherited from Jamaican colonies.

Festivals & Cultural Events

The Coconut Carnival, taking place from November 27 through November 30, celebrates the Patron Saint of San Andrés, and the Coco Beauty Pageant, during which several neighboring countries and islands are competing. The Green Moon Festival, mostly celebrating reggae and calypso music.

CARTAGENA OF THE INDIES

The Heroic city, The Door of the Americas, Capital of the Caribbean, The Mother City, The Walled City, The Key of the West Indies… Cartagena of the Indies. The city has been given several different nicknames through the centuries. One of the most important Spanish settlements on the continent, the galleons full of gold, silver, emeralds and other riches have left for Europe from its port. The heritage of the city can be seen nowadays through its walls, architecture, museums, churches and forts, all contributing to the status of the city as a UNESCO world heritage site of cultural importance.

On the one hand, the walled city shows a typical colonial architecture, one can easily walk around the walled city, passing through its cobbled street surrounded by colonial villas and patios, you would reach different parts of town such as Plaza de Aduanas a place shaped in triangle surrounded by old colorful buildings, the Clock Tower, the entrance of the old city and Plaza Santo Domingo, its church and its restaurants.
On the other hand, you can visit the popular Getsemani where music and party are on every night, Fort San Felipe- the biggest fort in south America and La Candelaria Convent with its perfect viewpoint. Tour Cartagena.

ROSARIO ISLANDS

Off the coast of Cartagena, less than 2 hours by boat, the Rosario islands have different places to visit, and some of the most amazing hotels. Relaxation on a white sand beach and jumps into a crystal clear water, or visits around the islands and its coral reefs, as well as its diverse fauna in an oceanarium. Among the different species you can observe, you’ll find dolphins, sharks, turtles and more, all gathered around amazing caribbean islands.

MOMPOX AND THE CIENAGA (WETLAND)

Situated next to marshland, Mompox is a fabulous colonial town, its architecture has been well preserved and became a UNESCO heritage site in 1995. The quietness of the streets is only disturbed by the sound of precious metals, being forged in the workshops here and there, a traditional renowned across Colombia. Mompox is famous for its jewelry industry, particularly for the “momposina” and its jewels made of silver filigree. The town being located by the Magdalena River, Santa Cruz de Mompox has been an important stop on the trading route connecting Cartagena to the rest of the country, including for the smugglers who used to stash products in the warehouses along the river.
Take about to visit the Cienaga de Pijiño and its rich biodiversity, or relax walking across the streets of this city classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

SANTA MARTA

Santa Marta is famous for being the first city founded by the Spanish on the south American continent. Nowadays, it’s a nice touristic place by the Caribbean Sea where foreigners gather to visit the amazing Sierra Nevada, the highest coastal mountain range in the world.
You will visit the famous Tayrona Park located half an hour away from the city, Taganga, a village by the park and throughout Santa Marta, some of the city’s most important heritage, the cathedral, built to resits attacks from pirates and Simon Bolivar’s mansion, its wonderful gardens and his mausoleum.

GUAJIRA PENINSULA

Located at the northeastern tip of the country, the Guajira peninsula hosts a wide desert. The landscapes around the peninsula varies from salt flats to high dunes.
Some of these dunes meet the Caribbean Sea while others are a lying inside an unlikely oasis, the Macuira national Park. One will be amazed by the contrast between this green oasis and the desert all around it. When reaching Punta Gallinas, you will find yourself on northernmost point of the south american continent. Nearby, you can visit Bahia Hondita, a natural sanctuary for pink flamingos, beafore hading back to Cabo de la Vela, and relax on the Arcoiris beach or watching wind kites in the sunset

LOST CITY

In the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, deep in the thick forest of the region, lies the mystical ruins of the “Ciudad Perdida” (Lost City) of the Tayronas. The 400 years old site has been discovered in the 1970s and is now one of Colombia’s most attractive destinations. To reach the Lost City, a 4-day hike into the wilderness is necessary as no road leads to the site.

TAYRONA PARK

Tayrona is the most famous national park in Colombia. It’s located on the flank of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and right on the shore of the Caribbean Sea.

Home of the Tayrona indigenous tribe, you will spend half the day hiking up the forest of this hilly park to one of the Tayrona’s ancient village, and the other half by the sea, swimming in a natural pool.

LOS FLAMENCOS SANCTUARY

At the door of the Guajira peninsula, near the city of Riohacha, you’ll find a sanctuary for pink flamingos, where you’ll be able to observe hundreds of those majestic birds and other species, in their natural habitat.

Take a trip on a small boat along the bay accompanied by a local guide who’ll show you how to get near the birds without scaring them away from this quiet and relaxing area. Tour Cartagena.

PARC NATIONAL NATUREL OLD PROVIDENCE MCBEAN LAGOON

Le Parc National Naturel Old Providence McBean Lagoon est la seule et unique zone protégée du Système de Parcs Nationaux Naturels situé dans cette zone insulaire des caraïbes colombiens. Malgré sa petite superficie, elle est d’une importance primordiale puisqu’elle protège en partie la troisième plus grande barrière de corral au monde. Le parc fait partie du de la Zone de Gestion Spéciale de l’Archipel de San Andrés, Providencia et Santa Catalina depuis 1996, de la Réserve de la Biosphère Seaflower depuis 2000 et de la Zone Marine Protégée Seaflower de l’Archipel depuis 2004. Vacance Colombie Caraïbe.

Visit Colombia with CAPOA Travels. We provide transport services, private guided visits and accommodation for a tailor made tour.

The most attractive region of Colombia, the Caribbean coast shows different landscapes: desert, mountains, beach, marshlands, and colonial towns. Tour Cartagena.

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