Things to Do in Colombia

Cartagena’s strategic significance as Europe’s conquest of the Americas intensified cannot be overstated. Some say that if the British had won the 1741 Battle of Cartagena, that South America would now speak English. They didn’t, largely because of massive El Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the largest and most formidable Spanish colonial fortress in the hemisphere.

Begun in 1536, almost immediately after the conquistadors arrived, the massive megastructure sits atop San Lazaro Hill, with flawless views across the harbor. Bristling with cannons and other armaments, it was enlarged and re-fortified in 1657 and 1763 as part of an ongoing arms race against other European powers. A marvel of military engineering, the compound’s angles and parapets offer maximum coverage, and are connected by a warren of secret tunnels threading the mountain of stone.  

It’s worth hiring a guide to explain the significance of the structure, though the beautiful views from the gracefully aging old turrets are stunning in and of themselves. Come close to sunset, when trumpet players take advantage of the crumbling structure’s acoustics.

Just outside the fortress is the Old Shoe Monument, a popular photo op that commemorates a poem by Cartagena wordsmith Luis Carlos Lopez, who famously compared the old city to a worn, but comfortable, pair of shoes.

Tayrona National Park, just 34 km from Santa Marta in northern Colombia, has abundant natural and archaeological attractions. Named after one of the most important indigenous tribes in Colombia’s history, the Tayrona National Park was established in 1969 with an area of 19,000 hectares.

Eco-tourism is popular in this complex biological ecosystem. There are over 300 bird species, including the endangered Andean condor and woodpeckers. Puma, deer, bats, howling monkeys, iguanas, jaguars and marine turtles also call this forest home. Hikers can spot multicolored land crabs, reptiles and butterflies on the trails.

To get to the beaches, visitors walk along marked trails or hire a guide with horses. Explore the many golden sand beaches and snorkel near coral reefs and underwater treasures hidden around the huge rock formations.

The largest archeological remains in the park are found in Pueblito, an ancient commercial center used by the Tayrona Indians of the Sierra Nevada. It is estimated that it was inhabited by about 2,000 people between 450 and 1,600 A.D. Since the hike only takes about 2 hours, these ruins are a good alternative to observe the architecture of the Tayronas if you don't have enough time or the physical condition to visit the Lost City. And for many travelers, the trek through streams and past giant boulders is more of an attraction than the destination itself. Remember that the trails are often muddy, so it’s advisable to wear suitable walking shoes.

Lodging in Tayrona Park is also exciting, ranging from hammocks to luxurious eco-habs inspired by indigenous dwellings. Remember there’s no electricity in the park at night, so flashlights are useful.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a unique natural ecosystem along the of the northern coast of Colombia. This majestic mountain range is the tallest coastal mountain range in the world, with the snow covered Simón Bolívar and Cristóbal Colón peaks rising 18,700 feet above sea level.

Amazingly, all the climatic zones and biomes present in Colombia can be found within the 6,600 square miles of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. That makes it an excellent place to come into contact with animals and plants from around the country in just one park. Jaguars, tapirs, páramo deer, condors, endemic parrots and important groups of endangered wildlife call the Sierra Nevada home.

The Sierra Nevada and Tayrona parks have a combined 300 recorded archaeological settlements along the coast and in the highlands. The largest is the Teyuna Archaeological Park, known as The Lost City (Ciudad Perdida), testimony of the country’s most important ancient Indian civilization. At present, around 30,000 members of the Kogui, Arhuaco, and other indigenous communities continue to live in the park and maintain many ancestral beliefs and customs.

Hiking is the main tourist activity in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. In this virtually untouched paradise of animals and plants, visitors climb mountains, observe endemic plants and animals and explore indigenous cultures. Birding is also quite popular. The El Dorado Bird Reserve, located on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, is the top birding site in Colombia. Some of the 21 endemic species that can be seen in the reserve and around the lodge are the Santa Marta Parakeet, Santa Marta Screech Owl and the Santa Marta Toucanet.

A birding lodge, trails, hummingbird and antpitta feeders, an observation balcony and six rooms make up the lodge and reserve. Hummingbird feeders and Antpitta feeding stations create excellent photo opportunities.