Overview

This new, fourth edition of Bradt's Colombia has been thoroughly revised and updated to include all the most recent developments in this emerging South American destination and to bring to the fore the country's fast-developing ecotourism offering. New for this edition is coverage of Yopal and San Jose del Guaviare, Caqueta, Vichada and Guainia, and on the Atlantic coast, Palomino. Also included are details of how to go star-gazing in the lunar landscapes of the Tatacoa desert, learning to wrangle cattle during the Coleo festival in Villavicencio, visiting ancient rock paintings in unexplored Guaviare, where to try the traditional fermented tipple of the original Muisca people, and visiting the rainbow river of Cano Cristales and the untouched wilds and jungles of Chiribiquete National Park. After decades of trouble, Colombia now offers one of the most exciting new travel experiences in South America. The country is home to a staggering 10% of all species found on the planet: pink river dolphins swim in the Amazon near Leticia, jaguar and ocelot slip between the trees in vine-tangled rainforest and birdwatchers rightly marvel in the vast savannah of Los Llanos and beyond. What's more, from vibrant cities such as Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Cartagena to emerging destinations across the country, Colombians will receive you with a smile as if you were one of their own. Still unaccustomed to international visitors, just speaking a little Spanish goes a long way. With Bradt's Colombia, relax in Bogotas fashionable restaurants, discover the colonial backwater of Mompos, a town currently undergoing something of a renaissance with its traditional silver jewellery shops and international jazz festival, and explore the UNESCO Seaflower Biosphere Reserve in the San Andres Archipelago, location of Providencia, the least developed and visited island in all of the Caribbean. For birders, the country boasts an embarrassment of riches, nowhere more so than Los Llanos and the Sierra Nevada mountains in the north. 40 colour photos, 44 maps

Full Product Details

Author:   Sarah Woods
Publisher:   Bradt Travel Guides
Imprint:   Bradt Travel Guides
Edition:   4th Revised edition
ISBN:  

9781784770907

ISBN 10:   1784770906
Pages:   520
Publication Date:   19 December 2025
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Introduction PART 1 GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 Background Information Geography, Climate, Natural history, Conservation, History, The cocaine trade, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, Social structure 45, Culture 47 Chapter 2 Practical Information When to visit, Highlights, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Cruise passengers, Gay/lesbian rights, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays, Festivals, Shopping, Photography, Media and communications, Business, Buying property, Cultural etiquette, Living in Colombia, Travelling positively PART 2 THE GUIDE Chapter 3 Bogota History, Geography, Climate, Architecture, Getting there and around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Sport, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Around Bogota Chapter 4 North of Bogota History, Getting there and around, Boyaca, Santander, Norte de Santander Chapter 5 Los Llanos History, The ecosystem of Los Llanos, The road from Bogota, Villavicencio, Around Villavicencio, Yopal, Around Yopal, San Jose del Guaviare, Around San Jose del Guaviare Chapter 6 San Andres Archipelago History, People, Language, Fauna and flora, Practicalities, Diving in the archipelago, Isla San Andres, San Luis, Isla Providencia, Isla Santa Catalina Chapter 7 Amazonia History, Ecological concerns, People, Leticia, Around Leticia, Exploring the Yavari River, Benjamin Constant, Parque Nacional Cahuinari, Tabatinga, Santa Rosa, Caqueta, Vichada and Guainia Chapter 8 The Southwest Interior Valle del Cauca, Cali, Around Cali, Buga, Around Buga, Huila and Cauca, Neiva, Around Neiva, Popayan, Around Popayan, Narino, Pasto, Around Pasto Chapter 9 The Northwest Interior Antioquia, Medellin, Around Medellin, Santa Fe de Antioquia, Zona Cafetera (Eje Cafetero), Manizales, Around Manizales, Pereira, Around Pereira, Armenia, Around Armenia Chapter 10 The Pacific Coast Flora and fauna, Getting there and around, Practicalities, Bahia Solano, Playa Almejal, Parque Nacional Ensenada de 392, El Valle, Buenaventura, Bahia Malaga, San Cipriano, Nuqui Chapter 11 The Atlantic Coast History, Climate, Bolivar, Cartagena, Around Cartagena, Mompox, Atlantico, Barranquilla, Close to Barranquilla, Magdalena, Santa Marta, Around Santa Marta, Valledupar, La Guajira, Palomino, Riohacha, Around Riohacha, Southern Atlantic coast, Capurgana, Around Capurgana Appendices Amazon Wildlife Guide Language Further info Index

Reviews

'I've been using Sarah Woods' Bradt Guide on many trips, now, to Colombia (and found it the best guide).' Matthew Parris Recommend reading by National Geographic Traveller

'I've been using Sarah Woods' Bradt Guide on many trips, now, to Colombia (and found it the best guide).' Matthew Parris Recommend reading by National Geographic Traveller

Author Information

Sarah Woods is an award-winning travel writer who has spent extended periods in Central and South America. She writes about the region for newspapers, magazines and online publications, alongside lecturing regularly across Europe and the USA. She has also worked on TV documentaries about Colombia's former president Álvaro Uribe, Colombia's ancient tombs and the centenary of the Panama Canal. Her dozen travel books include Bradt's Panama guidebook and the travel narrative On a Wing and a Prayer, about her journey to the heart of the rainforest. She won the PSA award (2013) for broadcasting and the Kenneth Westcott Prize in both 2007 and 2008.

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