Colombia seeks tourists after Old Man Winter fades away

Colombia is for the bird(watcher)s… Along with other types of nature enthusiasts, as well as people who are intrigued by Latin American culture and history, those who are fascinated by coffee culture, and travellers with other diverse interests.

And ProColombia — Colombia’s tourist board — says Colombia can easily accommodate those people who travel internationally for varied reasons.

A country which primarily saw Canadians seek its Caribbean sunspots — such as the historic, oceanside city of Cartagena and the island of San Andres — in the 1980s and 1990s continues to be happy to host Canadians in all-inclusive resorts but that is no longer the focus of Colombian tourism promotions in this country.

“We’re more focusing on sustainability and community-based tourism,” a ProColombia spokesman told Travel Courier. “We are seeing huge interest in off-the-beaten-path travel.”

Visitations from this country to Colombia are on the upswing, with 134,000 of us making the journey to the South American country last year, a 28% increase from 2022’s figure. Fourth-fifths of last year’s visitors were tourists, rather than VFR travellers.

Air Canada has been linking this country with Bogota and Colombian carrier Avianca — which has been sending people from Toronto to Bogota — has just begun Montreal-Bogota service, a development the ProColombia spokesman labels “fantastic. We’re really happy about that.”

Four weekly A320  flights are available between Montreal and Bogota.

“This new Avianca flight allows more travelers to explore the magic of both nations. We invite people from Montreal to visit Colombia and see why our country is a trendy destination with unparalleled beauty and meaningful travel experiences for all,” said ProColombia president Carmen Caballero.

Colombia thinks it’s in a good position to capitalize on growing interest in eco-tourism, given its having landscapes that range from Amazon jungle to lofty Andean mountains.

That enables ProColombia to bill Colombia as the “second-most biodiverse country per square kilometre” on the planet, with tourism officials stating that that biodiversity is reflected in part by its bird life, with Colombia routinely topping an annual international competition that has birdwatchers in different countries tabulating the number of species they spot in one day.

Colombia’s large size and varied landscapes means birdwatchers in the South American country can spot such disparate birds as jungle-dwelling parrots and also condors that call the lofty Andes home in a country that has some 1,920 bird species.

The condor is actually Colombia’s national bird.

Much of Colombia is Amazon Basin, with eco-lodges found in a part of the world that’s home to the likes of jaguars, monkeys, sloths, birds of paradise and other exotic creatures.

Jungle options include the Calanoa Jungle Lodge, found in a nature reserve, and which has guests stay in cabins, offers yoga sessions and has observation platforms to help people spot wildlife. Guests at the retreat — which has been named one of the top 20 hotels in the world by Conde Nast Traveller — can spot exotic wildlife, including pink river dolphins.

Adventurous sorts visiting northern Colombia can undertake the trek to Lost City, a sophisticated pre-Columbian archeological site that can be visited on multi-day hikes that showcase different ecosystems.

A new option for viewing Colombia will begin in January, 2025, when AMA Waterways begins eight-day Magdalena River cruises that begin and end in Cartagena and will deliver passengers into the country’s interior.

ProColombia is confident foreign tourists will appreciate Colombian cities, with Bogota having a flourishing culinary scene and its attractions also including the Gold Museum, home to a huge number of intricately carved pre-Columbian gold artifacts.

“The capital city of Colombia remains the heart of the Andes Mountains because of its diversity and cultural fusion. The city serves as a melting pot, welcoming people from every corner of the country and resulting in a vibrant and multicultural atmosphere. For those Canadians eager to uncover Colombia’s history, Bogotá provides an immersive journey through time. Beyond the bustling cityscape, Bogotá opens the door to a world of natural wonders and villages. From the awe-inspiring Zipaquira Salt Cathedral to the mystical allure of Guatavita Lake, each destination promises an unforgettable adventure,” ProColombia says.

Medellin, shunned by tourists in the 1990s because of its association with the drug trade, has a much improved security situation and is now a popular stop on the tourist circuit, while the surrounding area has many eco-lodges.

Coffee enthusiasts can now find plenty of lodging in coffee regions, learning about the production of coffee in a country that gave the world Juan Valdez.’

Meanwhile, the ProColombia spokesman said Colombia will continue to host sun-seekers, noting Decameron — which has an international presence — is headquartered in Cartagena, the old quarter of which has UNESCO World Heritage Site status because of its well-preserved colonial architecture.

“Obviously we still promote sun and sand,” the spokesman added. 

More information is available at Colombia.travel.