Colombia has astonishing number of species
Colombia is great for those wanting to learn about the birds and the bees…
And a host of other winged and non-winged creatures as well.
Colombia tourist board ProColombia held a recent Toronto event that among other things underscored the diverse nature and cultures of a country that has often been viewed by Canadians as simply a warm-weather winter beach retreat.
Those on hand for the Toronto gathering – which featured tour operators from the Latin American nation – were told that Colombia is the most diverse of all countries in terms of per-square-meter biodiversity, thanks to its having six different altitudinal zones, including one home to lofty Andean peaks and another featuring Amazon Basin.
ProColombia staff reported that Colombia has 1,920 bird species, 80 of them endemic to the South American nation. Colombia frequently comes out on top during Global Bird Day, which invites birdwatchers to report the number of species they see within a 24-hour period.
Colombia again topped the biodiversity list in terms of butterflies, with wild bees another type of airborne insects that can be spotted.
The country is also third when it comes to the number of reptile species found in its borders and fourth when it comes to differing types of mammals.
Colombia says it’s committed to sustainability, noting that Tourism Cares – which promotes sustainability worldwide in the tourism industry – labelled Colombia the Most Attractive Destination in 2020 because of its commitment to both sustainability and community-based tourism.
But ProColombia also noted that Colombia is diverse culturally, with the country having 12 linguistic families, and the homeland of Latin singing sensation Shakira has some 1,025 musical rhythms.
ProColombia staff also reported that Colombia is also home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among them the walled old quarter in the seaside city of Cartagena, known for its well-preserved colonial architecture.
Several major tour operators offer Cartagena packages.
Colombia fronts both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and has 3,800 kilometers of coast.
Colombia is making inroads in the Canadian market, with visitations from this country on a steady upward trend, with 2023 – the last year for which figures are available – having seen Colombia host 134,117 people from this country. Seventy per cent of them were described as non-expatriate Colombians, which tourism officials cite as proof that more Canadians are choosing Colombia for vacations.
Direct air service is available from both Montreal and Toronto to Colombia, with Air Transat, Avianca and Air Canada all having non-stop Canada-Colombia service.
More information can be found at colombia.travel.
