Cartagena & the Caribbean Coast (in EDIT mode)

Picture
Flor de Mayo - National Flower of Colombia
Picture
Guatape Rock, Medellin
Picture
Museo de Oro, Bogota
Picture
CARTAGENA, OLD & NEW

​With golden beaches in both the Pacific and Caribbean,  Andean peaks that top 5,000m, and a luscious Amazonian interior, Colombia has the beauty, diversity and a rich and vibrant history to offer the most discerning traveller.  Also labelled the most ethnically and linguistically diverse country in the world, this is reflected in its music, cuisine and culture by the welcoming Colombian people.  Put simply, Colombia offers outstanding variety for terrific value that makes it the new MUST VISIT destination for 2020!
 Like Ecuador, Colombia is classified as one of the 17 most "megadiverse" countries in the world*, ranking first with over 2,000 bird varieties, more than North America and Europe combined, and possessing between 10 - 20% of the planet's other total species of flora and fauna!  Yet it is only some two times the size of ** France or California.  ​
 (*recognized by Conservation International in 1988 as being hosts to the greatest number of Earth's plant and wildlife species)
(** Metropolitan France - 550,000 km2; California - 424,000 km2)
Its principal eco-systems include Amazon rainforest,  Paramo/Montane  highlands, Llanos plains, and coastal territory sub-divided into Pacific and Caribbean zones.  Finally, its Insular Region most notably includes the San Andres/Providencia archipelago off Nicaragua.
For MORE on some of the delights to be experienced in each of Colombia's unique eco-zones, CLICK on the requisite destination BELOW! 
TRAVEL ADVICE & HEALTH   Despite a history of crime associated with narcotics and political terrorism, most visits to Colombia are trouble free, but it has still been accorded a Level 2 rating from the US State Department - Exercise Increased Caution!  Tourists have been targeted after visiting ATMs, or defrauded by scams involving criminals posing as local authorities.  Counterfeit currency is also in circulation.  And with its long history of narcotrafficking and terrorist action, weapons are commonly used by thieves and terrorist factions alike.  Rogue elements of the FARC and ELN can still be encountered.  There are also risks that can occur on demonstrations and other political assemblies, and when approaching the border areas with neighbouring countries, especially with Venezuela.  The UK FCO site shows a map illustrating "safe" and more dangerous areas.  For CURRENT DETAIL click HERE (UK) for current UK FCO advice, or HERE (US) for State Department guidance.   There are also health risks when visiting "hot" Amazonia, particularly from Yellow Fever and Zika.  Both links above give advice on HEALTH issues, and additional information can be obtained from the (US) Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) - click HERE.