Explore Luxury Colombia Tours

The second most populated country in South America, Colombia is home to an impressive 10% of the earth's biodiversity. Colombia has everything to draw travelers for luxury tours.  People who are interested in archaeology and history will enjoy the many museums in Bogota and will be truly impressed by the San Agustin sites, and Tierradentro, Lost City. Apart from history, one can also spot beautiful beaches, delicious food, wild dancing, and great nightlife here in Colombia. This South American nation is rich in natural wonders, cultural heritage, and undoubtedly a coffee lovers' paradise. The beautiful mountains, hidden beaches, and cobblestoned cities of Colombia attract travelers from around the globe for luxury Colombia tours.

Diverse Landscape

Colombia’s incredibly diverse landscape includes a number of wonderful national parks. The Cocora Natural National Park is not only a place for adventurers and trekking fans, but it is also the home of the Colombian National Tree, The wax palm, a palm that can reach incredible heights of up to 80 meters and only grows in this region.

Los Nevados National Park, located only 30 minutes from the Cocora National Park, has eight volcanos and peaks for climbers and adventure enthusiasts. This is the ideal place in Colombia if you want to see snow and landscapes, which look like postcards from Iceland. Many Colombian travel agents conduct hiking tours here.

A great getaway for locals and a wonderful experience for travelers in South America, the Tatacoa desert attracts tourists looking for silence, tranquility, and night below millions of stars. Thanks to its privileged location, the Tatacoa desert is one of the few places in the world where you can see all 88 constellations, and have a chance to see nebulas, galaxies, and meteor showers.

After so many adventurous sports, you can´t leave Colombia without experiencing some of its dramatic beaches and there is no better place to enjoy the Caribbean than in San Andres & Providencia and its seven-color ocean. San Andres is one of those small paradises Colombia has to offer n the middle of the Caribbean Sea.

Extreme Adventure

The diversity of the Colombian landscape allows you to experience a wide variety of nature-related activities. With no clearly defined winters in Colombia, travelers can enjoy many outdoor activities all year round. Colombia travel agents conduct many exciting adventure tours that include kayaking, Rafting, parasailing, rappelling, trekking, skydiving, cycling, canopy tour, and mountain biking. Climb snowy peaks, dive into the sea, go rafting down rivers, fly over coffee plantations, or walk through valleys and mountains, Colombia is sure to raise your heart rate. You can enjoy a wide range of activities suitable for your body and mind from your everyday routine. No matter what adventure you like, with the Colombian travel agents, you will get an unforgettable experience of the rich natural landscape. San Gil and Medellin have gained a reputation as the epicenter for adventure in Colombia; you could spend a week here and still not have done all the available activities.

Colombian Culture

Colombian culture is very similar to many other Latin American countries, with a few exceptional elements that make it unique. For example, if we explore Colombian history, the Spanish colonial period has left a permanent influence throughout the country, with a high rate of Roman Catholics in Colombian society. Though the Spanish decimated the original population here, still many areas live on Colombian customs, music, and language.

The country-wide practice of Cumbia and Vallenato shows that music is a very important part of Colombian culture. Shakira is famously from this Latin American country, as is famous  Colombian philologist and Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Colombian art is often similar to Fernando Botero.

Colombia has changed its name seven times since declaring independence on 20 July 1810 and achieving it in 1819. There is a broad range of distinct groups that make diverse regional traditions with their unique customs, accents, social patterns, and cultural adaptations. These groups are divided into three distinct cultures based on their locality, the interior, the countryside, and the coastal regions. The regional cultures unite for a common goal only during elections, sporting events, and beauty pageants.

The seventeenth-century Spanish colonial origin is reflected in the nation's architecture. Regional differences arise from those in Spain. Thus, traces of Moorish and Castilian architecture are visible in many cities. Many areas have had difficulty maintaining older structures, and the environment has also destroyed many Baroque buildings. Some famous architectural gems are the many churches that dot the landscape. Colombia travel agents provide expert guides for historical tours through these areas

When planning your Colombia tour, you might be wondering when is the best time to visit Colombia. Colombia being a diverse country needs many factors like weather, events, and vacation costs to be considered to determine when to plan your Colombia trip. Consider the below facts before you plan your luxury Colombia tour with your travel agent.

Weather

-Colombia is a year-round destination, especially along the Caribbean coast and in Medellin where warm, dry weather is common for almost the whole year.

-The dry season in Colombia remains between December and March, but even beyond this period, weather variations are defined more by region than clearly set seasons. The main differences are experienced in the highlands, where areas with higher altitude become chilly at night.

-The lowlands enjoy a tropical climate year-round with little temperature variation, though regular rain showers will be noticeable in the wetter months of April to June and again in October and November.

Carnival in Barranquilla

Rio de Janeiro certainly has the world’s largest Carnival festival, but Colombia’s Barranquilla is considered to be second-largest. The four-day celebrations kick off on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, or the start of the Catholic Lent season, which continue for 40 days leading up to Easter. The festival ends on Fat Tuesday, which is also known as Shrove Tuesday. Carnival weekend varies year to year, but you can plan for it falling between February 3 and March 9.

Medellin at Christmas

The most perfect time for a cultural tour to Medellin, the city of eternal spring, is over the Christmas holidays. Colombians are one of the world’s biggest celebrators of Christmas, but no one does it bigger than Medellin does, thanks to their festival of Alborada.

The month is packed with special events, starting as midnight blows on November 30, when the sky fills with fireworks, declaring December and the official start of the Christmas season.

The “Day of the Little Candles” is observed on December 7 when, after nightfall, families put hundreds of candles in front of their homes to illuminate the path believing  Virgin Mary will come their home and bless them. But, for you, the traveler, it’s an extremely beautiful night to roam the city with endless paths of candles glowing in the night.

In Colombia, accommodation ranges considerably, but given the country’s relative prosperity you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the bargains available.

Hostels/Guesthouses

Backpacker hostels offer huge facilities, especially in larger cities such as Bogota, Medellín, Cali, and Santa Marta. The prices range from around COP$19,000 for dorms to COP$43,000 for double rooms. You will enjoy comfortable beds, shared kitchens, free wi-fi, library, laundry, cable TV and stacks of DVDs which is for common use., The hostels are also often the ideal places to find and enjoy the local attractions.  Some rent bicycles and even horses to explore the neighboring the area. Guesthouses sometimes cost more than COP$70,000 for a double room with private bathroom.

Camps

If you are adventurous, camping is a great option in some rural areas and national parks, especially Parque Nacional Tayrona on the Caribbean coast and Parque Nacional Cocuy in the highlands. Remember that many campsites don’t provide tents (or rent substandard ones), so it’s best to bring your own if you plan to camp regularly. Those who hike to the Ciudad Perdida usually sleep in hammocks with mosquito nets.

Fincas

If you are visiting the coffee-growing region, you can stay on one of the stately Fincas. Though these farms range from small to smooth, modernized operations, the majority are small estates that offer luxurious accommodation at a reasonable price (COP$25,000–45,000 per room). Meals prepared from locally produced ingredients as well as numerous outdoor activities, like farm tours and horse riding, are often included or available in a stately Fincas stay.

Colombia offers a very diverse cuisine, each region of the country owning its own unique dishes. This amazing cuisine offers dishes that have been delivered down from generation to generation, inspired by not only native Colombian culture but Spanish, African and Arab cultures as well. Colombian food is versatile, rich, full of flavor, colorful and refreshing. Here are the top 3 dishes you should try on your Colombia tour.

Bandeja Paisa: This platter is apparently the most common Colombian dish, basically from the Andean region of the country where the people are called “Paisas”

Tamales: Tamales have many variations in Colombia, but they all have one thing in common. The Common thing is that the Colombian Tamales are all wrapped in banana leaves.

Sudado de Pollo: This chicken stew is one of the most favorite dishes in Colombian homes. This delicious dish is served with white rice on the side which soaks up the flavorful sauce.

Colombia is a beautiful and diverse place, with many wonderful spots to explore. But, as with any new destination that has its own history and culture, there are a few things you should know before planning your Colombia tour.

Cash Is A King

In Colombia, cash is always preferred. You won't buy everything with your credit card in Colombia. You can use it in some shops (Exito) and bigger hotels. ATM’s are in English and Spanish and the surcharge stands at about US$ 3.00. The highest value bill in Colombia is COP 50 000, and the highest amount to withdraw at a time is COP 780 000. Look for ATM with black Servibanca sign, that's the one you can use!

Check Visa Requirements

Citizens from some countries do not need a tourist visa to enter Colombia. For example, while passport holders of countries like the USA, the European Union, the US, and Canada, among others, don't require a visa to enter Colombia. Those who hold a United States Visa or Schengen Visa (except transit visa), from China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam are also granted visa-free access. It is best to ask your travel agent or visit leisure.com for the guidance of expert travel agents.

Hire Taxis

Generally, it is safe to use a taxi in Colombia. It is always better to ask in the hotel or in the restaurant to call a radio taxi for you. You can use Uber in bigger cities, but note that Uber in Colombia is illegal, so it is always better to sit in the front next to the drivers so it looks like he is giving a ride to a friend, and not to a customer.

Colombia It Is Not A Cheap Country

Colombia is not that cheap when it comes to transport cost. Don't expect similar prices as in other South American countries. Bus tickets are pretty expensive and the food and accommodation are slightly cheaper than in Europe.

Colombia is very safe to travel to, but as with all countries, precautions should be taken. Here are some important things to know before your trip to Colombia.

Safety

In Colombia, the safety situation has greatly improved over the last years and you will be very unlikely to face any problems if you follow these basic safety rules:

1. When you visiting plain sight, Don’t carry valuables like jewelry and cash. If you have an expensive camera, carry it in an unremarkable bag and hold it carefully.

2. When you walk on the roadside, carry your bag on the other side of the street to avoid robberies from motorbike riders.

3. Don’t ride in unlicenced street taxis. Download the Cabify app to order taxis. The drivers are registered and so is every single ride you take could be tracked.

4. Don’t walk around at night, instead hire a taxi.

Health

Healthcare in Colombia is fairly good, particularly in cities where modern medical treatment is reasonably fast with little or no problem. In rural areas, however, don’t rely on finding any medical care. Arrive prepared with any medicines that might be needed and a first-aid kit, and plan for unforeseen emergencies. Health in most towns should be able to treat minor ailments and costs are usually very low.

Cleanliness

It’s a very clean country! Exercise caution as always, but the food is pretty safe to eat, even from street vendors. All the food vendors in the walled city in Cartagena have strict food standards they need to meet. Avoid tap water. Most food establishments offer filtered water, if not, get bottled.

Colombia just like most other countries around the world has its own unique culture, and here are some of the Colombian customs and manners.

Greetings

We know that kisses on the cheeks are a common greeting manner in most of Latin America. In Colombia, though, kisses on the cheeks are usually only practiced between women or between women and men who are more than acquaintances. And, contrary to other Latin American countries, in Colombia, this type of greeting includes one kiss given right cheek-to-right cheek.

A man greets another man with a handshake or even just a verbal greeting. If you are very close friends, you may give a firm “man pat” on the back or a “strong hug,” but cheek kisses are not often given between men.

Colombians Are Very Clean Eaters

For Colombians, it is very important to follow table manners and stay clean while you eat.  Colombians rarely eat with their hands, and many Colombians find it annoying if you eat with your hands. Even french fries, fish sticks, chicken fingers, and fresh fruits (often eaten with your hands in the United States and the United Kingdom), are eaten with silverware. The only exception to this is fried chicken, which is eaten with plastic gloves to avoid getting your hands dirty and sticky.

Tipping

“In most restaurants, the tip is included in the bill (normally 10%). That tip is distributed amongst all the staff. So if you want to give something extra to just your waiter, which seems to be more optional, that needs to be separate.

Plan Your Colombia Tour With leisure.com

We at the leisure.com work for customized Colombia tour to offer you a comprehensive hassle-free vacation.  The plans are customized keeping in mind your requirements and interests. Whatever might be your choice; an adventurous vacation, a luxury vacation, a family vacation or a romantic one, we are ready with the perfect plan for you. We value your safety as well as respect your privacy, and the travel agents plan your Colombia tour accordingly, either a packaged group tour or an independent private tour. In all cases, we ensure a hassle-free experience with luxurious accommodations, expert local guides, and outstanding excursions. So whether you wish to explore the Argentinian wildlife or immerse yourself in the natural charm, write to Leisure.com and we will bring you the perfect tour plan from the top travel agents.