Colombia: a unique travel experience

Take a stroll through one of Latin America’s most seductive destinations, the Old Town in Cartagena. Wander past shady patios and under bougainvillea-laden balconies, as you take in the city’s rich history of faded colonial splendour, slavery, piracy and rebellion. It was also home to the late Gabriel Garcia Marquez, one of the world’s most celebrated writers. Keep an eye open for his ghost at local coffee shops. If strolls aren’t really your cup of aguapanela, the Parque Nacional Tayrona offers hikes through its virgin rainforest to stretches of spectacular and often-deserted beaches.

Creep through the Palacio de la Inquisicion’s torture chambers in Cartagena and regale your children with gruesome stories of the dark days of the Spanish Inquisition. The Spanish tickler, the witches’ scale, the guillotine and the rack are grisly favourites. One of the oldest buildings in Colombia, the San Felipe de Barajas Castle is the strongest fortress ever built by the Spaniards in any of their colonies. Kids love exploring the maze of underground tunnels and hearing about its history of soldiers, pirates and treasure.

The strenuous three-day hike through the jungle to Ciudad Perdida (the Lost City) has become a rite of passage for many travellers to Colombia. Book a tour guide for your group and make your way back in time to the more than 1000-year-old ruins. With traditions dating back to the 19th century, the Carnaval de Barranquilla is the biggest carnival in the world after Rio de Janeiro’s. Get lost with your friends amid street dances and masquerade parades, and discover why the festival’s slogan is “Quien lo vive, es quien lo goza”—he who lives it, enjoys it.