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Colombia country guide

4 questions, each answered from published authorities with the sources listed.

Cartagena's historic center and Bocagrande seen from La Popa hill, with the sea beyond — Photo: Joe Ross, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 Author Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan · CC BY-SA 2.0 File source

When to visit 1

When is the best time to visit Colombia for Cartagena?February — Cartagena sits in the rainless heart of its dry season, the Andes are in their first dry window at exactly the same time, and the Christmas crowds and prices…

Food and drink 1

What local dishes should I try in Colombia, and where should I look for them?Colombia cooks by region, not by nation: Bogotá's three-potato ajiaco, Antioquia's bandeja paisa platter, Tolima's twelve-hour lechona, Santander's pre-Columbian…

Places and experiences 1

What should a first-time traveler see in Colombia beyond the obvious highlights?Head south and strange: the stone guardians of San Agustín, the painted underground tombs of Tierradentro, a river that runs in five colors for half the year, and a…

Trip planning 1

How can I plan a memorable first trip to Colombia without rushing?Give it a fortnight and four bases — Bogotá, Medellín, the coffee country and Cartagena — joined by flights of about an hour, because the Andes split into three ranges…

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