Places to see in Colombia, with maps and advice on how to get there.

Salento and Cocora: Colombia´s charmed valley

The rural town of Salento, with its Valle de Cocora, in heart of Colombia’s Quindío province, was a popular tourist spot even before Disney film producers rocketed the region to fame (and prices rises to match!) with their Oscar-winning film ‘Encanto’.

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Colombia’s fantastical fossils – and where to find them

Colombia had some freaky fauna in its pre-history, from giant sloths, weird mammals, biggest-ever snakes and crocodiles to ferocious marine reptiles. Here’s a guide to getting on the fossil trail and exploring the lives of these ancient beast, many of which were unique to South America. Don’t expect Smithsonion-style mega-museums: palaeontology is not well funded in this part of the world. But fossil sites like Villa de Leyva and The Tatacoa Desert unique finds, and local palaeontologists and keen amateur

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Hiking up to Bogotá’s Cerro Aguanoso

The impressive slab of Andean mountain that dominates downtown Bogotá is Cerro Aguanoso, a 3,500 meter (11,500 feet) peak that is the highest of the Cerros Orientales bordering the city, just south of La Candelaria. The return hike from Guadalupe Sanctuary is around 3 or 4 hours depending on your speed. Kids can also enjoy the hike, but bring warm jackets as the wind howls over the peak most days. The trail opens Saturdays, Sundays and Festivos (Bank Holidays) but

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Venezuela’s incredible Orinoco river delta

In 2022 I worked with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the delta of the Rio Orinoco, known locally as the “Delta Amacuro”, supporting local health services. This vast wetland of swamps and jungle on Venezuela’s Atlantic shore is home to the Warao, one of the country’s largest ethnic group. This blog was published by MSF in May 2023. Rounding a bend of the Rio Orinoco, we startle a large river dolphin that leaps high in front of the boat. It hangs there

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