Cordillera

Medellin
Colombia’s second city, with over 1.5 million inhabitants, lies 1300m (4264ft) above sea level in a narrow valley of the central mountain range. It is primarily industrial, and is the center of the coffee and textile trades. The region has acquired a reputation for violence owing to the war between the Government and the drug barons.

Cali
The center of the principal sugar-producing region of the country, where modern technology blends with colonial tradition. Deposits of coal and precious metals are found in this area.

Barranquilla
A busy port and Colombia’s fourth city, Barranquilla is located towards the mouth of the Magdalena River. It is one of the nation’s main commercial centers. There is a colorful market in a side channel of the Magdalena.

Caribbean Coast
The main tourist resorts on Colombia’s 1600km- (1000 mile-) long Caribbean coast lie near Santa Marta, one of the first major cities founded by the Spanish in South America. Its modern hotels, white beaches and proximity to fashionable beach resorts now make it a popular base for visitors wishing to explore the coast.

The Tayrona National Park, some 35km (22 miles) south of Santa Marta, is one of the country’s most popular parks. Its major attraction is its deep bays, shaded with coconut trees, beautiful beaches and several coral reefs. Cartagena, an ancient walled fortress city on the north coast, is also worth a visit, particularly for its fascinating Old Town. Tourist facilities have been considerably developed in recent years, particularly at El Laguita, an L-shaped pensinsula, now packed with hotels and expensive restaurants.

Some 35km (22 miles) west lie the Islas del Rosario, an archipelago of about 25 small coral islands now declared a national park. Cruises and tours are widely available and can be booked in Cartagena.

Easily reached from Cartagena, by plane or boat, are the islands of San Andres and Providencia, nearly 500km (300 miles) north of the Colombian coast. San Andres was once the headquarters of the English pirate Captain Henry Morgan, the scourge of the Caribbean. The islands are duty-free, and consequently often crowded, but there are still several less spoilt parts. Popular excursions include visits by boat to Johnny Cay and the Aquarium.

The Amazon Basin
Almost one-third of Colombia’s territory is covered by the Amazon Basin, an area of thick tropical forest in the southeast, with no roads and inhabited mostly by Indians. The most popular base for tourists wishing to explore the area is Leticia, a small town with well-developed tourist facilities, located on the banks of the Amazon River and close to the border with Brazil and Peru. Jungle trips, notably to the nearby Amacayu National Park, are widely available and often include visits to Indian tribes.

Elsewhere
Colombia has much to offer those interested in archaeology. San Augustin Archaeological Park contains a great number of relics and massive stone statues. The traditional city of Popayan is the birthplace of many of Colombia’s most illustrious statesmen.

As well as containing many fine colonial houses and churches, it is also noted for its Holy Week procession. Tierradentro, in the southwest of the country, has beautiful manmade burial caves painted with pre-Colombian geometric patterns. In the same region, Silva is a beautiful Indian town.

The country also contains much unspoilt countryside; the Guajira Peninsula is home to more than 100,000 nomadic Indians.