Starting in October 2012
Vibrant Colombia is a land of contrasts and legends, an entire continent encompassed by one country. After being off the travel map for some time, Colombia is gradually moving back into the spotlight...
Founded on 6 August 1538, the capital city is situated on fertile highland plains in the central region of the country. The city preserves its historical and institutional centres (La Candalaria) with narrow streets lined by churches, colonial mansions and republican buildings that house museums, theatres and institutions, giving the city a pleasant Bohemian and cultural ambience. Bogotá is also the cultural capital of Colombia and is home to over 40 museums including the famous Gold Museum housing the largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold in the world.
Colombian coffee is the smoothest in the world and is grown on the fertile lands of the Central cordillera where the coffee bushes are interspersed with a wide variety of native species to create beautiful landscapes full of life and colour. Los Nevados National Park, situated in this region, enjoys landscapes of immense solitude amid perpetual snows, frailejones and magical lakes.
A fairy-tale walled city of romance and sheer beauty (declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Cartegena is studded with spectacular architecture, cobbled streets, bastions and leafy plazas, making it one of the hottest spots on the coast. Its strategic location made it a logical choice to use as a port of embarkation for the treasures of the Spanish Crown. Once established by the Spanish in 1533, the city rapidly gained affluence and as it blossomed, it attracted the attention of buccaneers who were interested in the treasures stored there, waiting to be shipped back to Europe. After five major sieges in the 16th century, including an attack by Sir Francis Drake, Cartegena upped its security, building a number of strongholds and fortresses. The increased security lead to successful resistance against invaders and the city went from strength to strength, eventually gaining independence from the Spanish Crown. Although the city has expanded dramatically since its heyday, the old city is virtually unchanged making it a tantalizing place to explore, relax and enjoy the array of lively outdoor cafés and vibrant nightlife
Medellin is the country’s second city and enjoys a pleasant spring climate throughout the year. It is an important centre for industry, business and, most notably, textiles, and is regarded as the nations centre for fashion.
Located three hours from Bogata, Paipa lies amidst a region famed for its thermal waters. Set in the Chicamocha Valley, the town lies beside the Sochagota Lake, where you can enjoy a range of water based activities. The nearby hydrotherapy centre provides a range of spa treatments including thermal pools, saunas and Turkish baths, whilst visitors to the Vargas swamp can visit the memorial to the 19th century battle for Colombian independence.
Renowned for its lovely colonial architecture, the ‘white city’ of Popayan is famed for its culinary delights; so much so that in 2005 it was declared Latin America’s first city of gastronomy by UNESCO. The city’s historic centre is considered one of the most beautiful and best preserved in Latin America and amongst its more interesting attractions are the baroque churches of San Francisco and Santo Domingo and the Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art. The city’s famous cuisine is a rich mix of Spanish and indigenous dishes and its regular annual National Gastronomy Congress is one of the most popular events in the region.
Home to one of South America’s most important archaeological sites, San Agustin is liberally sprinkled with a fascinating collection of free standing pre-Colombian statues that span the 6th to the 14th centuries. Steeped in mystery, it is believed that the statues and ruins represent a mere 10% of what still remains to be discovered, with speculation growing of huge pyramids still buried in the area. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the ruins are spread over an area of 250 square miles and are considered to be amongst the most significant ancient finds anywhere in the Americas.
Santa Marta boasts the accolade for being the oldest surviving colonial town in Colombia. Established by the Spanish in 1525, it was used as a gateway to the interior of the country and a base for plundering gold from the Tayronas. After numerous attacks from pirates and some bitter battles with the natives, the Spanish relocated their primary port to Cartegena de Indias. Today Santa Marta is an attractive and relaxed seaside town and is a stopover point to reach Tayrona National Park and the fishing village of Taranga.
Situated on the Caribbean coast, where the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (at 5,770m the highest coastal tropical mountain in the world) sinks into the sea and forms bays of indescribable beauty, Tayrona National park is a Colombian gem. The white sandy beaches, mangroves, coral reefs and woods support a staggering array of flora and fauna. Numerous trails in the park offer trekking opportunities, or the chance to snorkel on the coral reefs and relax on the palm fringed shores.
Declared a national monument in 1945, this magical town has been preserved in its entirety and virtually no modern architecture exists, making it one of the finest examples of a traditional colonial settlement anywhere in the Americas. At an altitude of 2140m, it enjoys a healthy, mild climate and relaxed atmosphere, making it a popular weekend break for city dwellers. Each December Villa de Leyva hosts a lively fiesta when neighbouring towns compete against each other with colourful fireworks displays and a street carnival takes place in the narrow cobbled streets. For three days, the city is then dominated by food, drink, music and dance in a fantastic party called La Fiesta de la Luz.
Visa Information
UK Passport holders do not require a visa to visit Colombia.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
If you are travelling on a non UK passport please contact your relevant consulate/embassy for the latest visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at www.travel-general.com or call 0845 408 0583.
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Colombia though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend protection against Yellow Fever but that you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
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