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The Colombian capital, Bogotá the island of San André s and the city of Cartagena in the Caribbean and Medellí n in the center of the country, were the main destinations visited by Canadians who chose Colombia as a holiday destination in 2010.
This is what the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism have pointed out based on the figures by DAS, which says that 32,886 Canadian tourists arrived in Colombia last year, 16,8% more than 2009, which registered 28,157 arrivals.
According to the report, upon entry last year, 16,027 Canadians said to the immigration authorities that Bogotá was their main destination, 4,746 said they were going to San André s a total of 3,566 Cartagena and 3,389 Medellí n.
Nature Tourism, Sun and Beach, History and Culture and Scuba Diving were the tourism products on highest demand by these travelers.
Bogotá , epicenter of culture and entertainment.
According to PROCOLOMBIA Colombia, the entity in charge of Colombian tourism promotion around the globe, tourists in Bogotá can find a diverse offering of History and Culture. The capital of the country is the epicenter for culture in Colombia, in addition to its broad possibilities for night entertainment and the widest variety in domestic and international gastronomy.
The Candelaria Historical Center includes all the history of Spanish colonialism, conserving its original architecture. It is made up of a set of narrow streets where tourists can have an encounter the past, visit the Casa de Nariñ o (the Presidential Palace), see the new Garcí a Má rquez Cultural Center or walk to the most important sightseeing spot in all of Bogotá : Monserrate.
Bogotá is a city of museums, ongoing art exhibitions from all times, historical bric-a-brac, religious museums and cathedrals, natural history and technology centers.
The Colombian capital is also recognized internationally for its biannual hosting of the Iberoamerican Theater Festival, one of the most important events of this type on the entire planet. In addition, massive music festivals or small recitals at the bars in the city are some other activities one can enjoy.
The history behind the walls.
Cartagena is another favorite destination for Canadian tourists. Behind its walls is a city that breathes history on its streets, monuments, old cloisters, churches and other bastions. The tracks of the heartless battles lived during and at the end of the Spanish colony are represented by constructions like the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas, the walls, the Palace of the Inquisition and the Clock Tower.
For gastronomy fans, Cartagena has multiple options for tourists with its broad offering of typical and exotic dishes, in addition to the best high-international cuisine.
Lodging possibilities vary from traditional hotels with colonial architectures, to the most exclusive hotels offering the best in personalized services.
The sea of seven colors
The islands of San André s and Providencia in the middle of the Caribbean or the Islands of el Rosario, San Bernardo and Barú , near Cartagena, are all part of the wide range of options Canadian tourists have when it comes to looking for Sun and Beach destinations.
In general terms, Colombia has a gigantic Botanical Garden on the Pacific Ocean and an almost unlimited pool on the Caribbean Ocean. Over 2,900 kilometers of coasts with cliffs and rocky and sandy shores, constitute a major attraction thanks to their color and extension.
Currently, the coasts in the country are considered to be one of the wonders of the scuba-diving world thanks to the privileged characteristics of its two oceans, considered by experts as true living laboratories. Scuba diving add a twist to the tourism trip with visits to the natural parks, walks around virgin and jungle beaches, seeing the villages and indigenous communities.
San André s offers travelers tranquility and isolation. Their white sands and calm beaches, thanks to the great coral reef surrounding the island, make it the best scenario for relaxation.
The island is the result of the influence of many cultures, which is nowadays a community with its own identity and, undoubtedly, one of the richest in Colombia. With its own language and a very unique way of viewing life, they capture travelers, in addition to its gastronomy and traditions. Communicating with tourists is easy, by means of modern English and Spanish, in addition to Creole, a mix of Elizabeth-type English, Spanish and African dialects.
At Tayrona National Park in Santa Marta, tourists find the perfect combination of jungle, snow-peak and beach. A place unique for its natural beauty, where one can come in contact with indigenous, ancestral communities, go on long walks in the middle of the jungle, or rest on its white sands of the many bays surrounding it. Coral reefs, Cañ averal, Cabo San Juan or Bahí a Concha are some of the most recognized.
Medellí n
The capital of the Provincial Department of Antioquia is the second most important in the country, one of the most attractive, not only because of its strong trade and industrial activity, but also for its widely known and flurried cultural and night life.
Medellin is already known worldwide as the region's fashion hub and host city to international conferences. The Flower Fair is one of the events that brings the most tourists. Since 1957, the fair is one of the best samples of the paisa (name given to the inhabitants of Medellí n and the rest of Antioquia) culture, with its horse rides and flower-chair parade. During those days, the city fills with color and its people hit the streets to celebrate in one of the many points the city has enabled for this festival.
Nature Tourism
Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, its protected ecosystems are the best scenario for scientific observation or simple delight with nature. The country has all types of climates, which are distributed along the Andean, Caribbean, Pacific Coast, Amazon and Eastern Plains regions.
The country has 53 million hectares of natural forests, 22 million of savannahs, arid lands, wetlands, snow-peaks and one million hectares of continental waters. 14% of the territory is protected, so tourists can find natural parks, national parks and sanctuaries.
Furthermore, 20% of existing bird species in the world live in Colombia, 17% of amphibians, 16% of daytime butterflies and 10% of mammals, among other animal types.
More information on tourism in Colombia at www.colombiatravel/en
