Colombia is more than just its past reputation; it’s a dynamic destination ready to amaze you. Prepare to be dazzled by this country of a thousand faces and learn more about what makes it such a unique travel destination. This article takes you on a journey through 30 interesting facts about Colombia, from history and gastronomy to nature and urban life. How many will you know? Tell us in the comments!
History
Colombia owes its name to… Christopher Columbus!
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who was sponsored by the Catholic monarchs Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II of Spain to travel west. The name Colombia once meant the whole of the New World. What is now Colombia was once called the Republic of New Granada, but changed its name to the Granada Confederation, then the United States of Colombia and finally the Republic of Colombia.
The myth of El Dorado takes place in Colombia
The city of gold and infinite riches. Yes, it’s a myth, but it’s actually about a man, not a hidden city. According to legend, he covered himself in gold every day and washed it in the nearby lake every afternoon. The legend derives from an archaeologically confirmed ceremony during which the Muisca society in Colombia chose their new chief. They covered the candidate in gold dust and took him to the middle of a sacred lake, where he made offerings of gold andemeralds to the gods, throwing them into the waters.
Colombia has some 115 different indigenous groups
Some lived in Colombia 14,000 years ago. People were living in Colombia long before Christopher Columbus (Colombia’s namesake) landed. Today, around 115 of these groups are still present in rural Colombia. Each group has its own unique language, customs, culture and traditions. Ethnic groups such as the Wayuus, Emberas, Kogis and Arhuacos play an essential role in the country’s cultural diversity and the preservation of its heritage.
Colombia is number 1 in emerald exports
70-90% of the world’s emeralds come from Colombia! They are mined mainly in the mountainous regions of the Colombian Andes. Colombian emeralds are prized the world over for their intense green color and exceptional transparency. The Colombian capital, Bogotá, is a major emerald trading center, where the gems are cut and polished before being exported to international markets.
Colombia is the world’s second-largest flower exporter
The United States alone orders 4 billion roses from Colombia every year (many for Valentine’s Day). Its position on the equator produces some of the straightest-stemmed roses in the world. Colombia is also home to over 4,000 species of orchid. Fun fact: roses grow directly in front of the sun. This means that to get perfectly straight-stemmed roses, the symbol of romantic gifts, they have to come from an equatorial country like Colombia.
Ciudad Perdida is older than Machu Picchu
Ciudad Perdida is an ancient pre-Columbian city built by the Tayrona civilization in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Santa Marta, Colombia. Its construction dates back to around 800 AD, making it one of the oldest archaeological sites in South America. By comparison, Machu Picchu in Peru was built by the Inca civilization much later, around the middle of the 15th century.
Ciudad Perdida is famous for its terraced architecture, canal systems and isolated jungle location. It was abandoned by the Tayrona before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in South America.
Access to the lost city requires a 3 to 5 day trek, which can be organized by several of the region’s tourist agencies.
Nature
Colombia is the world’s second most biodiverse country
Just behind its gigantic neighbor, Brazil. Colombia is also one of only 17 countries in the world classified as “megadiverse”. It is estimated that around 10% of the world’s biodiversity can be found in Colombia. The key is the diversity of its ecosystems. Colombia has deserts, rainforests, Andean cloud forests, two ocean coasts and vast savannahs, enabling almost every type of organism to thrive. In particular, the country boasts the highest number of bird species in the world.
A natural rainbow river in Colombia
The Caño Cristales, also known as the 5-Color River, is a brightly colored freshwater river in which aquatic plants and algae have created a stream of red, blue, orange, yellow and green. This vibrant water is unique, and colors like this are found in no other river on earth.
Colombia has 63 national parks covering more than 10% of the country
Only 1 less protected area than the USA, and just as infinitely varied! Tayrona National Park is by far the most visited by locals and foreigners alike. Superb white sand beaches combined with the Sierra Nevada mountain range create a landscape unlike any other on earth. The vast expanses of these parks are marked by jungles, rainbow rivers (La Macarena), glaciers (Los Nevados), high-altitude lakes (Sierra Nevada del Cocuy) and some rock paintings (Chiribiquete).
Colombia is home to the world’s tallest palm trees
The wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense), also known as palma de cera, is a species of palm native to the Andean region of Colombia, more precisely in the Andes Cordillera, at an altitude of around 2,400 m above sea level.
Wax palms are remarkable for their great size, and some individuals can reach heights of up to 60 meters, making them the tallest palms in the world. These palms are also known for their smooth, straight trunks and thick, glossy crowns of leaves.
Urban life
Third highest capital in the world
At 2,600 m above sea level, Bogotá is one of the world’s highest cities. Be prepared to take your time acclimatizing to the cooler, finer mountain air of Colombia’s capital.
Colombia boasts the longest bicycle path in South America
With over 300 km, this route, theAltro de Letras, is perfect for cycling enthusiasts. But it’s no beginner’s route. It’s also known as one of the world’s most challenging climbs for cyclists. The route includes an 80 km climb that takes you slowly from 468 meters above sea level at Mariquita to 3,663 meters above sea level at the Paramo de Letras pass.
Bogotá is one of the world’s best cities for street art
Several Bogotá neighborhoods, such as La Candelaria, Usaquén and La Macarena, are particularly renowned for their colorful murals and artistic frescoes. Local and international artists have taken over these neighborhoods to create incredible works of urban art on a variety of themes, from politics and culture to nature and society.
Cartagena designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The old city of Cartagena de Indias, on the Caribbean coast, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Cartagena is famous for its impressive Spanish colonial architecture, well-preserved forts, cobbled streets and rich history. The old town is surrounded by historic ramparts that bear witness to its military past and strategic importance as a colonial port. Cartagena’s landmarks include the fortress of San Felipe de Barajas, the Palace of the Inquisition, Santa Catalina Cathedral and numerous picturesque churches and squares.
Geography
Colombia contains part of the Amazon rainforest
10% of the Amazon rainforest, in fact. The country is also one of the 3 countries crossed by the Amazon River (along its border, at Leticia). The rainforest covers around a third of the country.
One of the world’s rainiest cities
The town of Tutunendo, in Choco (on the Pacific coast), has the highest annual rainfall in the world. Yes, more than Seattle or London. On average, the rural town drowns in around 1,176 cm of rain every year.
The world’s second highest coastal mountain range
What exactly does this mean? Reaching an altitude of 5,700 m just 42 km off the Caribbean coast, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the highest coastal range in the tropics and one of the highest in the world.
2 ocean coasts
Colombia is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
A climate that changes little
Colombia’s climate is classified as tropical and isothermal (there is no real change of season) due to its proximity to the equator. As a result, temperatures in one place are virtually the same all year round. Easier to manage your wardrobe!
Páramos (moors)
The world’s largest páramo is in Colombia. The Sumapaz páramo is located just a few hours from Bogotá. The páramo is one of the world’s most important ecosystems, nestled in the mountains between the tree line and the glaciers, and one of the most rapidly evolving ecosystems on Earth. In fact, 50-60% of the world’s páramos are found in Colombia!
Culture
Colombia has the second largest carnival in South America
Everyone has heard of Rio Carnival, but few travelers know that the second-largest celebration takes place in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla, Colombia. It has also been recognized by UNESCO as a “masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity”.
It lasts four days and is packed with parades, dances, music, extravagant costumes and street festivities. The main features of Carnival include the Queen of Carnival parade, cumbia and mapalé dances, groups of costumed dancers, giant puppet shows called “máscaras”, and much more.
Tejo”: Colombian pétanque
Tejo” is officially recognized as Colombia’s national sport, but it is certainly one of the country’s most popular and emblematic traditional sports. Tejo is often considered a national pastime in Colombia due to its popularity and long history.
Tejo is a projectile-throwing sport played by hurling metal discs, called “tejos”, at a clay target filled with black powder, called a “bocin” or “mecha”. The aim is to hit the target to cause an explosion of powder, which earns points.
Aguardiente: Colombia’s national spirit
This is a local liqueur made from sugar cane. It is sweet, inexpensive and drunk neat (30-60% alcohol). Aguardiente is a traditional alcoholic liqueur in Colombia and other Latin American countries. The name “Aguardiente” literally means “fiery water” in Spanish, reflecting its relatively high alcohol content.
One of the world’s largest collections of gold objects
Bogotá’ s Gold Museum houses an impressive collection of over 34,000 gold pieces, making it one of the largest museums of its kind in the world. This vast collection features a wide variety of pre-Columbian gold objects, from jewelry to sculptures and ritual artifacts. A cultural treasure trove, it offers visitors a fascinating insight into the art and spirituality of the ancient civilizations that populated Colombia long before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.
The national anthem is broadcast twice a day on radio and television.
The Colombian national anthem, entitled “¡Oh, Gloria Inmarcesible!” (in French: “Ô Gloire Inaltérable!”), is broadcast on radio and television twice a day in Colombia. This practice is common in many countries, where the national anthem is played to remind citizens of their national identity and attachment to their homeland.
In Colombia, the national anthem is generally played at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.. It’s a tradition that goes back many years and is respected to promote patriotic feeling among Colombians. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of the national anthem as a symbol of national unity and pride.
Colombia has the world’s biggest flower festival AND the world’s biggest salsa festival
Festival of Flowers (Feria de las Flores): held annually in Medellín, this is the world’s largest flower festival. It features an incredible variety of colorful flowers, float parades, floral sculpture competitions and other flora-related events.
Festival de la Salsa de Cali (Feria de Cali): Cali, nicknamed the “salsa capital of the world”, hosts the world’s biggest salsa festival. Every year at the end of December, salsa dancers and enthusiasts from all over the world converge on Cali to take part in dance competitions, attend open-air concerts and experience a true immersion in the world of salsa.
Botero: Colombia’s most famous artist
Fernando Botero is one of Colombia’s most famous and internationally acclaimed artists. He is particularly renowned for his distinctive style of “Boterismo,” which is characterized by the exaggeration of body shapes and objects, creating works of art with exaggerated proportions and voluptuous forms.
Botero was born on April 19, 1932 in Medellín, Colombia, and has enjoyed a highly successful artistic career since the 1950s. His works are exhibited in museums and galleries around the world, and he has created numerous monumental sculptures that adorn public spaces in cities around the world.
Colombia is the world’s third-largest coffee producer
Colombia is the world’s third-largest coffee exporter after Brazil and Vietnam, as well as the leading exporter of Arabica beans. In 2011, UNESCO declared Colombia’s “coffee cultural landscape” a World Heritage Site. One of the reasons why Colombia produces such good coffee is that the country’s geography and climate are almost perfect for growing coffee.
Colombian coffees are often referred to by their specific geographical origins, known as “cafés de terroir”. Notable coffee regions in Colombia include Antioquia, Huila, Nariño, and Quindío, among others.
A winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature
Gabriel García Márquez, the eminent Colombian writer, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. He was honored for his outstanding contribution to literature, particularly for his work in the field of magic realism. García Márquez is famous for his works that blend reality and fantasy in a unique and captivating way. One of his most famous works is the novel “Cent ans de solitude” (“Cien años de soledad”), which has become a classic of world literature.
The Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to Gabriel García Márquez for his ability to create richly imagined worlds and to explore the themes of love, solitude, politics and history in a profound and poetic way. His work has influenced many writers and readers around the world, and continues to be read and studied today.
Drinking chocolate with cheese
“Chocolate con queso” – hot chocolate with cheese. It’s the perfect hot drink for breakfast. The locals melt tasty cheese in a pot of hot chocolate and drink it. Amazing!
