,Colombia travel advice seekers should be prepared for a sensory assault that will entice and thrill visitors. Columbia has a great deal of diverse attractions and activities, with two coasts facing the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It has everything from deserts to glaciers, steaming rainforests, secluded islands, pristine beaches and modern cities.
It's easiest for visitors from North America, Europe and other parts of the world to just fly into Bogota, the country's capital. Itinerary permitting, some visitors can fly on to destinations such as San Andres, Cali and Cartagena. The country can also be entered by road from Ecuador and Venezuela, while others may prefer to cross over from Panama by boat.
Safety-wise, visitors don't have all that much to worry these days. Metropolitan zones are about the same as any other city in Central & South America. Visitors should take standard precautions such as avoiding a tough neighborhood after dark and not heading off solo into isolated regions.
The real draw for visitors is the variety of the destinations and the natural beauty. The choices range from Bogota's flesh pots to the Salsa clubs in Cali and the Carnival in Barranquilla, among others. Visitors can spend many days & weeks enjoying all this, not to mention the tropical rainforests, majestic humpback whales in the Pacific, and the pristine beaches and coral reefs near Caribbean coast islands like San Andres, Santa Catalina and Providencia.
In fact, scuba diving in these reefs is one of the top attractions for visitors from every corner of the world. In addition to the aforementioned Caribbean islands, there are dive spots just as good on the Pacific coast too. Let's take a look at which destinations on both coasts are good for visitors where scuba diving can be combined with a holiday and sight-seeing.
The top destinations for both tourists and divers on the Caribbean Coast are undoubtedly San Andres and Providencia. On the Pacific Coast, the top two choices would be Isla Gorgona and Malpelo Island. Visitors should make this choice depending on how good their diving skills are, how much adventure they're looking for, and the mode of transport they're comfortable with.
It's a lot easier to reach San Andres (700 km from the mainland) because of the airport here. Also, visitors interested in scuba diving can enjoy Providencia and Santa Catalina too since one of the longest coral reefs in the world stretches across all three destinations. The amazing diversity of marine life here can be judged from the fact that San Andres is in the middle of what is known as the sea of seven colors.
Pacific coast divers at spots near Malpelo Island or Isla Gorgona tend to be more adventurous. A trip here involves a flight to Guapi from Cali, followed by a boat ride to the island. Crystal clear and cold waters await divers, along with whale sharks and hammerheads. Isla Gorgona is an especially tourist-friendly place with nature tours, whale watching and beaches, and a history as an old prison island like Alcatraz.
To sum up all of this Colombia travel advice in a nutshell, visitors need to come up a travel plan that involves a lengthy stay. There's no way to hop from one destination to another in planes on a weekend stay, and neither is it possible to drive thru on a quick road trip. Each place here needs to be considered as a vacation within a vacation, and enjoyed slowly without worrying about being late for the next flight out.
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