Colombia

Colombia is located at the northern tip of South America and borders Panama to the north and Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil to the south and east which it also shares the Amazon rainforest with. Colombia is a vibrant and diverse country that offers an enormous range of landscapes from the tropical and humid Caribbean coast to the north, the rugged Pacific coastline in the west, the Andes mountain range through the middle and the Amazon jungle to the south.

Colombia's diversity of ecosystems brings a range of wildlife and bird spotting opportunities The Santa Marta mountain range is the tallest coastal mountain range in the world and has prolific birdlife with over 600 species recorded and includes many endemic species such as Santa Marta Parakeet and Santa Marta Mountain Tanager. On the Pacific coast Humpback whales come annually to the warm waters to give birth to their young, they can be spotted between July and October. The giant anteater, black caiman and jaguar can be found in the savannah and amazon and pink river dolphins can be found close to the town of San Jose del Guaviare.

There are many hiking opportunities in Colombia through picturesque valleys and landscapes as well as visiting rural coffee farms and learning about the country's world-renowned coffee production. The Caribbean coast offers coral reefs for snorkelling and diving, beautiful beaches and the stunning Tayrona National Park.

The vibrant capital city, Bogota is a melting pot of culture and history and has some world class museums such as the Gold Museum. One of the country's most iconic attractions, however, is the ancient city of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its well-preserved colonial architecture, colourful streets, lively street life and vibrant nightlife make this an interesting place to stop for a few nights.

The main language in Colombia is Spanish but many other languages are spoken, there are over 90 different indigenous groups, including the Wayuu people in the Guajira peninsula in northern Colombia, the Kogi and Wiwa that are direct descendants of the Taironas and live in the lands around Tayrona National Park. In this area, you can trek to the Lost City (Cuidad Perdida), built by the Taironas people in 800AD and now deep in the jungle. Cultural opportunities exist to learn more about the indigenous tribes way of life in many regions of Colombia including the Amazon and Santa Marta region.

Colombia's climate varies depending on the region, with warm coastal areas, cooler highland regions, and tropical rainforests. In Colombia the dry season is from December to March and the rainy season from April to November but holidays to Colombia happen all year round.