Places to visit in Colombia: Exploring Colombia through world tourism maps

Explore famous tourist attractions around the world through a world tourism map and appreciate the magnificent landscapes of our planet.

North America Part 5: Colombia

Colombia is a country with both maritime and terrestrial territories located in the northern part of South America. It borders Venezuela and Brazil to the east, Ecuador and Peru to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, Panama to the northwest, and the Caribbean Sea to the north. With a land area of 1,141,748 square kilometers, Colombia is divided into 32 provinces and the Capital District of Bogotá, with Bogotá as its capital. In 2021, Colombia’s total population was 51.05 million, ranking third in Latin America. Colombia’s forest area covers approximately 59.31 million hectares, accounting for 51.9% of its territory. Major mineral resources include emeralds, petroleum, natural gas, coal, gold, and nickel. Colombia has the world’s largest emerald reserves.

Places to visit in Colombia: Exploring Colombia through world tourism maps

Places to visit in Colombia: Exploring Colombia through world tourism maps

I. Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments of Cartagena

Cartagena is located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea and has extensive fortifications in South America. This city is divided into three districts: one is San Pedro with its cathedral and many Andalusian-style buildings, one is San Diego, the residential area for merchants and the middle class, and Getsemani, known as the “popular area.” Cartagena is a port and fortress in Colombia, has a group of historic monuments, serves as the capital of Bolívar Province, and is a tourist destination.

Cartagena is a prominent example of 16th, 17th, and 18th century architectural styles, the most extensive in the ‘New World’, and also the most secure one today. Cartagena, along with La Habana and Portobelo in San Juan, are military fortresses on a necessary passage in the West Indies. The city’s architecture has Spanish style, surrounded by ancient city walls and numerous churches. The city faces the sea with protective walls built on amphibious-like open spaces. Many palaces and churches have Baroque exteriors with balconies overlooking the narrow streets. The most famous is the San Pedro Claver Cathedral built in 1603, along with monasteries from the 16th and 17th centuries, a university established in 1827, and ancient forts and castles to defend against pirates.

Places to visit in Colombia: Exploring Colombia through world tourism maps

II. Colombian Coffee Cultural Landscape

It is an outstanding example of a sustainable and productive cultural landscape, and it also represents a unique tradition, one that has strong significance for coffee growing regions worldwide. This heritage site is located in the foothills of the western and central ranges of the Andes Mountains in western Colombia, and consists of 6 agricultural landscapes and 18 urban centers.

The centuries-old coffee cultivation tradition here is mainly characterized by small-scale cultivation in tree forests and the unique coffee cultivation methods adopted by local farmers to overcome the adverse effects of the high mountain environment. The urban areas within the landscape are mainly located on relatively flat mountaintops, while the slopes below the mountaintops are distributed with coffee fields. The urban architecture is dominated by Spanish-influenced Antioquia colonial architecture. The building materials used in these buildings – which are still used in some areas today – are clay mortar mixed with straw and compressed sugarcane for walls, and clay tiles for roofs.

Places to visit in Colombia: Exploring Colombia through world tourism maps

III. Tierradentro National Archaeological Park

It is one of Colombia’s famous archaeological sites, with numerous ancient burial mounds distributed throughout the park. The Tierradentro National Archaeological Park includes many large anthropomorphic statues and tombs from the 6th to 10th centuries. These enormous underground tombs are decorated with patterns similar to those used for domestic interior decoration during that period. They demonstrate that the early Latin American societies living in the northern Andes were prosperous and possessed a high level of civilization.

The underground burial complexes in Tierradentro National Archaeological Park vary in depth, ranging from very shallow tombs to ones as deep as 20 feet. The tombs are decorated with numerous geometric patterns, which are painted in red and black pigments on a white background. Some tomb walls depict slender animals, while the columns supporting the tomb ceilings are often carved with triangular shapes, faces resembling Nordic people, and deep-set eyes.

In Tierradentro National Archaeological Park, numerous statue groups with styles similar to the sculptures of the San Agustín archaeological site have also been excavated. The park also houses a museum displaying excavated ceramic vessels that reflect the human civilization of that period, as well as some replica artifacts.

Places to visit in Colombia: Exploring Colombia through world tourism maps

IV. Historic Center of Santa Cruz de Mompox

It is a typical colonial town along the main waterway, playing an important economic and strategic role in the integrity of the country today. Mompox was founded in 1540 on the banks of the Magdalena River and played a very important role during Spanish rule in North and South America. From the 16th to the 19th century, the city gradually developed parallel to the river, with some main streets serving as dikes. Its establishment harmoniously integrated with the surrounding landscape.

Most buildings still retain their original purpose, providing a special picture of Spanish colonial times. Each of Mompox’s three squares is adorned by a church, which, along with other religious monuments, are the main witnesses to local history. Many forms of brick houses from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries have terraces and tile roofs, with windows decorated by metal latticework.

Although many buildings are occupied by local residents, these buildings are adjacent to rows of shops built after the seventeenth century. The more comfortable houses in the city are constructed with hazel wood, round blocks, and thatched roofs, with an overall layout that is harmonious and delicate.

Places to visit in Colombia: Exploring Colombia through world tourism maps

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