The best of Colombia is a debate travelers entertain until the small hours of the night.
What is the best city in Colombia? The best beach? Best pueblo?
Really there are no right or wrong answers. The remarks reveal more about the person than the country. Everybody is right and no one is wrong.
This is my list of the 'best of the best' in Colombia
Click-on-links for more detailed information:
Best Cities to Visit: Medellin, Santa Marta, Armenia, Ibague, Popoyan
Best Small Cities: San Gil, Honda
Best Villages: Jericho and Jardin in Antioquia, Barichara and Velez in Santander,
Best Historical Centers: Cartegena, Popayan, Villa de Leyva, Barichara, Honda and Mompox along the Magdalena River.
Best Main Square: Villa de Leyva - largest in Colombia
Best Climate: Medellin, Bucaramanga, Popayan, San Gil, San Agustin, Duitama (cooler)
Bests Museums: Bogota
Best Border Towns: Cucuta, Leticia
Best Mountain Town: El Cocuy, Mongui
Best River to Explore: the Magdalena
Best Islands: Isla Fuerte, Providencia
Best Canyon: Chicamocha in Santander
Best Waterfall: Salto de Bodones (near San Agustin)
Best University Towns: Pomplona, Popayan
Best Place to live an Alternative life style: Palomino
Best High Altitude Coffee: Urrao, Narino, Sierra Nevada, Risaralda
Best Market: Bucaramanga
3 Cordilleras Stout
12 year old rum - Ron Medellin, Dictador or La Hachicera
Best Restaurants: Bogota
Best Wine Zones to Visit: La Union - Parque Nacional di Uva
Jet Chocolate, Margherita Potato Chips, arepa con huevo
Atlantic and Pacific Coasts
Maracuya (Passion Fruit) / Guyaba
Lechona (roasted baby pig), Sancocho (chicken soup)
Pandebono/ Pan de yuca
fruit juices, agua panela lemon aid, expresso coffee
Best Domestic Airline: Latam
Best Airport: La Dorada: Bogota
Best Bus Lines: Liberadores, Palmira Metro, Bolivariano
Best Inner City Transportation: Medellin's metro
Most Interesting form of Transport: Chiva buses
Best Adventure Sports: San Gil
Best Hot Springs: San Vincente, Cocunco (near Popayan)
Best Archeological Sites: San Agustin, Tierradentro
Best Destination in the Amazon: Cerros de Mavecure
Best Route Between Two Cities: Bogota to Medellin via Honda
Best Place to Whale Watch: Bahia Solano
Best Place to go Bird Watching: Sierra Nevada Mountains near Santa Marta; Antioquia Rain forest; Pacific Choco Coastal Rainforest; Amazon Jungle; Cloud Forests of Los Nevados, Manizales.
Best Hiking Adventure: Trek to Ciudad Perdida
Best Church: Las Lajas
Best Tour: Norcasia Rivers and Waterfalls
Best Place to do Yage/Ayuhuasca: Jungles outside of Mocoa
Best Place for Nature: The Amazon
Best Towns for Colombian Arts and Crafts: Raquira, Findlandia, Jericho
Best Colombian Hats: the Vueltiao straw hats in Tuchin/ Aguadeno hats made in Aguadas
Best Colombian: Hammocks - San Jacinto
Best Wool Products: Nobsa
Best Ceramics: Carmen de Viboral near Medellin - hand painted ceramics
Best Filagree: Mompox
Best Leather Goods : Jericho in Antioquia
Best Music: Salsa
Best Dance Clubs: Cali
Best Colombia Artist: Botero
Best Colombian Writer: Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Best Singer - Most Popular: Shakira
Best Shopping Malls: Cucuta
Best Economical Hotel Chain: Ayenda