#Colombia

Official name: Republic of Colombia, is a sovereign country located in the northwestern region of South America, which is constituted as a unitary, social and democratic state of law whose form of government is presidential.

It is the only nation in South America that has coasts on the Pacific Ocean and access to the Atlantic through the Caribbean Sea, where it has various islands such as the archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina.

It is the twenty-eighth most populous country in the world, with a population of 51 million inhabitants,1819 it is also the second nation with the most Spanish speakers, only behind Mexico. It has a multicultural population, which reflects the influence of the large-scale European colonization, native peoples, and African labor, with migratory waves from Europe and the Middle East during the 20th century.

Colombia's purchasing power parity gross domestic product ranks fourth in Latin America and the 28th place worldwide. 

Colombian nominal GDP is the fourth largest in Latin America and ranks 28th worldwide.

It is the second most biodiverse nation in the world, with 54,871 registered species; however, a study places it among the eight countries responsible for half of the destruction of biodiversity in the world. On the other hand, it is the country in Latin America with the most ecological conflicts between the local population and multinational companies in areas of special environmental protection.

To protect its environment, the country has instruments such as the National Climate Change Policy and the carbon tax.

Electricity production in Colombia comes mainly from renewable energy sources. 69.97% is obtained from hydroelectric generation.

Why travel to Colombia?

Colombia is distinguished internationally as the venue for the World Economic Forum for Latin America (Cartagena de Indias, 2010) and the General Assembly of the Inter-American Development Bank (Medellín, 2009). The kindness, warmth and passion of Colombians for life are qualities that you will find the tourist in all latitudes of the national territory. His ge te is creative, positive, recursive, cheerful and with an infinite capacity for work. Colombians will captivate your heart by showing you how to be a friend from the first moment.

Masks, plumes, makeup, music, dances, characters and joy make up, among many other elements, the traditional Colombian festivals. 

The country offers a wide range of fairs that position it as an ideal destination for the entertainment and joy of world tourists. The different cultural manifestations are known and recognized for their representative and genuine richness, among others are the Barranquilla Carnival, the Medellin Flower Fair, the Bogota Ibero-American Theater Festival, the Black and White Carnival of Pasto and the Fair from Manizales. 

For lovers of nature and extreme sports, the three mountain ranges of the Colombian Andes constitute an excellent setting for climbing or walking trails. 

For water sports, the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Coast or the lakes and reservoirs in the interior of the country are the best settings for practicing lightning, regattas, surfing and even fishing and rafting. 

The Triangle of Coffee is the heart of the famous Colombian coffee, a region that includes the departments of Quindío, Risaralda and Caldas. It has a tourist offer based on tradition and the conservation of its landscapes and coffee traditions. It is possible to stay in beautiful haciendas in the middle of the immense coffee plantations, experience the grain production process, as well as enjoy theme parks around the coffee culture. 

Colombian gastronomy is as varied as its regions, the result of miscegenation, and enriched with the ethnic and cultural contributions of the indigenous, Spanish, African and Arab people. 

The Caribbean stands out for the use of coconut, banana, cassava and tropical fruits such as corozo and mango, for the accompaniment and dressing of fish and shellfish; the Andean Region has a marked tendency towards meat, potatoes, beans and corn, while on the Pacific Coast the cuisine revolves around rice, lentils and fish, in the Orinoquía towards veal, cassava and fish. Undoubtedly, touring the country becomes an experience that your five senses will remember. 

Cartagena de Indias, San Andrés and Santa Marta are the cities of the Colombian Caribbean where the cruise ships of the main international shipping companies arrive and allow passengers to disembark to discover the beauty of these coastal places, try the best of the local gastronomy, visit the historical places and do some shopping. Cartagena is also an embarkation point for tourists who want to cross the sea in these large ships and live the experience of traveling through the Caribbean Sea. The cruise season runs from October to May.