Colombian Landmarks Sure to Take Your Breathe Away
Colombia, in South America, has always piqued my curiosity. The media has portrayed it as a very dangerous country especially for tourists. As I began traveling and searching for my next destination, I researched Colombia. Just like any other country, Colombia has many beautiful and historical places to visit. Places I’ve never heard of but have captured my attention. So today, I am writing about the Colombia landmarks for us to visit.
Let us begin with the Cathedral of Zipaguira. Deep down about 600 feet underground is an old salt mine abandoned approximately two centuries ago. It was converted into a Cathedral with its Roman Catholic icons built out of salt in 1953. You can see how amazing and impressive it is by looking at the photos. The Cathedral has daily one-hour or thirty-five-minute tours for visitors to explore. The Cathedral of Zipaguira is my first stop when we visit Colombia.
The Lost City in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta founded in approximately 800 CE, is an archaeological site of an ancient city. It is not for the faint of heart. It takes strong hikers to make it to the Lost City through tough terrains and trails. But once you arrive, what you’ll see will compensate for the hike. There are 1200 narrow steep steps to reach the entrance itself. However, it is considered one of the best hikes in Colombia.
You can’t miss “El Peñon de Guatapé“ (Rock of Guatape) in the municipality of Guatape, Antioquia. It is a free-standing rock formation and is one of the tallest in the world. The rock’s peak elevation is of 7,005 feet, which you can reach if you’re capable of taking the 650 steps up — not bad compared to the Lost City. But once you reach the top, you quickly realize that the climb was well worth it.
Caño Cristales in Serrania de la Macarena, a 62-mile long river deep in the province of Meta, is one of Mother Nature’s stunning wonders. During certain periods of the year, the river is a display of vivid colors seen nowhere else in the world. When conditions are right, colors of red, green, blue, yellow, and black cover the river’s bed. This spectacle can be seen anywhere between mid-May and December. But, the best time of the year is the months of June and November.
Santuario Las Laja (Sanctuary of the Virgen of Lajas) at 330 feet high is in Nariño and less than 7 miles from the Ecuadorian border. It sits atop a 130-foot tall bridge overlooking the Guaitara river. It was built inside a canyon between 1916 and 1949. This impressive Roman Catholic church is famous for its stunning architecture. Legend has it there have been apparitions of the Holy Virgin — quite an interesting story. But you can’t deny that this structure is one of the most spectacular ones world-wide.
Like I mentioned earlier, I haven’t traveled to Colombia, but it is on my bucket list. These are my top picks when creating my itinerary which I anticipate will be soon. Do you think I made a good choice? Have you visited Colombia? If so, what was your favorite place, and which ones do you recommend?
Originally published at http://travelerwows.com on March 20, 2020.
