Matador's Ultimate Guide to Colombia

Lush, warm, and utterly welcoming ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [View this email in your browser]( [Matador's Guide to Colombia]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to Colombia Hi all, Colombia is a place of rich biodiversity and vibrant cities. The South American country is also home to many unique travel surprises. For example, it’s the only country where you can take a gondola from the heart of a major city 30 minutes up into a national park in the mountains. Its best hike is actually [done in reverse]( from the end to the beginning. And the empanadas are so good you’ll never consider a low-carb diet again. Getting to Colombia is a direct flight from several American cities, and with the country’s new [digital nomad visa]( you might even be able to stick around longer than you’d planned. This week, Matador explores Colombia. Let’s dive in. This week, Matador explores Colombia. [Let’s dive in](. [EXPLORE COLOMBIA](  GET INSPIRED [Cocora Valley]( How To Visit Colombia’s Cocora Valley, the Enchanting Inspiration Behind Disney’s ‘Encanto’ Cocora Valley is home to the world’s tallest palm trees and some of the most impressive mountain-based views in all of Latin America. It’s no wonder Disney chose it as the setting of the film. However, exploring the real-life Colombian valley might just serve to be more enchanting than viewing the film itself. [READ NOW]( [Bogota]( How Former Gang Members Are Rebuilding Bogota’s Most Violent Neighborhood In the heart of Bogota, the country’s capital and the center of years of unrest, a Colombian university is working to change what was once the city’s most violent neighborhood for the better, and with that, the perception the rest of the world has of Colombia. [READ NOW]( [person drinking coffee]( Colombia Is the Next Hot Destination for LGBTQ Travelers Bogota, Cartagena, and Medellín are exciting and safe destinations for LGBTQ travelers. Each of the cities has a thriving queer scene with a wide range of bars, clubs, and even neighborhoods of their own. Here, we take a look at the country’s top LGBTQ destinations. [READ MORE](  NATURE + ADVENTURE [Jardin, Colombia]( For the Perfect Day of Hiking and Colombian Coffee, Head To Jardín While lots of travelers take a trip to the beaches of nearby Guatapé to escape the hustle, going south to verdant Jardín is actually a better option. Here’s why. [READ NOW]( [Rosario Islands, boats by an island]( How To Swim, Snorkel, and Eat Your Way Through Colombia’s Rosario Islands Head to the Rosario Islands, a rustic national park surrounded by the pale blue Caribbean Sea. We recommend spending at least one night there to really savor the islands’ more relaxed pace of life. [READ NOW]( [Colombia]( Why You Should Do Colombia’s Most Famous Hike in Reverse Backpackers and hikers flock to the sleepy coffee town of Salento for easy access to the valley’s hike, which culminates in the main attraction: the wax palm valley. Most do the hike clockwise, but you should do it the other way around. [READ NOW](  FOOD + CULTURE [salsa dancing in Cali]( How To Learn Salsa in Cali, Colombia, the Salsa Capital of the World There is no better place in the world to learn salsa dancing than Cali, Colombia. In the self-proclaimed “Salsa Capital of the World,” salsa is everywhere. [READ NOW]( [El Bony]( A Colombian Boxing Legend Now Dishes Fish and Aphrodisiacs at His Iconic Cartagena Restaurant Now nearly four decades old, the restaurant is a true Cartagena icon and one of the most highly recommended places to eat in the city. That’s no small feat, with Cartagena being known as a food capital in Latin America. [READ NOW]( [empanadas]( All the Empanadas in South and Central America You Need To Try Before You Die Every country will defend their empanada as best, and we’re certainly not going to get involved in crowning a champ. Decide for yourself instead by trying all of these empanada variations in South and Central America before you die. [READ NOW](  TIPS, ADVICE + DEALS [Colombia's Amazon]( You Can Visit the Colombian Amazon for as Little as $50 Per Day The often overlooked Colombian Amazon Rainforest tempts travelers that are seeking diverse wildlife or immersive and budget-friendly excursions into the depths of the ancient rainforest. [READ NOW]( [Cartagena]( Cartagena’s Upscale Scene Is on the Rise, but It Still Has a Wild Side For folks who live in South Florida, Cartagena is both closer and cheaper than Las Vegas, the weekend getaway of choice for a little “what happens here, stays here” action. [READ NOW]( [San Andres]( Why You Should Visit San Andrés, Colombia, Over Any Other Caribbean Island While Jamaican all-inclusives and Bahamian cruise ports see visitor numbers rise year after year, the Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providencia continue to fly under the radar of many tourists. [READ NOW]( [Epic Stays TikTok](  [Facebook](  [Twitter](  [Youtube](  [Instagram](  [Tiktok](  [Pinterest]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. Or [unsubscribe from our newsletter.]( We'll be here when you need us! Copyright © 2022 Matador Network, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Matador Network, PO Box 7775, Suite 40021, San Francisco, CA 94120, United States Â