Colombia

Blessed with sublime beauty and diverse topography, Colombia has emerged from years of civil strife to become one of South America’s must-visit luxury holiday destinations. Here, dramatic volcanoes and Andean peaks give way to temperate highlands and the rolling valleys and plains of the eastern lowlands. The country is renowned for its ecotourism and nature tours, while world-class diving, trekking and adventure sports. In the north, old Spanish cities stand barely changed for centuries, while inland lie the enigmatic ruins of ancient indigenous civilisations.

Colombia’s Caribbean coastline stretches for around 1,600km. The star of the show is Tayrona, Colombia’s most celebrated National Park, situated at the confluence of mountain and ocean ecosystems. It’s a lush paradise of virgin rainforest, powdery beaches, and home to wildlife including jaguars. Tayrona National Park acts as a starting point for luxury treks to the ancient Ciudad Perdida (“Lost City”), a series of two hundred 9th-century mountainside structures that predate Machu Picchu by several centuries.

The Caribbean coast also plays host to the jewel of South America, the UNESCO-listed walled colonial city of Cartagena. This beautiful city of pastel-coloured Spanish buildings, cobbled streets and plazas, old churches and fortifications, is an essential stop on any luxury holiday in Colombia.

Capital Bogota showcases modern Colombia at it’s best. Fast-paced, exciting and cosmopolitan, Bogota has a world-class range of boutique and luxury hotels, designer stores and a buzzing nightlife, plus a burgeoning reputation as a top city for dining.