Deep within the country’s seductive interior, perched on a ridge overlooking the Suarez River canyon, lies Barichara, Colombia’s prettiest town. This is a place where time seems to stand still. Andalusian-style townhouses with golden sandstone walls and bougainvillea-decked whitewashed façades line the cobbled streets and shady plazas, where the day-to-day life of the town goes by at a gentle pace, the same way it has for centuries.

Traditional artisans, stoneworkers, and weavers still work in the town. Nowadays they are also joined by a growing community of contemporary artists who have chosen to make their home here, drawn by the beautiful light, the inspirational architecture, and the scenery, but most of all by the quiet and relaxed rural lifestyle. Lazy days can easily be spent exploring the town and surrounding countryside, soaking up the atmosphere and taking it easy (siesta culture is very much alive and well here) but there are also numerous options for the more active from gentle walks and birdwatching excursions, to mountain biking, paragliding or white water rafting.