Confectionary-hued cities, coffee plantations and magical Caribbean hideaways

“It’s ludicrous this place exists and everybody doesn’t want to live here,” said food and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain about Colombia.

Nicknamed ‘the gateway to South America,’ Colombia’s position on the equator, flanked by two oceans, blesses the country with the full complement of verdant landscapes.

Relax on virgin beaches with powdery white sand and turquoise water, visit the jade green hills of the “eje cafetero,” the coffee triangle, take in icy peaks, high-altitude lakes and the wildlife rich Los Llanos, a 550,000-sq-km stretch of tropical wetlands, dubbed the ‘Serengeti of South America.’

But natural attractions aren’t the only draw. Once plagued by a chequered history, Colombia’s cities are booming with creativity.

Our specialists will give you the inside track and private access to everything from history and politics to art and architecture, and of course the delectable food and drink scene.

All you need to pack are your sense of adventure and the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. From private island boltholes and exclusive nature lodges to trendy urban regeneration and a thriving cultural scene, visit this jewel of South America before the masses catch on.