Tourism in Colombia

The Tourism industry in Colombia developed in the 1940s and has maintained a steady growth since then. The main tourist destinations are Bogotá, Cartagena, Eje cafetero, Santa Marta, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla and San Andrés Island, each presenting different tourist attractions. There are different tourist seasons in Colombia, the two most busy are related to religious celebrations; the holy week and Christmas among other numerous public holidays, including the celebrations surrounding the Independence of Colombia.
The varied and rich geography, and flora and fauna of Colombia has also developed an eco-tourist industry, mostly developed in the National Natural Parks of Colombia that include the areas of Amacayacu Park in the Department of Amazonas, Colombian National Coffee Park in the town of Montenegro, Quindío, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Los Nevados National Park (near the city of Manizales), Cocora valley in Salento, Quindío, PANACA theme Park, PANACA Savanna Park, Tayrona Park in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range (near the city of Santa Marta), the Tatacoa Desert, the Chicamocha Canyon National Park, Gorgona and Malpelo islands, as well as Cabo de la Vela in the Guajira Peninsula.

Tourist spots in Colombia

Colombian National Museum - Located in Bogotá downtown, the museum is the biggest in Colombia. Former prison called Panóptico (inspired by the Panopticon prison). The National Museum is the oldest in the country and one of the oldest in the continent, built in 1823 as well. Its fortress architecture is built in stone and brick. The plant includes arches, domes and columns forming a sort of Greek cross over which 104 prison cells are distributed, with solid wall façade. The museum houses a collection of over 20,000 pieces including works of art and objects representing different national history periods. Permanent exhibitions present archeology and ethnography samples from most antique Colombian men vestiges, 10,000 years BC, up to XX century indigenous and afro- Colombian art and culture. Founders and New Kingdom of Granada room houses rich Liberators and other Spanish authorities iconography; the round room exhibits a series of oleos synthesizing Colombia painting history.

Torre Colpatria (Colpatria Tower) - Tower is a 50-story building located in Bogotá, Colombia. It is the tallest in the country. It was built in 1978, and has an altitude of 196 meters. The main headquarters of Colpatria Bank are located in the building, and also a great number of other different banks and financial corporations. The building lies in the intersection of 26th street and 7th avenue, in the middle of the city's downtown. The building is a landmark in the country, and it dominates Bogota's skyline along with other structures such as the Bancafé, Fonade and Colseguros buildings.
On weekends and holidays, the top floor is open to visitors, where a cafeteria and a viewpoint are located. Colpatria Tower was to be surpassed as the tallest building in Colombia by a new 206m tall apartment tower that was being built in the city of Cartagena. But this project came to an end after its structure was bent during a series of fast winds on 2007 and the city ordered its dismounting.