VISITING COLOMBIA

Colombia is unlike anything you have seen on the news or in movies. It is a modern bustling place with a vibrant growing economy. The Uribe administration with the support of the United States, has been accomplishing what many thought was impossible –peace has become commonplace. Colombia's natural beauty is stunning. It is a modern nation, seeking a place among Latin America's leaders. Its popular President, Alvaro Uribe, now in his second term, has made tremendous progress in making Colombia one of Latin America's showplaces, and its economy continues to boom with new construction underway nationwide.

You will most likely arrive in Bogotá, a vast metropolis of over 8 million people, at the city's newly remodeled El Dorado International Airport. From there you will catch a direct flight of about 35 minutes to the lovely alpine-like city of Manizales. Colombia's other world-class cities, Medellin, Cali, and Cartegena also boast direct flights from the USA and other world points of departure. You do not need a VISA if you are a US citizen to enter Colombia. All you need is your US Passport.

Colombian people are very friendly and helpful. They are extremely proud of their nation. And although English is not commonly spoken, they are curious about and genuinely like Americans. Coming to Colombia feels like discovering a new paradise. The truth is that due to the violence and unrest of the prior 30 or so years, Colombia is off the beaten trail. There is simply not much tourism and relatively few foreign visitors.

Colombians in general are very attractive people physically and culturally. They are sophisticated and worldly. And particularly in Manizales one will encounter a special mixture of Spanish and indigenous heritages. Manizales women are very conscious of their appearance, and whatever their economic status, always dress well. Miss Colombia is frequently amongst the finalists for the Miss Universe title. Colombianas are strikingly beautiful. And believe it or not, Manizaleñas are some of Colombia's more lovely women.

Hotels in most of Colombia are clean and inexpensive. There is any number of world-class major hotels in the larger cities. Prices vary accordingly. Personal attention more than makes up for the lack of grand gallerias. Highways and city streets are generally very good and in most cities, Colombia 's cheap taxis will take you almost anywhere for a couple of dollars. Public transportation is superior to most US cities. Medellin boasts a state of the art metro system. And guess what? No graffiti on the metro station walls.

The restaurants are mostly good and inexpensive. Food of every conceivable cuisine can be found in Bogotá and Medellin. Service in restaurants, hotels and shops is typically Latin – gracious and well attended. One note of advice: if you bring anything with you to Colombia, bring patience. Life flows along in Colombia at a different pace than that accustomed to in the United States. Most of the time no one is in any particular hurry. Impatience will get you nowhere and will lead to a lot of frustration.

Colombia is a big place with truly an unbelievably varied geography and topography. The Atlantic coastline is typical Caribbean. The Pacific coast is still wild and untamed. Central Colombia encompasses 3 major mountain ranges with some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere in the world, while the southern part of the country holds the largest portion of the vast Amazon Basin outside Brazil. Like the US, Colombia has two oceans with more than 1,000 miles of both Caribbean and Pacific coast line. Being located at such a geographical crossroads has left Colombia with a fabulous history, with the culture of colonial Spain still evident in its architecture, language, customs and religion. The region continues to produce and export some of the finest gems in the world, particularly emeralds,

In its wild places, Colombia is an ecological paradise, having recently become a sort of Mecca for eco tourism focused on the perhaps greatest variety of birds and other wildlife in all the Americas. Colombia is famous for its enormous variety of flowers, and its rich volcanic soil produces what has been referred to as the finest coffee in the world. Likewise, locally produced chocolate is known for its outstanding character.

Along the Caribbean coast, Cartegena is a fascinating mixture of modern Miami Beach combined with old San Juan and pre-Castro Havana. Its' wonderful old city located entirely within a colonial Spanish fort is filled with shops, restaurants and hotels. Take a daytrip to Rosario, an offshore island, for swimming and snorkeling in transparent turquoise water. Santa Marta, not far away, offers incredible site seeing at a pair of radically differing National Parks. Tyrona with its sparkling clear waters on the ocean, and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta with a mountain peak of 21,000 feet define the incredible diversity that is Colombia.

And then, there is the anomaly of San Andes, an island about 125 miles off the coast of Nicaragua that nevertheless belongs to Colombia. San Andres' crystal clear waters are famous for their 7 distinctly different shades of blue and are protected by an extensive barrier reef. There is no fishing inside the reef so the fish have no fear of humans, making for outstanding diving and snorkeling.

Finally, there is our beautiful Manizales , located within Central Colombia 's famed Coffee Zone, the Eje Cafetera. This is a rugged mountainous region known for its mild cool climate, spectacular scenery and stunningly gorgeous women . Set at 7,000 feet elevation, this lovely city of about 450,000 people is known as one of the safest places in South America. It is home to major universities and technical schools. Some of Colombia's finest law and medical schools are in Manizales. Yet this region is undiscovered and untrammeled by hordes of gawking tourists. You will see very few foreigners while you are in Manizales. Come and visit, stay to enjoy. And while you are here, take advantage of a unique opportunity to learn some Spanish. Whether you are just beginning or have some background in the Spanish language, we are certain that our concept will assist you with understanding the beauty and variety that is “Castellaño” – the Spanish language.

GETTING TO MANIZALES

Manizales is located about 130 miles Northwest of Bogotá, itself a world-class cosmopolitan city with direct connections to many international destinations. There are numerous flights daily from Bogotá, each approximately 30 o 35 minutes. Cali and Medellin, both with direct international connections, also offer daily flights direct to Manizales. Inexpensive ground transportation to anywhere in Colombia is available through an extensive and modern system of well-maintained buses. Intercity transportation consists of a fleet of metered taxis and a mass transportation system that will whisk you anywhere in the city at inexpensive fares.