Why go to Colombia? The 10 good reasons to go Colombia

Museums have very variable opening hours, but most often they are open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm, and on Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Most are therefore closed on Mondays. When Monday is a holiday, which happens frequently, the museum may open on Monday and close on Tuesday, but this is not a mandatory rule

As far as the national parks are concerned, they are generally open every day, from 7 or 8 am. Some of them close for longer or shorter periods, for the regeneration of natural sites, or for spiritual reasons. This is the case of the Tayrona Park, closed to all tourist activity three times during the year, for two weeks each time. The indigenous people of the Sierra (Arhuaco, Kankuamo, Kogui and Wiwa) perform rituals in homage to the Madre Tierra.

Reservations are rarely necessary, except for large groups, or for the provision by the museum of a French-speaking guide. The use of drones and videos is sometimes regulated. For their use, it is therefore necessary to contact the relevant department in advance.

Most of the museums are free or have low prices, in the order of the equivalent of 2 or 3 euros. Even the prestigious museums managed by the Banco de la República are free: Botero Museum and the regional Gold Museums in particular (the one in Bogotá is only free on Sundays, but its entrance fee is modest)

The prices of the archaeological sites and national parks are higher, but remain accessible, around $50-60,000 for the most expensive. The latter sometimes offer the possibility of coming for two consecutive days, as in the archaeological parks of Tierradentro and San Agustin. Colombians, or inhabitants of a region, often benefit from preferential rates, as do foreigners with a permanent residence permit in Colombia. Children under 2 or 3 years old do not usually pay. Children under 12 and adults over 60 also have preferential rates, as do students. In the national parks, people under 25, if they are nationals or residents, also get a discount. The rates for local guides vary greatly, but are still quite low by European standards. Do not hesitate to leave a tip

In any season, you can attend shows, festivals, sports events and other events. The big cities concentrate most of the big events, some of which are internationally renowned, such as the Hay Festival in January and the Cartagena International Film Festival in March; the Barranquilla Carnival in February; the Bogotá Theater Festival in April (every two years), the Book Festival in April as well; the series of music festivals (rock, salsa, hip-hop, jazz.) in the capital's Parque Bolívar throughout the year; Colombiamoda and the Festival de las Flores in Medellín in July and August; the Festival de la Música del Pacífico Petronio Álvarez, the Festival Mondial de la Salsa and the Feria de Cali, in August, September and December respectively. But the medium-sized cities and towns (Villa de Leyva, Barichara, Manizales, Valledupar, etc.) are not left out and also organize festive and cultural events of quality.

Most sites and museums can be visited without a guide. It would be a shame to do without one in some cases, such as for archaeological sites, in order to dive deeply into the history of the place. The same goes for some nature reserves, to be able to appreciate the fauna and flora to the fullest and to learn more about the local communities. In the national parks, guides are sometimes mandatory, for security reasons (especially not to get lost)

Be careful, hikers, the trails are rarely marked, and many mountain areas are privately owned, where you are not necessarily welcome... Some sites require you to go in a group, with a guide. The trek to the Lost City in particular. French-speaking guides are available, but in certain seasons (July-August in particular), their services are in high demand and you may be forced to form a group with other visitors. In Colombia, in the major tourist cities, there are of course the ever-popular "Free Walking Tours". They are supposed to be free, but once again, remember to leave a reasonable tip for the time and quality of the guide's work.

Smoking is not allowed in national parks, nature reserves, or archaeological sites. If you decide to ignore the regulations, at least make the effort to take your cigarette butts with you.

Don't fall for the "narco tour" scam that might be offered to you, consisting of going to see the cocaine manufacturing process. It's bound to be bogus, in addition to being illegal. We also do not encourage the voyeuristic "Pablo Escobar tours" that some agencies in Medellín offer.

Colombia is increasingly admired for the quality of its street art. The walls and facades of the big cities have been transformed into real works of art, where themes related to freedom, love, war, the place of women, etc. dominate. A graffiti tour is often a way to better understand the current Colombian society, while admiring the finesse or humor of the artists.