Carnival in Barranquilla, Colombia, 2010

The Carnaval in Barranquilla, Colombia, celebrating Mardi Gras, got off to a great start. These pictures from El Heraldo newspaper tell it all.

Readers of Lonley Planet vote Colombia #3 top destination for 2010

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/colombia/travel-tips-and-articles/42/18633

Lonely Planet has certainly promoted Colombia as a rising star in travel, and its readers clearly feel the same.

What Lonely Planet has to say: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/colombia

New York Times readers pick Colombia as #2 world destination in 2010

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/travel/2010-places-to-go.html



In a poll of readers asking what destinations were top choices for visiting in 2010, Colombia ranked 2nd in the entire world as far as responses go, out of 1,532 responses. The NYT itself ranked it one of the top choices as well, noting:

26. Colombia
Unfairly or not, Colombia is still known for its cocaine cartels and street violence, but cool-hunting travelers are calling it Latin America’s next affordable hot spot.

Bogotá, its capital, has emerged as a role model of urban reinvention. Starting in the late 1990s, the city underwent a breathtaking transformation. Sidewalks, once used mainly for parking, are now lined with bicycle paths and tree-shaded cafes. An innovative bus system zips residents across the traffic-congested city. And museums and restaurants have opened in its historic center, including the refurbished Museo del Oro, which houses pre-Columbian treasures.

Getting there is affordable, too. JetBlue recently began nonstop daily service to Bogotá from Orlando, Fla., joining other carriers including Delta.

Meanwhile, the picturesque coastal city of Cartagena, a Unesco World Heritage site, which has been experiencing a tourism surge in recent years, gets even more stylish. The latest addition is the Tcherassi Hotel + Spa (www.tcherassihotels.com), a seven-room boutique hotel designed by Silvia Tcherassi, a Colombian fashion designer. It has even prompted some travel bloggers to call Cartagena the next Buenos Aires. — Denny Lee

Colombia Recognized as Top Emerging Destination

http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/article.php?page_id=3178

Wanderlust Travel Awards 2010 Top Emerging Destination
By Wanderlust team
Discover which emerging destination scooped top prize in this year's awards
Wanderlust Travel Awards 2010

Wanderlust Travel Awards 2010

Top Emerging Destination

Colombia

This new category rewards countries that received fewer visitors – and therefore votes – than those in the main country category, but which wowed those who did visit. Top of the pile was Colombia, the Latin American nation whose wild beaches, colonial cities (including Unesco-listed Cartagena), archeological sites and rolling coffee plantations are fast erasing outdated stereotypes of drugs and crime.

In-the-know favourites Madagascar and Bhutan follow close behind. Best known for all-inclusive luxury resorts, The Maldives were a surprise in this category – but for snorkellers and divers there are truly few better spots on earth.

Ranking %

1 Colombia

2 Madagascar

3 Bhutan

4 Maldives

5 Israel

6 Mongolia

7 Libya

8 Iran

9 Rwanda

10 Uzbekistan

France Endorses Colombia for Safe Travel

According to Dinero.com, France has upgraded its advice for travelers to Colombia. The article (original in Spanish), translated by Google is as follows:

France improved, for Colombia, the warning that makes its citizens traveling to different places in the world, better known as the "travel warning", adding to Santa Marta, Barranquilla, the area between Bogota, Tunja, and Bucaramanga, and the three provinces of the Coffee Region: Quindio, Risaralda and Caldas, to the list of cities in which it has not set restrictions.

The places listed are in addition to Cartagena and San Andres, which already appeared in that category, said the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Luis Guillermo Plata, upon thanking France "for translating, into action, the progress that has been the country's security.

At the second level, ie, those which it is recommended to visit with proper precautions, is preserved: Cundiboyacense region, with its departments and capital, Bucaramanga, Pasto, Leticia, Medellin, Cali and Popayan. On this last point, the Minister said that these places also provide security to tourists, saying "we will persist to pass the green rating in response to their reality."

The Minister Emphasized the improvement in the travel warning that, since 2008, has been playing Colombia, a result, he said, "a judicious job of security, and which undoubtedly the new image influences you in the world today, the country".

"Do not forget that until two years ago, most of the map of Colombia appear in red on the warnings for French travelers." Significantly Today things have changed and we are confident that this is a continuous process of improvement, "said Silver.

For his part, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Oscar Rueda Garcia, spoke about the impact that these events have on tourism, it said, many travelers have very present these issues before making any travel decisions. After Spain, France ranks second in number of passengers arriving in Colombia from Europe, with 2.2% of the total. Between January and November 2009, over 27,000 French visited Colombia, a 7.3% increase over the same period in 2008.

Friends have a great time in Colombia!

Our friend Dave from California recently returned from a trip to Colombia that included stops in Bogota and Cartagena. He had a great time and described it as follows:

"Colombia is a beautiful, friendly country. The people are amazingly friendly, happy to see Americans, and I never felt unsafe anywhere I went.

Bogota is beautiful, clean, and interesting. The people who run the High Park Hotel could not have been nicer. The Botero Museum may have been the highlight.

Cartagena was the high point of the trip. The hotel was charming as could be, the staff were wonderful, the city is spectacular, and I will remember many of the meals for a long time. The food was great! Cartagena is world class!

Walter knew all the places, and was immediately available by phone or e-mail when I had questions.
Colombia is a great destination. I can recommend it without reservations. Walter is the one with the reservations!

Thanks Walter!!!"

Carnival in Colombia

Join me in Barranquilla, Colombia, to experience Carnival, a unique UNESCO Heritage-recognized event of humankind's cultural patrimony, or as I prefer to call it, an incredibly fun party!

Packages for the independent tour (hotels, domestic air flights, and parade tickets) start at $1190 (double occupancy).

If you prefer to go with a group, join me on the 10 day tour that includes the Barranquilla Carnival, as well as nearby Cartagena and cosmopolitan Bogota.

If you have additional time, consider continuing on with me to Peru and Machu Picchu.

Contact me directly for any additional info!

Walter Rey
415 637 2660
Walter@VamosColombiaTour.com
www.VamosColombiaTour.com

Direct Flight from US to San Andres island in Caribbean to start in June 2010

According to RCN (Colombian news):

Starting June 2010, Spirit Airlines will operate a direct flight from Fort Lauderdale, USA to the island of San Andres (in Colombia).

The announcement was made by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Oscar Rueda Garcia, who said this is an opportunity for the island to capture the U.S. market. According to him, 10 years ago there was no direct flight from that country to San Andres.

The Deputy Minister, together with aviation authorities and the governor of the department, met in Miramar, Florida with the airline's president, Ben Baldanza, to define aspects of the new operation.

source:
http://www.rcnradio.com/noticias/econom/10-12-09/nueva-ruta-rea-san-andr-s-fort-lauderdale

Halloween in Bogota - Celebration in Style!

Bogota goes all out to celebrate Halloween with great costumes, parties and festivities - everyone dresses up! The pictures are from Teatron's Halloween party (the largest gay club and bar in Bogota - it was completely packed with literally thousands of Bogota's hottest guys!)

If you like a great party in a fun atmosphere, you will love Bogota on Halloween! Vamos Colombia Tour offers a great package for Bogota and Colombia on Halloween or any time of year.
www.vamoscolombiatour.com

To see more pictures from Halloween, check out the pictures on facebook.

Schedule for Bogota Music Celebrations 2010

From Colombia Reports:

Bogota authorities determined the dates for the festivals to be held in Bolivar park the coming season. Apart from 2010's edition of Rock Al Parque, there will be festivals focused on salsa, jazz, hip hop and world music.

The country's biggest festival, Rock Al Parque, will be held from June 23 and June 29. The 2010 edition is the festival's 15th anniversary and more than 60 bands are expected to perform.

From August 22 until August 30, the park is reserved for next year's edition of Salsa Al Parque. This year's edition of this salsa festival wll be focusing of Colombian composer and singer Joe Arroyo this year.

Jazz Al Parque, planned between September 7 and September 13, will offer jazz concerts and workshops.

Hip Hop Al Parque, despite unrest the past year, will go on and is scheduled for October 13 until October 18. The concert is the biggest hip hop event in Colombia and will not just show the country's best rappers, but also have dance demonstrations and the Second Encounter of Hip Hop Formation Houses.

The only festival that hasn't had its date set is Colombia Al Parque, a festival focused on Colombian culture, but this year with great emphasis on the traditional cultures of other parts of the world.