November 30, 2021 marks exactly five years since the signing of the landmark peace agreement between the Colombian government and the infamous Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a guerrilla group which had wrought havoc across the country for decades. With the deal ratified, a renewed sense of hope surged in Colombia, as the much-maligned South American nation left its traumatic history behind, ushering in a new era of development, prosperity and hope.
In the years since, Colombia has truly blossomed, leaping headlong into the 21st century with boutique hotels, a booming contemporary art scene, vibrant culinary movement and thriving tourist industry, its arms now open to curious travellers from around the globe. It may not yet have reached its zenith, but with a wonderful balance of old and new Colombia on offer, now is the ideal time to experience a country in glorious transition, rising phoenix-like from its darker days. So forget the Netflix hit drama Narcos: these are the real reasons to visit Colombia in 2022.
Medellín’s blooming hotel scene
Once dubbed the most dangerous city in the world by a 1988 edition of Time Magazine, Medellín, known as The City of Eternal Spring, is now a hub for innovation, creativity, and increasingly upscale hospitality offerings. Despite the pandemic and ever-changing international travel restrictions theoretically hindering tourism, 2021 has seen the opening of a string of design-forward, debonair hotels such as Elcielo, 23 Hotel and Lettera in the city’s bustling and upmarket El Poblado neighbourhood. Pair these with the boutique offerings of carefully curated Patio del Mundo and Quinta Ladera and you’ll soon see you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to stylish stays in Medellín. A city littered with lush foliage, blessed with a year-round temperate climate and the unavoidable charisma of its paisa people, it’s not hard to see why visitors here often end up extending their stay.
Stargazing in Tatacoa Desert
Technically not a desert, Tatacoa is a tropical dry forest with undulating red clay scenery so unique, you’d be forgiven for temporarily questioning whether you’d landed on Mars. Hiking should be done early in the morning to avoid the searing midday heat and in the afternoon a gentle float down the mighty Magdalena river from nearby town Villavieja, accompanied by local fishermen who know this spot like the back of their hand, is a recommended way to cool off and observe local fauna such as eagles, iguanas and turtles. The real show-stopper in Tatacoa, though, is the opportunity to stargaze long after the sun has set. Observatories such as Star Light will have you peep through giant telescopes to see Jupiter and Saturn before you lie back and learn about astronomy and the zodiac signs as they’re mapped out in the pristine sky above.
