This document provides information about cultural and tourist attractions in Colombia. It begins with an overview of Colombia's geography, climate, population, and brief history. It then discusses Colombia's flag, coat of arms, local transportation, and popular attractions in cities like Bogota, Cartagena, and Medellin. These attractions include landmarks like Plaza Bolivar in Bogota and the Salt Cathedral. The document also summarizes Colombia's gastronomy, highlighting common foods, and ends with details about Colombia's arts.

1. Cultural and Tourist Attractions of the
Caribbean and Latin America.
Lasalle College
Teacher: Carole Martin
Students: Rita Yue Angelica Ruiz
Colombia

2. Geography and Climate
Country: Colombia
Located in South America
Borders:
East: Venezuela and Brazil.
South: Ecuador and Peru.
North: Atlantic Ocean.
West: Panama and the Pacific
Ocean.
Capital: Bogota.
Population: 48.32 million (2013)
The majority lives mainly in the
cities of Bogota, Medellin and
Cali.
Climate: tropical and warm. -
proximity to the equator
The most populated region in Colombia
Location of the historic port cities of
Santa Marta, Barranquilla and Cali.
Distinguished by its high humidity.
Rich in oil and sparsely populated.
Mostly covered by tropical rainforest
Wildlife.

3. Flag
Officially adopted by law in November 26, 1861.
Yellow: the new world, the independence of the
former spanish colonies.
Blue : symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean.
Red: the spanish terror.
Coat of Arms of Colombia
The arm was adopted in May 9, 1834
Ships: symbolize the maritime history of Colombia.
Middle: traditional symbol of freedom, the Phrygian cap.
Upper: both pomegranate and cornucopia symbolize
agriculture.

4. Brief History
Colombia is named after Christopher Columbus, even though, he never
set foot on the land.
1499- One of the Columbus companions,Alonso de Ojeda, was the first
european to set foot on the land.
Spanish conquer period: 1533- Pedro de Heredia founded Cartagena,
that soon became the main center of trade.
1536- The general Sebastian de Belalcazar was conquering regions,
among them Popayan and Cali, he reached Bogota in 1539.
-In a short period of time a large part of the colony was conquered and a
number of towns were founded.
Colonial Period: 1564-The crown established a new system The
Presidencia del Nuevo reino de Granada, the authority was in hands of
the king of Spain.
Independence Wars: 1781- The first open rebellion against colonial rule
was the Revolucion Comunera in Socorro.
1812- Simon Bolivar appeared on scene, he won six battles against
spanish troops but was defeated by the next year.
Alonso de Ojeda
Pedro de Heredia
1817- The colonial rule was reestablished, “the pacifying” spanish troops
reconquered the interior.
-Bolivar went back to Colombia after assembling an army from Venezuela.
1819- The decisive battle took place at Boyaca. Colombia’s independence was
won.

5. Local Transportation and accessibility
-Bogota system is called the TranMileno
, they are buses that work as a subway.
*a one way ticket is $1600 pesos or
$0.75 USD.
-Cartagena is full of buses, most bus
journeys cost 1200 pesos around 50
cents in euro.
- The metro in Medellin is the only rail
line in Colombia, trains run on ground
level for the most part of the city.
Taxi in Bogota
Bus in CartagenaTranMileno bus in Bogota

6. Attractions in Bogota
Plaza Bolivar
- It is a square in the heart of Bogota,where it stands a
statue of simon Bolivar, the statue was created in 1846 by
Italian Pietro Tenerani.
Places in the square
-Palace of Justice, the high council use it today.
- The Parliament of Colombia
-Cathedral of Bogota
-The Holy Chapel.

7. Monserrate Hill
-It is a mountain of almost 3152 meter.
-It is an important symbol of Bogota in religious
terms.
-Mr Juan de Borja former governor of Colombia gave
in 1640 the order to built a church on the mountain.
-It is a work of local artists, and since they opened it,
thousands of people go to Monserrate.
-You can come up on the mountain by a cable
car,which take about 5 minutes to reach the top,a
train or just by walking.

8. Simon Bolivar Park
-This Park is slightly larger than New York’s Central
Park, located in the middle of the city.
-It is a nice spot with public libraries,walkways,bike
paths and stadiums and many events take place
each year with entertainments of all kinds.

9. Centro Mayor
-It is a shopping mall located in the South of
Bogota.
-It is the biggest mall in Colombia and the third
one in Latin america.
- It counts with 430 stores and they offer
different activities and events.

10. 93rd Street Park
-Public Park located in Bogota.
- It is a commercial and recreational Park, full of art,
culture, gastronomy.
-Location of the most popular shoppings, restaurants
and night clubs.

11. Attractions in other cities
Salt cathedral
- Located in a small town near Zipaquira
- Completed in 1995
- It is a underground Roman Catholic Church
- Carved out of a old abandoned mine
- Built under a Halite mountain which is 200 meters
deep
- It is part of a larger complex which include Salt Park
and Museum of Mining

12. Cocora valley
- Located in Quindio
- Established in 1985
- A part of the Los Nevados National Park
- Wide variety of flora and fauna
- The valley is the location of the majority of the
remaining populations of the wax palm
- Outdoor activities such as mountain biking,
horse riding, hiking and swimming in the rivers

13. San Agustin Archaeological Park
- It is located in San Agustin, Huila
- It has been a UNESCO site since 1995
- It contains the largest collection of religious
monuments and megalithic sculptures in Latin
America
- Considered the world’s largest necropolis
- Over 3000 years old

14. Tayrona National Natural Park
- It is located in Magdalena and 34 kilometres from the city of
Santa Marta.
- The park has an area of 150 square kilometers
- One of the Colombia’s most famous and visited natural park
- Covers 12,000 hectares of land and 3000 hectares of sea.
- Has an extremely rich biodiversity( Lots of fauna and flora)

15. Parque Explora
- Located in Medllin
- Opened at 2008
- It is a interactive science museum
- Over 70,000 square feet of indoor space and
50,000 square feet of outdoor activities
- South America’s largest freshwater
aquarium
- At the aquarium are more than 4000 fish
from more than 400 different species

16. Gastronomy
- Colombia cuisine is influenced by the Spanish, Arab, African and a little
Asian.
- Colombia’s coffee is renowned for its high quality
- Some of the most common ingredients are rice, corn, potatoes, beef,
chicken and also seafood
- Also uses a lot of tropical fruits such as cape gooseberry, feijoa, araza,
dragon fruit, guava etc…

17. Appetizers!
- Aborrajado (deep fried plantains stuffed with
cheese)
- Arroz con coco (rice with coconut)
- Butifarras soledeñas, Soledeña sausage (sausage
from Soledad, Atlántico)
- Carimañola (yuca fritter stuffed with ground meat,
onion and seasonings)
- Chunchullo (intestine)
- etc...

18. Main courses
- Ajiaco
- Asado Bogotano
- Bandeja Paisa, a traditional dish from the Paisa region, consists of
white rice, red beans, ground beef, plantain, chorizo,
morcilla,chicharron, arepa, avocado and a fried egg.
- Changua, a milk soup with or without a poached egg, usually a
breakfast dish.
- Cuchuco, a thick soup made of wheat, fava beans, potatoes, ribs,
peas.
- Etc…

19. Desserts !
- Arequipe (Colombia's version of the Dulce de
Leche, a milk caramel.)
- Arroz con leche (Sweetened rice with milk).
- Brevas en dulce (candied figs in syrup or arequipe.)
- Cocadas -( baked coconut confection, similar to
macaroons.)

20. Arts
- Colombian arts has over 3000
years of history
- Has a wide range of media and
style, from spanish Baroque to
contemporary art
- A lot of the paintings and
sculptures are influenced by
religions
- One of the most internationally
known painter in Colombia is
Fernando Botero

21. Quiz
1- Colombia became Independent in:
a)_1781 b)_1817 c)_1819 d)_1812
2- What is Centro Mayor?
a)_a public park b)_gouvernment building
c)_shopping mall d)_ square.
3- In which city is located the only rail line?
a)_Bogota b)_Medellin c)_Cartagena
4- The ships in the colombian Coat of Arms
symbolizes:
a)_the freedom b)_maritime history of
Colombia
c)_the battles d) _the conquer period
5-Where lives the majority of population in Colombia?
a)_ Santa Marta _ Cali _ Barranquilla b)_Cali _ Medellin _ Bogota
c)_ Medellin _ Barranquilla _ Bogota.

22. 6- What makes the cathedral so special, because it is made of…?
a) Diamonds b) Salt c) Plastic d) Gold
7- In Cocora valley, there are a huge numbers of this kind of tree(considered
as the national tree of Colombia), what is the name?
a) Maple tree b) Pine tree c) Wax palm tree d) Oak tree
8- When did San Agustin Archaeological Park became a UNESCO heritage site?
a) 1998 b)1993 c) 2000 d) 1995
9- True or False- Does the San Agustin Archaeological Park considered as the
largest necropolis in the world?
10- Which one below is not a influence on Colombian cuisine?
a) Spanish b) Arabic c) African d) American

23. Answers to the Quiz
1- c) 2- c) 3- b) 4- b) 5- b)
6- b) 7- c) 8- d) 9- True 10- d)