Cultural Colombia: the best festivals, food experiences, art and more

What is typically Colombian culture? The answer can be found in every aspect of local life: their quintessential joie de vivre! The passion of its people is simply unmissable – during your visit, let yourself be carried away by it and experience the country with the same positive attitude as its locals’.

Colombia‘s rich history, warm hospitality and exuberance are reflected in all facets of its culture. The joyful spirit of the people is simply infectious, whether you are visiting to enjoy the wonderfully aromatic cuisine with its indigenous, African and Spanish influences, or to lose yourself in dance and music. Embark on a cultural journey through Colombia to gain an insight into the spirit of this fascinating South American country.

Embracing the diversity of Colombian culture

The importance of art and culture in shaping Colombian identity should not be underestimated – after all, art, architecture, literature and cuisine are tangible showcases of the diversity of the local people, their traditions and customs. A turbulent history of colonisation, civil wars and drug cartels has given way to a life-affirming creativity.

The indigenous population survived Spanish colonisation and forms an important part of Colombian cultural identity. African slaves who were brought to Colombia were also instrumental in shaping the cultural landscape, which is reflected above all in the coastal regions. The musical genre and folk dance known as cumbia, for example, originated from cumbé – a type of dance from Equatorial Guinea which took on a new and independent style when it was introduced within Colombia.

Immerse yourself in traditional Colombian music and dance

When it comes to Colombian culture, its music is one of the richest in the world, and each region pulsates to its own rhythm. Music festivals such as the Vallenato Festival, Salsa al Parque and the Andean Music Festival are particularly popular – but in Colombia, you don’t need a reason to shake a leg!

Cali, a city in the valley of the Cauca River, doesn’t just delight travellers with its lush natural landscape – it is also known as the salsa capital of the world. If you travel in December, you can take part in the Feria de Cali, an international salsa festival with fashion shows, beauty contests and gastronomy to boot. Or, let yourself be carried away by the lively rhythm of the vallenato genre, whose characteristic accordion melodies have their origins in the north of the country, among the mestizos and indigenous population. In addition to the accordion, musicians play double-headed caja drums and the güira to create a most unique sound.

Alongside merengue, champeta and mapalé, cumbia is another popular Colombian music style, with a mixture of African, indigenous and European rhythms and a lively melody that invites you to dance. This style originated on the country’s Caribbean coast and is a true symbol of Colombian culture.

Colombia’s art scene: Botero’s thought-provoking Birds of Peace

Like its musicians, Colombia’s fine artists lean into various influences and the country’s rich history to develop unique personal styles. Born in Medellín in 1932, painter and sculptor Fernando Botero gained worldwide fame for his distinctive depiction of spherical figures. He spent his apprenticeship years in Bogotá, Madrid, Florence and Paris, through which he developed his unmistakable style, which brought him fame far beyond the borders of South America in the 1980s and 90s.

In 2004, Botero turned his attention to the violence in Colombia and created 50 drawings and paintings. If you visit San Antonio Square in Medellín, you will find two bird statues created by the artist; originally there was only one, but in 1995 the Farc guerrilla movement hid a bomb under the bronze bird during an outdoor concert. Botero asked for the damaged bird to be left standing as a memorial and placed a second, identical statue next to it. The pair are now known as the Peace Birds. If you’re in Medellín, you can also visit Plaza Botero to admire a further 23 bronze figures by the artist.

Anyone interested in art should also make plans to explore Bogotá’s unmissable street art scene. Since 2011, street art has been welcomed and even encouraged as a form of cultural expression in all city districts; it often explores Colombia’s past conflicts and social issues, such as indigenous rights. Take a guided graffiti tour to uncover the works of local (and international) artists, and for a deeper dive into contemporary art, pay a visit to the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá (MAMBO).

Architecture: from colonial wonders to modern skylines

Colombia has a lot to offer architecture enthusiasts. Examples of pre-Columbian architecture can be found in the Ciudad Perdida, the Lost City of the Tairona, an indigenous population known for their architecture. This city in the middle of the dense jungle was built in the 13th and 14th centuries and rediscovered in 1975. It is believed that around 1,600 to 2,400 people lived here, in round houses built on stone-paved terraces; a tour will showcase how the Tairona impressively erected terrace platforms, house foundations, stairs, sewers, tombs, and bridges from stone.

The Spanish influence on local architecture can still be seen to this day in Colombia’s colonial cities, such as Cartagena. An important trading port between Spain and the South American colonies, the city’s landscape is characterised by traditional one-storey houses with a central courtyard.

As you visit many cities in Colombia, you’ll notice hints of Moorish and Castilian architecture, as well as Baroque and Renaissance-style buildings. Historical sites hug shoulders with feats of modern architecture, such as Las Torres del Parque by Rogelio Salmona in Bogotá, Giancarlo Mazzanti’s Cubist Biblioteca de España in Medellín, and La Capilla del Colegio Los Nogales, a futuristic chapel that represents the duality of human nature.

The literary influence of Gabriel García Márquez

European cultures influenced more than Colombia’s music, art and architecture. The country’s best-known writer, Nobel Prize-winner Gabriel García Márquez, writes about Kafka’s influence on his work in the book The Fragrance of Guava. In the 1950s he lived in Paris, where Latin American realism and modern literature also had an impact on his novels. Books like One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera shaped the magical realism that makes his depictions of Latin American culture and history so vivid and fascinating.

Today his work is considered an important legacy of world literature. In Cartagena, fans of Márquez can go looking for corners of the old town that inspired the fictional settings in his books. Learn about the sway this region had on his writing and take time to tour top attractions, including the Mausoleum of García Márquez. Further northeast is the small provincial town of Aracataca, where the Márquez family home has been converted into a museum; there, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the author’s life, as well as experience the quiet rural life of Colombia.

Festivals and celebrations: a kaleidoscope of colours and emotions

If you want to experience Colombia’s joie de vivre for yourself, you should plan a visit during one of the many national festivals. The previously-mentioned Feria de Cali takes place between 25-30th December each year, while the Carnaval de Barranquilla, the second-largest carnival in the world, takes place in February or March. In 2003, UNESCO declared this carnival a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity; you can find out why for yourself by experiencing a fascinating fusion of African-American and indigenous Caribbean cultures, reflected in music, dance and colourful carnival parades.

If you visit Medellín, the City of Eternal Spring, in early August, you can experience the 10-day Feria de las Flores: this is the largest flower festival in the world, full of blooms, music, competitions, costumes, fireworks and parades – including a real highlight, the Silleteros Parade, in which farmers walk through the streets with home-made flower arrangements weighing up to 70kg on their backs – reflecting the country’s fertile agricultural heritage.

From arepas to exotic fruits: a culinary adventure

Colombian cuisine is hearty and tasty. It makes use of exotic fruits, vegetables and meat in a way which reflects ages-old influences and traditions. In addition to arepas (flat, round corn cakes) and tamales (steamed dumplings filled with vegetables and meat wrapped in banana leaves), Colombia offers traditional dishes like ajiaco, a hearty chicken soup with three types of potatoes and vegetables, often served with avocado and cream.

During your visit, be sure to try a plate of bandeja paisa, a regional speciality from Antioquia that is served with rice, plantains, beans, chorizo ​​and avocado, among other things. The generous servings and variety of ingredients likely make this dish the most representative of Colombian cuisine.

Colombia is also known for its exotic fruits such as guava, dragon fruit, groundcherry, feijoa and lulo. These are often made into juice, which you can treat yourself to at one of the local markets. We’d recommend taking a market tour to get a feel for everyday life in Colombia, by people-watching and tasting a variety of regional specialities.

Of course, we couldn’t write about Colombian flavours without mentioning its coffee! Located in the Andean region between Medellín and Cali, the country’s Coffee Axis is responsible for producing one of the best coffees in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, here you can visit the plantations, learn about coffee production processes from the locals, and slow-sip a delicious hot drink or two.

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