Colombia

Around the World, From your Couch

¡Hola! Our second trip takes us to Colombia, South America. Colombia is a large country primarily situated in the north of South America, which some territories extending into Central America. One of the most ethnically, linguistically and geographically diverse countries in the world, Colombia has an incredibly rich cultural heritage. Full of warm, energetic people and beautiful scenery, our virtual trip to Colombia is likely to make you want to visit the country in person!

7 days in Colombia Itinerary in April.pdf

About Colombia:

Located in the northern tip of South America and connected to Central America, Colombia has the fifth largest population in the world. Named after the explorer Christopher Columbus, Colombia has a rich cultural history informed by the Native Indian cultures, Spanish and African influence. Celebrated for its rich biodiversity, Colombia has some of the most varied landscapes in the world from mountains in the north to the Amazon river basin and rainforests in the south. Learn a bit more about Colombian Geography, tourists attractions, and biodiversity through the videos below, or by visiting the Kids World Travel Guided, here.

Colombia's National Tourism Site

Pink River DolphinBeautiful imagery of the rarest of creatures; the pink river dolphin.

Wild ColombiaCrowning South America, Colombia touches both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. Sitting on the equator, this wild and exotic land is divided by the soaring peaks of the Andes and carved by the mighty Amazon and Orinoco Rivers. Colombia’s landscapes are vast and hugely diverse. Mangroves meander through grasslands, while expanses of mirror-like wetlands fringe verdant rainforests. Snow-capped peaks emerge from mountain slopes clad in misty cloud forests. This mix of pristine environments supports an enormous wealth of unique plants, as well as an extraordinary array of spectacular creatures.

Language & Greetings:

Spoken by around 43 million people, the official language of Colombia is Spanish. In addition to Spanish, there are approximately 500,000 speakers of American Indian languages, while 2 Creole languages and the Romani language are spoken in the country. Basic Spanish skills will help you to get around, however, knowing how to say some things with the Colombian dialect will be helpful.

Colombians value showing respect for elders, and take kindness and hospitality very seriously. Be prepared with knowledge about Colombia's rich customs so you can show yourself as the best Global Citizen possible!

Art and Culture:

It won't take long to recognize that Colombians have a strong zest for life! Their caring and warm nature, vibrant clothes, and soulful rhythmic music all convey their passion for life and human connection. We begin our excursion into the arts and culture with a traditional song sung by ISL's very own, Ms. Mariana Suarez.

Ms. Suarez:

ISL's superstar, Ms. Suarez, shares a traditional folk song with our community.

Shakira:

Colombia's superstar, Shakira, has an inspiring story about her journey to stardom.

Cumbia:

Cumbia is one of the most enduringly popular genres in Colombia; a folkloric style dating back to the colonial period on the Caribbean coast, cumbia is played on drums, flutes, and percussion instruments of African and indigenous origins. The dance is a wonderful spectacle to behold. Mimicking a traditional courtship ritual, women wearing long, colourful skirts circle around men in traditional outfits – white clothes and a regional sombrero.- Culture Trip

Traditional Music:

Colombia is known as "The land of a thousand rhythms" but actually holds over 1,025 folk rhythms. Some of the best known genres are cumbia and vallenato. The music in Colombia is as varied as the landscape, and is widely celebrated through festivals. You can learn more here.

Fernando Botero

A celebrated painter and sculptor, Fernando Botero is one of Colombia's most famous fine artists. His unique style has developed over his lifetime, and has been coined as Boterism. You can learn more about Botero here.

Graffiti Street Art

Bogota, the capital of Colombia, is filled with incredible graffiti street art. The streets have become a destination for artists and tourists from across the globe.

Molas:

Originating in the Kuna’s indigenous community from Colombia and Panama, the molas began with the tradition of the Kunas painting their bodies with geometric designs, initially using colours that were only found in nature. After Spanish colonization and the arrival of missionaries, the Kunas transferred these traditional geometric designs onto their clothing. At first they painted the designs directly on the fabric and later switched to weaving the patterns onto their clothes by using a reverse application technique. - Artisan's Collective, Indi Arts

You can make your own Mola from paper by following the tutorial provided.

pastorcitaeng_16x9_Mezz-16x9-mp4-1200k.mp4

El cuento, means story, tale, fable, or fairy tale.

Latin America has a strong oral tradition in which knowledge is passed down through generations via storytelling. Stories are shared during work and spare time. Often, stories teach a lesson or tradition that is passed from the older generation to the younger. Through the sharing of stories, an older relative may convey information to young family members about roles within the family and values within their culture. Latin American stories are made up of a unique blend of cultures, including Spanish and African.- PBS Learning Media

Cuisine of Colombia:

The cuisine of Colombia is as varied as the coastline. From the amazing exotique fruits to the tasty street foods, the cuisine in Colombia will have something to please every palate! One of the most traditional foods is the Arepas; easy to make, we have included a cooking lesson for you to try!

Colombia Final Reflections:

This concludes our trip to Colombia! You can submit your reflections, and see the results, here.

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