Fun Facts About Colombia

Coffee, carnivals, and curious creatures - we’re only just scratching the surface when it comes to Colombia in that short sentence! So, we’ve put together a list of fun facts for Colombia that you can brush up on before you decide to pay a visit. How many of these did you already know?

One fact we’re not including, of course, is that the cheapest and easiest way to access mobile data here is to purchase and load up a SIMOVO eSIM for Colombia! Here are some fascinating facts and figures to inspire a visit.

Colombia is amazingly biodiverse

Colombia is considered “megadiverse” thanks to being home to more than 300 different ecosystems, and more than half of its land being forest habitat. Believe it or not, there are around 9,000 species that you will only find in Colombia!

The country is home to more than 1,900 bird species

It’s thought that Colombia holds the record for the highest bird biodiversity the world over, with at least 80 species exclusive to the country. It’s therefore considered an amazing trip away for birdwatchers and animal lovers, with toucans, tanagers, piha, and parakeets all here for you to spy if you’re lucky!

A large part of the Amazon rainforest lies within Colombia

As mentioned, at least half of Colombia is lush forestry, and much of that - at least a third of the country - is the majestic Amazon. That makes Colombia a vital habitat for countless millions of animals and plants, thanks to its tropical, freshwater paradise. There are still many indigenous communities that thrive in the rainforest, too.

The country features the world’s highest coastal mountain range

It’s true! The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is officially the tallest mountain area of its kind on the planet - in that it has a coastline. It boasts mountains scaling taller than 5,700 meters, and you can head to lagoons, forests, and UNESCO-recognized sites from halfway up!

Colombia is famous for its rich coffee culture

Thanks to Colombia’s incredible climate, biodiversity, and location, the coffee grown and brewed here is truly unique. Rich and high-quality Colombian coffee is produced across the mountains and is carefully picked by hand, rather than by machine. It’s partly why you’ll see Colombian coffee so frequently pop up on grocery shelves worldwide.

Most of the world’s emeralds come from Colombia

Believe it or not, Colombia is said to be responsible for the production and export of up to nine out of 10 emeralds sold all over the world. Thanks to mines excavated across the region, the country is a firm rival with Zambia for its unique gemstone production. The emeralds you’ll get from Colombia are said to be of the utmost quality.

The tallest palm trees on Earth grow in Colombia

Look out for Colombia’s world-famous wax palms if you need to grab some shade! These super-tall palm trees grow to be up to 60 meters tall, and you’ll typically find them around Salento and the mountain regions, a common sight against the skyline. In fact, these palms are even thought to be the second-tallest tree species on Earth, period. You’ll need to travel to Canada to find taller!

Colombia has pink river dolphins in its waterways

The Amazon river dolphin is genuinely pink and is always a joy to see swimming around Colombian waters, though the WWF sadly lists them as endangered. The deeper pink these dolphins are, the older they are likely to be, and many regard spotting them as a very lucky event. They’re well worth watching for if you plan a trip to Colombia or anywhere around the Amazon.

Bogotá is one of the highest capital cities in the world

Bogotá is a genuine trip up into the heavens, a real city in the sky - because you’ll need to scale more than 2,500 meters up to tour it! That does, however, make the air rather thin up here, so plan accordingly for altitude sickness (if you’re used to lower land!).

Tejo is Colombia’s traditional national sport

Tejo is a genuinely explosive game where players need to throw metal disks at miniature landmines (filled with gunpowder, don’t worry!) up to 20 meters away. Consider it a version of horseshoes, bowls, or even curling, just with a little more bang!

Colombia hosts the world’s biggest salsa festival

Music and dance are extremely important in Colombia, and there’s no better place to celebrate both than at the Cali Fair, or Feria de Cali. This yearly event is thought to be the biggest celebration of salsa on the planet, and for a whole week, citizens, dancers, musicians, and tourists get together to let their hair down!

Colombia has a variety of iconic dishes

Colombia’s spectacular cuisine doesn’t start and end at coffee! While you’re here, be sure to tuck into tasty empanadas (filled pastries), Frijoles Antioqueños, and Bandeja Paisa, Colombia’s national dish. This is a delicious platter of beef, steak, sausage, rice, beans, egg, avocado, and more.

Colombia has South America’s longest cycling route

Now you’ve built up some energy, it’s time to take to your bike. Colombia boasts the CicloRuta del Magdalena, thought to be a 1,200 km trail along the Magdalena River, along with the 100 km incline that is the intense Alto del Sifón!

The Lost City predates Machu Picchu

Colombia’s Lost City is said to be at least 650 years older than Peru’s world-famous ancient site, hidden deep within Sierra Nevada. It will seriously take you up to five days of hiking from the mainland to find it!

Colombia has produced world-famous writers and poets

Colombia’s place on the literary map is not to be downplayed. It was the birthplace of Gabriel García Márquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude), Marvel Moreno (December Breeze), and Héctor Abad Faciolince (El olvido que seremos).

Legends of El Dorado originate in Colombia

It’s true - it’s thought by many that the rich, gold-encrusted city of El Dorado, one of the most enduring legends across the continent, has roots in Colombia. No one’s too sure quite where El Dorado was meant to be, but historians believe all signs point here.

It’s one of the most cosmetically-enhanced nations in the world

Colombia is considered a major destination for plastic surgery tourism, from face lifts to BBLs and tummy tucks! So much so, there have been academic studies undertaken into the Colombian cosmetic surgery boom!

Elders are respected in Colombia

Colombia is one of many countries where it’s important to respect your elders - meaning their voices tend to be heard first and loudest!

Colombia is an exotic fruit paradise

From a nation as biodiverse as this, it’s unsurprising that Colombia is something of a massive fruit salad! Experts believe that there are more than 400 different types of juicy fruit to enjoy here, and you’ll find many of them available to buy at traditional markets nationwide.

There are more than 100 indigenous communities in Colombia

Colombia’s indigenous peoples are said to make up more than 1.9 million of the overall population, from 115 communities, and almost 4% of the total headcount.

Now you know a little bit more about Colombia, be sure to cover your mobile data carefully when you travel here with the right eSIM. In fact, if you’re planning to explore this side of the globe a little further, you might want to grab a SIMOVO eSIM for South America - at least then you won’t have to worry about hunting around for a WiFi hotspot!