The Rhythm of Colombia

Discover a country rich in music and personality.

BY JIMMY IM

Colombia celebrates cuisine, family, music, and people. It’s what makes the culture warm and expressive.

Colonial churches define Cartagena.

Local musicians fill Cartagena’s streets with a unique rhythm.

Cradled in the Andes, Medellin is a breathtaking city flaunting serious views no matter where you stand. In town, the backdrops are stunning; take a cable car to overlook the city, and you’re surrounded by Instagram-worthy panoramic views. This is how I first experienced Colombia when I visited nearly a decade ago. The natural beauty was inspiring, yet it was the people, music, and culture that led me to book a return trip just a year later. This time, I traveled to Barranquilla and Bogota. And two years after that, I was fortunate enough to experience Cartagena.

All cities are wonderful in their unique way, but there’s a common link each place shares that compelled me to visit time and again. Locals say the country has flavor. It can be as simple as sipping guarapo with friends at an al fresco café, or as dramatic as exploring native wildlife in the unspoiled countryside.

Colombians celebrate cuisine, family, music, and people. It’s what makes the culture warm and expressive.

Colombia is a hub for diverse musical styles, from Caribbean and salsa to electronic and pop. All are woven in perfect harmony with the rhythm of the country. In fact, music served as the soundtrack to my Colombian travels. Salsa music set a spirited scene at night on the cobblestone streets of Cartagena. Live Caribbean beats brought a sense of place to the island of San Andres. And dance tunes at nightclubs in Bogota were infectious.

Music makes Colombia special, and it’s celebrated throughout the year with must-attend music events like the Cartagena Classic Music Festival and Stereo Picnic Bogota. Music is an inherent and integral aspect to Colombian culture—you’ll find merengue and salsa dancers at famous restaurants, while traditional cumbia dance (with drums, flutes, and percussion), can be experienced in public squares.

James Rodriguez, a famous Colombian soccer player, is known to do the merengue at public events and after scoring goals at World Cup; Sofia Vergara is always catching a beat at awards ceremonies including the Emmys and Grammys; and native Shakira introduced Colombian hip shaking to the world.

The flavors and the rhythm of the country is the reason I kept returning. You feel its energy in the lively streets, and at top attractions such as Cartagena’s Old Town, the trendy Lleras Park neighborhood in Medellin, and Bogota’s famous colonial town of Candelaria. Colombia is more enticing with every visit, and it gives me every reason to return to experience additional unforgettable journeys.