Paragliders in the skies above Bello, just north of Medellin (photo: David Lee)
Visiting Colombia can be a fun and exciting way to spend your time off from work, and be with people you love.
Colombia is known for its beautiful scenery and friendly locals, and if you’ve been wanting to leave all your worldly worries behind, even for a week or two, then a visit would certainly do you good.
Additionally, Colombia also has plenty of extreme activities that adventurous travellers can enjoy. For peace of mind, just make sure that you have extreme activities travel insurance.
Here are 5 activities you will surely enjoy:
If you get a thrill from being high above ground, then paragliding will certainly excite you. It’s perhaps the closest experience one can have to flying, as you ride thermal winds higher and higher, and then slowly float back down to Earth.
There are many areas in Colombia that offer paragliding activities, including Medellin, Bucaramanga, San Gil, Bogotá, and Cali.
Due to the climate in these cities, most paragliding companies are open all year, however it is still a weather-dependent sport, so it’s not possible to fly on rainy days.
The best time to go paragliding is December to February, during the country’s dry Summer season. During these months, you’re more likely to have sunny days, and less likely to be rained out.
For those in Medellín Latin Hosts provides a paragliding tour with private transportation.
Colombia’s mountainous terrain funnels rainwater down to some raging rivers, offering plenty of opportunities to go rafting.
Colombia’s rivers aren’t the most extreme you’ll find in Latin America, but they do offer rapids and can be a lot of fun for beginners.
Popular places to go river rafting include:
Colombia is the only country in South America to feature both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. There are countless coral reefs, cays, and small islands on both sides, making it a haven for divers.
On the Caribbean side, the islands of San Andres and Providencia are especially popular, though you’ll need to take a flight from the mainland as they’re closer to Nicaragua than Colombia.
Another option is to get your dive certification in the little fishing village of Taganga, a ten minute drive from the city of Santa Marta.
The Pacific coast is not as developed for tourism, yet, but it also offers divers the chance to explore Colombia’s underwater world.
Another extreme activity that has captured the hearts of both tourists and locals is windsurfing.
On Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the winds can be pretty strong, especially on certain months when the trade winds make themselves known. There are beginners and advanced windsurfing courses available.
The best places to go to for this activity are Cartagena, La Guajira, and Club Nautico El Portillo.
For a serious adrenaline rush, you can also try rappelling from the tallest waterfalls in Colombia.
Visitors to San Gil can try their hands at the 70-meter tall Juan Curi falls. It’s the perfect spot for individuals who want to feel a rush of excitement as they descend a large stone wall, with the added difficulty of water rushing down on them.
For the vacationers who prefer the challenge of new activities, trying one or more of the above will surely keep your adrenaline pumping in Colombia. Just don’t forget to get extreme activities travel insurance.
Before purchasing one, decide what kind of activities you’ll be taking part in, and find the best insurance available so that you’ll be fully covered.
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This post was provided and brought to you by Globelink International Travel Insurance.
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I do not know what paragliding is like in Bogota, Medellin or San Gil.
BUT... I did paragliding for two weeks in Bucaramanga. It is a true paradise for flying. In the morning there are thermal winds which let you propel very high and fly with eagles and vultures. You can truely count their feathers since you can come as close as 3m to them (they do not mind being followed). In the afternoon they have ridge soaring winds. Eagles will be gone by then but you can still get quite high. Meaning besides the lunch break you can fly for up to 5hrs per day in total.
Another plus is that the flight school has a hostel directly next to the flying field. So to cut in short: If you are crazy about flying... do Bucaramanga. For me it will be a memory for live.