This year’s winner of Academy Award for Best
Animated Feature, the enchanting Disney
movie Encanto shines a light on the colourful,
cultural highlights of Colombia. It might
not instantly spring to mind as an obvious
destination for a family adventure, but
Colombia brims with diverse experiences.
Embrace the outdoors
The mountainous Cocora Valley is best
accessed via the heritage town of Salento
— the inspiration for a number of locations
in Encanto. Part of the Los Nevados National
Natural Park, the valley is threaded with trails
and dotted with campsites, and is adrenaline
junkie terrain, with mountain-biking and
horse-riding popular pursuits. Andean Trails
offers a five-day trekking tour of the Valle
Cocora from £94 6 per person, including
all entrance fees and an expert guide.
parquesnacionales.gov.co andeantrails.co.uk
Walk on the wild side
Encanto references Colombia’s staggering
biodiversity — something very much in
evidence in the Tayrona National Park, on
the edge of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta,
one of the world’s highest coastal mountain
ranges. Keep your eyes — and ears — open
for a colourful cast of jungle creatures,
including black howler monkeys, jewel-like
hummingbirds, iguanas and even a jaguar.Delve underground
Of all Colombia’s eclectic buildings, one of
the best ones to explore is the Salt Cathedral
of Zipaquirá. Built in the 1 930s within a salt
mine tunnelled into a mountain in the city
of Zipaquirá, the church, which was used by
the miners, was part of the inspiration behind
Bruno’s room in Encanto and is now part of
an activity complex with a family-friendly
tour along the former mining route, as well as
climbing walls. catedraldesal.gov.coWake up and smell the coffee
Encanto is all about family, and one of the best
places for some family time is the Parque del
Café (‘coffee park’) in Quindío. No ordinary
theme park, along with rides and shows for
different ages, there’s an interactive coffee
museum, an eco-trail through a coffee
plantation and food stalls serving up delicious,
coffee-based products. parquedelcafe.coEscape to the islands
Head for Múcura Island, or any of the other
islands of the Archipelago of San Bernardo.
Part of the Rosario and San Bernardo Corals
National Natural Park, this protected marine
system has great snorkelling, diving, as well as
beaches bright with bioluminescent plankton.Tune in to a festival
Time your trip to coincide with the Carnival of
Barranquilla, which takes place over four days
in February or March. UNESCO-listed and
one of the country’s most important folklore
celebrations, the festival has its roots in the
19th century and is a treat for all ages, with live
performances, art and flamboyant costumes.
carnavaldebarranquilla.orgDiscover fantastic flora
Isabela’s ability to conjure flowers in the film
is a nod to Colombia’s wealth of plant life. One
of the best displays of blooms occurs along
the Caño Cristales river (dubbed the ‘River of
Five Colours’) in the Serranía de la Macarena
National Park: between July and October, an
aquatic plant blooms, turning the river into a
riot of pinks, reds and blues. RHONDA CARRIERFAMILY
COOL COLOMBIA
Enchanted by Disney’s Encanto? Here’s why it’s time your family exploredthe country that inspired the Oscar-winning animated filmParque de los Pies Descalzos
(Barefoot Park), in Medellín,
Colombia’s buzzy cultural hubLeft: Finca El Ocaso Salento,
a coffee farm in Salento, the
gateway to the Cocora Valley