Vacations in a foreign land are a chance to kick back and relax, sample the local culture and cuisine and have an adventure in a world of different wildlife and activities. But it’s important too, to feel wanted and welcome, safe, secure and loved in an accepting environment that embraces the full diversity of its visitors.
Colombia has long been known as one of the world’s most welcoming countries, delighted to welcome tourists and ensure they not only have a good time, but are able to immerse themselves in the country’s experiences, culture and traditions.
Now it has been confirmed that diverse, friendly and romantic Colombia is the best place on the continent for gay travel, beating stiff competition from its neighbors.
It was also recognized as an outstanding place to go on a honeymoon.
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Colombia is proud to be a leader in gay travel
Colombia was delighted to be awarded two top prizes at the prestigious World Travel Awards. It was named the continent leader for LGBT friendly travel and the romantic city of Cartagena de Indias, on the Caribbean coast, also won South America’s best honeymoon destination.
The 25th annual World Travel Awards were presented at a glittering black tie event held at the imposing Palacio de Cristal in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
There Colombia was recognized for its welcoming and gay friendly approach to LGBTQ+ vacations, offering a wide variety of opportunities for gay travel, including beach getaways, the best city for LGBT, and adventure tourism.
Colombia beat Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Peru to be crowned South America’s Leading LGBT Destination 2018. The prize reflected both the diversity of its lesbian and gay travel scene and Colombia’s warm, welcoming and LGBTQ+ friendly attitude towards its visitors.
It was an important accolade for Colombia, which has strived for many years to embrace diversity in every form and ensure all visitors have the holiday of a lifetime, filled with unmissable experiences and the chance to feel fully immersed in the richness of the country’s culture and gay friendly cities.
Cartagena is the perfect honeymoon destination
Magical Cartagena de Indias, the jewel in Colombia’s Caribbean crown, also scooped the prize for South America’s Leading Honeymoon Destination 2018. It was nominated for South America’s most romantic destination too.
Cartagena dazzled the judges with its impressive colonial architecture, its narrow cobbled streets with their vibrant colors and flower-filled balconies and its imposing walls that protect and encircle the old city.
Couples, gay and straight, enjoy wandering those centuries-old walls, exploring Cartagena’s maze of streets in a horse-drawn carriage and dining in the colonial city’s many award-winning restaurants, all of which make it perfect for honeymoon travel.
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Colombia has something for everyone to enjoy
Colombia was nominated in several other continent-wide World Travel Awards categories that praised its status as a nature destination, culinary hotspot and cruise port of call – proving that it really does have something for everyone.
The country was nominated for South America’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination and Leading Youth Travel Destination, thanks to its many opportunities for fun activities and adventure sports in its jungles, rivers, sea and air.
Charming San Andres island was nominated for the continent’s top beach destination, a prize it won in 2014 and 2015, thanks to its outstanding palm-fringed beaches and the beauty of its corals and aquamarine ‘Sea of Seven Colors’. The lively cities of Bogota, Colombia’s capital, and Medellin were nominated for top city break, which Bogota won in 2015 and Medellin in 2016.
Both cities were also nominated for South America’s Leading Festival and Event Destination 2018.< Bogota and Cartagena are full of cultural events and activities all year round, which is why they were both finalists for the continent’s top cultural city prize. The cities’ event calendars include the International Bogota Book Fair, ArtBo and the Ibero-American Theater Festival in Bogotá as well as the film, classical music and Hay literary festivals in Cartagena. You may also be interested in: Blue Flags in Colombia: Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Tourism
Colombia’s tourism industry is thriving
Colombia’s warm and welcoming attitude to its visitors, including gay travel, is one reason it such a popular choice for holidays, vacations, events and business conferences. With so much diversity in both its cities and countryside, and a multitude of things to do for people of all ages, it is no surprise that its enamored visitors return year after year.
The 2018 World Travel Awards also honored various standout Colombian businesses for their contribution to the country’s buoyant and exciting tourism industry. Avianca airline won South America’s leading airline brand, and the luxurious Conrad Cartagena won South America’s leading new hotel.
The Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena is a focal point of the coastal city’s enviable hotel scene, known as much for its quintessential glamor as its historic setting, and it was no surprise that the hotel’s Grau Suite scooped the 2018 hotel suite award. Overall, the awards represented an incredible night for Colombia.
It was a chance to celebrate the country’s many achievements and, above all, its affection and respect for all of its visitors and its unshakeable desire that they experience the vacation of a lifetime, in warm and welcoming Colombia. You may also be interested in: Behind the charms of the most welcoming country in the world
