2 Best Sights in The Caribbean Coast, Colombia

This impressive bird sanctuary is the country's best and South America's largest. In a nation famed for avian biodiversity it's an opportunity not to be missed. Colombians are justifiably proud of the Andean condor, their not-so-colorful national bird, and the condor gets ample coverage here, but scarlet macaws, blue-winged tanagers, and cocks on the rock will give your camera a workout. There are three distinct biomes (tropical jungle, coastal, and desert) as well as 21 areas to explore that are home to 190 species of birds. If you wish to take everything in, a self-guided walk should last around 2½ hours. A guided tour speeds things up a bit. All exhibit signs are in Spanish and English. Plan on about a 45-minute drive to get out here from the city. You can easily combine the aviary with beach time at Playa Blanca.

Relatively easily to get to, Bahia Concha is a 30-minute taxi ride from town and is an attractive bay set in the region's typical bosque seco (dry indigenous forest) with warm, gently lapping water. It is, however, a popular destination on weekends and local holidays, so best to avoid at those times. Much of the first part of the beach is cluttered with metal frames for shade canopies, and there are several options for buying cold drinks and a freshly grilled fish lunch. Plan to come early, and head down to the far right end of the beach—you can even ask for a cooler when you buy drinks and take it with you. Here you will find empty sands, a patch of shade and, a little way up the rocky side of the bay, some degraded but still beautiful patches of coral for snorkeling. Although the beach is within the borders of the PNN Tayrona, you do not have to pay the full entrance fee, only a small fee to local administration. Best for: partiers; walking; snorkeling. Amenities: toilets; food and drink.