Mid-year celebrations in Colombia: the best food tours to enjoy these destinations

Colombia is a destination brimming with nature and adventure attractions, festivals throughout its regions , and culinary experiences designed for different types of travelers.

And while any time of year is ideal for traveling in the country, specifically between June and July, Colombia transforms into a cultural hub, where fairs and festivals, with a variety of activities for travelers and locals , take over the region. In addition to being an attraction, these events are key to the local economy and tourism promotion, thus having a positive impact on accommodations, businesses, and restaurants.

"These celebrations are also a great opportunity for each region to showcase its best: its traditions, the warmth of its people, and the flavors of its cuisine. Ultimately, they're a showcase for all the characteristics that make each destination unique," says María Carolina Padilla, Civitatis Country Manager.

Civitatis guides have selected memorable tours that allow travelers to explore Colombia through its traditional dishes.

Neiva, located in the department of Huila, is known for its local cuisine, such as tamales and achiras. There, the Bambuco Festival in San Juan and San Pedro, which will take place from June 26 to 30, highlights the cultural richness of this region. In this destination, guided tours of a cacao plantation are a great way to learn about the process of growing and transforming the bean into chocolate.

Meanwhile, in Medellín, the tango tradition is present every year at the International Tango Festival (June 24-30). The capital of Antioquia also offers the opportunity to try traditional dishes such as chicharrón, bandeja paisa , and morcilla through gastronomic tours.

In Calarcá, meanwhile, you can celebrate the National Coffee Festival, a tribute to this Colombian product. From June 13 to 30, travelers can enjoy a sightseeing tour that includes heritage parades, contests and fairs, and even the sensory richness of coffee to learn about its cultivation, planting, harvesting, and tasting. According to Civitatis guides, two ways to learn more about this destination are with a tour of a coffee farm or a panela tour. Visitors will go to sugarcane plantations to learn about the milling process in traditional sugar mills, where the plant is crushed, beaten, and molded.

At the Fiesta del Mar, held in Santa Marta from July 24th to 29th, gastronomy isn't limited to the flavors of the sea; its biodiverse ecosystem offers a variety of fruits that enrich the local cuisine. To discover these flavors, there are two culinary experiences that highlight the region's identity: a traditional cooking workshop in which local cooks teach how to prepare cocadas (sweet desserts) with coconut, papaya, and mango; and a cocktail workshop led by a descendant of the Arhuaco community. Here, participants prepare and taste coconut-based cocktails served in their own shell.

ANGIE RODRÍGUEZ - TRAVEL EDITORIAL - @ANGS0614