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Ecuador
Colombia
Venezuela
Bogotá
Quito
Esmeraldas
Río Chico
Higuerote
Chichiriviche
Caracas
Santa
Marta
Minca
Cartagena
Ciénaga
Santiago de Tolú
San Antero
Santa Marta
Museo del Oro
Parque
Simón
Bolívar
La Muzzería
Quinta de San
Pedro Alejandrino
Playa Blanca
El Rodadero
Rodadero Sea Aquarium
Parque de los Novios
Parque Nacional Tayrona
INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL
Ecuador/Colombia/Venezuela, Coasts
Minca:
Tour Hacienda La Victoria coffee farm
(above) — and then sample the goods — or
hike to Pozo Azul or Arimaka waterfalls from
this rustic mountain town. (1:10 from Santa
Marta)
Ciénaga:
Gabriel García Márquez fans
should not miss the opportunity to visit this
city, known as the Capital of Colombian
Magical Realism. (1:00)
Young travelers might not be able to go scuba
diving, but they can still see manta rays, sea
horses, sharks, turtles, and many more
marine creatures at Santa Marta’s Rodadero
Sea Aquarium and Museum. There are even
regular dolphin and sea lion shows.
Though it may be hard to resist Santa Marta’s charms, there are a number
of other enriching destinations along this region of South America’s coast, all
of which make for a good base from which to enjoy an exchange or Getaway.
Begin your visit to
Cartagena, Colombia
, by strolling atop the wall that
surrounds the old city, an enchanting collection of Spanish colonial architecture
and neighborhood squares (below).
Río Chico, Venezuela
— and the adjacent Parque Nacional Laguna de
Tacarigua — is legendary among anglers for its fly-fishing opportunities.
Dine on a delicious seafood feast at Restaurant El Alcatraz in Atacames,
just west of
Esmeraldas, Ecuador
.
If scuba diving is your top priority …
check out the reef, wreck, and wall dives
scattered about the waters surrounding
Grand
Cayman, Cayman Islands
. (222)
If you just want to hang out on the beach …
towns such as Florianópolis and Itapema in
Santa Catarina, Brazil
, have long, sandy
strands. (280)