5 Upcoming Events in Colombia in 2012 You Shouldn’t Miss – Start getting excited…

2012 promises to be a huge year for Colombia. The country was recently announced as one of the best destinations in the world for the coming year by National Geographic and that was just the tip of the iceberg for the country which saw huge amounts of publicity during 2011 (with our own humble site being featured in the BBC, Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and much more). We think 2012 will hold even more in the way of publicity, and we expect far more people to be seeking vacations in Colombia as people’s perceptions of the country change rapidly.

Indeed, if we’re right and 2012 is Colombia’s biggest year for tourism then there couldn’t be a better time. Below we’ve listed 5 highlights for the year so you know when to go to Colombia (hint: pretty much all year). So here it is, 5 events in Colombia in 2012 that you absolutely shouldn’t miss.

Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogota

From the 23rd of March to the 8th of April Bogota will become home to one of the largest theatre festivals in the world – The Iberoamericano Theatre Festival. With over 800 functions, the city is utterly transformed and becomes a haven for all things theatre. Absolutely unforgettable.

Barranquilla Carnival

Second only to Rio’s Carnival in terms of size and spectacle, the Carnival de Barranquilla is one of the most colourful, outrageous festivals in the world and will surely be one of the highlights of 2012. The festival takes place from the 18th to the 21st of February, so don’t miss out!

Feria de Cali

Every year around Christmas time (starting on the 25th and lasting for  days), the Cali festival takes place. As the self-proclaimed capital of salsa in Colombia, you can expect a great deal of dancing at all hours of the day and an unforgettable explosion of colour and partying.

Feria de Las Flores, Medellin

We gave the Medellin Flower Festival a great deal of coverage during last year, and for good reason. For one, it was my (Paul) first time going and I loved it, but also because it’s one of Colombia’s most important events. Though typically filled with partying and merriment, it also pays homage to Colombian history and traditions. The Feria de Las Flores, Medellin, will take place from August 3rd to August 12th in 2012.

Rock Al Parque, Bogota

Rock Al Parque is South America’s premier free rock festival. It’s one of the biggest festivals in the world and attracts some of the world’s top artists. Last year saw ChocQuibTown, Fisherspooner and Bomba Estereo all perform and 2012 promises to attract more and more talents. We wait with baited breath for the line-up announcement.