Colombian Countdown to Brazil: A Travel Guide for Colombia Fans

 

As the World Cup steadily approaches (and my Panini Sticker Album nears completion – seriously, I have so many to trade, get in touch!), and with Colombians getting more and more excited to see their team in action on the biggest stage since 1998, those who have been lucky enough to get tickets for Brazil will be starting to plan their trips. So we thought, as we’re a travel blog and all that, that we could provide some ideas and inspiration for those of you who are heading over to watch Colombia play. The seleccion will be playing 3 games guaranteed, in the Brazilian cities of Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, and Cuiaba on the 14th, 19th, and 24th of June. So here’s a little travel guide to those three cities to help fill the time between games (maybe some of the players can also take inspiration…):

 

 

Belo Horizonte

Colombia kick-off their World Cup campaign here against Greece on June 14th; but what is there to see and do in Brazil’s third largest Metroplex (thanks Wikipedia)? Belo Horizone has a number of Oscar Niemeyer designed buildings surrounding the famous Pampulha Lagoon, a Museum of Arts and Crafts, and, just 37 miles from the city is Inhotim, one of Brazil’s best contemporary art museums.  The nearby city of Ouro Preto is a UNESCO World Heritage site: this former colonial mining city is seen to contain outstanding Baroque architecture, and vital world history (and it’s only about an hour and a half from Belo). Also, the state of which Belo Horizonte is capital, Minas Gerais, is famous for its delicious food: corn, pork, beans and chicken are all regional specialities here. Just because the players have to stay fit and healthy, doesn’t mean you have to!

 

 

Brasilia

The Colombia World Cup campaign continues here, in Brazil’s capital, against the Ivory Coast on June 19th. And speaking of Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia is practically a shrine to the great architect: he designed much of this new city, and it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 thanks to its pioneering and diverse architecture. Iconic buildings include the cathedral, the Three Powers Square, the Palacio da Alvorada, and the Dom Bosco Church. The city also contains beautiful natural areas to enjoy, such as the National Park, Paranoa Lake, and the City Park (larger than Central Park!). A popular tourist activity is stand-up paddle boarding along the Paranoa Lake: you might not be playing football on the greatest stage there is, but you can at least stay active, right?!

 

 

Cuiaba

The final Colombia group-stage game is against Japan in Cuiaba on June 24th: by now we might know whether the Brazilian adventure is bound to continue or not (we reckon it will…). Cuiaba is relatively small (just 500,000 people), and is located in Mato Grosso state. The key word here is: Pantanal. Perhaps South America’s greatest wildlife viewing area is nearby, and Cuiaba is the gateway city for tours to the South American Serengeti. The Pantanal is the best place in the world to spot jaguars, anteaters, and many other iconic animals in their natural habitat. Cuiaba itself is a pretty small place, with not too much to see, but it contains some lovely churches and squares. Another option is a day-trip to the Chapada dos Guimarães National Park: full of wildlife, waterfalls and giant rock escarpments, it’s a great way to experience some stunning wild places all within a one-day drive of the city. So if (hopefully not) the campaign ends badly, you can console yourself in the majesty of nature…

 

 

So there you have it: enjoy the first Colombian World Cup campaign in 16 years, and see some of the best of Brazil at the same time. Roll on Brazil 2014!

Chris