Colombia is the only South American country with a Caribbean and Pacific coast says Brendan Rayment, commercial director of Colombia57 and as one of the planet’s most diverse nations offers cruise visitors a smorgasbord of experiences ranging from history and culture to nature and adventure.
Rayment comments, 'the Pacific coast of Colombia with its pristine rain forests, wild natural beaches and rustic fishing communities, offers the adventurous cruise visitor an unparalleled and authentic experience which is very much off the beaten path.'
This past season the company operated its inaugural cruise call for Silver Explorer in the Colombian Caribbean island of Providencia: 'Providencia is picture perfect island with some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world, as well unspoilt beaches and a nature trek to the mountainous interior with stunning views of the island,' adds Rayment, who will be attending SCG in Fort Lauderdale based on the Colombia and FCCA stand #115.
In the last six months Colombia57 has handled over 5,000 guests on tour in the port of Santa Marta which offers visitors the opportunity to experience the world’s highest coastal mountain range, beaches and lush tropical jungle as well as the colonial beauty of the city, one of the oldest in South America.
Cartagena de Indias remains Colombia’s busiest cruise port with 201 calls in the 2015-2016 season. 'During this current season we have partnered a number of European cruise lines who have operated a three day call with the turnaround on the middle day,' comments Rayment, 'guests arrive on direct charter flights from European cities and additional the city is a perfect destination for pre and post cruise programs.'
Where vessels call at more than one Colombian port in a single itinerary it is also possible to offer extended overlands to the capital city of Bogotá and also to the country’s Coffee Region, recently designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
In 2015, Colombia57 partnered Crystal Cruises on itsinaugural extended program to Bogotá with guests disembarking in Santa Marta and re-embarking the following day in Cartagena.
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