Colombia For The Gourmet Traveler

Popular Foods & National Cuisine

Ajiaco, Arepas, Sancocho de Gallina

Popular Beverages & National Drinks

Coffee

Best Dining Destinations

Bogota, Cartagena

Foods

Ajiaco

A hearty traditional soup from Bogota, made with chicken, potatoes, onions, guascas, and cilantro. Guascas, a leafy weed, are what gives the soup its unique taste and many claim that it is just plain chicken soup and not ajiaco if not added.

Arepas

Arepas are the ultimate snack food and bread in Colombia. They consist of a simple cornmeal dough that is grilled into a patty shape. The best way to try them is with a melted white cheese sandwiched between them.

Sancocho de Gallina

A typical soup from Cali, Sancocho de Gallina takes the meaning of chicken soup to another level. This hearty soup contains chicken, plantains, yucca, potatoes, and plenty of other tasty ingredients. You will not want to miss out on this chicken soup if traveling to the region.

Drinks

Coffee

Second to Brazil on coffee production, Colombia is known for high-quality bean exports. Medellin is the most popular producer and their beans have a rich robust flavor.

Destinations

Bogota

The capital of Colombia, Bogota has a large selection of local and international cuisines to choose from in the many restaurants the populate this city. This is the best place to sample Ajiaco, the famous chicken soup from the area. Colombian wines are of low quality so try to stick with vintages from other countries.

Cartagena

Cartagena is the premier sea-side resort area of Colombia. With the rest of the country being war-torn and dangerous, this area is considered relatively safe from the surrounding problems. However, you should still be cautious. Many fine restaurants populate this resort area but many local, regional, latin, and international moderately priced establishments are available. Seafood is abundant so if you are a lover of the sea, try out some of the local specialties.