The charm of Columbia
A “palenqueras,” preparing the fruit for our group in San Pedro Claver Square in Cartagena. Photo by Heather Cassell South American country is making great strides in LGBTQ rights HEATHER CASSELL | Contributing Writerheather@girlsthatroam.com Colombia is an amazing country — rich with art and culture, food, history, outdoor adventures, beautiful sandy beaches and warm people.
I learned this when I traveled to Colombia as a guest of award-winning sustainable LGBTQ travel company Out in Colombia and the country’s tourism bureau, ProColombia, right before the pandemic shut down the world and tourism.
Colombia re-opened for tourism on Sept. 1, 2020. (Check Columbian and U.S. tourism websites for vaccination requirements.) Colombia is a year-round destination, but the best months to experience the South American country are December to March and June to September.
Lesbian tour guide, hip=hop artist, and activist Cata Gutierrez at one of the many murals that decorate Comuna 13 in Medellin. (Photo by Heather Cassell) Colombia’s LGBTQ movement has made great strides in gaining rights since 1999, according to the Astraea Foundation’s 2021 report.
