Discover Colombia: 13 Amazing Fun Facts for Kids to Explore and Learn!

1. Flying Garbage Disposal Birds

What do you get when you cross a flying garbage disposal with a giant umbrella? The majestic Andean condor: a massive bird of prey with an impressive 10-foot wingspan and weighing up to 33 pounds that keeps ecosystems clean and healthy by digesting bones and other remains in Colombia and other South American countries.
Source => colombiaplease.com

2. Skyscraper Wax Palms

Did you hear about the skyscrapers of the plant world that decided to throw a party for the birds and the bees? Quirky wax palms in Colombia's Valle de Cocora can grow so tall they practically tickle the clouds: These majestic giants reach up to 200 feet high and live in the protected Los Nevados National Natural Park - a haven for rare creatures like the yellow-eared parrot!
Source => cntraveler.com

Did you know Peru is home to stylish Andean bears, known for their trendy eyewear-like markings and impressive tree-house-building skills? Discover more about these fuzzy lumberjacks and their fabulous neighbors now! 🐻🌳🕶️

=> Fun Facts about Peru

3. Glitzy Museum of Gold

"Gold, Jerry, gold!" might as well be Colombia's catchphrase because their Museum of Gold in Bogotá sure knows how to shimmer and shine: housing over 55,000 dazzling pre-Columbian artifacts made of gold and other metal alloys, such as Tumbaga, the museum features the renowned Muisca golden raft, a key piece in the El Dorado myth, alongside themed halls boasting glitzy treasures from various cultures like Calima, Quimbaya, Muisca, Zenú, and Tairona, all dating back to a time before the Spanish conquistadors got their greedy mitts on the Americas.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Orchid Paradise Garden

Orchid you not, Colombia's green scene is fern-tastic and full of bromance: In the San Jorge Botanical Garden, visitors can explore three trails with a variety of exotic plant species, including orchids, bromeliads, and ferns, eventually leading to lookout towers offering stunning views of Ibagué city.
Source => nomadicniko.com

5. Ice-Skating on a Volcano

If ice-skating on a volcano were an Olympic sport, Colombia would take the gold: The Nevado del Ruiz volcano proudly flaunts its summit swathed in glaciers, which, despite their slow retreat, keep the peak icy and thrilling, transforming it into a key feature of Los Nevados National Natural Park and a water source for the Cauca and Magdalena rivers.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Magical Arepas

Get ready to "maize" your taste buds and have an "a-repa-whopping" time in Colombia: Arepas, those versatile griddle cakes made from cornmeal, water, salt, and cheese, are a staple food enjoyed throughout the day with a plethora of toppings like shredded meat, avocado, or scrambled eggs - they even made it to Disney fame as the healing dish in Encanto!
Source => tastyaz.com

7. Speedy Colombian DJs

When excited Colombian DJs decide to play 'Can't Touch This' by MC Hammer, they mean business: The Colombian salsa, also known as Salsa Caleña, evolved from DJs in Cali speeding up their songs to create a unique, fast-paced style, blending Colombian Cumbia and Caribbean Pachanga, and encouraging dancers to groove with lightning-fast footwork at block parties and family gatherings.
Source => somolocosalsa.com

8. Cowboy Metrocable Rides

Once upon a time in the Wild Wild West of Colombia, where urban cowboys rode cable cars instead of horses: Medellín transformed from a dangerous city into an urban innovator with the Metrocable, a cable car system connecting hillside barrios to the city center, slashing travel times and inspiring social interventions in impoverished areas.
Source => centreforpublicimpact.org

9. Monochrome Mardi Gras

Feeling a bit "black and white" and in need of a colorful adventure? Why, just paint your face and dance off to Colombia, where they've got a carnival like a monochrome Mardi Gras: The Carnaval de Negros y Blancos, or Black and White Carnival, is held annually in San Juan de Pasto, starting on December 28th and ending on January 6th. During these festivities, citizens delight in playful parades, satirical figures, and an energetic send-off to the old year. But the real highlight? Painting faces black one day and white the next, bringing everyone together for a wildly inclusive fiesta of cultural understanding and, most importantly, fun!
Source => ich.unesco.org

10. Hammock Weaving Wizards

Hang onto your siesta, kids, because we're swinging into the world of Colombian hammocks, where the craftsmanship is so intricate, it'll have you tangled in knots of awe: The town of San Jacinto, birthplace of the Colombian hammock, has skilled artisans like Señora Gladys weaving colorful patterns inspired by the ancient Zenú people's fishing nets, irrigation canals, and more, using locally spun and acrylic yarn.
Source => terrabomba.com

11. Undersea Colombian Adventures

Move over, Captain Nemo, Colombia's Pacific Coast is the place to be for undersea adventures: Boasting incredibly biodiverse rainforests and mangrove habitats, this watery wonderland is home to humpback whales, sea turtles, prime catch-and-release sports fishing, and scuba diving alongside majestic whale sharks.
Source => landedtravel.com

12. Bob Ross-worthy Hammocks

You know, if Bob Ross were a hammock guru, he'd probably tuck in for a good snooze on one of these happy little masterpieces: Fun fact, the Wayuu people of La Guajira in Northern Colombia create chinchorros, stunning handwoven hammocks that take up to eight months to produce, featuring intricate and unique patterns crafted using a vertical loom and a crochet technique.
Source => wayuuhammocks.com

13. Wheel of Ecosystems Jackpot

If Colombia were a contestant on "Wheel of Ecosystems," it would hit the jackpot every time: This South American superstar boasts a mind-boggling array of ecosystems, including the Amazon's tropical rainforests, Choco's biodiversity hotspot, the mountainous wonders of Sierra Nevada and Andes, and even island paradises like Gorgona and San Martin. Thanks to this ecological abundance, Colombia proudly ranks as one of the world's top three most biodiverse countries, teeming with countless amphibians, mammals, reptiles, and plants.
Source => news.mongabay.com