Colombian cuisine presents a vibrant blend of flavors, deeply rooted in Indigenous, African, and Spanish influences. This culinary tradition emphasizes fresh, local ingredients like corn, potatoes, rice, and a variety of tropical fruits. While regional dishes offer unique tastes, the overall culinary experience is characterized by hearty, comforting meals rather than intense spice.
Exploring Colombian cuisine caters to various budgets. For economical options, street food stalls are abundant, offering quick and flavorful snacks like empanadas and arepas. Local, unassuming restaurants are ideal for a budget-friendly lunch, often providing a 'menu del día,' a fixed-price meal including soup, a main course, and a drink.
Mid-range dining experiences can be found in casual restaurants, which offer traditional dishes with good portions and a pleasant atmosphere. For those seeking a more refined culinary journey, high-end restaurants in larger cities provide gourmet interpretations of classic Colombian dishes, often in sophisticated settings with tasting menus.
This iconic, generous platter typically features white rice, red beans, ground meat, chicharrón (pork belly), fried egg, a slice of avocado, a sweet plantain, and an arepa. It is a hearty and satisfying meal from the Antioquia region.
A comforting and popular soup from Bogotá, Ajiaco is made with three types of potatoes, chicken, corn, and the distinct guasca herb. It is often served with capers, cream, and avocado on the side.
A staple across Colombia, arepas are versatile corn-based patties that can be grilled or fried. They are commonly served as an accompaniment to meals, or filled with cheese, meat, or eggs for a snack or light meal.
These popular fried or baked pastries feature a corn masa crust and are typically filled with a savory mixture of meat, potatoes, and spices. Empanadas are widely enjoyed as a snack or appetizer.
Sancocho is a rich and hearty stew, with variations found across different regions. It commonly includes meat (often chicken or beef), potatoes, yucca, corn, and plantains, served with rice and avocado.
Particularly popular in coastal regions, Pescado Frito involves a whole fried fish, such as red snapper or mojarra. It is often accompanied by coconut rice and patacones (fried plantains).
Colombian tamales are distinctively wrapped in banana leaves and filled with a mixture of pork, chicken, rice, potatoes, and peas. They are a common choice for breakfast or brunch.
At TFA Travel we believe in travel for all. Our mission is to enable people to explore the world as easily as possible without having to pay a travel agent a huge commission.
Our typical audience are those that want to see something new and get involved with authentic experiences of a country. Whether you are a backpacker, solo traveller, solo female traveller, straight or LGBTQ+ couple, family, you will find local and authentic experiences here.
