All-Colombia: Fun Facts, Great Books, & Compelling Movies

Before I travel to a new destination – or revisit a favorite – I love to load up on interesting information, especially from a local perspective. Reading books and watching movies about a place gives you new eyes with which to absorb your own travel experiences.

I love recognizing the things I’ve read about when I’m on the ground, especially when it leads to great conversations with locals. I’m also a sucker for fun facts. So, here’s a brief list of All-Colombia fun facts, insightful reads, and unforgettable films to check out before your visit to Colombia!

All-Colombia Fun Facts

🇨🇴 Colombia has the most bird species of any country in the world.
🏙 Medellín – once a violent hotspot – was named the “Most Innovative City in the World” in 2013 by the Urban Land Institute.
🧬 The country is home to 102 different indigenous groups.
🎶 By law, the national anthem plays twice a day on the radio. ¡Viva Colombia!

All-Colombia Books

Living to Tell the Tale

by Gabriel García Márquez

Gabo is a legendary Colombian author, as beloved by the people of his home country as he is vaunted worldwide for his pioneering magical realism. Western readers sometimes struggle with this literary style, which can feel at odds with realism, but don’t overthink it – just let the story wash over you. If and when you dive into Marquez’s classics like100 Years of Solitude or Love in the Time of Cholera, remember two things: no, you’re not supposed to remember every single character’s name and backstory – just let the tale wash over you! Second, magical realism is about evoking a sense of reality in all its absurdities and perspectives; the magic allows for reality to be splintered, chaotic, painful, and beautiful. Living to Tell the Tale is Gabo’s memoir and an intimate portrait of the man behind the masterpieces. It’s especially powerful to read while wandering the places he writes about.

Magdalena: River of Dreams

by Wade Davis

A heartfelt tribute to Colombia and its epic river, this book is part travelogue, part history, and entirely engrossing. Wade Davis, a veteran journalist, captures the heartbreak and resilience of the Colombian people. We listened to the audiobook during our road trip – it was moving, eye-opening, and unforgettable. Blending memoir, history, and vivid storytelling, Davis traces the river’s journey through its three major sections, meeting the people who live along its banks and capturing their resilience and dreams. Through poetic writing and striking photography, he presents an inspiring narrative of hope and transformation, challenging stereotypes and revealing Colombia’s rich, complex identity.

December Breeze

by Marvel Moreno

Set in Barranquilla on the Caribbean coast during the 1950s and '60s, this novel explores the lives of upper-class women confronting the strict rules of a patriarchal society. Marvel Moreno vividly captures their resistance against social expectations and double standards, painting a rich and often heartbreaking picture of gender, freedom, and identity in mid-century Colombia. Moreno’s most famous work, December Breeze was a finalist for the Plaza y Janés International Literary Prize in 1985 and won the Grinzane-Cavour Prize in 1989. It was praised as one of the best works of the post-boom era, according to journalist Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza. The novel helped cement her place among influential Latin American women writers.

Must-Watch Colombian Films

🎥 Embrace of the Serpent (2015)

Directed by Ciro Guerra

A lyrical and haunting black-and-white film that follows Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman, as he journeys with two scientists across decades. Based on real journals, it explores first contact, betrayal, and friendship through a poetic lens. Visually stunning and spiritually profound.

🎥 La Estrategia del Caracol (The Strategy of the Snail) (1993)

Directed by Sergio Cabrera

This acerbic, often hilarious satire follows tenants in Bogotá resisting illegal eviction. Their ingenious plan to outwit a powerful landlord becomes a sharp commentary on corruption, resistance, and community. The film won international awards and remains a beloved Colombian classic.

🎥 María Full of Grace (2004)

Directed by Joshua Marston

This gripping drama tells the story of María, a young woman who becomes a drug mule in a desperate attempt to escape poverty. Catalina Sandino Moreno’s performance earned her the Silver Bear for Best Actress in Berlin and an Academy Award nomination—the first ever for a Colombian actress.

Let these stories enrich your trip – Colombia is a place best experienced with open eyes, ears, and heart.

Got That Audiobook Queued Up for the Roadtrip? Click below to check out some curated picks for making life easier when traveling with (and without) small children.

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