Santa Marta, Colombia

Colombia’s oldest city sits in the foothills of the mighty Sierra Nevada mountains – the world’s highest coastal mountain range. Check out stunning jewelry from the Nahuange and Tayrona periods in the city’s Museo del Oro, which features in the Gabriel García Márquez novel, No One Writes to the Colonel. The incredible Tayrona National Park sits right on the city’s doorstep, where you may find monkeys, deer and wild cats, among other native wildlife.  Accessible only on foot, on horseback or by boat, exploring this dazzling stretch of jungle is a real adventure. At the end of the day, head back to Santa Marta and dine on the freshest shrimp, octopus and oysters in the bustling restaurants around the Parque de los Novios.