Colombia tours offer a wide variety of travel adventures and terrain to experience with its tropical beaches on the Pacific and the Caribbean coastlines, snow covered peaks in the Andes, humid rainforests in the Amazon, dry savannahs in “Los Llanos”, and lush valleys that produce some of the best coffee in the world. In recent years Colombia has made a drastic turn around, once a place deemed too unsafe to travel for tourists the beautiful country’s tourism industry is flourishing. Colombia is ideal for those looking to explore historic cities, visit pristine tropical beaches, or simply relax in beautiful colonial villages full of Spanish architecture and history.

The historic city of Cartagena has long been a favorite vacation spot for many. The city offers unique festivals, colonial architecture, delicious restaurants, and beautiful hotels. Global Basecamps offers a wide range of Colombia itineraries filled with visits to untouched islands, historic cities listed as UNESCO world heritage sites, local indigenous communities, night clubs, amazing National Parks, and isolated beaches perfect for relaxing. Some of the trip highlights include a Cartagena City tour, Tayrona National Park, Pink Flamingo Sanctuary, and the breath taking beaches of San Andres and Providencia Island.

Keith Jenkins is the blogger behind Velvet Escape. He left his corporate career to follow his passion for travel and writing, and in 2008 launched the Velvet Escape Blog. He conveys his incredible travel experiences through writing and photography, offering helpful tips and inspiring readers to discover all that the world has to offer. Keith currently resides in Amsterdam and has traveled to over 60 countries and across 6 continents. Despite his busy travel schedule, Keith was kind enough to take the time to answer some questions for us. Thanks Keith!

Global Basecamps: Where are you from?

Velvet Escape: That’s an easy question to start with! I’m from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Global Basecamps: When and how did you get hooked on travel?

Velvet Escape: My parents instilled in me a great desire to see and experience the world by giving me a geographic encyclopedia when I was eight. I memorized every bit of information in the encyclopedia and stared at all the photos endlessly. My first trip outside Malaysia/Singapore was with my family, when I was nine, to Hong Kong. I knew all the places and dragged them around the sights! I went on my first solo trip when I was 14. I was in Australia and backpacked from Sydney via Canberra to Melbourne and back. By that time, I knew I was hooked on travel!

Cherry blossom season is considered by many to be the best time of year to visit Japan. They begin to bloom on the south west tip of Japan and continue east and north, gradually traversing the country. Determining when the cherry blossoms will bloom is an annual pastime in Japan, but it is highly dependent on geographical location. In general, the milder the climate, the earlier the sakura will appear. On Japan’s southern islands of Okinawa, the cherry blossoms can open as early as January, while on the northern island of Hokkaido, they can bloom as late as May. Though it varies from year to year and depends on environmental factors, in most of the major cities, including Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, the cherry blossoms typically bloom in late March and early April. Cherry blossom season is the ideal time for a Japan tours, as you will find the cities and parks filled with people enjoying picnics and participating in "hanami" parties, or cherry blossom viewing.

Houshi Ryokan: Komatsu, Japan

Looking for a unique Japan tour? Houshi Ryokan, located in the hot spring village of Awazu in the Hokuriku region of Japan, is the world’s oldest inn. Dating back to the year 718 (some 1,300 years ago), the traditional ryokan has been operated by the same family for 46 generations. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The Houshi Ryokan has 100 rooms, as well as a "hanare" (private guest residence), that can accommodate up to 450 guest. At Houshi the names for each room are derived from Saijiki (a book on words and phrases defining the seasons in haiku), and reflect the hotels belief that life is a journey through the seasons. There are 2 indoor and 2 outdoor 24 hour hot spring baths for both men and women (same gender only). They also have 1 family bath that can be privately reserved upon guest’s request.

Though many of the laws and regulations in Singapore can be shocking to tourists, as a result the country is very clean, safe, and beautiful.  It has breathtaking beaches, delicious food, and a vast array of culture to experience.  Despite the fact that English is commonly spoken there, Singapore’s culture is a melting pot of Chinese, Malaysian, and Indonesian.  There is other heavy foreign influence making is one of the most diverse centers in Asia.  If you have the opportunity to visit this unique country here are a few of our recommendations on how to experience the best it has to offer!

Pulau Ubin: A Naturalist’s Paradise

If your looking for a unique day trip in Singapore Pulau Ubin, an island just off the northeastern tip of Singapore, offers a look into a small town left untouched by the development of bustling Singapore.  Pulau Ubin is a 15-minute boat ride from Changi Point Jetty. It offers an escape from the metropolitan city and is like taking a stroll through Singapore in the 1960’s.  With less than 100 inhabitants, it is just 5 miles across and 1 mile wide. As one of Singapore’s few remaining great nature areas, the island has vast areas of jungle and swamp that sustain a wide variety of animals. Renting mountain bikes is a great way to explore the jungle and scenery of the island.  There are also 2 beaches on the island, Noordin and Mamam, where visitors can camp.