Tayrona National Park (Photo: Julian Castro)
Caribbean

Colombia competes for best South American beach

by Parker Crooks

Two of Colombia’s top Caribbean beach locations are among the nominations for best beach destinations in South America by World Travel Awards.

San Andres, an island off the coast of Nicaragua, and Tayrona National Park, a protected beach area near Santa Marta on the country’s north coast, will compete against each-other and several other South American beaches.

“Both in Santa Marta and San Andres international tourists who visit can enjoy unique experiences like diving amid one of the largest coral reefs in the Caribbean or discovering what was once the cradle of Indian civilization” claimed the president of Colombian promotion agency, Maria Claudia Lacouture, in a press release.

Last year, the two locations were also part of the 9 nominated beach destinations, but the award went to Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

For the 2013 competition the six other nominees include: Bartolome, Galapagos Islands; Ipanema Beach, Brazil; Mar del Plata, Argentina; Playa el Agua, Margarita Island, Venezuela; Fernando de Noronha Beach, Brazil; and Vina del Mar, Chile.

Voting began on April 13 but lasts until June 2 and is open to the public. The winner will also earn an opportunity to claim the 20th anniversary title of best beach destination in the world.

Location of the beaches

Sources