From Colombia, a book about Colombian warmth and how to enjoy it.

Colombia is known as the most welcoming place on earth, and this is no doubt due to the warmth of its people. With an extremely attractive large format and commissioned by Marca País, The Book of Warmth offers a unique journey through different regions of Colombia to capture and showcase Colombians’ warmth through various photographs and chronicles.

¿What is it about?

The Book of Warmth records spontaneously -although not randomly- that warmth that comes from the customs and traditions, from that impulse that drives Colombians to always greet with a smile and welcome with their incomparably good coffee all those who come to their lands.

In Colombia The Book of Warmth is a project that aims to answer a single question: Why is Colombia the most welcoming country in the world? In other words, to seek the origin of this statement that makes it stand out unanimously in the eyes of the world.

¿Who are the protagonists of this Book of Warmth?

More than 40 stories -46 to be exact-, of men and women, featuring everything from artisans and rural workers to booming young entrepreneurs. They are all part of this truly fascinating editorial production that intends to transmit to the world part of the Colombian character, so that they can enjoy it as if they were sitting next to its protagonists, sharing a great weekend feast.

In the Great Colombian Caribbean region we will find the story of Elida and her hairstyles; Daniel and his sports club on the beach expressing his passion for surfing; Yogletis López, with her dazzling recipes; Humberto Narváez, a local beekeeper; María Eugenia Clavijo, a hotels and tourism professional; Luis Guillermo Rodríguez, a practical pilot in the port of Santa Marta; Beatriz Ossa, a marine biologist and diving instructor, owner of the Diving Planet school; and Farid, a local dedicated to hospitality.

Regarding the Colombian Pacific region, we will enjoy Amelia Hurtado harvesting her own vegetables at Vientos de Yubarta, a quiet lodge on the outskirts of Nuquí; Walter, a Chocoan drum artisan; Edwin Rengifo, an education graduate and jungle photographer in charge of Tour del Río, his own venture; Ludy Valencia, a bilingual lawyer who vindicates individual and collective rights of the Chocoan people through tourism; Daniel Ramirez, member of Providencia S. A., a sweetener company; and Esteban Copete, a chonta marimba musician.

Heading to the Western Colombian Andes region, we are dazzled by the presence of Lady García, a social entrepreneur who studies the ancestral traditions of black communities; Juan Camilo Botero, an entrepreneur passionate about cycling who launched Altos, his own line of sportswear; Ximena Londoño, owner of the largest collection of tropical bamboo and guadua species in the countries of the Andean area; Andrea Beltrán, a biology graduate and CEO of Birding & Herping, an ecotourism services agency specializing in wildlife watching in the Quindío region; Alejandro Garcés, permanent curator of the Pereira Art Museum; Juan Pablo Echeverri, entrepreneur and owner of Hacienda Venecia, an establishment that offers a tour of the entire process of growing and harvesting berries; and Daniela, an entrepreneur with her streetwear clothing brand.

In the region of the Eastern Colombian Andes, we find Carlos Congote, founder of Congo Films, one of the largest audiovisual equipment rental houses in Latin America; Gina Torres, founder of Parche Cachaco, bicycle tours exploring the graffiti and street art in Bogota; Sergio Fog, manager of Cultivos del Norte, a family business that excels in flower production; Diego Alonso Virviescas, artisan of his town and founder of Canastos Don Nico; Gabriela Gamboa, winemaker at the Ain Karim vineyard; Grace Rojas and Cristhian Torres, partners in Río Expediciones, a proposal that encourages adventure tourism in the area; and Doña María Inés Holguín, a true ball craftswoman, in charge of sewing them.

Moving towards the Colombian Massif region, we can find Miriam, in charge of the restaurant Las Delicias de Miriam; Ovidio Carrera, owner of New York Discoteca, a dance pub in Pueblillo, municipality of Cauca; Aníbal Criollo Salazar, owner of Naturalia Restaurant and responsible for fusing agriculture with futuristic cuisine; Guadalupe, who produces Hass avocados at Finca Guadalupe, a family business that exports to the Netherlands and produces up to 50 tons of avocados annually; and Aymara Tani Tani, a weaver of handcrafted garments.

Finally, in the Colombian Amazon-Orinoquia region, you can find charming stories such as those of Antonio Cruz, bugeologist -specialist in the study of bugeos or pink dolphins, as they are also known-; Francisca, Tikuna guide and tourism professional; Antonio, heir to Uitoto traditions; Consuelo, artisan weaver of baskets to grow food and plants -even those that heal-; and Santos Pacaya Deixismari, member of the staff at Calanoa, a hotel in the middle of the jungle.

In this same region, we will also learn about Francisca, chef at Las Margaritas, a restaurant she inherited from her mother; Dibier Herrera, a young specialist in agriculture and the natural farming of the land; Danis Rodriguez, a horseman; Arinson Cifuentes, a young woman who specializes in the production of cocoa; Elizabeth Agudelo, a third generation cocoa farmer dedicated to the production of cocoa; Cesar Rodriguez, a dancer, singer and joropo teacher; Yul, a llanero chef who stands out as one of the most recognized nationally; and Edison Vargas, a former police officer who is now dedicated to traveling rivers.

¿How to enjoy Colombians’ warmth?

So, what would it be to «enjoy Colombians’ warmth”?

Experience all of this country’s wonders, both natural and cultural, through its protagonists: signing up for a surfing class with locals who are passionate about nature, enjoying a good meal with local products, getting wonderful service in a hotel, tour or hairdresser… These are some of the small pleasures that you will enjoy when you meet their hospitality face to face.