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Colombian Food: The tourist guide
If you’re planning a trip to Colombia, come hungry. Forget the fancy food reviews, Colombia is all about "soul food" that’s big, filling, and made with love. Because the country has everything from snowy mountains to tropical beaches, the food changes completely depending on where you are. Here is a simple, no-nonsense guide to what you should eat in each part of Colombia.

1. The Caribbean Coast: Fried & Tropical

Down by the ocean, the food is all about fresh fish, coconut, and a lot of deep-frying. It’s hot outside, so the flavors are bright and salty.

  • Arroz con Coco (Coconut Rice): This is the king of side dishes. It’s rice cooked in coconut milk until it turns brown and slightly sweet.
  • Pescado Frito (Fried Fish): Usually a whole Red Snapper or Tilapia fried until the skin is crispy. You eat it with lime and your hands.
  • Arepa de Huevo: This is the ultimate street snack. It’s a corn arepa with a whole fried egg hidden inside.

2. The Andean Region: Hearty & Heavy

This is the mountain area (where Medellín and Bogotá are). Since it’s cooler here, the food is designed to give you enough energy to climb a mountain.

  • Bandeja Paisa: This is the most famous meal in Colombia. It’s a massive plate with rice, beans, ground beef, chorizo, avocado, a fried egg, and a huge piece of chicharrón (fried pork belly).
  • Ajiaco: A thick, creamy chicken and potato soup from Bogotá. It’s served with corn on the cob, capers, and a big dollop of heavy cream.
  • Lechona: A whole pig stuffed with rice and peas and roasted for hours until the skin is like a cracker.

3. The Pacific Coast: Seafood & Jungle Herbs

This region has a strong African influence. The food is very unique because they use wild jungle herbs and lots of creamy coconut sauces.

  • Cazuela de Mariscos: A rich seafood stew that’s basically a hug in a bowl. It’s packed with shrimp, clams, and fish.
  • Aborrajados: Deep-fried plantains stuffed with cheese. Sometimes they add a bit of guava paste for a sweet and salty mix.
  • Pusandao: A big soup made with catfish, plantains, and yuca cooked in coconut milk.

4. The Plains (Los Llanos): Meat Lover’s Paradise

If you like BBQ, this is your place. It’s “cowboy country,” so they focus on high-quality meat cooked over open fires.

  • Ternera a la Llanera: Also called Mamona. They take big cuts of veal, put them on giant stakes, and roast them slowly over a fire pit. It’s just meat and salt, and it’s delicious.
  • Hayacas: Similar to tamales, these are corn dough pockets filled with meat and veggies, wrapped in a leaf, and boiled.

5. The Amazon: Exotic & Fresh

In the jungle, they eat what the river and the trees provide. It’s probably the most “different” food you’ll try in Colombia.

  • Pirarucú: One of the biggest freshwater fish in the world. The meat is white and firm, almost like a steak.
  • Patarashca: Fish seasoned with onions and peppers, wrapped in a big “bijao” leaf, and grilled over coals.
  • Mojojoy: For the brave eaters—these are large, fatty jungle larvae that are usually grilled on a stick. They taste a bit like buttery chicken skin.