With decades of terrorism and drug activity winding down, more and more people are discovering the gem of a country that is Colombia. Although, drugs, guerilla warfare, and kidnapping are still a problem, they rarely occur anywhere even remotely close to any major tourist area. The colonial jewel of Cartegena is perhaps the most beautiful city in the world. The sprawling capital of Bogota is a far too under recognized metropolis with the fantastic gold museum and the nearby Salt Cathedral of Zipaquiera. The smaller cities of Medellin and Cali have vibrant art scenes and what many agree are the world’s most beautiful women. The town of Leticia is the countries foot hold on the Amazon and the gateways into both Peru and Brazil. The country is thought to have the most diverse bird life on the planet, and several national parks will prove this. On the north coast, Tayrona National Park and its crystal clear waters and sparkling beaches are incomparable. In the Sierra Nevadas de Santa Marta, Ciudada Perdida, or the Colombia Lost City, takes hikers to recently found ruins in one of the most desolate and unspoiled regions on the continent. Ancient Sights include the man made burial caves at Tierradentro and the many stone idols that sit in the area surrounding the town of San Agustin. Villa de Leiva.

Colombia’s main dishes include the everyone’s favorite arroz con pollo (rice with chicken), sancocho (potato or yam with fish or meat), Salpicon (tropical fruit salad), Arepas (fried maize cakes), Pandebono (cheese falvored bread), empanadas (meat stuffed pastries), and tamales (meat pies). Some of the more unusual dishes are cuy (guinea pig), lechona (sucking pig and herbs), and sobrebarriga (belly of beef). Several delicious and rare fruits are found in the country including guanabana, cherimoya, lulo, curuba, and feijoa.