Occupying a strategic position, Colombia connects the Central American isthmus with the rest of the continent and borders five countries in total. The vast majority of the country is now recognised by the FCO as entirely safe to visit and the Colombian Tourist Office in the UK have even confronted the former negative image directly in its slogan, ‘The only risk is wanting to stay’. Rising visitor numbers prove that they have put guerrilla warfare and trafficking issues firmly behind them.
From the historic UNESCO site and walled city of Cartagena, filled with cobbled streets and flower-filled balconies in the north, you can explore the Caribbean coastline around Santa Marta and natural beauty of the nearby Tayrona National Park. Set on the jungle overlay on the coast, here you can find wildlife such as deer and many different birds and bats, alongside some deep, coconut shaded beaches. The capital city of Bogota is refreshingly cosmopolitan with an excellently preserved old town, superb museums and the incredible Zipaquira salt cathedral nearby. West of here the ‘zona cafetera’, or coffee region, is beautifully scenic, with lofty wax palm forests in Cocora, plantation houses and haciendas in Salento, with rolling hillside scenery and fresh air complementing the laid-back atmosphere.