Yes, we know. The image most people have in their mind when they hear, "travel in Colombia" is..."Don't." But this is a very different place than it was a decade ago and those in the know have discovered that the country is an undiscovered jewel. The Colombia government has made dramatic strides to increase security and lower crime throughout the country. Apart from a few isolated hotspots to avoid, travelers can move about relatively freely now. (Keep in mind too that there hasn't been a coup here since 1953.)

So why come here instead of some other country in Central or South America? The UNESCO World Heritage city of Cartagena has been popular for a long time with good reason. It's a historic fort city with a few great hotels, excellent food, and small islands to explore off the shore. Other less popular beaches on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts would rank among some of the best in the world, if only anyone making travel shows knew about them. The ever-improving cities are offering more in the way of great restaurants and nightlife all the time.

Colombia tourism is still in its infancy, with only about two million visitors last year. So you get the thin crowds of Nicaragua but with an infrastructure that is much more developed. A third of the country is part of the Amazon basin though, so it's not hard to go exploring and wildlife spotting well away from the cities. The Andes Mountains stretch into Colombia as well, offering hiking opportunities along the spine.

Several intrepid companies are leading trips to Colombia, including some of the best-known luxury tour operators. So if you want to beat the crowds yet still travel in style, Colombia is one of the best options in this hemisphere.


Luxury Hotels in Colombia