Colombia
(photo: Richard McColl)
While sometimes making headlines for the wrong reasons, Colombia could well surprise would-be travellers. A million miles away from the images of well-worn shanty towns, much of Colombia is a varied metropolis of skyscrapers, port towns, cobbled streets, lush greenery and feel-good party culture.
Colombia: Essential information
Capital –
Bogota
Major cities – Cali, Medellin and Bucaramanga
Major resorts – San Agustin, El Parque Tayrona and Ciudad Perdida
Time Zone – GMT -5
Language – Spanish
To learn the basics of Spanish visit
www.bbc.co.uk