Notorious as a country of drug trafficking and violent political unrest, Colombia is also a nation with rich layers of history and culture. Thus some intrepid travelers educate themselves to the safest strategies for exploring Colombia, prepare carefully, and head for South America.
Conflict between government forces and drug money funded insurgents keeps most travelers restricted to the safer areas of Colombia. Travelers are advised not to walk in certain areas without a guide, not to take night busses between cities, and to travel by taxi at night, rather than on foot. With all this in mind, some of Colombia’s cities of interest include Medellin, Cartegena and Bogotá. Medellin is where the artist Fernando Botero was born, and the city square displays a collection of his curvaceous sculptures. Medellin’s metro features cable car rides to the panoramic view atop Santo Domino Savio. Cartegena is a picturesque seaside town of cobblestone streets, colonial architecture and white sand beaches. Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, is a pastiche of museums, skyscrapers and slums, where hiring a guide is a safety must. Two islands offshore in the Caribbean, San Andres and Providencia, attract tourists who wish to snorkel, fish or boat.
