Caribbean coast destinations such as the Rosario archipelago or the UNESCO heritage list city of Cartagena are rightly top of most Colombia travel wish lists, but also deserving a look-in is the country's somewhat unsung capital of Bogotá.
Yes, it's a messy, traffic-snarled urban sprawl, but it's also a high-altitude crucible of culture and cuisine. There are tours that chart the city's transformation from graffiti wild west to incredible street art gallery.
Equally colorful are the restaurants that make the most of Colombia's diverse natural larder of flora on menus that range from delicious peasant dishes to mind-blowing Michelin-level gastronomy. And then there's the coffee!
The congestion (except on regular cycle-only days) thins quickly on its outskirts, allowing day trips to see historic and modern treasures. Itineraries include Lake Guatavita, where conquistadors once plundered sunken gold offerings left by indigenous Muisca people, or the majestic subterranean Zipaquirá salt cathedral. -- BN