Colombia may not be anywhere near the top of your list of places to visit, possibly due to the renowned armed conflict there. However, since 2002, when president Álvaro Uribe took office, the country has seen a dramatic increase in military strength and police presence, increasing the countries stability.
It is the fourth largest South American country and one of the continents most populous. It is a major producer of gold, silver, platinum, emeralds and coal and has the highest diversity of birds and amphibians in the world; 1815 and 583 respectively.
In contrast, despite having been ravaged by a decades-long violent conflict involving outlawed armed groups, drug cartels and gross violations of human rights, Colombia is renowned for some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, namely Cartagena and Santa Marta.
Places I visited:
