Tourism in Colombia is growing exponentially as the security situation continues to improve and international travelers recognize Colombia’s potential as an important eco-tourism destination. Colombia has 49 national parks or nationally-protected areas, although it’s best to stick to to those in well-traveled and well-secured areas.

In Bogota, I've found that most of the nicer gyms charge as much, if not more, than they do back home, but if you sign up for six or twelve months, you can often get up to a 50% discount, and services such as a personal trainer and spa and beauty treatments are cheaper.

Bogota is kind of like New York, with its thousands of cafes, restaurants, museums, attractions, and hotels. Just throw in extra pollution, weirder architecture, some crappy sidewalks, a bit of subdued Latin flair and you’ve got Colombia’s capital city.

Few cities capture the imagination like Cartagena. This sultry, romantic city on the Atlantic is an open air museum of the best of Spanish colonial architecture and is Colombia’s most popular and beloved vacation destination.

Even if you haven't traveled to Latin America, you've probably heard something about Mexico, Costa Rica and Brazil. But there are dozens of other fantastic must-see destinations South of Miami. So do a little research and discover some of Central and South America's lesser known gems.

Bogota’s historic district, consisting of La Candelaria and La Plaza de Bolivar, has served as the country’s cultural engine for nearly 500 years. Its colorful, one-story homes have mostly been converted into cafes, restaurants and bars, but La Candelaria was once home to Bogota’s first European settlers.

It may be overpriced and overdone, but it's hard to deny that there's something special about Villa de Leyva, Colombia's favorite colonial small town.