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A Hidden Treasure: 5 Reasons To Visit Colombia

Why you should add Colombia to your list of future travel destinations.

Daniela Gonzalez

Dec 29, 2015

Stanford University

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A Hidden Treasure: 5 Reasons To Visit Colombia

Medellin Buzz

Although Colombia has long overcome the majority of its issues surrounding drugs and unsafety, many are still hesitant to visit due to the country’s reputation. Today, however, Colombia is booming and as beautiful as ever, making it an optimal travel destination. Here’s why:

1. The Food

No surprise here—the Stanford Foodie transcends the boundaries of the San Francisco Bay Area! Colombian cuisine is comes in many forms and is actually quite different from the types of Latin American food (eg. Mexican food) that most Americans are familiar with. Typical Colombian dishes include…

Aborrajadas

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Bocadillo (guava candy) and cheese sandwiched between two fried plantains, then battered and deep-fried.

Ajiaco

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Chicken soup with potatoes, corn, sour cream, capers, and avocado.

Arepas

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Thick, round breads made from cornmeal, sort of like Colombian tortillas, often topped with butter and salt.

Arroz con Coco

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Rice cooked in coconut milk with a secret ingredient (Coca Cola), commonly served alongside fried fish in coastal towns.

Arroz con Leche

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Rice pudding topped with cinnamon.

Bandeja Paisa

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A platter of ground beef, chorizo, beans, plantains, avocado, fried egg, and more.

Café

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Colombian coffee is considered some of the best on the planet. Colombia has the third highest annual average coffee production in the world, and coffee fanatics should make sure to visit la Zona Cafetera (the coffee area), which has theme parks dedicated entirely to coffee.

Empanadas

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Stuffed pastries typically filled with beef, chicken, or cheese.

Fruit and Fruit Juice

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A multitude of tropical fruits you’ve probably never heard of (lulo, guanabana, granadilla, curuba, maracuya) along with fresh fruit juice readily available at nearly any household or restaurant.

Patacones

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2. The Music

While I’m sure you’ve already heard of Shakira, other fantastic Colombian musicians include Juanes, Carlos Vives, Santiago Cruz, and Fanny Lu, among many, many others.

Shakira

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Songs worth listening to: Suerte and Ojos Así

Juanes

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Songs worth listening to: La Camisa Negra and A Dios Le Pido

Carlos Vives

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Songs worth listening to: Volví a Nacer y La Tierra del Olvido

Santiago Cruz

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Songs worth listening to: Desde Lejos and Si No Te Vuelvo a Ver

Fanny Lu

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Songs worth listening to: Fanfarrón and No Te Pido Flores

Dancing is also a huge part of Colombian culture, as most people are expected to know dances such as salsa, merengue, bachata, and cumbia, all of which are very popular at parties and social events.

3. The Sports

Colombians are extremely passionate about fútbol (soccer, that is), and it had been a while since our national team had been successful until last year's 2014 FIFA World Cup. Thanks to the efforts of star players such as #10 James Rodriguez, Colombia made it to the quarterfinals and hopes to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Rodriguez also won the golden boot for scoring the most goals (6) out of anyone in the 2014 World Cup.

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Colombia has also been very successful in cycling due to athletes such as Nairo Quintana and Rigoberto Urán. Quintana, who is only 25 years old, came in second place in the 2013 and 2015 Tours de France and first in the 2014 Giro d'Italia. Similarly, Urán placed second in the 2013 and 2014 Giros d'Italia.

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4. The Landscape

Colombia’s landscape is both stunning and diverse, as it is considered to be one of Conservation International’s 17 megadiverse countries and contains everything from big cities and small towns to Caribbean islands and mountainous terrain. Here are a few spots worth checking out:

Villa de Leyva

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Zona Cafetera

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5. The People

Quite simply, Colombia is considered one of the happiest places on earth! Despite past troubles and turmoil, Colombia is a country full of joyful, loving, and hardworking people who are eager to welcome you to our beautiful part of the world. As a Colombian-American, I want YOU to visit my country of origin and see how far it has come.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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A Hidden Treasure: 5 Reasons To Visit Colombia

Why you should add Colombia to your list of future travel destinations.

1. The Food

Aborrajadas

Ajiaco

Arepas

Arroz con Coco

Arroz con Leche

Bandeja Paisa

Café

Empanadas

Fruit and Fruit Juice

Patacones

2. The Music

Shakira

Juanes

Carlos Vives

Santiago Cruz

Fanny Lu

3. The Sports

4. The Landscape

Amazonas

Bogotá

Cartagena

Islas del Rosario

La Guajira

Medellín

Tayrona National Park

Villa de Leyva

Zona Cafetera

5. The People

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

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