28 Never-before-seen Reasons to Visit Colombia

Colombia, the fourth-largest in both economy and size in Latin America and the only one with access to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, is the most impressive country on the planet and is world-renowned for the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs.

I’ve been coming to Medellin since 2014, when I accidentally found it while I was working at Airbnb, and it’s my goal to be considered the most knowledgeable living human about this country.

I’ve visited over 30 Colombian cities and have spent more than 3 years of my life in the country (and counting). In 2026, I plan to spend the whole year living in the country and exploring cities and nature off the tourist trail

⚠️ IN PROGRESS: I work in real-time.

#1 Biodiverse Country in the World

Given Colombia’s size, 8x smaller than its Southern neighbor, it’s the most biodiverse country on the planet and second overall to Brasil. Despite occupying just 0.7% of the planet’s surface, it shelters 10% of all species worldwide, including:

• more bird species than any other nation (over 1,900)
• the most orchid varieties
• the second-highest number of butterflies, amphibians, and plants.

Colombia has all 6 biomes, including alpine tundra (páramo).

Tallest Palm Trees on the Planet (200ft / 60m)

With over 250 palm species, Colombia ranks first in the world.

The Quindío Wax Palm lives for 100 years, is the official Colombian tree, and is the world’s tallest palm species.

The Lost City – 650 Years Before Machu Picchu

La Ciudad Perdida (“The Lost City”) is an ancient city built by the Tairona people around 800 CE, home to 2,000-8,000 people.

The site features around 170 stone terraces carved into the mountainside, connected by a network of tiled roads and plazas.

Abandoned during the Spanish conquest, swallowed by the jungle for centuries, “rediscovered” in 1972 by local tomb raiders, and finally taken under the control of the Colombian government in 1976.

The 4-5 day, 27-mile (44km) trek through dense jungle, river crossings, and serious humidity is only for the healthy and adventurous. No helicopter option, no shortcuts. The “dry” months (relative in a rainforest) run from December – March and from July – August.

World’s Highest Coastal Mountain Range (19,000ft, 2/3 size of Everest)

Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta – rises to 5,775m while being only 42km from the Caribbean Sea

World’s Only Underground Church

Deep within a salt mine in Zipaquirá, about an hour north of Bogotá, lies the Salt Cathedral — the world’s only underground church. Carved entirely out of salt rock at roughly 200 meters below the surface, this architectural marvel features towering columns, intricate carvings, and a massive cross illuminated in the cavernous darkness. It’s one of Colombia’s most visited landmarks and a testament to both engineering and faith.

#1 for Birdwatching

Colombia has nearly 2,000 bird species — 20% of all birds on Earth — more than any other country, including 80+ endemics and 150+ hummingbird species. It’s dominated the Global Big Day birding competition almost every year since 2017, logging 1,558 species in a single day. Three Andean cordilleras create distinct ecosystems at every elevation, making it a place where birders regularly tally hundreds of lifers in one trip.

Largest Carnaval Outside of Brazil (#2 in World)

The Carnaval de Barranquilla is the second-largest carnival on Earth, behind only Rio. A UNESCO Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage since 2003, this four-day explosion of cumbia, mapalé, and Congo dances fuses Indigenous, African, and Spanish traditions — from the six-hour Batalla de las Flores to the symbolic burial of Joselito Carnaval. “Quien lo vive es quien lo goza” — he who lives it, enjoys it.

See all 88 Constellations, Nebulas, Galaxies and Meteor showers

Colombia’s equatorial position means you can observe all 88 officially recognized constellations — both hemispheres visible from one spot. The Tatacoa Desert in Huila, sitting 3.2° from the equator with zero light pollution, is the crown jewel, with two observatories and Mars-like landscapes. Other prime spots include Cabo de la Vela in Guajira and Villa de Leyva in Boyacá.

Only Wild Hippo Population Outside Africa – Guinness World Record

In the 1980s, drug lord Pablo Escobar imported four hippos to his private estate, Hacienda Nápoles. After his death, they were left behind and thrived in Colombia’s warm rivers and wetlands. Today the population has grown to over 100, earning a Guinness World Record as the only wild hippo population outside of Africa — a bizarre ecological legacy that scientists and locals continue to navigate.

Louvre of Rock Art in the Americas

Chiribiquete, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Colombia’s 31% of the Amazon, has the most extensive rock drawings in the Americas, numbering over 75,000, the oldest of which date back 20,000 years.

They’re located in the most dramatic setting on Earth – on isolated tepuis rising from pristine Amazon rainforest, surrounded by uncontacted tribes still painting on the same walls.

Unofficial Rainiest Place on Earth (13,000+ mm yearly)

López de Micay — ~12,892 mm (1960–2012, per Colombia’s IDEAM meteorological service; some unofficial claims reach 16,000 mm)

Lloró (Chocó) — ~12,717 mm.

The City of Gold Legend, El Dorado, is in Colombia

Bogotá’s Gold Museum houses over 34,000 gold pieces, one of the largest museums of its kind in the world

First Free African Town in the Americas

San Basilio de Palenque, a small village near Cartagena, holds the extraordinary distinction of being the first free African town in the Americas. Founded in the 17th century by escaped enslaved people led by Benkos Biohó, Palenque developed its own Creole language, music traditions, and cultural practices that survive to this day. UNESCO recognized it as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Eat a Fruit Every Day of the Year, then some..

Colombians could eat a different native fruit every day for more than a year and never repeat. Keyword – native – because there are over 400 native edible fruits in the country and 1,800+ total fruit species when you include introduced varieties

Visit La Minorista, which feeds the entire city of Greater Medellin, and see fruits you’ve never encountered before, like borojó from Chocó, copoazú from the Amazon, or the various passionfruit cousins (maracuyá, gulupa, granadilla, curuba, badea). The grandadilla is incredibly tasty.

The United States of America, 9x larger than Colombia, has 40 fruit options.

Bogotá is the third-highest capital city in the world (2,640m)

3,500+ Identified Species of Orchid (#1 in the world)

Colombia has over 4,270 orchid species — more than any country — with roughly 1,572 found nowhere else on Earth. The three Andean cordilleras create microclimates at every altitude that drive insane speciation rates. New species are still being discovered yearly; one researcher added 65 in just four years. The orchid is also Colombia’s national flower.

Most Butterfly species in the World 🦋

Colombia hosts nearly 3,700 butterfly species — 20% of all butterflies on Earth — with 350+ endemics. The longest butterfly life cycle ever recorded belongs to Neopedaliodes zipa, endemic to the Cundinamarca-Boyacá highlands, at 333 days. Scientists estimate only 5-10% of Colombia’s butterfly diversity has been fully inventoried.

90% of Emeralds are from Colombia (World’s Largest producer)

Colombia is the undisputed king of emeralds, producing roughly 90% of the global supply. Mines in Boyacá, particularly around Muzo and Chivor, yield stones famous for their deep, vivid green and exceptional clarity. Colombian emeralds have adorned royalty and collectors for centuries, and the gem trade remains a vital part of the country’s economy and heritage.

Largest Páramo Ecosystems and 60% of the World’s Total

Think of a páramo ecosystem as a perpetually misty, cold, wet, windswept grassland dominated by frailejones (those iconic fuzzy, silvery rosette plants), tussock grasses, mosses, and hardy shrubs.

More technically, it’s a high-altitude tropical ecosystem found between the treeline and permanent snow at 13,000ft (4,000m) and 35-50°F (2-10°C) year-round.

Only found in five countries, Colombia has about 50% of the world’s páramo ecosystems

Sumapaz is the largest in the world, just south of Bogotá (also Chingaza and Cocuy). They’re critically important as natural water factories: the spongy soil and vegetation capture moisture from clouds and release it slowly into rivers that supply drinking water to millions, including Bogotá.

Páramo de Belmira and Páramo de Frontino are 2 hours north of Medellín.

Colombia is Home to Pink Dolphins

In the rivers of Colombia’s Amazon and Orinoco basins, you can spot the Amazon river dolphin, known locally as the “boto” or “delfín rosado.” These freshwater dolphins turn a striking pink color as they age, and they’ve long been the subject of local folklore and legend. Seeing one surface through the murky jungle waters is one of Colombia’s most magical and unexpected wildlife encounters.

World’s Leading Exporter of Washed Arabica Coffee

Colombia’s rich volcanic soil, high altitude, and tropical climate create the perfect conditions for growing some of the world’s finest Arabica coffee. The country has earned its reputation as the leading exporter of washed Arabica, a process that produces a cleaner, brighter flavor profile. From the lush hills of the Coffee Triangle to small family-run fincas across the Andes, coffee isn’t just an export — it’s woven into the cultural identity of the nation.

#2 Plant Species

Over 26,000 vascular plant species, second globally behind Brazil — a country 7x its size. The Colombian Chocó alone holds ~5,000 plant species and up to 300 tree species per hectare, making it one of the most floristically dense places on the planet.

#2 Amphian Species

Over 800 amphibian species, second worldwide, with 400+ endemics. The most famous: the Golden Poison Frog on Colombia’s Pacific coast — the most toxic vertebrate on Earth. Indigenous Emberá communities historically used its secretions to coat blowgun darts.

#2 Freshwater Fish

Second globally with over 1,400 freshwater fish species across its Amazon, Orinoco, and Magdalena river basins — three massive watersheds fed by Andean snowmelt and equatorial rainfall.

Second-Largest Flower Exporter

Colombia supplies 15% of the global cut flower market, second only to the Netherlands. Highland plateaus near Bogotá at 2,600m with 12 hours of equatorial sunlight create ideal growing conditions. Colombia also produces 25% of the world’s roses — 1 in 4 Valentine’s Day roses likely grew in Colombian soil.

Third-largest Producer and Exporter of Coffee

Third-largest producer globally and the leading exporter of washed Arabica — a process that produces a cleaner, brighter cup. The Eje Cafetero is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, and two annual harvest seasons mean fresh Colombian coffee year-round.

#1 is Brazil

#2 is Vietnam

#3 Reptile Species

Over 580 reptile species — green anacondas, spectacled caimans, 230+ lizards, 33 turtle species — placing Colombia in the global top three for reptile diversity.

Third-highest Number of Endemic Species

Over 9,000 endemic species found nowhere else on Earth — ~14% of all registered species. Three Andean ranges, two ocean coasts, Amazon, Orinoco plains, and Caribbean desert all crammed into 0.7% of the planet’s surface drives this extraordinary endemism.

25% of Global Rose Supplies

USA alone buys 4 billion on Valentines day

Hall Of Shame #1 Spot: Rainiest Country on Earth

This is hilarious to me for two reasons. First, I hate the rain. I travel based on avoiding it. Anything but rain. Yet I’ve spent 1,390 days of the past 8 years in the rainiest country on the planet. Second, I only discovered this in 2026, after visiting Colombia for 13 years. LOL.