Colombia

Actually true

• Security has dramatically improved

  Cities like Medellín and Bogotá have transformed since the 1990s into major tourism and business destinations.

• It grows some of the world's best coffee

  The Eje Cafetero region's high-altitude arabica is prized globally for its balance and sweetness.

• The biodiversity is staggering

  Colombia has more bird species than any other country on Earth, from Andes to Amazon to Caribbean coast.

• Music and dance are everywhere

  Cumbia, vallenato, salsa and reggaetón all have deep Colombian roots and are danced casually at any gathering.

Commonly believed, wrong

• "It's still like the Netflix cartel shows"

  Colombia today is a modern, largely safe travel destination with major infrastructure investment since the early 2000s.

• "It's all jungle"

  Bogotá sits at 2,600 meters in the Andes with a cool, spring-like climate year-round, nothing like the Amazon lowlands.

• "Colombian coffee is only for export"

  Locally, tinto (small black coffee) culture is everywhere, though historically much of the best beans were exported.

• "It's the same culture nationwide"

  Caribbean coast, Andean interior, Pacific coast and Amazon regions each have distinct food, music and accents.