Since deciding to spend a couple of months exploring Colombia I began getting looks of “…why Colombia?” accompanied by a skeptical head tilt.

If you played the word association game with Colombia and you haven’t been to the country nor have a close friend or family member who has, chances are the first word that popped into your mind might not be positive.

In all fairness, I can’t say I didn’t have similar thoughts just last year.

Yet following conversation after conversation with people who had been to the country, I couldn’t quite reconcile the image of Colombia portrayed by the media and the recounts from people I was meeting during my four months of traveling through Central America.

Conversations went something like, “One of the most gorgeous countries I’ve ever been to. There’s so much to do; beautiful beaches, lush jungles, incredible hikes, volcanoes, lakes, and cities. And the people are so friendly, lively, fun and helpful. You HAVE to go!”

So I went to Colombia.

We’ve already shared a glimpse into Cartagena’s fascinating door culture which we considered to be the best entryway to Colombia (pun intended!), and one of the most alluring National Parks I have ever been to.

But before I continue sharing my wonderful experiences in Colombia from the coffee region to the electric city of Medellín I wanted to share some photos of this gorgeous country with you.

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world - from the Amazon jungle, it's many rainforests, stunning coastal beaches, beautiful islands, snow-capped Andes mountains, deserts, plains and more.

While many people still believe that this country is unsafe due to it's turbulent history of narcotics and corruption, I found no such scary circumstances, only opportunity for adventure awaiting you in Colombia.

There are so many awe-inspiring places in this world, we would hate for you to get stuck repeating the same destinations since traveling to new places expands your mind and provides ample opportunities for new experiences and personal growth.

My goal is not for you to abandon your current travel plans and to go to Colombia instead. I only aim to encourage you to challenge the stereotypes you’ve heard, and perhaps alter your perception of this country.