Free from the often dwelled on subject of drug smugglers and gun-wielding kidnappers, Colombia is now a sought out destination for many adventurous experience seekers.

Now the country thrives off of tourism, as many more people are aware of the rich and diverse landscape that the country offers; so here is a list of 8 good places and reasons you should too consider this lush destination for your next holiday.

1. Bogotá is the capital city of Colombia, and within Bogotá is the Gold Museum, which houses the world’s largest pre-Hispanic gold work collection, with over 34 thousand pieces of pottery, stone, shell, wood and textiles.
2. For those caffeine addicts out there you might be aware that Colombia is a top producer of coffee, and as such they have the National Coffee Park. It’s a theme park located in the area of Quindío, with an area dedicated to the history — A Museum and exhibitions; and an area for the amusement park with rides and shows.
3. Cartagena is an old colonial city on the coast of the Caribbean. It’s commonly associated with the Caribbean pirates, and the walled city and fortress are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; you can party or chill out on the beaches, island hop or walk the streets of the old city.
4. Not far from Bogotá is the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, an underground Roman Catholic church built within the tunnels of a salt mine 200 meters underground. Walking though the tunnel system is something quite remarkable, with lights and marble sculptures, on Sundays the church fills with up to 3,000 visitors.
5. Tayrona National park is located on the northern edge of the country and contains an incredible array of biodiversity. The park is the leaving point for a five day trek through the jungle to the Lost City — Ciudad Perdida, a place that has been difficult to reach with kidnappings happening in the area; now it’s considered the new Machu Picchu.
6. For those more into big cities and night life, there’s the popular Medellin. ‘The city of eternal spring’ has a mild climate and many popular tourist attractions, including the Medellin Flower Fair, the biggest outdoor flower parade in the world, taking place during August.
7. San Gil is one of the most seen destinations for those adrenaline junkies, it offers rafting, kayaking, hiking, caving, paragliding, abseiling, bungee jumping and more. There’s also many beautiful colonial towns nearby so you’re never short on things to do.
8. Hacienda Nápoles is the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar’s former home. He died in 1993 and the property became the governments; while for many years the place degraded and underutilized, in 2007 it was opened as a zoo (Pablo Escobar had a zoo), now you can visit not only for the animals but for the history.

Shrouded in an infamous history, Colombia is well on it’s way to establishing itself as a must see tourist destination. Make it that little bit better by learning some of the language, some knowledge of Spanish will help you get around and meet people, your trip will be that much more enjoyable. Take some classes or inquire for more info!