The second most biodiverse country in the world
After its sprawling neighbor Brazil, Colombia is also one of only 17 countries in the world to be classified as a "megadiverse country", and one in ten species on Earth can be found in Colombia.
Colombia is home to deserts, rainforests, Andean cloud forests and open savannahs where almost every creature thrives.
No. 1 country for bird biodiversity
Plants, fish and amphibians ranked 2nd, palm trees and reptiles ranked 3rd, and mammals ranked 4th.
Ranked first in emerald exports
70-90% of the world's emeralds are produced in Colombia! Colombian emeralds are highly regarded in the gem world for their deep green hue, the standard for fine gemstones.
Coffee ranks third in the world
Brazilian and Vietnamese coffee beans may still be common, but many people prefer the rich flavor of Colombian coffee, most of which is exported due to high demand.
Coffee is not actually of Colombian origin, it was introduced in the 1700s.
Often ranked as the happiest country in the world
According to the Happiness Barometer and Hope Foundation, Colombia received the title of "No. 1 Happiest Country in the World" in 2013 and 2014
Flower exports ranked second
The United States alone orders 4 billion roses a year from Colombia, which also has more than 4,000 species of orchids.
There is a naturally formed rainbow river
Cano Cristales, also known as the River of Five Colors, is a brightly colored freshwater river whose aquatic plants and algae form flowing streams of red, blue, orange, yellow and green. It is unique and cannot be found in other streams on Earth with a view like this.
The second largest carnival celebration in South America
Everyone has heard of the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, but few know that the second largest carnival takes place in Colombia. The festival-goers took to the streets to parade and dance, and it was a cultural explosion of music and color.
There are more than 30 kinds of exotic fruits
Colombia is a paradise for fruit lovers and offers unique tropical fruits.
- Araza, an Amazon sour fruit.
- Carambola, otherwise known as carambola.
- Soursop, sugar apple.
- Kuruba, a variety of passion fruit.
- Passionflower, a delicious orange fruit resembling passion fruit.
- Guama, also known as ice cream beans.
- Guanabana, slimy white pulp is best eaten in smoothies.
Part of the Amazon rainforest
In fact, 10% of the Amazon rainforest is located in Colombia, and tropical rainforests account for about 1/3 of the country.
"Tejo" is Colombia's national ball
A popular pastime for Colombian men is to throw heavy metal discs into clay pits riddled with gunpowder mines while drinking large amounts of local beer. It's a bit like a horseshoe explosion game, and having a little more fun will be even more fun.
Indigenous to Colombia
Colombia has 102 different indigenous groups, some of which lived here 14,000 years ago.
The national drink is a licorice fire water called Aguardiente
A local liquor made from sugar cane, sweet, cheap and best drunk straight.
Shakira is Colombian, and she is not the only Colombian musician to become famous
Shakira is undoubtedly the most popular Colombian musician, but Grammy Award winners Carlos Vives and Juanes also top the list, and music is the soul of Colombia. There are Salsa, Reggaeton, Cumbia, Vallenato, Bachata, and many other musical genres. Most Colombians seem to come out of the womb with rhythm.
At 2,625 meters above sea level, Bogotá is one of the highest cities in the world
Get ready to get used to the cool, thin mountain air of the Colombian capital, Bogotá is a city in the sky that is a rare sight for a populous city.
There are 60 national parks, covering more than 10% of the country's land area
There are only 1 fewer protected areas than in the United States, and there is a huge variety! Tayrona National Park is undoubtedly the most visited national park for locals and foreigners alike, with stunning white sand beaches complementing the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, creating a landscape that is unique on earth.
Radio and television broadcast the national anthem twice a day in accordance with the law
A quirky little show of patriotism, the national anthem can be heard at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Bogotá is one of the best cities in the world for graffiti art
Artists from all over the world come to paint the streets of Bogotá. Colorful murals depicting complex social issues, homages to Colombian heritage, and whimsical cartoons cover the city.
Ranked fourth in beauty
More than 75,000 tourists flock to Colombia each year for cosmetic surgery, mainly breast augmentation, tummy tuck and liposuction. With Colombia's love for curvy female figures, plastic surgery has become a major industry.