COLOMBIA

The gateway to South America, Colombia flings open the doors of the continent with a newfound confidence. Here is nature at its most dazzling, combined with a collective warmth and infectious rumbero spirit that reels travellers back in. From the spires of the northern Andes to the jungle-thatched basins of the Amazon, the lush breezes of Caribbean beaches to the wild Pacific coast, Colombia is best known for its magnetic scenery and bristling biodiversity – including 1,500 bird species and the chance to see humpback whales calving in warm Pacific waters. But recent years have revealed the charms of its cities and hinterland too: discover the cobbled plazas and cutting-edge galleries in Bogotá, Medellín’s cultural transformation, the misty hillside coffee plantations of the Cocora Valley and colourful colonial streetscapes in the outrageously picturesque UNESCO port city of Cartagena. Not only are Colombians incredibly laidback and friendly, their lilting Spanish is the easiest in South America for beginners to pick up.