Colombia Attracts More Visitors

Update November 2, 2007:

Colombia Makes Progress Toward Greater Security (U.S. Dept of State): "Even though Colombia still suffers from too much armed conflict and drug trafficking, analysts agree the country’s security situation generally is improving."

Over the years I've produced this site, I've consistently warned travelers to be careful while traveling in Colombia, heeding the United States Department of State Travel Warnings for Colombia. While there are still dangers in certain areas of the country, other areas are increasingly visitor-friendly. Bogota is attracting many more visitors who attest to their pleasant experiences, such as Ugly Betty's Bogota (sunday herald): "The capital of Colombia is more famous for cocaine, corruption and crime than for its swinging nightlife...(but) it is reaching out to new fans.

Beyond the grinding poverty, crime, gridlocked traffic and choking smog, there is a lot to recommend Colombia's capital. And a growing number of tourists, eager to get off the beaten track, are flocking to experience South America's fourth largest city. Bogota is one of the continent's most splendid repositories of colonial architecture and art and the home of one of its most vibrant cultural scenes."

Many of the suggested things to see and do are in the historic Candelaria district, the Cerro de Monserrate and the hot spots of the northern district.

The restored feelings of safety and welcome are evidenced by the return of the Hilton hotel chain returning to Bogota after 17 years, groundbreaking for the brand-new $27 million Hilton Bogota took place on October 9th. The 245-guestroom property in the heart of the financial district, scheduled for completion in mid-2009, will be Hilton’s second hotel in Colombia. The other is in Cartagena, and there is also the Embassy Suites in Rosales, a franchise of the Hilton company.

View of Bogota from Cerro de Monserrate is displayed with the kind permission of © 2006 Ron Miller, All Rights Reserved http://www.RonTravel.com.