Covering almost a third of the country, the foothills of the Amazon basin run eastwards from the high Andean peaks down towards the Japura River that slowly meanders into Brazil and connects up with the mighty Amazon River. While there are many other countries in South America that boast an Amazonian experience, there are few that are still as untouched and interesting as visiting from the Colombian side.

The collection of 10 or so small coral atolls that form the San Andres Archipelago are known as the West Indies department of Colombia and, at approximately 230kms from Nicaragua and 750kms from the Colombian coast, there has been a long running dispute between the two countries as to the true ownership of these beautiful Caribbean jewels.

The interesting and lively town of Cartegena mesmerises and astounds in equal proportion and is simply one of “those” places that you will want to come back to time and time again. Part of the charm here is its combination of the Caribbean and South America along with some of the best preserved cultural and historical sights in the entire continent.

Undoubtedly the beating heart of the country, Bogata is an interesting place to spend a few days, wandering through the various districts and sampling a bit of modern Colombian life. Over the last decade or so the city has gone from a lawless and run down destination to one of the worlds’ emerging cities with modern transport, good food and increasing wealth.