Colombia's Caribbean coast

Colombia packs all the elements of travel bonanza, from snow-capped mountains and lush jungle to white sand beaches and anachronistic colonial towns.

For good measure, add in a dynamic music and arts scene and some incredible dining and hotel options.

Yet even more memorable are the Colombian people, possibly the most generous and outgoing folk on the continent. Sitting at a café or bar, it won't take long before you've been swept up by a group of Colombian friends and linked by the arm to the nearest salsateca for a late-night rumba.

Colombia's cities are another treat. Sophisticated Bogotá offers a wealth of museums and cultural attractions. Romantic Cartagena lures with the beauty of its old city and striking sea views. Down south, boisterous Cali takes pride in its over-the-top night clubs and risqué fashions. And lastly, Medellín, long associated with violence but now a vigorous urban scene with a lively student atmosphere and eclectic public arts projects.

Despite its obvious allure, Colombia struggles to free itself from the stereotype of drugs, war and crime. While these elements still exist to a degree, security improvements since the early 2000s have brought reasonably safe travel to the major population areas.

This fact has not gone unnoticed and tourist numbers are swelling by the year; with them comes improved infrastructure and facilities.

If you've got an inkling for adventure and some off-beat travel, now is the time to go.

Survival guide to Colombia