Bogotá

Colombia's mountain capital, Bogotá is the quintessence of all things Colombian: a city of futuristic architecture with diverse culture, a vibrant intellectual life, splendid colonial churches and brilliant museums -on the flip side, you'll find beggars, shantytowns, drug dealers and traffic jams.

A walk around the city streets will reveal the madness of a busy city: avalanches of busetas (small buses), extravagant stores and lively roadside stalls - it's as fascinating as contemplating the serene colonial atmosphere, so give yourself plenty of time for exploration.