Going to Colombia? 10 things to know before you visit

By Justin Calderon, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 6:17 PM EDT, Wed March 25, 2015
A coastal country with deserts and mountains between its borders, Colombia draws the adventurous tourist with its varied terrain. Bocagrande beach in Cartagena is popular with kitesurfers during the warm season, which lasts from December till April. Kitesurfer Ken Ruiz practices at Bocagrande beach in December 2012.
Touring Colombia —
A coastal country with deserts and mountains between its borders, Colombia draws the adventurous tourist with its varied terrain. Bocagrande beach in Cartagena is popular with kitesurfers during the warm season, which lasts from December till April. Kitesurfer Ken Ruiz practices at Bocagrande beach in December 2012.
STRINGER/Reuters /LANDOV
Thousands of people in Cali, Colombia earn their living from the salsa industry -- whether working at dance schools, ballrooms and party rooms or as tailors or other related jobs. Here, members of Argentina's "Bien chevere" dance school perform during the 7th World Salsa Festival held in Cali in September 2012.
Touring Colombia —
Thousands of people in Cali, Colombia earn their living from the salsa industry -- whether working at dance schools, ballrooms and party rooms or as tailors or other related jobs. Here, members of Argentina's "Bien chevere" dance school perform during the 7th World Salsa Festival held in Cali in September 2012.
LUIS ROBAYO/AFP/Getty Images
The Caribbean port city of Cartagena hosted the Sixth Summit of the Americas in April 2012, during which leaders in the Americas discussed how to better connect the different countries.
Touring Colombia —
The Caribbean port city of Cartagena hosted the Sixth Summit of the Americas in April 2012, during which leaders in the Americas discussed how to better connect the different countries.
JOSE MIGUEL GOMEZ/Reuters/LANDOV
A visitor walks past a statue of the Virgen del Perpetuo Socorro (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) in the Nemocon salt mine in September 2012. The mine is one of Colombia's most popular tourist attractions.
Touring Colombia —
A visitor walks past a statue of the Virgen del Perpetuo Socorro (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) in the Nemocon salt mine in September 2012. The mine is one of Colombia's most popular tourist attractions.
JOSE MIGUEL GOMEZ/Reuters/LANDOV
Colombian bullfighter Sebastian Vargas performs a pass during a bullfight at La Santamaria bullring in Bogota in January 2012.
Touring Colombia —
Colombian bullfighter Sebastian Vargas performs a pass during a bullfight at La Santamaria bullring in Bogota in January 2012.
JOHN VIZCAINO/Reuters/LANDOV
The municipality of Medellin presented an artistic project called Heroes Without Borders, an exhibition of 23 photographs placed in different facades and roofs, to prevent the recruitment of children by illegal groups in January 2012.
Touring Colombia —
The municipality of Medellin presented an artistic project called Heroes Without Borders, an exhibition of 23 photographs placed in different facades and roofs, to prevent the recruitment of children by illegal groups in January 2012.
RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images
A horse is pictured during a traditional folk festival in San Martin in the province of Meta in November 2012. The annual event has at least 272 years of history and commemorates the native people's struggle for freedom against Spanish colonization.
Touring Colombia —
A horse is pictured during a traditional folk festival in San Martin in the province of Meta in November 2012. The annual event has at least 272 years of history and commemorates the native people's struggle for freedom against Spanish colonization.
FREDY BUILES/Reuters/LANDOV
The 500-meter-long escalator in Commune 13 in Medellin, divided into several sections, was set up to facilitate the travel of residents living in the mountainside favelas. The notorious slums of Medellin have gone through urban and educational projects to improve the quality of life for residents.
Touring Colombia —
The 500-meter-long escalator in Commune 13 in Medellin, divided into several sections, was set up to facilitate the travel of residents living in the mountainside favelas. The notorious slums of Medellin have gone through urban and educational projects to improve the quality of life for residents.
Hou Xiwen/XINHUA /LANDOV
Tourists walk past a sculpture by Fernando Botero in Cartagena's old city in April 2012.
Touring Colombia —
Tourists walk past a sculpture by Fernando Botero in Cartagena's old city in April 2012.
JOSE MIGUEL GOMEZ/Reuters/LANDOV
Austrian paraglider pilot Othmar Dickbauer flies above the mountains in Roldanillo, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia, during the Paragliding World Cup Superfinal, January 2013.
Touring Colombia —
Austrian paraglider pilot Othmar Dickbauer flies above the mountains in Roldanillo, Val