21 interesting facts about Colombia

21 interesting facts about Colombia

Our curated list of the most interesting facts about Colombia that we learned during our visit

We didn't plan on staying in Colombia for a month. After spending longer than planned in the South Pacific, we were concerned that we only had six months to cover an area much larger than what we had seen so far.

Of course, our trip through Cartagena, Santa Marta, Taganga, Medellin, Guatapé, Popayán and San Agustín was more than the two weeks we had planned.

Our friends and family were concerned that we would remain in this historically volatile country, but we found a vibrant and fascinating country that was just as fascinating as its more crowded neighbors.

We learned lots of interesting facts about Colombia along the way - we're sharing our favorites below.

Interesting facts about Colombia

1. Berichten zufolge bot der berüchtigte Drogenboss Pablo Escobar an, Kolumbiens Staatsschulden in Höhe von 10 Milliarden Dollar zu begleichen, um seinen Ruf zu verbessern und dem Fadenkreuz der Justiz zu entkommen.(Quelle: Killing Pablo von Mark Bowden, 2001)
2. Kolumbiens „zweite Stadt“ Medellin war einst die Mordhauptstadt der Welt mit 17 Morden pro Tag im Jahr 1991. Seitdem hat sie eine Renaissance erlebt und ist heute eines der wichtigsten kulturellen Zentren des Landes.(Quelle: The Guardian, 2014)

alt="interesting facts about Colombia">Atlas & BootsBotero's birds in Medellin

1. Kolumbiens Nationalsport ist Tejo. Dabei werden Metallpucks oder -scheiben (tejo) geworfen, die Schießpulver enthalten und beim Aufprall explodieren. Das Spiel entstand vor rund 500 Jahren unter indigenen Gruppen und wurde im Jahr 2000 gesetzlich zum Nationalsport erklärt. (Quelle: CNN)

2. Colombia suffered from a 52-year conflict between the government and the left-wing FARC rebels. A historic peace agreement was signed in 2016. However, a few weeks later, voters rejected the deal in a national referendum and a new agreement must be worked out. (Source: BBC)

3. Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, behind only Brazil, which is ten times larger. It is one of only 17 “megadiverse” countries in the world.(Source: World Resources Institute, 2013)

Atlas & BootsThe interlocking lakes of Guatapé

1. Aracataca, der Geburtsort des Autors Gabriel García Márquez, hielt einst ein Referendum ab, um die Stadt nach der fiktiven Stadt Macondo aus seinem berühmten Buch „Hundert Jahre Einsamkeit“ in „Aracataca-Macondo“ umzubenennen. Leider scheiterte das Referendum an der geringen Wahlbeteiligung.(Quelle: BBC, 2006)

2. Colombia was the inspiration for our e-book Don’t Offer Papaya: 101 Tips for Your First Time Around the World. The phrase “do not offer papaya” is one of the rules of the road and warns that if you leave your valuables (“papaya”) in a vulnerable position, someone will take them.(Source: Atlas & Boots)

3. Hardcore porn is sold at street stalls, so don't be surprised if you're confronted with sensual ass porn while waiting at the traffic lights.(Source: Erm, first-hand experience)

4. Colombian women do not hesitate to change their bodies if they are dissatisfied. The country is currently the fifth most popular cosmetic surgery center.(Source: Economist, 2013)

5. Following on from the above, mannequins in stores have huge breasts, reflecting the country's love of curves.

The hungry veganMannequins reflect the work of Colombian plastic surgeons

1. Kolumbien ist Teil des Feuerrings, einer Gruppe von Ländern im Pazifischen Ozean, die anfällig für Erdbeben und Vulkanausbrüche sind.(Quelle: National Geographic)

2. Colombia is on the equator, so expect lots of heat and sun!(Source: Google Maps)

3. Colombia is home to the bizarre but incredibly beautiful Caño Cristales – a colorful body of water known as “The River of Five Colors” or “The Liquid Rainbow.” The multicolored waterway is a series of rivers, waterfalls and streams within the Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de La Macarena. (Source: Lonely Planet)

VarnaK/ShutterstockCaño Cristales is known as the “River of Five Colors.”

1. Lokale Regierungen verhängen regelmäßig ein „trockenes Gesetz“ während Großveranstaltungen wie Weltmeisterschaftsspielen und Wahlen, die den Alkoholkonsum verbieten, um öffentliche Gewalt einzudämmen.(Quelle: Kolumbien-Bericht, 2014)

2. Speaking of the World Cup, the Colombians stole our hearts in the 2014 tournament.

3. Bogota has South America's largest bicycle route network: over 300 km stretching from slum areas and suburbs to the city center.(Source: Danish Architecture Center, 2014)

4. The country's name is pronounced Col-o-mbia, not Col-u-mbia. Many non-Spanish speakers get this wrong.

5. Colombia is the only country in South America that has coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.(Source: Google Maps)

Atlas & BootsTaganga on the Caribbean Sea

1. One of the most interesting facts about Colombia is that it was the happiest country in the world in 2013 and 2014, according to the Happiness and Hope Barometer.(Source: Columbia Reports, 2014)

2. Colombia is named after the explorer Christopher Columbus. (Source: CIA World Fact Book, 2022)

3. Despite its reputation as a dangerous place for drug traffickers, it is actually one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with a diverse nation that is supportive, hopeful and deeply loving.

Main image: Luis Inacio P Prado/Shutterstock

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