Picture a charming, intoxicating land of pleasures, with orchids growing, waterfalls cascading, and humpback whales breeching in its waters.  The currency is at such a low exchange rate that it makes more sense to spend it than exchange it back; the drinking water is safe; and the government’s democratic institutions are the oldest on the continent.  Among its many, almost secret attractions are a lost city, an archeological park, and restful towns with beautiful Spanish colonial architecture to admire, in addition to jungle, high desert, glaciers, and access to the world’s two largest oceans in the same time zone.

But that’s not all.  It is a land split with factional violence and saddened by generations of terror and loss, where guerrilla factions rule wide swaths of the land and kidnappings rate at the highest in the world per capita.

Few countries make the international news for its violence more often than Colombia, located at the northwestern tip of South America.  Many equate Colombia with a civil war raging for more than four decades and a reputation for trafficking cocaine and marijuana from cartels in Medellin (by the late Pablo Escobar) and Cali (by the now-incarcerated Rodriquez Brothers).  Few tourists or expatriates care to explore one of the most violent nations on Earth.

What’s left undiscovered and unknown by too much of the outside world, then, are the lush natural landscapes to explore, the wide variety of geography to enjoy, and the diversity of Colombia’s population.  Among naturalists and eco-tourism adventurers who’d enjoy Colombia would be birdwatchers, orchid collectors, butterfly spotters, snorkel divers, sports fisherman, cloud forest hikers, volcano climbers, and bicyclers.  But Colombia is appealing in every facet: organic beaches, modern cities, the Andes Mountains, the Amazon River.

In this well-written and enlightening eBook, The Colombia You Haven’t Heard About in the News, Daniel Cox uncovers the reality of modern Colombia, a spirited, enchanting country full of culture, opportunity and breathtaking natural wonder.  Find out why you might want to focus your travel plans, your tourist dollars and even your serious attention on this memorable and affordable country.

Because many Colombians flee for safety to Europe or North America or live as displaced people within Colombia’s own borders, many tourists or curious expatriates assume that people do not want to live in Colombia.  In fact, there is a malaise in the population exactly for this reason; the people are aggrieved that Colombia’s reputation on the world stage seems to repel people rather than attract them.  This is unfortunate because tourism would give economic revenue to the nation and encourage more growth and development, providing more opportunities for survival.

Nevertheless, several well-known Colombians have gained an international following in the cultural vein: the pop singer Shakira, the Nobel Prize in Literature winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez (“One Hundred Years of Solitude”), the Formula One race car driver Juan Pablo Montoyez, the rock and roll musician Juanes, the novelist Laura Restrepo, and lesser known golf and tennis stars on the professional circuit.  Actress Catalina Sandino Moreno was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in “Maria, Full of Grace,” the story of a young woman who mules drugs from Colombia to New Jersey.  And many know the coffee bean picker Juan Valdez, a fictional character used to promote Colombian coffee. 

Some cruise ships bring tourists to the northern Caribbean port city of Cartagena, but these tourists don’t venture further to explore the Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) in the mountains near Santa Marta, or the archeological treasures of a lost Indian civilization hidden for centuries in the jungle at San Agustin, much less dance in “the salsa capital of the world” in Cali, or experience the Spanish colonial architecture in restful towns like Villa de Leyva and Popayan.

Many Colombians think the outside world knows only that they have jungle and nothing but jungle, and they are eager to show the variety available for eco-tourism. And you can choose from a range of accommodations, from multi-star hotels to lizards-on-the-wall huts.  From the snow-capped peaks to the humid jungle to the aquamarine seas, a visitor can take in truly astonishing locales and commune with friendly people and not have to break into a bank vault to pay for it. 

Taxpayers in the United States supply billions of dollars in financial and military aid to Colombia through the Plan Colombia measure, so it behooves U.S. citizens to know exactly what kind of country Colombia is -- it receives more U.S. foreign aid than any other country except for Israel and Egypt.  Although the violence of Colombia cannot be muted or ignored, there is a Colombia that isn’t publicized nearly as much.  Unlike many South American countries that have been ruled by military juntas, suffered from economic collapse, and experienced coups, Colombia has the oldest democratic institutions on the continent, with a continuing succession of elected presidents, elected parliamentary representation and a working Supreme Court. 

Investment opportunities abound, such as real estate and property ownership, manufacturing in tax-free zones (usually by the airports of major cities, so products can be made and shipped quickly), or investment in the earth-generated materials such as emeralds, coffee, and oil.  Cattle, liquor, furniture, agriculture, and textiles are popular industries Colombia is famous for in both quality and quantity.  Exporting flowers is a huge moneymaker and even adult entertainment has become a big business.  This report shares all of the details you can’t find elsewhere, and is filled with beautiful, full-color photographs that will fuel your interest.

Take this opportunity to learn the other side of the news about Colombia – The Colombia You Haven’t Heard About in the News escorts you throughout this misunderstood country and introduces you to every aspect of Colombia – from the good to the ugly.  Visiting Colombia as a tourist or choosing to live there as a resident will provide experiences that are awesome and memorable, and which are affordable!  After reading this compelling eBook you will never think of Colombia the same way again.