Colombia is a tourist’s paradise… a diverse, tropical country of charming, good-natured people,  an abundant array of exotic, delectable fruits and savory dishes, natural beauty, exhilarating music… and the unfortunate reputation of a violence-torn jungle nation of trigger-happy drug cartels. If you’re considering a visit to Colombia, don’t let its reputation stop you.

As long as you take reasonable precautions and do your research about what areas you should avoid, you’ll be as safe as you are anywhere else on the planet.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to spend a week in the capital city of Bogotá; a mountainous, cosmopolitan city of about 7 million, filled with fabulous restaurants, enticing shopping malls and hopping night clubs.

Bogotá also has many visit-worthy museums including the Botero Museum (see photo), which features nearly 120 drawings, paintings, and sculptures from Colombia’s most revered artist, Fernando Botero, as well as the Gold Museum and the National Museum of Colombia.

Top Must-See in the Bogotá vicinity

La Catedral de Sal (the Salt Cathedral), considered “the first wonder of Colombia,” is only an hour drive north, in the town of Zipaquirá.

Man and nature worked together to create this marvelous underground cathedral, built inside one of the world’s largest salt mines. About 250,000 tons of salt were extracted during its construction.

Inside the mine, visitors are guided through a long, winding underground salt-walled tunnel which leads to the cathedral.

This tunnel is punctuated by 14 small chapels representing different stages of the life of Jesus Christ and is said to symbolize a pilgrim’s journey from the physical to the spiritual world.

To further enhance the experience, the use of soft lighting throughout the tunnels and in the cathedral itself provide for an ethereal atmosphere.

Once inside the cathedral you are allowed – even encouraged – to taste the walls and see for yourself that they are in fact, salty.  I can personally assure you that they are.

Colombian coffee stop

If you are visiting the Cathedral by car, a good place to stop and eat on the way back to the city is El Humero, a steakhouse in the suburb of Chia.

You’ll eat old schoolhouse cafeteria-style at wooden tables and benches.

El Humero serves fantastic coffee (I recommend the Cafe de los Nevados) and gigantic portions, including the largest patacones (fried mashed plantains) I’ve ever seen (see photo). Yum!

If you want to experience lively Colombian dancing where hips don’t lie, the restaurant transforms into a rumba dancehall on the weekends.

Nightlife in Bogotá

Bogotá is known for its great nightlife, and the Zona Rosa is just the place to find it. You’ll have your pick of great bars and restaurants. The vibe here is happy, fun-loving, and people will dance with you without any sleaziness.

If you’re looking for a traditional Colombian good time, Andrés Carne de Res is a well-known landmark a short 40 minute drive outside the city. It’s not a bad idea to starve yourself for at least a few hours before visiting this one-of-a-kind steakhouse.

To experience Andrés in true Colombian style, you should hire a party bus, purchase a bottle of aguardiente along with some disposable plastic shot glasses, and get the party started as soon as you get in the vehicle.

The shot glasses are about ¼ the size of a typical 2 oz shot glass. Aguardiente is to Colombia what tequila is to Mexico and what ouzo is to Greece. In fact, its black licorice flavor is very similar to ouzo’s.  Some may consider it an acquired taste – I personally acquired it very quickly.  Just remember – it’s strong!

Panoramic view of Bogota

After the 40 minute drive to Andrés, you’ll be warmed up and ready for the festive crowd and sumptuous menu waiting for you.

Even if you’re a vegetarian, Andrés‘ extensive menu has plenty of options for you – and the drink menu is just as lengthy as the food menu.

Be forewarned that this is not the place for a quiet, relaxing meal – this establishment can fit over 3,000 people, and it’s usually filled to capacity on the weekends.

My advice: Don’t eat so much thick, mouthwatering steak or cheese-filled arepas that you can’t dance afterwards… the dance floor is packed all night long with locals and tourists alike shaking their hips to rumba, merengue, salsa, and a few other dance styles.

Valuable tip: When you leave Andrés, be sure to stop at the stands in the parking lot where empanadas and hot stew are served. These delicious empanadas are meant to prevent hangovers, and they’re very effective.

Chill-ombian style…

If you’d like to venture out of the city for a quieter, non-touristic town and warmer weather, the city of Melgar is 3 hours south of Bogotá by car. Many residents of Bogotá keep summer and weekend homes in Melgar.

If you decide to make the trip, I would recommend going with a local friend or hiring a driver.

You’ll be surprised at how quickly the vegetation changes to tropical and you’ll be mesmerized by the spectacular scenery along the winding roads.

These are just a few of the experiences Bogotá, Colombia has to offer!

Have a Colombian experience of your own to share?  Comment here!

* Photos courtesy of Sonya Stoa; Botero Museum photo courtesy of Ricardo Plancarte

With a population of over 3 million people, the capital of Kenya is one of the largest and most important cities on the African Continent.

Today Nairobi is a modern city and a political and financial center in Africa. The Nairobi Stock Exchange is one of the largest in Africa and Nairobi is home to organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme and the UN Office in Africa.

Safari Parks and Game Reserves

Although the best Safari parks in Kenya are a few hours away from Nairobi, the oldest one is just 20 minutes from the city center. The Nairobi National Park is home to zebras, lions, giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, wildebeests, buffaloes, and more.

In downtown Nairobi you can find many tour operators offering packages to the main safari parks in Kenya. The most important to visit are the Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, Samburu National Reserve, Tsavo National Park, and Lake Nakuru.

If you are looking for a unique place to have dinner in Nairobi, you must try the all-you-can-eat extravaganza at the world famous Carnivore. Not only is the Carnivore a fantastic option for meat eaters, but vegetarians will find the best salad buffet in Kenya.

Have you visited Nairobi? Comment here and let us know about your experience.

Getting to your travel destination is part of the fun. You can drive, fly, take a train, or go by boat.

But how about getting there by participating in a world-class regatta race?

Last Thursday I had the chance to attend the Kick-Off Party for one of the most popular regatta races in the western hemisphere: the Vallarta 2010 race. This event took place at the San Diego Yacht Club and it was sponsored in part by the Mexico Tourism Board.

The Vallarta Race is an annual competition that started back in 1953. It begins in San Diego, California and ends in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, covering a distance of 1,000 NMs down the coast of Baja California.

This year 12 boats will be competing; eleven of them representing USA and one team representing Mexico on boat Peligroso.

The boats are expected to cross the finish line and arrive in Puerto Vallarta between February 24 and 26, where there will be many celebrations and events. But you can actually follow the competition and track the race boats on real-time by clicking here.

Many people take advantage of this race event to travel to beautiful Puerto Vallarta and enjoy the many attractions of this beach paradise.

What to do in Puerto Vallarta

If you love the outdoors, Vallarta Adventures offers different tours and packages for everyone. From thrilling zip lines at their private canopy reserve to scuba diving, and from swimming with dolphins to exploring colonial villages, Vallarta Adventures is a great place to start exploring Puerto Vallarta and its surroundings.

As a bonus, Vallarta Adventures participates in many programs aimed at preserving the local wildlife and vegetation.

If you love shopping, you can find traditional Mexican arts & crafts, pottery, silver jewelry, beautiful indigenous masks, ceramics & hand-blown glassware, and even contemporary art where you can meet the artists in person at the many different art galleries in town.

When it comes to Mexican gastronomy, Puerto Vallarta has many top restaurants that offer the best in Mexican dishes with the excellent customer service that distinguishes Mexico.

Dance all night to the rhythm of the night or enjoy live music at the heart of town, El Centro. Also known as the Malecón, here you will find all types of bars and restaurants with something for everyone.

Vallarta Wine Fest

For the wine lovers, the 4^th Vallarta Wine Fest will be held on February 22 and last a week.

At the event you can expect all types of cultural and artistic expressions, wine tastings and wine pairings. The event not only promotes wine culture in a fun way, but also promotes Vallarta as a great travel destination.

For more information on Vallarta and other Mexican destinations, please go to www.VisitMexico.com

* Regatta photo courtesy of the San Diego Yacht Club

One of the most famous landmarks in Beijing, China, is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.

This unique building, located in the Temple of Heaven complex, was built completely in wood without the use of a single nail.

And if you thought this peculiarity helped the Temple of Heaven get inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, well… you hit the nail on the head.

Interestingly enough, the Temple of Heaven was built in the early 1400’s during the Ming Dynasty by the Yongle Emperor, also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City.

Today it is a great touristic attraction and many locals use the surrounding parks for exercise.

Last weekend we went to the 2010 Los Angeles Times Travel & Adventure Show!

Every year, this event draws crowds of people looking for the best travel deals, new vacation opportunities,  experiencing different cultures, and new wine destinations. In short, these people just want to have fun and travel!

Check out Part 1 of the LA Times Travel & Adventure Show below. We found a few places you won’t want to miss!

From the beauty of Mexico to a warm welcome in Japan, and from exotic Africa to experiencing the rich American lands, this video will give you an idea of what goes on at the LA Times Travel Show.

Travel booth highlights:

Visit Mexico – Because its beauty is endless. Expect great tropical beaches, fascinating archeological sites and a wealth of rich culture.

Visit Costa Rica – For its natural wonders, rain forest, volcanoes… a true eco-travel experience.

Scuba Schools of America – Learn scuba diving from the pros, and then join them on their domestic and international scuba diving tour expeditions.

Rankin Ranch – Enjoy the peace and real Western-style hospitality in a great ranch vacation that offers all types of outdoor activities for the whole family.

Visit Japan – Where traditions and modernity meet with spectacular results, Japan promises a vacation you will never forget.

Kansas – Discover a relaxing place with rich wildlife and award winning wines. You’ll have such a great time here that, on your return, the phrase “you’re not in Kansas anymore” will no longer be funny.

China – You can find great deals like this one if you plan your trip to China soon.

And there’s plenty more… so check back soon because TravelPlusWine has informative interviews on excellent deals to South Africa. Remember the World Cup 2010 is coming this summer and South Africa also has great wine!