( CNN ) -- There was a time when few travelers visited Colombia , when the country was synonymous with drug lords , when the only English you heard on the streets was spoken by American Marines . That Colombia -- a country of conflict and cartels -- has largely disappeared , replaced by a rejuvenated capital of Bogota and a resilient culture that refuses to be bogged down by the dark days . Premonitions and stereotypes should be swept aside before visiting this South American country of spectacular scenery . Today 's Colombia is much more than the ugly Escobar legacy or its famed Andean coffee -- though a cup of cafÃ© will most certainly reach your hands during a trip . 5 luxury vacations in Chile . Here are some important things to keep in mind before visiting the country with the third-largest Spanish-speaking population in the world ( about 46 million ) , after Mexico and Spain . 1 . Medellin is the world 's most innovative city , officially . Jutting out of a mountainside packed with russet cinder-block slums , the three black shards of Medellin 's Espana Library stand out in a sea of shanties . Completed in 2007 , the Espana Library has become a calling card for the revitalized city , just one of the examples that led the Washington-based Urban Land Institute to name it the 2012 `` Innovative City of the Year '' in a competition co-sponsored by the Wall Street Journal and Citi . Zipping up to connect the library and surrounding area to the city is the MetroCable , a novel approach to addressing poverty at the grass-roots level . `` Medellin is a city that works hard to tell the world of its capabilities and broadcast its impressive tourism opportunities , '' said Maria Claudia Lacouture , president of trade group Proexport Colombia . 2 . Drug culture stereotypes are false and offensive . Drop your ideas of a coke-soaked land still lost in the days of the Escobar gang . While residents of Medellin can recall growing up in a battlefield , where even trips to buy groceries meant dodging violence , Colombia is no gangster 's paradise . The coca leaf is still chewed in some rural communities , and coca leaf tea is stocked for tourists , but suggesting that Colombia has n't moved on from its inglorious past is considered ignorant and rude . Colombia has persevered , though unfortunately so has the drug war , migrating closer to its end market -- the U.S.-Mexico border . 7 luxury vacations in Mexico . 3 . Bogota must be seen from Monserrate . Every big city has a perfect vantage point from which to appreciate its immensity . For Bogota , that magic spot is Monserrate . Perched on a mountain dominating the city , Monserrate is home to a church where pilgrims visit a shrine devoted to El Senor Caido ( Fallen Lord ) . From the summit , Bogota 's vast gray and red concrete expanse absorbs the green valley that frames it ; the sight puts the sprawling proportion of this megacity into perspective . Monserrate can be reached via an aerial tramway , funicular or by climbing on foot . 4 . Security has dramatically improved . Since controversial policies implemented in 2006 by former President Alvaro Uribe encouraged paramilitary groups to `` demobilize '' after their conflict with communist guerillas , Colombia 's security situation has vastly improved . The country 's new image has led to a rise in tourism , with bus trips ( albeit on select routes ) now considered safe for foreigners . It 's common to see military personnel at checkpoints outside cities , but this is once again an improvement that represents the government 's control of the country . 5 . Real Colombians drink cafe tinto . Colombia is synonymous with coffee , so it 's little surprise that the morning beverage is in such high demand that leagues of women walk Colombian cities serving it . At first glance , these women may appear equipped to snuff out pests , but their mobile packs are n't meant for exterminating bugs , they 're meant for pouring hot coffee . A real Colombian , you 'll inevitably be told , takes the stuff black , or cafe tinto . Insider Guide : Best of Cancun . 6 . Salsatecas are best when hot and sweaty . What 's Colombia without salsa ? Not Colombia . Beginners can take salsa classes to get familiar with the basic steps . Those who ca n't be bothered with formal lessons will find Colombians to be warm people , even warmer when dancing . Most will be happy to show you some introductory moves on the spot if you 're charming enough . 7 . Pueblitos are favored weekend destinations . Pueblitos , or small villages , dot the Colombian countryside , serving up a colonial past and antiquated charm not found in cities . From almost every major Colombian urban hub , pueblitos can be accessed via road , making for easy weekend trips . Outside Bogota , Guatavita is a small town near Guatavita Lake that offers idyllic views of casitas , the small houses that exemplify Colombia 's countryside . 8 . Nothing is more Colombian than aguardiente . If you 're looking for a stiff drink , a $ 6 bottle of aguardiente is the most Colombian way to find it . All departments ( administrative regions ) in Colombia have license to produce their own aguardiente , a 60 % -alcohol spirit that means `` fiery water . '' There 's no Colombian celebration without aguardiente . Even more local ? The unforgettable guayabo ( Colombian slang for hangover ) de aguardiente . Insider Guide : Best of Mexico City . 9 . Colombian climates vary wildly . Colombia may straddle the equator , but that does n't mean you should leave your gloves and sweater at home . Bogota and Medellin are in tropical highlands and can get chilly at night -- especially Bogota , where heavy jackets and scarves are the norm year-round . Visit the coast around Cartagena , however , and you 'll be sweltering . This climatic disparity is reflected in Colombia 's cultural composition . Locals come in as many varieties as the weather ; there 's no one look for a Colombian . 10 . Cali is Salsa City . The gravity-defying female assets of Cali 's nightclubs thrust out to such fierce degree that they ca n't be overlooked -- the sultry salsa city is renowned for its talent-laden , sexually dynamic dance floors . Those seeking a more subtle experience can start with a viejoteca , where there 's more actual dancing , less physical drama and fewer crazy drinkers . Gallery : Chamber of mirrors and salt waterfalls at Nemocon salt mine .
Sweep stereotypes aside : Colombia is much more than the Escobar gang legacy . Safety policies implemented in 2006 have vastly improved the security situation . The salsa city of Cali is renowned for high-energy dance clubs . Pueblitos ( small villages ) dot the countryside and make for great getaways .