Colombia
Twenty years ago, backpackers on the South American overland trail would fly between Ecuador and Venezuela — leapfrogging Colombia on account of its fearsome reputation. Today, it is Venezuela that travellers are avoiding, while Colombia sees rising visitor numbers, new hotels and a rapidly expanding range of organised tours.
“The guerrillas are largely behaving, quality accommodation is on the rise and flight capacity into Colombia has increased significantly,” says Norman Howe of Butterfield & Robinson, one of four members of the panel who rated Colombia in their top three destinations for 2015 (for details of the panel members, see below).