Here’s the truth today: Colombia is one of the most endlessly fascinating countries in the world.
Beyond breaking free from its troubled history, Colombia has also shaped international pop culture and become an attractive tourist destination because of its rich culture and regular events. It has made itself indispensable in the global business world.
No other country in South America has achieved this one-of-a-kind transformation.
So, what are some interesting facts about Colombia, and what makes the nation so special? Here are a few that you probably didn’t know:
Top 16 Fun Facts About Colombia That You Should Know
#1: Shakira is Colombian – and has a giant statue to prove it!
You know her as the global superstar whose hips don’t lie.
Yes, Shakira – the Queen of Latin Music herself – was born and raised in Colombia!
Her hometown, Barranquilla, even created a 21.3-foot bronze statue in her honor as thanks for doing her part in promoting Latin culture and music worldwide.
The three-time Grammy winner has shaped global pop culture with her incredibly catchy music and electrifying dance moves, becoming the top icon for Latina girl power. Slay, Queen!
#2: Another world-famous Colombian is actress Sofia Vergara.
Shakira isn’t the only Latina icon to make it big internationally.
The popular comedian and star of Modern Family, Sofia Vergara, was also born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia.
She also showed off her dramatic chops by portraying notorious Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco in the new Netflix series Griselda.
#3: Colombia is the ultimate “country of celebration.”
Are you a fan of holidays and celebrations? You should probably move to Colombia.
The South American nation has an enviable calendar of 18 (!) public holidays from January to December.
Plus, Barranquilla city has two additional holidays honoring Carnival, the Christian festive season before Lent.
#4: Colombia is home to the world’s largest Flower Festival and Salsa Festival.
There are two things every Colombian loves: flowers and salsa.
Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city, hosts its annual Flower Festival, where you can find some of the world’s most exotic and diverse floral arrangements. The ten-day event includes massive parades, open-air concerts, fireworks, and other exciting activities.
Meanwhile, Cali hosts a six-day Salsa Festival that attracts thousands of locals and tourists yearly. This one has a true party atmosphere, complete with a one-mile-long energetic salsa-dancing parade!
#5: La Guajira may be the closest you can get to experiencing a lunar landing. 
Have you ever wanted to walk on the moon?
We can’t all join NASA, but we can visit La Guajira to glimpse what it may be like to experience a lunar landing.
Known as one of Colombia’s most beautiful and unique tourist destinations, La Guajira is a coastal desert covered in dunes and salt mines.
Walking along its distinctive landscape may make you feel like an astronaut setting foot on a new planet.
#6: Colombia is the 26th largest country on Earth.
Here’s another fun fact about this fascinating country: Colombia is one of the earth’s largest nations in terms of area.
Ranked 26th in the world, Colombia boasts a total area of 1,141,748 square kilometers, including land and water bodies.
How’s that for size!
#7: Medellín, Colombia, is known as the “City of the Eternal Spring.”
If spring is your favorite season, you’d enjoy visiting Medellin.
When you’re in the city, it’ll feel like spring all year round because of the pleasantly warm climate.
Plus, Medellin is full of lush green trees and beautiful blooming flowers – all the tell-tale signs of springtime!
#8: Medellin was the first city in the world to use cable cars for mass transit.
Speaking of Medellin, the famous Colombian city is surrounded by tall mountains.
Because of the city’s steep hills and unique topography, the local government had to design its mass transit system creatively.
Thus, the Metrocable, the city’s gondola system, was born. The two-kilometer-long cable line can transport up to 3,000 passengers every hour!
#9: Medellín once won the “Innovative City of the Year” award.
When listing down interesting facts about Medellin, we can’t forget when it was recognized as one of the world’s most technologically advanced and socially forward cities.
Medellín was given 2013’s “Innovative City of the Year” award for its sustainable transportation system, urban development initiatives, and use of technology and research in enhancing its citizens’ daily lives.
#10: Medellin hosts one of South America’s most prominent fashion events.
You may have heard of Paris Fashion Week, but did you know South America has an event rivaling it?
Colombia’s Fashion Week spotlights the country’s high-end fashion brands through a string of runway shows paraded by the most glamorous models.
Located in the Medellin Convention Center, the event showcases the collections of famous designers like Andres Pajon, Jacobo Durango, and Beatriz Camacho.
#11: Some of Latin America’s biggest stars choose to reside in Medellin.
Shakira and Sofia Vergara are not the only famous people from Colombia.
In fact, Medellin is the birthplace of music icons like Juanes, Maluma, Karol G, and Nicky Jam.
Cinephiles may also know Víctor Gaviria, the first Colombian director recognized at the Cannes Film Festival.
#12: Medical tourism is widespread in Medellin.
Here’s another thing Colombia is known for: medical, dental, and cosmetic tourism.
Medellin, in particular, is renowned globally for having high-quality hospitals and medical facilities while retaining affordable rates for surgeries and treatments.
The Colombian government encourages medical tourism by simplifying the visa-request process for people traveling for healthcare-related reasons.
#13: Colombia has one of the highest Offshore BPO Confidence Index ratings.
Beyond its impact on pop culture, innovation, and medical tourism, Colombia is globally recognized as a top outsourcing market.
The 2023 Offshore BPO Confidence Index gave Colombia an exceptionally high rating of 82.6%.
Multinational companies turn to the South American country for various outsourcing tasks.
#14: Colombia has a vast talent pool of customer service workers.
Colombia has become the go-to call center destination for businesses needing English and Spanish-speaking customer service representatives.
The same 2023 study shared above found that companies are confident that Colombia has a massive pool of available agents (90%), supervisors (87.5%), and operational managers and leaders (82.5%).
#15: Colombian BPO companies serve a wide range of industries.
Beyond customer service, the Colombian outsourcing industry has diversified its offerings to include tasks such as technical support, social media management, and content moderation – all of which earn a 90% confidence rating from companies.
BPOs in the country may also take on accounts receivable and revenue generation tasks, achieving an 85% confidence rating.
#16: Colombia is the world’s leading nearshoring destination – for good reason!
More and more companies are discovering the advantages of nearshoring to Colombia. The same research found that businesses are highly confident (92.5%) in their ability to source multiple Colombian cities for their outsourcing operations, showing the country’s scalability as a BPO market.
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