By Grace Chinn
Grace is an EFL Teacher with 2 years’ experience teaching in Peru, Australia and Scotland.
She is currently travelling and looking for teaching work in Latin America.

By Norma Gòmez [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

If you believe the hype about Colombia, it will either be top of your list of places to visit, or top of your list of places never to visit depending on what type of traveler you are. In the past few years, Colombia has become one of the most raved about destinations in Latin America. With crystal clear Caribbean waters, snow-capped Andean mountains and eclectic cosmopolitan and colonial cities, it’s not hard to see why. This boom in the tourist industry has seen a renewed interest in learning English so there are plenty of jobs to go around. Colombia might just have what you’re looking for in your next teaching destination.

In terms of places to look for teaching jobs in Colombia, teachers are spoilt for choice. With a whole host of decent sized cities, each with it’s own unique selling point it’s not difficult to find a city that suits you. Cartagena offers you salsa, San Gil gives you extreme sports, and Medellin promises you unforgettable parties and beautiful people!

One city not to be missed is Cartagena. This colonial port city acts as the gateway to the Carribean and is a must-see destination for any trip to Colombia. Days can be spent strolling around the old city walls, visiting the historic buildings and people watching in the plaza de armas. It is at night, however, that Cartegena really comes alive with the infectious salsa beats filling the streets from the many bars. Only a few hours drive away from Cartagena is Tayrona National Park which is home to the best diving in Colombia, as well as miles of unspoilt Caribbean beaches. Other outdoor activities can be enjoyed in San Gil. Satisfy you adrenaline urges with hang-gliding, horseback-riding and white-water rafting. The coffee region is another popular destination to consider when planning trips around Colombia. You can stay on a coffee plantation, where you can spend the days hiking and relaxing and of course, enjoying the divine Colombian coffee.

Whilst in Colombia, there are some local delicacies which shouldn’t be missed. Breakfast is often a cup of coffee and an ‘arepa’ which is a fried corn pancake stuffed with cheese and costs less than a dollar from street vendors. Furthermore, the variety of fruit and vegetables available at markets is astounding and very reasonably priced. You get a lot for your money at the moment in Colombia: a budget room in a hostel costs less than $10 per night and a set lunch with starter and drink included costs no more than $3 in cheap eateries.