A short volcanic hill in Quito doubles as a stellar observation point of an iconic statue.

Ecuador’s historic seat of government has been quietly looted in recent decades, and no one knows how or by whom.

This 12-inch-tall wooden sculpture of a winged Virgin Mary has inspired much devotion and countless replicas.

Legend says if this neo-Gothic basilica is ever officially completed, the world will come to an end.

The gondolas let you glimpse a bird's-eye view of one of the world's highest capital cities.

Home of the "true" equator.

A turquoise lake within a volcanic crater.

A swing to dangle you off the very edge.

Every Sunday, Bogotá turns 75 miles of its city streets into a bicycle superhighway.

The world's first crowdfunded skyscraper has not gone quite to plan.

The (usually) serene burial place of the world's most notorious drug lord.

In the heart of Medellín, an artsy urban complex sets the stage for demonstrations and protests.

Two identical statues by Fernando Botero, one blown to pieces in a terrorist bombing, the other donated as a gift for peace.

Home to 23 voluptuous and instantly lovable sculptures by one of Latin America's most celebrated artists.

In the middle of one of South America's most historic walled cities lies a bar with an enormous collection of Soviet memorabilia.

Known as the site of 'El Dorado,' this mysterious lake is rumored to hold gold beneath its waters.

Ripped apart by a bomb in 1993, the shell of Pablo Escobar's infamous vacation house still stands.

Three hundred illuminated pillars form an “artificial forest” in Medellín.

This elegant Colombian fortress was one of the torture headquarters for the Spanish Inquisition.

An unusual and beautiful form of mass transit serves the city's steepest neighborhoods.

A 10 million-ton rock once worshiped by the Tahamies Indians, accessed by an astounding staircase.

Hidden amid the tropical forest in the Caribbean Sea are the decaying ruins of the Cocaine King's luxurious island party home.

Unparalleled stargazing, one of Colombia's best observatories, and a swimming pool can all be found in the middle of this ancient tropical forest.

The Andean town where every single building is decorated with a brightly colored frieze.