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The transformation of Medellin

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Experience the uplifting turnaround in Colombia's most dynamic city.

Medellin is a city which is barely recognisable from the anarchic days of the paramilitaries and the dominance of the drug cartels. Lively, enterprising, optimistic and forward-looking, the city’s government and people have, over the last 20 years, achieved an extraordinary transformation for the better.

Visit Communa 13, once controlled by guerrillas but now a centre for the arts, with amazing works of street art created by its inhabitants and guest artists from around the globe. Artisan ice-cream sellers, dance troupes and musical groups are popping up everywhere Elsewhere in the city, ride the cable cars, which link the outlying boroughs on the hillsides, from where you have extensive views over the growing city.

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    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

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    Rosie Kay - Travel Expert

    During a career break, Rosie embarked on an unforgettable year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. Now back in the UK, she is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others, helping them discover her favourite place in the world.

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    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

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    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

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    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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