Bucaramanga, Colombia

Capital City

With a population of 614,860, Bucaramanga boasts Colombia's fifth-largest economy and lowest unemployment rate. However, the city's rapid growth has led to a persistent bureaucracy headache, as evidenced by the complex web of neighboring municipalities that comprise the greater metro area. While Bucaramanga's tropical climate is noticeably cooler than other Colombian cities, the steeply descending terrain means many residents occupy unstable lands. For the financially savvy and undaunted by red tape, this "City of Parks" could be an appealing option, but it's certainly not for the faint of heart.