Florencia, Colombia

Capital City

With a population of just under 192,000, Florencia is the largest city in Colombia's Amazon region. However, life here is no picnic - the tropical rainforest climate means nearly 150 inches of rain annually, creating a persistent bureaucratic headache. Founded in 1902 by a Capuchin friar, the city's colonial architecture and petroglyphs offer some cultural interest, but the rubber trade that spurred its creation has long since dried up. For all but the most adventurous, Florencia is likely best avoided.