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Pablo Escobar's Hacienda popular with tourists
Visiting the former home of a famous person is pretty common. Tourists flock to Elvis' Graceland and who wouldn't love a look inside the creepy world of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch? But exploring the former compound of a Colombian drug lord....well that seems a little less likely. Yet aparently Pablo Escobar's Hacienda Napoles, located outside of Bogota, Colombia, is a hit with tourists.
Though Escobar was shot to death sixteen years ago, he lives on in infamy in the country. Tourists who have an affinity for over-the-top tacky "narco-deco" style or who can't resist a look at Escobar's lavish estate (which is now owned by the state) can visit the compound for about $10 US. The ranch is considered an "anti-crime museum" and sells replica guns and fake Escobar mustaches.
The compound is being re-purposed as an eco-tourism park, though many of the eccentric features added by Escobar remain. Nearly 30 hippos still wander the property, which includes Jurassico Park - a park featuring life-size models of dinosaurs - plus a go-kart track and private landing strip.
The compound also features horseback riding and hiking trails around the large property, butterfly and bird sanctuaries and a wildlife reserve.
[via News.com.au]
Filed under: South America, Colombia, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ambrose Santiago Nov 13th 2009 6:41PM
The ghost of Pablo Escobar continues to haunt the great city of Medellin, but over the last few years a magical transformation has taken place, to discover the transformation of Medellin, Colombia visit www.medellintraveler.com Vive Colombia!