# What is Colombia's greatest gift to the world?

> One country gave the world a Nobel novelist, prized gemstones, two musical traditions and a long list of pop stars.

*By YPB Team · Published September 28, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-colombias-greatest-gift-to-the-world*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Colombian coffee** — score 1000/1000
   Mild Andean arabica grown in the Coffee Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. **Gabriel García Márquez** — score 835/1000
   Nobel-winning author of One Hundred Years of Solitude and father of magical realism.
3. **James Rodríguez** — score 762/1000
   Golden Boot winner at the 2014 World Cup with one of its most famous volleys.
4. **Colombian emeralds** — score 734/1000
   Deep-green stones from the mines of Muzo and Chivor, prized as the finest emeralds on earth.
5. **Bandeja paisa** — score 659/1000
   The Antioquian platter of beans, rice, chicharrón, egg, plantain and arepa.
6. **Fernando Botero** — score 659/1000
   The Medellín painter and sculptor famous for his rounded, voluminous figures.
7. **Arepas** — score 659/1000
   Grilled corn cakes eaten at any hour, plain, buttered or stuffed with cheese.
8. **Shakira** — score 571/1000
   The Barranquilla-born singer behind Hips Don't Lie and Waka Waka, one of the best-selling Latin artists ever.
9. **Vallenato** — score 571/1000
   Accordion-driven folk music from Valledupar, recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage.
10. **Sofía Vergara** — score 467/1000
   The Barranquilla actress who became the highest-paid actress on TV with Modern Family.
11. **Karol G** — score 467/1000
   The Medellín reggaeton star whose Mañana Será Bonito topped the Billboard 200.
12. **Carlos Valderrama** — score 467/1000
   El Pibe, the golden-haired playmaker who led Colombia at three World Cups.
13. **Egan Bernal** — score 343/1000
   The first Latin American to win the Tour de France, in 2019.
14. **J Balvin** — score 343/1000
   Reggaeton ambassador behind Mi Gente, who helped take Latin urban music global.
15. **Cumbia** — score 0/1000
   The Caribbean-coast rhythm that spread across Latin America and beyond.
16. **Carlos Vives** — score 0/1000
   The singer who modernised vallenato with rock and pop in the 1990s.
17. **Juanes** — score 0/1000
   Rock en español singer-songwriter with more Latin Grammys than almost anyone.

Tags: coffee, music, food, south-america, latin, colombia