Baker's dozen. (Travel Intelligence).

Anyone boarding a domestic flight at Bogota's El Dorado airport will notice one of the certainties of Colombian travel. A substantial number of passengers tote large quantities of Dunkin' Donuts.

The U.S. company's humble snack is the No. 1 gift for Colombians to take back to their families in the provinces. "There's nothing better in the airport," explains Gerardo Andrade, carrying a bag of 30 doughnuts onto his flight to Cucuta.

Winston Gutierrez, heading to the southern town of Neiva, says: "Sometimes you get back and people say 'You forgot the doughnuts!' It has become a tradition to take them."

All of which is good news for Miguel Menino, president of Donocol, Dunkin' Donuts's master licensee for Colombia. Dunkin' Donuts arrived in Colombia in 1983 and now has 65 outlets. But Menino says 40% of his company's annual sales are generated by just three stores: Bogota's two airport terminals and the nearby intercity bus terminal.

The best selling doughnut flavor? According to Monica Buitrago, who works at Dunkin' Donuts's El Dorado branch, the honors go to arequipe--Colombia's fabulously rich condensed milk sweet, featured in a filled doughnut.

"Doughnuts have been very well accepted here," says Menino. "After all, the doughnut is the first cousin of the Colombian bunuelo."