Colombia

Colombia has a fascinating but violent history. Yet every traveler that I have met that has spent time there can only rave about this country. I am now one of those travelers. Full disclosure: I knew of a person getting robbed in each Colombian city that I visited. Upon arriving in Cali, two different individuals tried to con me out of money within a ten-minute period. But I never felt that I was in danger. Most incidents were a simple pick pocketing that could have been avoided if the traveler had been more aware and street smart. Do not let that stop you from experiencing Colombia. This beautiful and vibrant country entranced and entertained me. I would return without hesitation.

With that, here are the places that I visited in Colombia:

Cartegena – I arrived here by sail boat. Unfortunately, it took me a week to recover from my sea voyage so I did not experience Cartegena as much as I would have liked. Still, I stayed in the Old City. It was a historic and bustling area that had an array of restaurants and bars. The buildings were colorful and striking. I would have loved having my land legs back and explored this city more.

Santa Marta – The reason most people go to Santa Marta is to visit Tyrona National Park. That was my initial intention but I was still recovering and could not muster up the energy to hike in the blazing sun. Per the advice of fellow travelers, I should have moved on and stayed at the beach hostels that are right next to the park. Still, I spent an afternoon sunning and splashing at the beach and did a day trip to Minca. The beach was worth the trip, but I could have skipped Minca. There are better coffee farms and forests to explore in Salento.

Medellin – Oh my goodness, I LOVED Medellin! It is a fantastic party city that has something for every type of traveler. I went to a soccer match and sat in the stands with raucous cheering locals. I did the exceptional FREE walking tour, which went to the popular as well as the gritty areas of the city. As Medellin is located on a valley floor, I took the cable car to the top of the valley one evening to appreciate the view while a lightening storm flashed in the background. I did an exotic fruit tour and tasted over 15 types of fruits, which vastly enhanced my future grocery trips. After all this, there was still more to experience but I had to move on to my next destination.

Salento – This quiet relaxed town was an unexpected delight. It is located in the coffee region of Colombia, and this is the place to visit to relax in picturesque scenery. Ideally, I would have stayed longer than my two short days. Ironically, I came to Salento to visit a coffee finca and did everything else but that. My hostel was cozy and the travelers that I met there were open and welcoming. I hiked the Valle de Cocora, which was fun, challenging, and had amazing photo ops as I walked down through a valley full of wax palms. The locals were nice and the downtown plaza was lively with small town activities such as a nightly open-air market.

Cali – I went to Cali to dance! It is the salsa capital of the world and a common place for travelers to get stuck. I was going to stay a week but ended up staying for two. 

But Cali was so much more than dancing. It was a community of great friends and travelers, days filled with dance lessons and yoga classes, cooking three healthy meals a day, napping in hammocks, going to local salsa clubs each night, and finding a new street to explore when feeling restless. I feel in love with Cali and did not want to leave.

Bogota - During my travels, capital cities have not been impressive. They are crowded, noisy, dangerous, and boring. Boy, did I underestimate Bogota. There is so much to do in this city! I found treasures at the best flea market I have ever wandered through, visited the (free!!) Bottero museum, had delicious meals, and walked around the city just enjoying the views. If I had had more time, I would have visited the Gold and the Modern Art museums, taken the cable car or hiked to the top of the ridge overlooking the city, ne back to the flea market, taken the graffiti tour, and so much more. My one piece of advice is to travel Bogota in a group. My friends and I were constantly harassed for money and I would have felt unsafe had I been confronted alone.

So there you have it, my review of Colombia! Looking back, Colombia was one of the best times of my trip and I am forever grateful for this amazing country.