Over the previous few years, Colombia has change into fairly a stylish vacation spot for a lot of. Whereas Cartagena has lengthy been a cruise ship port of name, the remainder of the nation had lengthy been solely on the trail of extra adventurous vacationers. For those who’re contemplating reserving a flight, right here’s a first-timer’s itinerary for 10 days in Colombia (not counting flying days).
Like many different nations in South America, Colombia is extremely numerous, and there’s no approach you’ll get to discover all its fascinating points in a single brief journey.
This Colombia itinerary is only a style of the nation by the use of three main cities: Bogota within the Andes, Medellin within the Aburra Valley, and Cartagena on its Caribbean coast.
Is Colombia secure?
That is most likely both a query in your thoughts or a query others will ask you if you say you’re going to Colombia, so let’s simply get it out of the best way first.
Security in Colombia is relative and depending on the place within the nation you might be. There are definitely nonetheless locations within the nation the place you shouldn’t go, notably in border and frontier areas, however a lot of the bigger cities are comparatively secure lately.
Right here’s my analysis based mostly on private expertise:
- Bogota, no much less secure than different main capitals like San Jose, Costa Rica or Kathmandu, Nepal
- Medellin, no much less secure than different huge cities like Shanghai, China or Milan, Italy
- Cartagena, no much less secure than different touristy cities like Barcelona, Spain or Phuket, Thailand
In different phrases, train regular touring warning.
Control your environment and your belongings, know earlier than you go, keep in well-lit areas that produce other individuals, and belief your intestine.
Truthfully, the one motive I ever felt even a bit of uncomfortable whereas in Colombia was as a result of neither my associate nor I spoke greater than fundamental Duolingo Spanish. Had we been in a position to talk extra fluently, the journey most likely would’ve been higher as a result of we’d have had fewer hiccups and been in a position to chat extra with the locals.
What to anticipate in Colombia
A couple of fast tidbits that may make your go to go smoother:
Language: There are English audio system in touristy areas, however in any other case it’s fairly restricted, so equip your self with Google Translate or one other translation app and study some Spanish forward of time.
I had been in a position to perceive most interactions in Cuba with solely a bit of little bit of issue (and with out assistance from Google Translate since my cellphone didn’t work there).
However the Spanish spoken in Colombia was a lot sooner. I used to be always asking individuals “Uno mas por favor, tu habla un poco rapido para mi.” (I do know, I do know, that’s not the precise development, however I had a tough time bear in mind “una vez mas.” “Uno mas,” then again, is all the time helpful for ordering one other spherical.)
Climate: Colombia’s geographical range means the climate might be extremely totally different from one place to the following. For this Colombia itinerary, you’ll transfer from dry and chilly mountainous temperatures in Bogota to heat valley climate in Medellin to tropical humid warmth in Cartagena.
After we visited in late April and early Could,
- Bogota ranged from high-40s to mid-60s Fahrenheit
- Medellin had mid-60s to mid-80s
- Cartagena went from low-80s to low-90s — however with sufficient humidity for it to really feel like 105 at 8 a.m.
In different phrases, pack diversely and appropriately. Try my packing listing for this journey — carry-on solely!
Bogs: Besides in tremendous good locations, you often have to put rest room paper within the trash can offered as a substitute of down the bathroom.
Be good to the plumbing.
Cash: Colombian payments are huge! Get to know your cash and the way they convert to your private home forex, and don’t get bamboozled by others or your individual confusion. (Responsible!)
In 2019, $1 USD is equal to roughly $3,200 Colombian Pesos (COP). And sure, they use the greenback/peso signal as their forex image.
The factor about medicine: It’s possible you’ll know a factor or two about Colombia’s darkish historical past with cocaine and the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar. Whereas Colombians don’t deny this historical past, understand that Colombians had been the individuals who suffered essentially the most beneath Escobar’s reign. Your finest wager is to keep away from ever saying his identify out loud, and whilst you’re at it, skip the phrase “cocaine” as effectively.
Okay, let’s get began with this itinerary 10 days in Colombia. Suggestions for the place to remain and methods to get round will probably be included beneath every metropolis.
And as a fast reminder, this itinerary assumes that you just’ll have 10 days in Colombia plus two journey days bookending it.
Days 1-2: Dive into Bogota
Bogota is a large metropolis. Significantly, as inhabitants of a 7-miles-by-7-miles metropolis, Bogota felt intensely giant.
After your arrival yesterday, make sure that to take a while to soak up your environment and get acclimated. Not solely will you be in a brand new nation, you might also want to regulate to Bogota’s elevation: a whopping 8,660 toes (just like many ski resorts).
Considered one of my favourite methods to get adjusted to a brand new metropolis is simply to stroll round, eat road meals, and get a way of how individuals work together with one another.
Study Bogota’s historical past
To get acquainted with the town, begin your first morning in Bogota with a free strolling tour with Past Colombia.
I’m often not an enormous fan of enormous excursions, however I knew little or no about Colombia apart from its standing as a former Spanish colony. And in such conditions, I’ve discovered that free strolling excursions might be an effective way to study in regards to the metropolis and see lots of its most important sights in a contextualized trend.
Our information Bryon, a historian by training, did a unbelievable job introducing us to the historical past of Colombia and Bogota, offered the cultural context behind the town’s road artwork, and gave us a way of what else we might do throughout our time in Bogota.
Take part in Colombia’s nationwide sport
Then it’s time to expertise one thing 100% Colombian.
We wished to do one thing native that was off the vacationer path however very a lot in Bogota, and tejo offered us with that chance.
Try this put up about the nationwide sport of tejo. Trace: there’s gunpowder and beer concerned!
Summit Monserrate
Head out early in your second day in Bogota and hit the sacred hill that towers over Bogota. You’ll see many locals climbing up and down Monserrate both as a pilgrimage to the church and shrine on the prime or just as train.
The non secular points weren’t that attention-grabbing to us, however the hike was very nice and the views of the town had been gorgeous.
Simply make sure that to drink loads of water and take it sluggish. Bogota is already fairly excessive up, and the highest of Monserrate sits at 10,341 toes.
You may as well take the funicular or cable automobile up and down in the event you’d want.
Have some sizzling chocolate with cheese
Yep, you learn that proper. Colombian sizzling chocolate has a shock ingredient you could have most likely by no means related to the drink: cheese. Candy and salty multi function.
Sounds bizarre, I do know, however except you’re lactose illiberal or don’t like chocolate, you simply have to present it a strive. Plus, it makes for a pleasant snack after your Monserrate hike.
Discover the Museum of Gold
When you’ve cooled down, try the world’s largest gold assortment.
Whereas all of the gold is sweet and glossy, the true treasure is within the assortment’s preservation of the nation’s pre-Columbian heritage.
For those who can, attempt to go on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 11 a.m. or 4 p.m. after they have guided excursions in English. I’m advised these make it way more informative and simpler to soak up the museum’s 55,000+ items of gold.
The knowledge is useful particularly as a result of the museum generally is a little repetitive and out of context in the event you don’t know loads about Colombia’s pre-Columbian heritage. The museum has exhibit halls for every of the nation’s indigenous cultures, however the artifacts can look moderately comparable when you get to the fifth or sixth corridor in the event you’re like me and unfamiliar with the variations.
For those who’re unable to make it to these guided excursions, make sure that to a minimum of try the primary reveals, together with the well-known Muisca Raft, aka the El Dorado Raft.
The place to remain in Bogota
The majority of Bogota’s most important sights is in La Candelaria, one of many metropolis’s 20 districts. It’s not referred to as the most secure neighborhood, however it’s definitely essentially the most handy if you wish to be near every part. Many hostel choices are additionally there, and if I had been touring solo, I most likely would have stayed in La Candelaria.
Close to it’s Chapinero, the hipster, fashionable, LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood that’s widespread with ex-pats and vacationers.
You may as well keep in Teusaquillo like we did, however we’d advocate you keep within the a part of Teusaquillo that’s nearer to La Candelaria not like on the far finish like we did. It typically took 40-50 minutes to get into city heart the place every part was!
Methods to get round Bogota
Actual speak: getting round Bogota generally is a little troublesome in the event you’re not staying within the central neighborhoods and are a bit of poor in Spanish. (Additionally doesn’t assist in the event you’re wandering the town after a sleepless redeye.)
If you end up not staying in one of many aforementioned central locales the place you may simply stroll, you’ll have the choice of :
- Taxis. These are pretty low cost in Bogota, even if you’re going lengthy distances. For those who’re not staying at a widely known lodge, ensure you’re in a position to inform or present the driving force the cross streets on your vacation spot.
- TransMilenio, the bus system that has devoted lanes. You’ll want to purchase a Tu Llave card and add credit score to it to board these buses. (At sure stops, there are loaner playing cards the place you may pay in money and use the cardboard to board, however it’s not assured.)
- SITP buses, the great outdated common buses that share the Tu Llave card with the TransMilenio buses.
- Busetas/colectivos, or unofficial mini-buses which you can flag down. They’ve indicators of their home windows indicating the foremost streets they cross. You pay cheaper money fares on these. It’s largely locals who take these, so let’s simply say when two non-Spanish talking gringos (aka yours really) someway flagged down the precise colectivo on their first strive, the locals had been fairly amused.
Days 3-4: Medellin, as soon as the world’s most harmful metropolis
Not like many current vacationers to Colombia, I didn’t affiliate Medellin with the drug commerce that ravaged the town and its residents for many years. I’ve additionally by no means seen quite a lot of minutes of Narcos, the Netflix-show that has moderately break up Colombians’ opinions of its portrayals.
As an alternative, I knew Medellin as a well-liked South American spot for digital nomads, a spot of temperate climate and pleasant road artwork.
Hear Medellin’s historical past
So for me, it made sense to begin our time in Medellin with a free strolling tour to study extra in regards to the metropolis’s historical past. Be certain to guide your spot with Actual Metropolis Excursions forward of time; the reserving window opens 1.5 days earlier than your most well-liked tour time.
Probably the most fascinating issues I realized was about how the town has used social urbanism to rejuvenate the town. That’s, going into the beforehand extra harmful areas of the town and utilizing structure to create one thing good.
For instance, making a forest of Colombia bamboo and light-weight pillars in Plaza Cisneros, a spot that was once full of medication and prostitutes, or constructing huge stunning libraries in powerful neighborhoods that had no secure frequent areas.
An idea we might most likely apply in lots of cities all over the world!
Style Colombian craft beer and aguardiente
Then try some Medellin establishments for lunch and a day drink to flee the warmth.
For a standard paisa lunch within the downtown space, strive Hato Viejo or Hacienda and get your fill of the well-known native dish of bandeja paisa. This heavy plate of meat, beans, and carbs will gas you up, so think about splitting a platter in the event you’re not likely hungry.
For those who’re adventurous, I’d counsel attempting mondongo on the restaurant of the identical identify. This tripe, veggie, and corn soup is topped with rice, avocado, and even a banana. It’s not everybody’s bowl of taste, however I liked it.
In case your conventional lunch induces a meals coma and the strolling tour made your legs drained, spend a lazy afternoon at Salon Malaga, which has been a Medellin establishment for greater than half a century.
It’s old-school in essentially the most charming methods, a spot the place you’re feeling so comfy simply passing the afternoon away with beers and new pals. (Much less chill when rounds of aguardiente come round, however it is best to do that Colombian liquor nonetheless.)
Go to the notorious Comuna 13
I do know, I do know, you’re asking your self why I’ve yet one more free strolling tour on this Colombia itinerary.
I received’t lie, it surprises me, too. We most likely did extra strolling excursions in Colombia than I often do in a 12 months’s price of travels. However you’ll undoubtedly wish to be a part of a tour for Comuna 13.
Medellin was as soon as referred to as the world’s most harmful metropolis, and Comuna 13 was its most harmful neighborhood.
At the moment, the neighborhood is slowly enhancing itself economically, and it’s no extra harmful than anyplace else within the metropolis. Actually, due to the additional policing, locals really feel it’s really safer than different areas of the town.
What actually necessitates a tour information is the private tales they’ll supply.
For those who go together with Zippy Tour, your information will probably be somebody who grew up (and sometimes nonetheless lives) in Comuna 13. The non-public experiences they’ll share is one thing you’ll by no means get just by visiting by yourself (possibly except you spoke fluent Spanish and spent sufficient time there to realize the belief of the residents).
The place to remain in Medellin
It’s tried and true: the expat neighborhood of El Poblado was really a unbelievable place to remain in Medellin. The neighborhood was very walkable, you could possibly simply get to different areas of the town by way of public transit, there are quite a lot of eating and nightlife choices, and general it was only a beautiful neighborhood.
We actually loved staying at 574 Lodge.
It’s small boutique spot nestled in a quiet space of El Poblado but additionally near the metro and the primary thoroughfares of the neighborhood. Clear, quiet, and stylish at roughly $50 USD per evening for 2 individuals, breakfast included. Would extremely advocate!
Methods to get round Medellin
In comparison with Bogota, Medellin is simple peasy in the case of public transit.
It’s obtained the nation’s solely metro system, and that’s about all you want. Simply purchase a ticket—or they’ll load up a number of rides on one shareable card for you—and off you go.
Professional tip: For those who’ve loaded a number of tickets onto one card, you’ll have to drop the cardboard into the slot in your final trip as a way to enter the station (as a substitute of scanning the cardboard as you often would).
I feel this metro system can be the explanation why I felt Medellin was a lot simpler to navigate, actually and mentally, than Bogota.
Day 5: Day journey to colourful Guatape
Medellin additionally has a long-distance bus station that gives routes to many different components of the nation. Heading into it jogged my memory of all of the long-distance bus stations in Asia.
One of many best day journeys to take from Medellin is to the colourful city of Guatape. Right here’s a information to visiting Guatape by yourself.
Day 6: From Medellin to Cartagena
After an extended and energetic day journey to Guatape, take it straightforward in your final day in Medellin.
Discover the neighborhoods, try the road artwork, and think about visiting Casa de la Memoria, the part-museum, part-memorial to these misplaced in the course of the metropolis’s most harmful years.
Watch the sundown on the wall
Then make your method to the coastal metropolis of Cartagena, aka Cartagena de Indias.
For a leisurely introduction to the town, hit up the Cartagena Outdated City wall for some beautiful Caribbean sunsets. Choose up a six-pack from the grocery retailer or purchase drinks from the numerous distributors there, and simply benefit from the Caribbean breeze.
Days 7-8: Time for a Caribbean trip
A fast notice about Cartagena’s climate: it’s sizzling, sizzling, sizzling. Oh, and humid, too.
I’m speaking 89 levels Fahrenheit, appears like 105 — at 8 within the morning. So whilst you most likely wanted a minimum of a lightweight jacket for Bogota’s foggy, mountainous chill, you’ll be eager to put on as little as attainable by the point you get to Cartagena.
Get your interior Instagram mannequin on
Begin your first full day on this port metropolis by exploring the great thing about Cartagena’s Outdated City.
And possibly even get a bit of glam for the ‘gram with Cartagena’s fabulous doorways and facades.
Cartagena, a unique facet of Colombian historical past
Then get a bit of extra severe with the final strolling tour (I promise!) of the journey.
Not like Bogota and Medellin, Cartagena showcases a unique facet of Colombian historical past. A port metropolis bombarded by pirates, a hub of the Caribbean slave commerce, a metropolis that celebrates three totally different independence days.
Be part of Free Tour Cartagena, and also you’ll get to study all about it.
Escape the warmth on the “coolest” bookstore
Needing a break from the warmth and humidity? Get some relaxation and a reprieve from the blazing Caribbean solar by heading to the good bookstore on the town: Abaco Libros y Cafe.
This lovely brick-decorated bookshop is cool in so some ways. It’s really easy to select up an excellent guide and luxuriate in it together with AC and a drink.
Espresso, booze, espresso and booze? As much as you.
Salsa time!
After dinner, it’s salsa time! Whereas Cali is called the salsa capital, Cartagena’s not a nasty spot both.
We went to Donde Fidel on the advice of a neighborhood. The spot is a bit small, however it is filled with Colombians, native and from elsewhere within the nation, having fun with nice music, chilly beer, and (watching individuals) salsa.
It was horrendously loud and approach too brilliant, although. Excellent place for watching the professionals dance, not nice to attempt to choose up a number of strikes.
Two different really useful spots: Cafe Havana and Quiebra Canto. I hear these are higher for really hitting the dance ground.
Discover Getsemani’s artwork
Step outdoors of Cartagena’s partitions on your second day there and discover the ever-so-cool, so-hipster-but-maybe-really-just-gentrifying neighborhood of Getsemani.
It’s obtained Cartagena’s finest road artwork, lovely alleys, and an excellent people-watching spot in Plaza de la Trinidad.
Plus, it’s additionally the locale for a lot of of Cartagena’s coolest hostels. Backpackers, onto Getsmani you go.
Adventures abound in Cartagena’s fort
If in case you have curiosity in navy historical past or simply wish to see one thing a bit of totally different, think about testing Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. It’s the fort that helped defend Cartagena from the numerous pirates that attacked it over the centuries.
Tickets are $25,000 COP per particular person, a bit greater than it was price for my part. Then once more, Cartagena had a city-wide blackout the day we visited the fort, so maybe the cool respite we obtained within the fort’s tunnels had been effectively price it.
Take a night stroll in an city park
Squirrels, iguanas, sloths! Yep, you may see all these within the coronary heart of Cartagena in Centennial Park.
It’s the proper place to spend the nightfall hours after an extended sizzling day and earlier than your nighttime plans.
The place to remain in Cartagena
Moreover the hostels of Getsemani, Cartagena has tons of fantastic accommodations and hostels for all budgets.
I’d counsel staying a minimum of a part of your time in Outdated City and the opposite half in Getsemani.
Methods to get round Cartagena
You stroll. Significantly, it’s one of the best mode of transportation, particularly if you’re in Cartagena Outdated City, Getsemani, and different surrounding areas.
If the warmth is a bit a lot for you for longer walks otherwise you want non-walking choices for an additional motive, taxis are additionally extremely reasonably priced in Cartagena.
There are additionally native buses, in fact. We walked all over the place so we didn’t get an opportunity to take one, however they truthfully seemed like a hoot based mostly on what we noticed (and sure, I imply common buses, not the chiva get together buses.)
Days 9-10: A getaway from the getaway
After which it’s time for a getaway from the getaway. That’s, head out to the Caribbean islands off of Cartagena’s coast.
You’ll be able to follow Isla Baru for the closest possibility, try one of many many Rosario Islands, and even fly out to the island of San Andres.
As a result of we solely had 10 full days in Colombia to slot in every part you’ve learn, we caught to the closest possibility: Isla Baru and Playa Blanca.
Howdy, Playa Blanca
As a result of Playa Blanca is the closest island possibility from Cartagena, it may be very crowded, particularly on weekends when locals additionally go to take pleasure in its magnificence.
The farther you stroll from the top of the seaside, the extra peaceable and fewer crowded will probably be. Sadly, it does additionally get a bit rockier as you get deeper into Playa Blanca.
Your finest wager? Go nearer to the crowds if you wish to be within the water, however keep someplace farther away, and calm down in a cabana someplace within the center. We loved the cabana, drinks, and meals at Hostel Restaurant Brenely.
Be certain to deliver extra cash than you suppose you want, although. There aren’t any ATMs on the island, and a lot of the institutions don’t settle for something besides money. These cabanas, tropical drinks, and seafood dishes add up approach sooner than you suppose.
Professional tip: Ought to you end up a bit low on money, go eat your meals at Los Corales. It’s situated close to the beginning of the seaside and accepts bank cards for a 5% surcharge.
After which, simply take pleasure in (and possibly bear in mind to reapply your sunscreen as effectively) till it’s important to head again to Cartagena after which hasta luego to Colombia.
The place to remain in Playa Blanca
Waking as much as the ocean breeze blowing in. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves. Significantly one of the best components about staying in a single day in Playa Blanca! We particularly liked strolling up and hanging out on our seaside balcony.
The lodging on Playa Blanca really are fundamental, however there are nonetheless some nicer ones that embody breakfast, bucket showers, and indoor bogs within the worth. Our personal room at Nuestra Cabanita was on the decrease finish at $110,000 COP (~$34 USD).
If Playa Blanca’s choices are too fundamental for you, think about staying elsewhere on Isla Baru the place there are extra resorts. I’ve heard unbelievable issues about Lodge Playa Manglares Isla Baru.
Methods to get to Playa Blanca
Methods to get round Playa Blanca could be a foolish part to incorporate, however I’m certain you’ll wish to know methods to get there.
There are tons of tour companies in Cartagena providing transit to Playa Blanca (your lodging most likely will as effectively). However in the event you’re seeking to DIY it, Hostel Mamallena in Getsmani has principally corned the market on public transit. For $50,000 COP per particular person, you get round-trip tickets on an AC-equipped, direct shuttle to and from Playa Blanca.
If in case you have 4 individuals, it’s also possible to think about taking a taxi or speedboat there.
