Looking for advice on Colombia
Mar 14, 2018, 11:51 pm
#1
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Looking for advice on Colombia
I have a flight booked to Colombia for the end of August. I have not been there before. I am flying into and out of Bogota. I will have 12 full days in Colombia(I actually have 14 days but the first day I arrive later at night and the last day I fly out very early). I am thinking of visiting Cartagena, Tayrona National Park, maybe the coffee region and Medellin. I'm not sure how much time to give to each area and I am wondering if there are other places I should consider as well. Any advice would be appreciated.
Mar 16, 2018, 11:16 pm
#3
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Food, culture, sights, museums, nightlife, hiking, nature, maybe scuba diving.I listed some areas I think would be interesting. About the only thing I don't care for is just sitting on a beach all day and doing nothing. Don't get me wrong I love the beach and water, but I never understood just spending an entire day sitting on a beach because I would get bored.
Mar 17, 2018, 12:24 am
#4
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I found the mountains quite beautiful in Bogota. Haven’t spent much time outside there though. I have found Colombia to be a bit nicer, cleaner than Peru, Ecuador.
enjoy ! It’s a lovely country :-)
enjoy ! It’s a lovely country :-)
Mar 17, 2018, 2:07 am
#5
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Its been a long time since I have been in south america, but I would not return to Peru. It was fine to go and see the sights, but yea a cleaner country is def going to be better.
Mar 17, 2018, 11:19 pm
#6
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Cartagena can get really, really hot at some times of year, but it's the best-preserved Spanish colonial city in the western hemisphere, 'tis said. Maybe equal to a St. Augustine + an old San Juan. Lots of atmosphere. Medellin has a really nice climate, and the teleferico to Parque Arvi and the Museo Nacional are among the musts. Didn't get out to the coffee country but it sounded promising. Can't help with Bogota as yet.
Mar 19, 2018, 6:04 pm
#7
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I may not be able to help with nightlife or scuba diving but can thoroughly recommend Cocora Valley for hiking. There are jeeps which will take you from Salento on a bumpy but scenic ride to the entrance of the valley.
In Medellín I enjoyed a graffiti tour of Comuna 13, once the most dangerous area of the most dangerous city in the world. A graffiti tour in Bogota was interesting but the tour in Medellín was on a different level.
If you like markets you will find Paloquemao in Bogotá fascinating as I did and a weekly indigenous market of Silvia.
In Medellín I enjoyed a graffiti tour of Comuna 13, once the most dangerous area of the most dangerous city in the world. A graffiti tour in Bogota was interesting but the tour in Medellín was on a different level.
If you like markets you will find Paloquemao in Bogotá fascinating as I did and a weekly indigenous market of Silvia.
Mar 20, 2018, 4:32 pm
#8
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I'd go
Day 1 Arrive BOG, depending on what time you arrive have a look around the centre or stay in an airport hotel
Day 2 Fly coffee zone
Day 3 Go to a coffee farm and the Mariposario
Day 4 Cococra
Day 5 Fly Coffee Zone to Medellín EOH on ADA or EasyFly from PEI or AXM
Day 6 Have a poke around Medellín, perhaps a city tour
Day 7 Go to Guatapé and El Peñón
Day 8 Fly MDE to CTG
Day 9 Do a city tour
Day 10 Have a frozen margarita and watch people sweat
Day 11 Get to Tayrona area either privately or on Berlinas del Fonce. Don't stay in the park itself, the accommodation blows
Day 12 Go to the Park for a day trip
Day 13 Relax on the beach in the morning and then fly back to BOG
Day 14 Fly home
Day 1 Arrive BOG, depending on what time you arrive have a look around the centre or stay in an airport hotel
Day 2 Fly coffee zone
Day 3 Go to a coffee farm and the Mariposario
Day 4 Cococra
Day 5 Fly Coffee Zone to Medellín EOH on ADA or EasyFly from PEI or AXM
Day 6 Have a poke around Medellín, perhaps a city tour
Day 7 Go to Guatapé and El Peñón
Day 8 Fly MDE to CTG
Day 9 Do a city tour
Day 10 Have a frozen margarita and watch people sweat
Day 11 Get to Tayrona area either privately or on Berlinas del Fonce. Don't stay in the park itself, the accommodation blows
Day 12 Go to the Park for a day trip
Day 13 Relax on the beach in the morning and then fly back to BOG
Day 14 Fly home
Mar 20, 2018, 6:48 pm
#9
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I'd go
Day 1 Arrive BOG, depending on what time you arrive have a look around the centre or stay in an airport hotel
Day 2 Fly coffee zone
Day 3 Go to a coffee farm and the Mariposario
Day 4 Cococra
Day 5 Fly Coffee Zone to Medellín EOH on ADA or EasyFly from PEI or AXM
Day 6 Have a poke around Medellín, perhaps a city tour
Day 7 Go to Guatapé and El Peñón
Day 8 Fly MDE to CTG
Day 9 Do a city tour
Day 10 Have a frozen margarita and watch people sweat
Day 11 Get to Tayrona area either privately or on Berlinas del Fonce. Don't stay in the park itself, the accommodation blows
Day 12 Go to the Park for a day trip
Day 13 Relax on the beach in the morning and then fly back to BOG
Day 14 Fly home
Day 1 Arrive BOG, depending on what time you arrive have a look around the centre or stay in an airport hotel
Day 2 Fly coffee zone
Day 3 Go to a coffee farm and the Mariposario
Day 4 Cococra
Day 5 Fly Coffee Zone to Medellín EOH on ADA or EasyFly from PEI or AXM
Day 6 Have a poke around Medellín, perhaps a city tour
Day 7 Go to Guatapé and El Peñón
Day 8 Fly MDE to CTG
Day 9 Do a city tour
Day 10 Have a frozen margarita and watch people sweat
Day 11 Get to Tayrona area either privately or on Berlinas del Fonce. Don't stay in the park itself, the accommodation blows
Day 12 Go to the Park for a day trip
Day 13 Relax on the beach in the morning and then fly back to BOG
Day 14 Fly home
Mar 21, 2018, 12:47 pm
#10
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Cartagena can get really, really hot at some times of year, but it's the best-preserved Spanish colonial city in the western hemisphere, 'tis said. Maybe equal to a St. Augustine + an old San Juan. Lots of atmosphere. Medellin has a really nice climate, and the teleferico to Parque Arvi and the Museo Nacional are among the musts. Didn't get out to the coffee country but it sounded promising. Can't help with Bogota as yet.
Mar 22, 2018, 8:17 am
#11
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I went to Guatapé and El Peñón on a day trip from Medellín. Guatapé is a colourful town where I had bandeja paisa, sometimes described as Colombia's national dish, for lunch.
This is supposed to be a half-portion
Walking along the shore of the lake to work off my lunch I had to buy this fridge magnet from a street vendor
El Peñón de Guatapé was not as daunting to climb up as it seemed from the distance with this strange sign at the bottom of the steps.
This is supposed to be a half-portion
Walking along the shore of the lake to work off my lunch I had to buy this fridge magnet from a street vendor
El Peñón de Guatapé was not as daunting to climb up as it seemed from the distance with this strange sign at the bottom of the steps.
Mar 23, 2018, 2:22 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 333
WSJ today:
Why Bogotá is Now on Ambitious Travelers’ Agendas
The Colombian capital is suddenly in the travel spotlight, thanks to new luxury hotels, inventive restaurants and a street scene so lively it makes the country’s darker days seem like ancient history
By Finn-Olaf Jones
March 22, 2018 2:44 p.m. ET
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-bog...das-1521744253
Why Bogotá is Now on Ambitious Travelers’ Agendas
The Colombian capital is suddenly in the travel spotlight, thanks to new luxury hotels, inventive restaurants and a street scene so lively it makes the country’s darker days seem like ancient history
By Finn-Olaf Jones
March 22, 2018 2:44 p.m. ET
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-bog...das-1521744253
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Mar 23, 2018 at 4:38 pm Reason: FT rule 9 - Copyright violation