What You Need To Know
Colombia Travel Guide
Colombia Unveiled
Discovering the Heart of South America
Colombia – my favorite country in the world and where my family is from! It may sound like I’m biased, but just a quick Google search of the country will show you the depth of its beauty. From the luscious green mountains to quaint villages and chic cities, there is something for everyone in Colombia.
Colombia used to have a pretty bad rap, but it’s gotten better. The more and more people visit, the more they see that it is not at all like the “Narcos” show. Yes, you do have to be more careful here than in most places, but don’t let its former infamy scare you away!
Colombia is located in Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Ocean, Panama and Venezuela at top, and to the South it’s bordered by Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. It’s the second most biodiverse country in the world, only after Brazil. It’s also known for its emeralds and coffee!
My parents left Colombia in their 20s and came to New York for what was supposed to be a few years – little did they know! After 5 years, my mom ended up pregnant with me and my parents decided to stay, knowing they could create a better life for me in the States than in Colombia. I started visiting when I was 8 years old and now that I’m older, I usually go once or twice a year. It’s funny how my parents left the country decades ago, and here I am itching to go back all the time!
The country is fairly big, so it will take quite a while to really get to see everything it has to offer. Despite me doing a lot of backpacking and solo trips, I’ve never backpacked Colombia! Since I usually go with my mom to see family, I mostly stay in Medellin and venture to other parts of the country on mini trips. That said, I’ve been to Colombia (what feels like) HUNDREDS of times so I these guides will be filled with a lot of information for you! I will recommend two types of itineraries below: one for backpacking Colombia and one for visiting on a shorter trip.
Vanessa's Insider Tips
My Travel Tips for Colombia
- Visa Requirements: U.S. citizens do not need a visa for stays under 90 days. Everyone (regardless of Nationality) needs to fill out a form called Check-Mig. Go to https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/ and click on Check-Mig and fill out the form before you arrive at the airport.
- Local currency: Local currency is the Colombian peso
- Language: Spanish is the official language. I’ll be honest, compared to other countries I don’t feel as though English is as widely spoken here, so learning a few basics would be helpful.
- Plugs: If coming from the States, you’ll need a converter and adapter.
- When to Go: See my travel guide for each individual city, as they vary.
- How to Get Around: Colombia is a fairly inexpensive country, so you can find low-cost flights with Avianca (Colombian airline) between major cities. I would highly recommend doing that, when possible, instead of taking some of the long bus rides.
- Columbia Solo Female Travel: I love Colombia but recognize its reputation. While it’s not as scary as people make it out to seem, you do have to take precautions here: don’t wear anything flashy, be aware of your surroundings, and for the most part, this is not a country where you can walk around with your phone out (some places are the exception; I’ll discuss in the individual guides). When it comes to being a solo female traveler in Colombia, they’ll unfortunately try to take advantage of you when possible, so just be street smart. In addition to the tips I have above: don’t use street taxis only Uber, don’t walk around looking lost, be confident in where you’re going. The main issue in Colombia is pickpocketing and petty crime – unless you are walking around flaunting dollar bills and wearing diamonds, you don’t need to worry about being kidnapped!
Discover Colombia
My Recommended Itinerary for Colombia Travel
My Recommended Itinerary for Backpacking Colombia
As I’ve said, I’ve never backpacked Colombia but have been there plenty of times. If I were to backpack Colombia, I would recommend flying into the capital city, Bogota. I have yet to go to Bogota but am hoping to change that soon so I can put together a travel guide for you all! Based on what my family has told me, 3-4 full days would be enough time for Bogota. My perception of Bogota is that it’s cold and grey, but there seems to be a lot to do, such as museums and graffiti tours.
From there, I would head South to the city of salsa, Cali. You can either take a 10–12-hour bus ride or book a 1-hour flight, depending on your budget. Cali is another city I have yet to go to, but 3 full days seems to be enough to explore the city. Cali doesn’t have as much to do as some of the other cities but it’s the third-largest Colombian city and deserves a visit. Plus if you were ever wanting to learn salsa, this would be the best place to learn!
After Cali, head North to enter the Coffee Region, known as el eje cafetero, and stay in Salento. It’s a quick, 3-4-hour bus ride. I love Salento – it’s a cute, charming town next to the famous Cocora Valley, home to giant palm trees! I’d recommend at least 2 full days in this area.
From Salento, take an 8-hour bus ride or a flight from the nearby city of Pereira to the best city in the world, the city of Eternal Spring: Medellin. Yes, I’m super biased but every single person I’ve met who tells me they went to Colombia confirms Medellin is one of the best cities in the world! Medellin is huge and aside from seeing the attractions, you could spend days enjoying their cutting-edge dining experiences and taking in the gorgeous sites. It’s in a valley, so everywhere you look you see these giant, luscious, green mountains, and it’s truly breathtaking. How much time do you need for Medellin? I’d recommend at an absolute minimum, 4 full days.
After Medellin, head North to the coast to the colonial city of Cartagena. I would recommend doing the quick 1-hour flight instead of taking the 12-hour bus. The main draw in Cartagena is the Old Town, or the Walled City, which is amazing. I’d recommend at least 3 full days for Cartagena.
This next location you can only get to by plane – the island of San Andres! Located near the coast of Nicaragua, it belongs to Colombia. Here you’ll get to enjoy the “sea of 7 colors.” I’d recommend 3 full days for San Andres.
You could also do this route in reverse: start in Cartagena and go from there!
My Recommended Itinerary for Visiting Colombia
I know not everybody has the luxury of time, so for most people they can only visit for a week. If that’s the case, I would start in Medellin and spend the first 4 full days there. From there, I would fly to Cartagena for the remaining week.
Should you have another week, then I would add either Bogota or Cali, and Salento.
The above 2 itineraries would still give you a good dose of what my parents’ beautiful country has to offer!
