Is Colombia on your bucket list? It definitely should be. Known as a megadiverse nation, Colombia has it all – beautiful beaches, impressive snow-capped mountains, tropical islands, jungle forests, deserts, canyons, rivers and an ecosystem that supports over ten percent of the world’s species, including the highest diversity of birds, amphibians and butterflies. In a nutshell, Colombia is a place that will absolutely leave you surprised and delighted.
I was fortunate to be chosen as one of ten travel agents across Canada to experience Colombia with Air Canada Vacations. We explored Cartagena, Salento and Bogota via the Essential Colombia tour – a fascinating snapshot of Colombia that takes place over eight days.
Our tour started when we landed in Cartagena. After a short ride from the airport (all tours include flights and airport transportation) we got comfortable in our hotel, situated directly on the beach. After a short rest and a quick exploration of the hotel grounds (where native deer, toucans, parrots, and even a sloth lived in the trees), we walked along the busy ocean-side promenade, which led us to the rooftop restaurant where we had dinner. I was fascinated with the amazing light displays – they still had their Christmas lights up everywhere – as well as the bright and noisy party buses that travelled up and down the main street. My first impression of Colombia was one of festivals, fun and family.
The next day we travelled to the walled city of Cartagena, the city’s historic center and a Unesco World Heritage Site. Built in the seventeenth century, the narrow streets are a delight to behold, with their colonial architecture and the bouganvillias that spill from the balconies. One could easily spend an entire day just exploring and taking it all in.
The next day, it was time to fly to the interior. After a short, easy flight, we made our way into a region called the coffee triangle and a lovely small town called Salento – our home for the next two nights.
Our hotel was charming and situated in a very quiet part of town. So quiet that you’d never know that the busiest part of the town is just one block away. When we discovered the cobblestone pedestrian-only street we all laughed out loud. It was a cacophony of sound – it was filled to the brim with people milling about, visiting the shops and restaurants, many with little balconies overlooking the street – a great place for people watching. It was delightful and I’ll never forget it. We found a cute little place for dinner where we enjoyed local cuisine and gorgeous views of the mountains. The highlight of the dinner was when a horse clip clopped through the restaurant to its stall, situated behind the restaurant sitting area. So random and unexpected. The rest of the evening was spent discovering what Salento had to offer, which was so much.
The next day was a busy one that included coffee tasting at a local plantation and a hike in the Cocora Valley – home of the world’s tallest palm trees. We felt the elevation whilst hiking up to the viewpoint, but it was worth it to experience the incredible vistas through the swirling mists.
Lastly, we flew to Bogota – a city of over eight million souls, and at 2600 meters, one of the highest capital cities in the world. We stayed in a gorgeous and very comfortable boutique hotel that was situated in a quiet area just at the base of the mountains. Our first night in Bogota, we were taught how to play the Colombian national game, Tejo. Tejo is a game where metal disks are thrown at a clay surface dotted with explosive gunpowder filled disks! It’s a noisy game filled with explosions and cheering, but we all loved it.
While in Bogota, we also visited the lovely Montserrat viewpoint that overlooks the city. We arrived by riding the funicular to the top and then we took the cable car back down. Later we enjoyed an incredibly interesting walking tour of the old town of Bogota. And lastly, we were treated to a delicious tour of the Paloquemao Food Market, which included a chance to taste over twenty exotic and local fruits as well as the local baked goods. So yummy.
Now that I’ve experienced a small slice of Colombia I’m hungry for more.
Essentially, I would equate Colombia with Costa Rica. The flora and the fauna definitely remind me of Costa Rica, but it is about 40% less expensive. I was constantly surprised at the prices. A very ample meal, including a glass of wine or beer, would cost less than $20CAD.
I also felt very safe while in Colombia. In fact, there was not one time that I felt I was in an unsafe environment. Granted, there are some areas near the borders with travel advisories, so one must be aware when choosing where to visit. This being said, there are no Air Canada Tours that visit areas with travel advisories.
The people of Colombia are friendly, helpful and although English is not as commonly spoken as in Costa Rica, we did not encounter any major communication barriers.
I brought 900,000 Colombian pesos with me, the equivalent of about $300CAD, which I ordered from my bank before I left. I did not need to get any more cash while there and I spent my last 15,000 pesos at the airport. That being said, most of my purchases were made via credit card. Even so, I found all the zeros to be confusing when figuring out the conversions. Ten Canadian dollars are worth about 27,000 pesos. I used the conversion tool on my iphone constantly.
Air Canada Vacations has 24 unique tours of Colombia. Some involve waterfalls and river rafting. Some visit the amazon river where you can swim with the pink river dolphins. Some visit the tropical islands in the Caribbean, while some tours focus on the tiny villages situated high in the mountains. Wherever you choose, Colombia has something for everyone. I can’t wait to go back.
