There are few better ways to acquaint yourself with a new country than through its cuisine, and sampling traditional street food is always my favourite way to experience unique flavours and local delicacies as soon as I arrive. Unfortunately, I found myself fairly underwhelmed as I travelled through the central regions of Colombia, faced with lacklustre slabs of meat and truly uninspiring accompaniments (thanks to E[...]
Situated between the balmy Caribbean coast and the soaring Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, you'll almost certainly find yourself passing through Colombia's oldest surviving city during your travels. And while it's far from the prettiest or most exciting destination in and of itself— easy access to the nearby jungle, charming coastal towns, and stunning national parks make Santa Marta the ultimate base for[...]
The crown jewel of Colombia's Caribbean coast, few places in the entire country are as beloved and highly sought after as the richly diverse Tayrona National Park (Parque Tayrona, en español). Surrounded by vibrant coconut palm jungle, flanked by the world's highest coastal mountain range, the lush Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and home to a spectacular assortment of crescent-shaped beaches, Tayrona features on jus[...]
Minca is an absolute paradise of jungle waterfalls, lazy afternoons spent in a hammock, spectacular sunsets over the Caribbean, and locally produced chocolate and coffee. But despite rising popularity among backpackers, this lush spot in the forested mountains above Santa Marta has managed to retain nearly all of the magic and solitude of an as-yet undiscovered gem, easily making it one of my favourite places in all[...]
With Cartagena acting as the main entry point for most visitors to Caribbean Colombia and nearby Santa Marta one of the best hubs from which to explore the jungle, beaches, and national parks of the region, it's very likely that you'll find yourself transiting between these coastal cities at some point. Thankfully, it's neither time consuming nor expensive to get from Cartagena to Santa Marta (or from Santa Marta to[...]
Every day, dozens of energetic, bilingual paisa tour guides stand beneath vibrant red and blue umbrellas outside the San Javier Metro Station, each collecting a small group of travellers with whom to walk through Comuna 13, share stories of Medellín's darkest days, and showcase the incredible transformation this city has undergone in just a few decades. Bullet holes are painted over by vibrant street murals, out[...]
In 1988, Time Magazine wrote an article titled "Welcome to Medellin, coke capital of the world", which dubbed Colombia's second largest city the most dangerous place on earth, a city whose every move (and whose every politician) was seemingly controlled by the cartel. Government officials were assassinated with alarming frequency, bodies lay in the streets from the thousands of people murdered annually, and amidst i[...]
Travelling from the sultry Caribbean cost to the lush mountains of Colombia, you've got a few options, including a long bus ride and a quick (but more expensive) flight from Cartagena to Medellín. This Colombia transport guide will cover absolutely everything you need to know about travelling from Cartagena to Medellín via bus or plane, including how to get to the bus terminal or airport in Cartagena, how to buy t[...]
After exploring Colombia's most innovative city, swap rolling hills and vibrant street art for the crystal-clear water and sticky heat of the Caribbean coast. It's a pretty fair distance from Medellín to Santa Marta, though, which leaves many travellers wondering whether it's better to save a few dollars by taking the bus or save a few hours by flying between these two popular destinations (plot twist: you can fly[...]
An Andean resort town situated on the shores of a spectacular reservoir in central Colombia, Guatapé is without a doubt the most colourful city I've ever seen. From the jaw-dropping lake views atop La Piedra to the rainbow-coloured streets decorated with bas-relief zócalos, there is seriously SO much to enjoy in this charming pueblo. Best of all, Guatapé is an extremely easy day trip from Medellín, accessibl[...]
Medellín is Colombia's trendiest destination, risen from the ashes of its turbulent Pablo-tainted past to become one of the most innovative and progressive cities in all of Latin America. From the adventure hub of San Gil, you've got both public buses and flight routes available to reach Medellín— but how do they compare and which should you choose? This Colombia transport guide will cover absolutely eve[...]
Still something of a hidden gem in Colombia, the laid-back mountain town of San Gil is paradoxically home to the country's greatest assortment of extreme sports and adventure activities, from white water rafting and abseiling to bungy jumping and caving. Most travellers to San Gil arrive via bus from Bogotá, Colombia’s bustling capital, but it's also possible to fly to nearby Bucaramanga and then take a mini-bus[...]
Most travellers to Colombia will find themselves transiting between Bogotá and Medellín at some point, swapping the country's metropolitan capital for the trendy, graffiti-covered streets of the second largest city. There are essentially just two options for the journey from Bogotá to Medellín, travelling by public bus or booking a quick domestic flight— but how do these options compare in terms of tim[...]
Nestled between verdant mountains and cut by the Fonce, Suarez, and Chicamocha Rivers, San Gil (sahn-híll) is a small, picturesque town in the Santander Department of Colombia, a day's travel from the bustle of Bogotá or Medellín. Although its quiet streets, filled mostly with locals, would never suggest it— San Gil is Colombia's undisputed adventure capital, considered the place to head for extreme sports[...]
Altitude sickness might not be something you've had to contend with on many previous trips, but it's pretty much part and parcel of any adventure through Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, or Peru. In fact, many of South America's premier tourist destinations, like Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and La Paz, rise well above 2,500m (the typical threshold for altitude sickness). I wrote an incredibly detailed post on preven[...]