Colombia Travel Report — Cartagena, Medellín & Coffee Region Tips
A week through Colombia 🌴
My 🔝 visited places!
1. Bogotá📍
Plaza de Bolívar
the Square of 1000 Doves 🕊️ 🕊️
Surrounded by beautiful buildings such as the Palacio Liévano, the National Capitol and the Cathedral Primada,
is the central square " Plaza de Bolívar“. In the middle of the square, hundreds of doves gather, and occasionally, an alpaca crosses their path 😃. For a small fee, you can buy dried corn here to feed the doves or take a photo with an alpaca 📸. In the past, the square served as a bullfighting arena and public market square.
Take a sip ☕️ + 🧀
“Chocolate caliente with queso”
A hot chocolate with cheese might sound a bit strange to some 🤔. At first, I was almost certain that this combination couldn't taste good 😆! It somehow reminded me of people who used to eat cheese sandwiches with Nutella. Weird people. But like in any other country, I wanted to try the "delicacies" of the land 😌. When the infamous drink finally arrived, we had no idea how to drink it ☕️. Bite the cheese first, then take a sip of the hot chocolate.
! ❌ WRONG ❌ !
The cheese must be added directly to the cup so that it can melt with the hot chocolate 🤓. Admittedly, the taste of the traditional "Chocolate con queso" is a bit strange at first, but afterwards, it's somehow tasty. 😋
Conclusion: I would buy it again. ☑
La Candelaria 🧑🏻🎨
The Old Town of Bogotá
Just let yourself be carried away by the fascinating streets and admire the colorful colonial houses, the numerous sights, and charming cafes and restaurants. Don't miss out on the graffiti and urban art either! 🎨
Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen 🔔
This impressive Catholic church dates back to the 20th century. Its striped color makes it so extraordinary. 😯
Due to the narrow streets, it's not so easy to get a good picture of this landmark 😂. When we arrived, it was very rainy, so we didn't stay long. Still, it was worth a short visit 😉.
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Museo del Oro 🏅
The Gold Museum
In this museum, you'll find plenty of information about indigenous peoples and a detailed history of gold, silver, and copper mining. The entry fee was just under 3 euros per person in November 2022.
Places we unfortunately missed:
Mount Monserrate
Due to time constraints, we didn't manage to visit Cerro de Monserrate. The mountain is 3,152 meters high and located in the Santa district.On-site, you have two options:
either lace up your hiking boots and take the 2-hour hiking route, or hop on the cable car for around 5 euros per person. The view is said to offer a spectacular vista over Bogota and part of the Andes. It's a shame we couldn't see that!
2. Cartagena📍
The Old Town
Of course, you shouldn't miss the colonial Old Town of Cartagena 😊. In 1984, the historic city center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains a sought-after destination to this day. You can either stroll through the labyrinth of streets on foot or even explore the city in a horse-drawn carriage 🐴. There are countless shopping opportunities available, and especially in the evening, it's lovely to sip a cocktail on one of the many hotel decks. 😍
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Especially in the evening, the Old Town exudes its own charm. ✨
San Felipe de Barajas ⛫
The Fortress of Cartagena
The fortress Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, built in 1536, is located on the hill of San Lázaro. The highest point of the fortress can be reached in just a few minutes on foot. Along the way, there are small, dark underpasses that add excitement to the excursion. 👻 Especially at sunset, the view from above is truly impressive! 🌆
Get Semani 🧑🏻🎨
the colorful hippie neighborhood
A perfect place to buy a beer and stroll through the crazy streets 🤩. Everywhere, there are vibrant colors, hanging flags, artworks, and chalk-painted paths. For me, one of the most beautiful places in Cartagena! 📸
But it's not just the houses and streets that amaze you, but also the people and the talking parrot! 🦜
Playa Blanca 🏝️
the little paradise
Just about 1 hour away from the city center of Cartagena, you'll find Playa Blanca beach ☀️. In most cases, you can reach the beach on foot. We had to walk along a really narrow stretch of beach for about 10 minutes with our luggage to reach our glamping accommodation. However, you have the option to have your luggage transported by wheelbarrow for a fee. These are usually readily available at the parking lot. Unfortunately, my stay was a bit disappointing as everything was just filled with sunbeds, people, and accommodations. Next time, I would prefer a different beach or only visit for excursions.
Isla Rosaria 🌴
From Playa Blanca, we took a boat to the Islas del Rosario 🚤. There are 28 different small islands here. From there, we did a shipwreck dive, which was pretty cool! I must add that the visibility underwater was very murky, and there were few underwater creatures to see 🫤. Nevertheless, it was an amazing experience to dive through the sunken ship 😍!!!! On another day, we went on a snorkeling tour, which was only partially worth it. Unfortunately, almost all boats visit the same hotspots, so it was quite crowded. However, we found a spot where we had some peace and could admire the spectacular underwater world 🐠!
🦚 Aviario Nacional de Colombia 🦚
Definitely one of my highlights on the trip through Colombia! The birdlife was extremely impressive 😍! I have never seen so many different bird species like here. The facility was lovingly designed, and the animals had plenty of space 💕. Some birds, such as the parrots, even lived in complete freedom 😯. For only 7 euros per person, it's an absolutely fair price. Honestly, I would have paid three times as much 😉.
Take your time as the park is quite large. Also, it's really nice to just sit on a bench and enjoy the bird sounds 🥰.
Conclusion
All in all, Colombia was an unforgettable adventure. Besides Peru and Chile, Colombia is now also one of my favorite countries in South America!
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