Colombia Travel Report: Cartagena, Medellín & Coffee Region Tips

Contents of this post20 chapters

• 1A Week Through Colombia
• 2Bogota
• 3Have a Drink +
• 4La Candelaria
• 5Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen
• 6Museo del Oro
• 7Mount Monserrate
• 8Cartagena
• 9San Felipe de barajas
• 10Get Semani
• 11Playa Blanca
• 12Isla Rosaria
• 13Aviario Nacional de Colombia
• 14Conclusion
• 15Read more
• 16Colombia Route: Connecting Cartagena, Medellín and the Coffee Region
• 17Colombia travel costs: Budget as a guide
• 18Colombia Travel Report: Safety and Practical Planning
• 19Relevant travel reports
• 20Frequently Asked Questions

A week in Colombia: Bogotá with Plaza de Bolívar, the Gold Museum (just under €3, as of November 2022), and Cerro de Monserrate, plus Cartagena with its old town and Playa Blanca. My highlight was the Aviario Nacional (€7). Below you'll find a suggested itinerary for three to four weeks including Medellín, Jardín, and the Coffee Region, as well as a sample budget.

A Week Through Colombia

The places I visited!

Bogota

Plaza de Bolívar

the Square of 1,000 Pigeons

Surrounded by beautiful buildings like the Palacio Liévano, the Capitolio Nacional and the Catedral Primada, you'll find the central square “ Plaza de Bolívar“. Hundreds of pigeons gather in the middle of the square, and every now and then an alpaca crosses their path. For a small fee, you can buy dried corn here to feed the pigeons or take a photo with an alpaca. In the past, the square served, among other things, as a bullfighting arena and a public marketplace.

Have a Drink

„Chocolate caliente con queso“

A hot drinking chocolate with cheese probably sounds a bit strange to some people. At first I was almost sure that this combination couldn't possibly taste good! It somehow reminded me of the people who used to eat cheese sandwiches with Nutella. Weird people. But, as in any other country, of course I wanted to get to know the country's “ delicacies “ here too. When the notorious drink was finally placed in front of us, we of course had no clue how to drink it. First bite off the cheese, then a sip of the hot chocolate.! WRONG! The cheese has to go straight into the cup so that it can melt into the hot chocolate. Admittedly, the taste of the traditional “Chocolate con queso“ is a bit odd at first, but afterwards somehow quite tasty.
Conclusion: I would buy it again.

La Candelaria

Bogota's Old Town

Just let yourself drift through the fascinating alleys and admire the colorful colonial houses, the many sights and the cute cafés and restaurants. Don't miss the graffiti and urban art either!

Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen

This impressive Catholic church dates from the 20th century. Its striped color is what makes it so extraordinary. Because of the narrow alleys, it's not that easy to take a good picture of this sight. When we arrived it was very rainy, so we didn't stay long. Still, it was worth a short visit.

Museo del Oro

The Gold Museum

In this museum you'll find lots of information about the indigenous peoples and a detailed history of the extraction of gold, silver and copper. Admission was just under 3 euros per person in November 2022.

Places we unfortunately missed:

Mount Monserrate

Due to time constraints, we unfortunately didn't manage to visit the mountain Cerro de Monserrate. The mountain is 3,152 meters high and is located in the Santa district. On site you have two options: either you lace up your hiking boots and take the 2-hour hiking route, or you hop on the cable car for around 5 euros per person. The view is said to offer a spectacular panorama over Bogota and part of the Andes. Too bad we couldn't see it!

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 is still considered a sought-after destination today. You can either stroll on foot through the labyrinth of alleys or even explore the city in a horse-drawn carriage. There are countless shopping options, and especially in the evening it's lovely to sip a cocktail on one of the many hotel decks.

Especially in the evening, the old town once again radiates its very own charm.

San Felipe de barajas

The Fortress of Cartagena

The castle 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. In between, there are small, dark underpasses along the way that made the outing even more exciting. Especially at sunset, the view from above is truly impressive!

Get Semani

the colorful hippie neighborhood

A perfect place to buy yourself a little beer and stroll with it through the crazy streets. Everywhere there are bold colors, hanging flags, artworks and chalk-painted paths. For me one of the most beautiful places in Cartagena!

But it's not only the houses and alleys that make you marvel, but also the people and the talking parrot!

Playa Blanca

the little paradise

Only about 1 hour from the center of Cartagena, you'll find the beach Playa Blanca. In most cases you can only reach the hotel on foot. To get to our glamping accommodation, we had to walk about 10 minutes with our luggage along a really very narrow stretch of beach. However, for a bit of money you have the option of having your luggage transported by wheelbarrow. These are usually already waiting in masses at the parking lot. Unfortunately, the stay disappointed me a little, as everything was simply full of sun loungers, people and accommodations. Next time I would prefer a different beach or only come for the excursions.

Isla Rosaria

From Playa Blanca we continued by boat to the Islas del Roasrio. There are 28 different small islands here. From there we did a shipwreck dive, which was pretty cool! I have to add that visibility underwater was very murky and there were few underwater animals to see. Still, it was a fantastic experience to dive through the sunken ship! On another day we did a snorkeling tour, which was only partly worth it. Unfortunately, almost all boats go to the same hotspots, so it was pretty crowded. At one spot, however, we had our peace and quiet and could admire the spectacular underwater world!

Aviario Nacional de Colombia

Definitely one of my highlights of the trip through Colombia! The birdlife was extremely impressive! I've never seen so many different species of birds as 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 just 7 euros per person, an absolutely fair price. Honestly, I would even have paid three times as much.

Give yourself enough time, as the park is actually quite big. Besides, it's super nice to just sit on the bench and enjoy the sounds of the birds.

Conclusion

All in all, Colombia was an unforgettable adventure. Alongside Peru and Chile, Colombia now also counts among my favorite countries in South America!

Colombia Route: Connecting Cartagena, Medellín and the Coffee Region

The Colombia route begins in Cartagena or Medellín. Three to four weeks are allotted for the Colombian leg of the journey; the stops are in this order: Cartagena, Medellín, Jardín, Bogotá, and the coffee region. Those focusing on the three highlights mentioned here can start on the Caribbean coast in Cartagena, then include Medellín, and subsequently continue via Jardín towards the coffee region. Jardín is a coffee town located three hours from Medellín. This route thus combines the Caribbean coast, a major city, and coffee cultivation without repeating the experiences already described in Cartagena.

Cartagena as the starting point of the Colombia route

Cartagena is a suitable starting point for longer itineraries as well as a base for exploring further along the Caribbean coast. As a guideline, flights from Cartagena to Bogotá are available from €30 each way. There is also a colectivo (shared taxi) service from Cartagena to Barranquilla. The journey costs approximately €3 and takes about two hours. Those staying overnight in Cartagena can find hostel dorm rooms at the higher end of the nationally typical price range of €8 to €15 per night. Meals in tourist restaurants in the old town cost between €10 and €20. All prices mentioned are approximate, subject to change, and should be checked before traveling.

Medellín in Colombia Travelogue

In Medellín, you can easily combine your city trip with the metro and the Metrocable cable cars to the Comunas (districts). A metro ride costs approximately €0.60. El Poblado and Laureles are good neighborhoods for apartments; modern apartments start at €25 per night. A 20-minute ride costs between €2 and €3. A day trip is also possible: From Medellín, you can travel to Guatapé and El Peñol rock. The bus costs €3, and the entrance fee to the rock is €4; there are 740 steps to the top. Prices are subject to change and should be checked before your trip.

Jardín is another stop on the route towards the Coffee Region. It's important to know that Jardín is not the same as the entire Zona Cafetera, but rather a coffee town and a possible destination for a day trip from Medellín. This helps keep the planning clear: Medellín is the urban part of the journey, Jardín a subsequent stop, and the Coffee Region can be explored in more detail later.

Coffee Region and Salento on the Colombia Route

Salento is considered a tourist hub in the coffee region. The surrounding fincas and the Los Nevados National Park are the real highlights. A tour of a local finca showcases the production process from tree to cup. As a guideline, prices for a coffee farm tour with tasting in Salento range from less than €15 to €15. These two price ranges should not be combined to create a single, fixed price. They are subject to change and should be checked before traveling.

There's also a specific guideline for getting to or from Salento: The colectivo between Salento and Pereira costs €1.50 and takes 45 minutes. Those incorporating the coffee region into their itinerary can use this connection as a reference point. However, no precise time estimate is given for Salento or the fincas.

Colombia travel costs: Budget as a guide

Good to know: The following travel costs are not currently verified, as no date is available for the prices. They serve only as guidelines, are subject to change, and should be checked before traveling. The example calculation documents 6 weeks in Colombia. The total costs amount to approximately 3,100 euros, including flights, 42 nights' accommodation, meals, and 5 domestic flights. This equates to an average of 60 euros per day.

Travel budget for accommodation and food in Colombia

A daily budget of €30 to €45 is recommended for backpackers, and €60 to €90 for travelers seeking more comfort. The accommodation mix consists of 50% hostels, 30% Airbnb rentals, and 20% hotels. The total cost for 42 nights is approximately €1,100, averaging €26 per night.

• As a guideline: A bed in a hostel dorm with 4 to 8 beds costs 8 to 15 euros per night.
• A private room in a hostel typically costs between 20 and 35 euros per night.
• For a boutique hotel, 40 to 80 euros per night is a guideline.
• A Menú del Día costs 2 to 3 euros; on the coast, the guideline price is 1.50 to 2 euros.
• The food budget for 6 weeks is approximately 580 euros, or 14 euros per day.

The figures also illustrate why your personal travel style is important. The total amount shown is not a general price guarantee. It represents a mix of different types of accommodation, meals, activities, and five domestic flights. Therefore, for your own budgeting, it's better to use the individual items rather than simply taking the total amount as is. All prices are subject to change and should be checked before your trip.

Colombia Travel Report: Safety and Practical Planning

Good to know: The tourist areas in Cartagena, Medellín, and Bogotá are considered well-monitored. However, the usual precautions are still recommended: avoid wearing conspicuous jewelry, don't openly hold your mobile phone in crowds, and don't walk at night; use Uber instead. In Medellín, avoid walking alone through the Comunas at night. Cartagena's Old Town and Medellín's El Poblado are considered safe tourist hotspots; unfamiliar neighborhoods should be avoided at night and when alone.

Practical tips for Cartagena, Medellín and the Coffee Region

• Tip: Insist on the taxi meter when using a taxi; especially at the airport and in Cartagena, avoid rides without a taximeter.
• Good to know: Small restaurants and colectivos don't accept cards, so it's advisable to bring some cash.
• For Colombia, RedBus can be used to book buses online. Booking directly at the terminal is often cheaper, but popular buses can quickly become fully booked.
• In Cartagena, July and August, as well as December and January, are considered peak season; hostels and tours can then sometimes cost twice as much.

I develop content for Tourism Boards that provides a well-informed overview of Colombia, its routes, and travel stories. Information about editorial productions and collaborations can be found on the page for collaboration.

Relevant travel reports

• Colombia travel costs and budget (on max-haase.com)
• Armenia Travelogue: Yerevan and Monasteries
• Peru travel tips: Costs, route and practical information
• All South America travel reports