Travelogue from Colombia: So much more than a trendy destination!

Dream of visiting Colombia? Read about travel consultant Meike’s experiences when she visited the country in 2018.

There have been a lot of positive things said about Colombia in recent years, and now I would finally find out what it is that excites tourists so much.

On my tour of Colombia, I have particularly experienced and felt the country’s diversity and transformation into a peaceful country full of hope. Colombia is situated on the Equator and is a mix of Andean highlands, rainforests, coastal jungles, the coffee region with its colourful buildings and impressive cities such as Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena. We’ve put together our tours so that you get a good impression of these different landscapes.

In the capital, Bogota, I was particularly excited about the city’s “Ciclovia”, which takes place every Sunday. Many streets are closed to cars and reserved for cyclists, inline skaters and runners. This gives you a unique opportunity to experience such a metropolis completely authentically, relaxed and at your own pace – and, of course, completely car-free. The views of the city and the surrounding mountains from Monserate are also impressive.

One of the main sights in Colombia is the coffee region, where life is considerably quieter than in the cities. I was especially excited by the colourful houses and wooden doors in Filandia and Salento, and you stroll through beautiful, small villages surrounded by all manner of shades of green. It’s not usually too hot when you’re almost 2,000 metres above sea level. At one of the many galleries, I bought some coloured wooden bowls that will always remind me of the coffee region.

Another highlight of Colombia has to be Tayrona National Park on the Caribbean coast.
On a walk through the park, I saw 3 different monkey species in the trees above me, wonderful beaches and I learned a lot about one of the local tribes, which still lives according to ancient traditions and rules. For me, it was especially nice to see that the rights of the indigenous people are increasingly protected and that people have realised how important it is to the country’s culture to preserve this people. Two boys from the tribe opened a fresh coconut for me – perfect refreshment before heading on.

For all adventurous souls, I highly recommend a trek to “Ciudad Perdida” – the Lost City.

On this 4-day hike through the jungle, you enjoy a pure Indiana Jones experience: You cross rivers, discover the nature of the rainforest with all its sounds, sleep in hammocks or beds in simple camps, both fitted with the essential mosquito nets.

The most gripping moment is definitely when you reach the Lost City. I was struck by the big difference between other tourist attractions, such as Machu Picchu from the Inca Trail, that could be felt: You arrive at the ruin city with the people you have walked with and no one else. There are no helicopters, trains or jeeps as alternative means of travel.

I was on the brink of physical exhaustion, mentally filled with pride at what I had achieved, and moved over the past of this cultural place, which was not rediscovered until the 1970s. It will always have a place in my heart.

Wonderful beaches await you in Colombia, such as on the Barú Peninsula on the Caribbean coast, which you can also enjoy without a hike through the jungle. Not far from Cartagena, a beach hotel awaits you, where you will find all the amenities you could wish for a couple days after a tour. I got up early because I wanted to go to the water I had heard roaring the night before as I sat enjoying a fruit cocktail. Standing knee-deep in the warm water, I saw shoals of fish swimming around me. This place is in many ways a little piece of paradise.

When I close my eyes and think of Colombia, I see colours, I smell fresh mangoes, I feel the sun and I hear the typical Latin music!

Please contact us if you’d like to know more.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller