The Wanderers Stories

By Carolina Niño

What makes Colombia a good travel destination?

Colombia is an amazing travel destination because of the biodiversity of its culture, it’s beautiful landscapes, friendly locals and more, which will leave tourists spellbound. The experience is overwhelming and always different among the diverse regions in terms of gastronomy, activities and local experience.

Tell us something that every traveler should know when traveling to Colombia?

Once you have decided to visit Colombia it is important to take into account certain items for having the best experience as possible while visiting us. What to wear depends on the weather of the place you’re visiting. Colombia does not have seasons and the weather may vary, depending on the sea level. (For example, the temperature in Bogotá might be in 14 – 18 ºC while at Cartagena it might be 32 ºC)

Any essentials that one needs to carry when they traveling to Colombia?

One copy of your passport ID.
Waterproof Jacket
Comfortable shoes
Clothes for the cold and hot climate
Mosquito Repellent
Sunblock
Sunscreen and a hat or cap
Insect repellent
Personal medicines and hygiene products (preferably biodegradable).

Which are the most surreal places to visit when in Colombia?

Well, that depends on the experience you want to have here. Colombia’s extensive beauty ranges from the sea of seven colors to its incredible deserts, architectural richness in buildings and it’s variant flora and fauna. There are special tours that will get you acquainted with the history and culture of cities like Medellin or Cartagena.

Can you tell us a little about the life of the locals in Colombia?

The locals are very friendly and welcoming and are always eager to share their culture with visitors. They are proud of their history and tend to make the best out of every situation. In certain parts of the country, the locals follow their traditional customs with pride and sincerity.

What are the local delicacies/drinks which one must try and wherein Colombia?

The most common drink in Colombia is aguardiente. It is a local, familiar drink based on anise, not so expensive and can be found almost anywhere in the country. It has different brands depending on the region you are in. Also, there are other drinks like chicha, canelazo, sabajón among others.

Where can one get vegetarian food in Colombia?

Vegetarian food is now getting popular and as it gains even more popularity, you will find restaurants, mostly in cities, that will offer it. It is advisable to request for vegetarian food in advance.

What is a must try dish when in Colombia?

If you crave seafood, then north Colombia is the place for you. You can try the Patacón, which is a dish made up of different types of fish with coconut rice and a type of mashed banana. There are also different dishes like the Bandeja Paisa(which is very common, that includes meat, rice, beans, a fried egg, banana smashed and more). There is also the arepas, one of the meals that represent us. It is prepared using ground maize dough. In the capital city, Bogota, the main dish is Ajiaco, a soup made of three different types of potatoes.

Can you please list the top 3 Indian restaurants in Colombia?

What are the things which one must buy when in Colombia?

Souvenirs are a must-buy in Colombia. Coffee and jewelry made off emeralds are also quite popular.

Which are the most romantic places to visit in Colombia?

Bogotá, Villa de Leyva, Providencia, Cartagena and Barú.

What are the local festivals which one must visit when in Colombia?

Colombia has festivals celebrated all over. The most important ones, however, are the Barranquilla Carnival held in March celebrated in Barranquilla, and the Flower festival in August in Medellin.

The things guidebooks will not tell anyone about Colombia?

The guidebooks won’y tell you how easy it is to interact with locals in the country as everybody is very welcoming.

According to you what is the best thing about Colombia?

The sheer diversity of this place will give you a new and completely different experience at each new destination. There is so much beauty to be discovered. People are very charming and gentle. It’s not unusual to feel Colombian once you’ve spent some time here.

Check out our latest package on Colombia

When Lonely Planet places Colombia second on its list of Best in Travel Top countries & 10 destinations.

You cannot afford to miss, one tends to sit up and notice that tiny country hedged between the Andes, the Amazon, the Pacific and the Caribbean “somewhere in Latin America”. When I visited Colombia on a 2-week trip a couple of years ago, I knew the place was something special. Whether it was drifting down the Amazon & camping on a hammock in the mosquito-infested jungle or walking through the narrow cobbled streets of charming Cartagena de Indias or wandering through the coffee triangle of Manizales, Pereira and Quindio and the famed Valle del Cocora or the colourful old town of Salento, or visiting a local pub in Bogota, the sense of stumbling upon a hidden gem was palpable throughout.

During my brief stay in Bogota (where I went to attend a travel fair), I met up with many travel partners from all over Colombia who spoke to me about places I was not fortunate enough to visit on this trip. Like the archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina which was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2000 and the legendary “sea of seven colours.” I came to know of Santa Marta, the first city in Colombia and the oldest in South America & a port of entry for those looking to conquer the “New world” in the 16th Century. I heard of the Gorgona National Park on the Pacific Coast, considered as one of the most bio-diverse & rainy areas on Earth and a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers. A place where the hump back whales arrive from the North in search of warmer waters. And in the midst of it is Nuqui, the Pacific Coast’s Eden, approachable only by air & a paradise for bird lovers, water sports enthusiasts, fishing and unspoiled nature; inspiring artists and poets with its incredible views of lush forest, beaches, waterfalls, stones and boulders of many colours. Then there’s the town of Villa de Leyva, just 200kms from Bogota, declared a national monument in 1954 and best explored on foot. Some spoke of the remote and hidden town of Santa Cruz de Mompox, situated on an island of the same name on the western bank of the Magdalena river, 200kms from Cartagena, that inspires tales of romance and nostalgia. A place that Colombia’s most famous son, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, described in his novel “The General in his labyrinth” as follows: Mompox does not exist, sometimes we dream of her, but she does not exist. In 1995, UNESCO declared this place a World Heritage Site.

Cartagena de indias- look for beaches and you have it here (the Caribbean coast)

Cartagena de Indias. Old town. Look for colours of the rainbow and you have it all here in this enchanting place.

Other names flashed by. San Augustin (a UNESCO World heritage site) & Tierradentro, the salt desert of Guajira, Santander, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla (the golden gate of Colombia), Ciudad Perdida & of course Cali (the capital of Salsa) and Medellin.

There was more. Much more. I was convinced I had to return to this place to soak in its magical realism.

Sunset in the Amazon, always larger than life

6 things you need to know about Colombia:

It is not the country that you see in Narcos. That man died in 1995. If thats the reason for going (or not going) to Colombia, think again.

It will be the most sought after destination in Latin America. Soon. Go there before Starbucks opens a store in Leticia.

It is one of the safest places in the Americas. (Despite “Narcos”)

It is a bird watchers paradise. Colombia leads the world in avian biodiversity; it is home to 1889 species, or 20 % of all bird species on Earth. 197 species of migratory birds are also temporary residents. 71 species of birds found here are unique to Colombia.

Barranquilla Carnival, February: This 4-day festival has been awarded the status of a “Masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity” by UN cultural body UNESCO. The event features various days of parades, music, drinking and dancing in a city already famous in Colombia for its active party scene. It is arguably the second biggest and best annual celebration in Latin America’s carnival calendar, falling only slightly below the levels of hedonism witnessed at the street parties of Rio de Janeiro.

The people are honest and helpful. Don’t corrupt them.

All photos by Abhik Dutta, The Wanderers

Tag: Colombia

An Insiders View on Colombia