A Visit to Colombia
This South American country was on my list for over 3 years and i’m shocked it took me so long to get here after hearing rave reviews from other travelers. With loads of fun, culture and amazing food on every corner, Colombia has something for everyone to enjoy.
Getting Here
Entry requirements for US Citizens: As of now, Colombia requires US travelers to be vaccinated to enter. You must also fill out a health declaration form 24 hours before your flight. The form link is located on the tourism board here
Arrival: I arrived in Colombia via a nonstop flight with Jetblue nonstop from NYC for $326. I flew into Cartagena and grabbed a taxi at the airport to the walled city.
Getting Around: I opted to take taxi’s because I found them affordable. You can catch them just about anywhere or your hotel can call one for you. Uber is not available in Cartagena. Additionally, be prepared to pay the taxi’s in cash.
Pro Tip: For a place like Cartagena, cash is king. Most places accepts credit cards but for getting around, shopping, tours, etc. I found it easiest to pay in cash.
Things to Do
Getsmani: A very quick taxi ride from the walled city, take a stop to this neighborhood and admire all of the street art and Afro Colombian culture.
Explore The Walled City: This area is very lively and full of great places for photo ops. You can take a guided walking tour or do one on your own. I had a good time in this area because I was able to walk along the cobble stone streets, see the colorful houses and stop to grab street food or eat at a fancy restaurant all on the same block.
Palenque Day Tour: This tour was highlight of my trip to Colombia. I contacted Experience Real Cartagena tours who picked me up promptly from my hotel a 8:15am. The drive was just over an hour and it explores the Afro Colombian culture in Palenque. You’ll meet the locals that live in the village, see a cultural dance show and eat local food. The tour itself is about 6 hours and costs $100 per person. Book your tour here.
Enjoy the Nightlife: Cartagena has loads of nightlife in the area that’s walking distance from each other or a short cab ride. You’ll also find plenty of live music in different restaurants on Thursday and Friday nights.
Where to Eat
Cande: High end restaurant with very good food. Dinner for two with 3 appetizers, 2 main courses, 2 sparkling waters, and bottle of wine came to $75. Note: The stuffed eggplant with crab meat as well as the fried Yucca were my personal favorites.
Plaza Majagua: Randomly stumbled upon this place for our first dinner. It was super cheap and I loved the Caribbean flavored fried fish.
Cevicheria: I didn’t get to eat here but two of my hotel staff recommended it.
Townhouse Rooftop: Not my personal favorite because they mainly serve American food and I prefer local cuisine when I travel. However the views were nice and the music was good.
Where to Stay
I stayed at two different hotels inside the walled city. The walled city is very lively all day and most of the night. So if you’re not into noise or crowds then your best bet is to stay outside of it. Other travelers have said Bocagrande is a nice area to stay in as well.
The Sofitel: I booked the Sofitel through the Fine Hotels & Resorts program through American Express. This program has allowed me to maximize my stay at some of the best hotels with early check in, room upgrades, free breakfast and $100 hotel credit. The hotel is a bit dated but it was clean and the grounds were nice. I had a room with a balcony facing the pool which was a treat to wake up to. The location was also ideal because it was within walking distance from every thing.
Bastion Luxury Hotel: This was a great competitor here even though the rooms were a tad bit smaller. The rooftop pool stole the show for me and it was less crowded because it’s a smaller property. I enjoyed both hotels so it comes down to preference of large hotel/resort vs boutique hotel.
San Andres
I stumbled upon this little island courtesy of Pinterest and knew I had to make a stop here. San Andres is a tiny island off the coast of mainland Colombia. Geographically it is closer to Nicaragua but it belongs to Colombia.
Getting Here: I arrived in San Andres via a nonstop flight from Cartagena for just $30 one way. I booked my flight on BudgetAir. When arriving at the airport for check in, make sure you have your return flight booked in advance and ready to show because you won’t be able to board your flight without it. Additionally be prepared to pay tourist tax at the gate before boarding which is $40 and must be paid in cash. Either Colombian pesos or US dollars are accepted.
Where to Stay:
Casa Harb Hotel Boutique: I stayed at Casa Harb which is located on the northern side of the island. It’s not exactly on the beach but it is in a nice quiet area about 10 minutes from the main beach. It’s one of the few luxury hotels on the island and has a very pretty (but small) pool area.
Things to Do
Helmet Diving: There are lots of tours to take throughout the island and loads of activities. I really wanted to try to Helmet diving but I couldn’t due to my flight being the next day. Basically they will not permit you be under water if you are taking a plane within 24 hours of your scheduled tour so keep this in mind when doing this activity. It costs around $35 which is pretty affordable compared to other places I’ve seen it.
Go Beach Hopping: Spratt Bight Beach is the most popular on the island due to its liveliness and its close proximity to restaurants. Johnny Cay is a short boat right away and should be booked advance. It would make a great half day tour. Rocky Cay beach and San Luis beach are also good options for some r&r.
Rent a Golf Cart: I saw a lot of tourists driving these throughout the island. They looked fun but parking can be scarce so I opted to take taxis to get around. There are two seaters as well as 4-6 seater options that you can rent for about $30 for the day.
Where to Eat:
El Peruano: I was shocked at how affordable this place was. Dinner for two with multiple drinks and a bottle of wine came to $54.
The Islander: Recommended by my hotel, this place was nothing short of amazing. I loved the fried yucca, empanadas, salmon and coconut rice. Easily the best meal I had during my trip.
Medellin
I wish i had planned for a longer trip because. I would’ve allocated more time in Medellin. I only got to spend a day here due to time constraints. It seems like a very lively and fun city to be in. I went to La Pampa for dinner which I personally didn’t like, took my Covid test to return to the U.S. and wandered around in the mall because every thing else worth seeing was too far out for only one day. I would recommend spending 2-3 days in Medellin because it seems like it has a lot to offer.
In conclusion, If Colombia isn’t on your list, it needs to be! It lived up to all the hype and it’s definitely a place i would visit again.