Colombia Can't-Miss List

Colombia Can't-Miss List

Bryn Elise
I spent 3 months exploring Colombia as a digital nomad and it turned out to be one of the most memorable adventures of my life. Throughout my journey, I had the opportunity to stay in over 20 hotels, indulge in hundreds of restaurants, and engage in some of the wildest activities imaginable. The people and the culture of Colombia captured my heart, and I fell in love with this beautiful country. As a result, I've compiled a list of my favorite experiences in Colombia to help you make the most of your visit! My guide features the best of the best from the various regions I visited including: Cartagena Tierra Bomba Tayrona Minca San Gil Medellin I'm excited to share this adventure with you and I know you will love it as much as I did.
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WHERE TO STAY

Hotels that left me SPEECHLESS:

Casa Tayrona los Naranjos
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Fenix Beach Cartagena
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Senda Koguiwa
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Soy Local Cartagena
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TREKKER GLAMPING
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Costeño River Minca
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Villa Maria Tayrona, by Kalihotels
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The Journey Hostel
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Senda Barlovento Maloka
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Casa Bambu Tayrona
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Masaya Casas Viejas
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Quetzal Dorado Eco-lodge
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Traveler Hostel
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Hotel 574
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ADVENTURES 

Rosario Islands
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Set sail for the Rosario Islands with this group catamaran expedition from Cartagena!
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Cartagena ATV - Tours
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Paragliding Over Giant Waterfalls
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Bungee Extremo San Gil
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Parque Extremo El Peñón Guane
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Comuna 13, Tour Grafiti, Parqueadero
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Guatapé Tour
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Dream Hammocks Plus Epic Zipline and Giant Waterfall
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Namasté Beach Cartagena
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Hike for 4 Days to the Lost City
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Mirador Salto del Mico Drop Off
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Swim in the Natural Pools at Balneario Pescaderito
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WHERE TO EAT 

Epoca Espresso Bar
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Ely Café Bocagrande
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La Cevichería
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DOÑA LOLA comida del caribe
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CANCHA Cevichería
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La Vieja Guardia Fish&Beer
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Buena Vida Marisquería - Cartagena
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La Miga Panadería
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Restaurant Marhaba Minca
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Gringo Mike's San Gil
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WHERE TO GO

Medellin
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Cartagena
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Tierra Bomba
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Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
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Los Naranjos
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San Gil
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Barichara
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WEATHER 

Northern Colombia, including the city of Medellin, typically experiences a tropical climate characterized by warm and humid conditions throughout the year. The region experiences two rainy seasons, from April to May and from October to November, and two dry seasons, from December to March and from June to August. 

Current Weather in Medellin:

MY ROUTE

TRANSPORTATION

Getting around Colombia is relatively easy, with a variety of transportation options available to travelers.

Uber is excellent for getting around and is very affordable. When you don't want to wait for an Uber you can also grab a Taxi! Taxis are also a common way to get around in Colombia and are generally inexpensive compared to other countries.

Hiring a Driver: Bukup Travels

If you take any recommendations from this list let it be this one!

Schedule a tour or transfer with Bukup Travels. 

Bukap Travels - Things to do, tours, activities and ground transportation in Santa Marta
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When we realized it would be quicker to drive from Cartagena to Tayrona than it would to fly...we turned to TripAdvisor to find a driver to take us there instead! 

Juan Carlos (the owner of Bukup Travels) was the one who showed up to pick us up and drove us the 5 hours from Cartagena all the way into the jungle in Tayrona to our hotel. 

From that point on, we called him for EVERYTHING. He and his colleague Ricardo expertly guided us to some of the most remote and breathtaking hotels and sites that we would never have discovered on our own. Their exceptional service took the stress out of our travels and left a lasting impression on us.

I miss those guys! And I can't wait to go back to Colombia and see them. I know that they would take great care of you and make your trip amazing too so definitely check out Bukup Travels if you need a tour or driver. 

SAFETY

Colombia gets a bad rap but I felt very safe there. In fact, I met a good deal of solo female travelers! Many of the locals I met were passionate about changing the country's perception and leaving behind its former stereotypes, hoping to showcase Colombia's true beauty and what it has to offer.

Just like with anywhere you should exercise caution, always obey the law, and don't put yourself in any potentially sketchy situations. But Colombia has changed! And should be at the very top of your travel bucket list. 

Pro tip: Make sure you research which area of Colombia you want to travel to and join Facebook groups for expats in that particular area to get a good idea of how travelers feel about safety there.  They should help answer your questions and clear up any concerns you may have. 

Just make sure to grab some travel insurance before your trip! My favorite is SafetyWing and it's designed specifically for digital nomads. 

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