COLUMBIA, South America JULY 2023

Columbia, South America. July 2023

For quite some time, our desire to explore South America has been strong, particularly fueled by the enthusiastic accounts of Miles and Savannah, who had the opportunity to visit Colombia a few years back. The availability of numerous direct flights from the US to Colombia, ensuring convenient travel logistics, and the fact that Colombia shares the same time zone or is merely 1 hour behind (depending on the time of year) makes for a relatively easy trip from Charleston. So we scheduled a week in July 2023 and went to Colombia, South America.

Our itinerary included  travel to Medellin, Guatape, and Salento

Brief History of Columbia.

Colombia, situated in the northwestern region of South America, boasts a remarkable reputation for its abundant history, varied culture, breathtaking scenery, and welcoming inhabitants. Boasting a population of over 50 million, it holds the distinction of being the fourth-largest country in South America.

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Colombia’s history is intricately interwoven with its indigenous origins and the era of Spanish colonization. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the land was inhabited by flourishing civilizations, including the Muisca and the Tayrona. The enduring influence of the Spanish era is evident in the country’s architecture and cultural traditions that persist to this day.

Nevertheless, it would be unfair to overlook the challenges Colombia has confronted in its history. Like numerous nations, it has endured periods of political instability and violence. However, both the government and its resilient citizens have persevered, working tirelessly to confront these issues and pave the way for a more harmonious and prosperous nation.

Probably like a lot of people, our perception of Colombia was significantly influenced by two main factors:

Firstly, Juan Valdez, a fictional character who has been prominently featured in advertisements for the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia since 1958. This iconic figure shaped our image of the country as a land known for its rich coffee culture, natural beauty, and friendly people. Fortunately, this view is exactly what we experienced.

Secondly, the Colombian cocaine trade, which had a notorious prominence in the 1980s and 1990s. This issue was vividly depicted in popular movies like “Clear and Present Danger” (1994) “Blow” (2001), and the more recent Narcos series on Netflix, which was filmed mostly in Medellin, further contributing to the narrative surrounding Colombia during that era. Unfortunately many people still think Columbia is this way, and to some degree it probably still is in certain areas. It is easy to avoid those areas.

So an obvious question lingered not only in our minds but also in the minds of everyone we informed about our plans: Is Colombia safe?

Our own research and subsequent personal experience emphatically confirmed that, yes, Colombia is currently a very safe destination. Specifically, the city we visited, Medellin, felt remarkably secure. ( Medellin was considered the most dangerous city in the world during the 1990’s) . Surprisingly, we felt even safer there than in several large cities in the United States that we have recently visited.

A FEW HELPFUL TIPS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO COLUMBIA:

In Colombia, Spanish is the predominant language, and English is not widely spoken. As a general rule, the more upscale an establishment, the higher the likelihood of encountering English-speaking individuals. However, most people you interact with, such as taxi/Uber drivers, street vendors (who are quite abundant), shop owners, restaurant staff, and people on the streets, will likely have limited English proficiency. In such situations, having some basic Spanish phrases or a translation app can be helpful for smoother communication.

MONEY

 In Colombia, a significant number of transactions are conducted in cash using the Colombian Peso (COP). Don’t be intimidated by the large denominations, as the currency conversion is quite favorable. Here is some quick conversions ( as of July 2023)

Upon arrival in Colombia, it’s advisable to withdraw cash from ATMs at the airport. All the ATM’s we used had an English option so that is no problem. Do pay attention to the fee’s. Towards the end of the transaction it may offer an exchange rate from the Colombian bank verses your own bank. Our experience was that our bank (TD Bank) offered a better exchange rate.

ATM’S are also readily available in the city and  rural towns.

Credit cards are accepted in some places. Usually the more expensive a place, the more likely they will accept credit cards.

Colombia offers a significant cost advantage compared to the USA; items are notably cheaper, and a small amount of cash can stretch far.

Throughout the week, we withdrew a total of $615.00 USD or $2,448,556 COP, which proved to be sufficient for our expenses. While we used credit cards for a few purchases, the majority of our transactions were made in cash.

Baños or restrooms in Colombia typically require a small fee for public use. The usual cost is $1000.00 COP, equivalent to about 25 cents USD. Be sure to carry some $1000 COP coins when adventuring about.

Getting around in Columbia.

 Rent a car:  Rental cars are readily available but we did not drive ourselves.  Unless you are accustomed to the local driving style, it may be best to entrust the driving to someone else. In Colombia, driving adheres to rules that are common in most of the world but not necessarily in the USA. That is whether it be a truck, bus, car, or motorcycle, if it fits in a space and you arrive before the next person, you are fine. In other words, anything goes, as long as you avoid collisions with other vehicles or objects. Don’t be surprised about passing on blind curves or motorcycles weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds.

UBER: This was our preferred method of travel if. It offers several advantages. Since your address is entered on the app there is less chance of confusion about your destination, and, since it’s paid through the app, there is no confusion about cost.  As a general rule, the Ubers cars were nicer, cleaner, and bigger than the yellow taxis. Costs were comparable to taxis. ( Very cheap compared to USA)

TAXI: Yellow taxis are abundant in Colombia, readily available for transportation. However, it’s essential to note that most drivers may not speak English, and cash payment is typically required. Additionally, yellow taxis are generally smaller and less comfortable compared to Uber vehicles. Despite these limitations, the advantage is their widespread availability, making it incredibly convenient to hail one whenever needed. If you prioritize language convenience, cashless payments, and a more comfortable ride, opting for Uber might be the preferable choice.

Bus: Traveling to other cities in Colombia is a breeze, thanks to the easily accessible bus services. The buses we boarded were relatively new, well-maintained, and kept clean. Additionally, the fares were quite affordable, making bus travel a cost-effective and efficient way to explore different destinations within the country. Be aware of travel time. Because of the terrain, short distances can take a long time. It is common for various vendors to get off and on the bus along the way trying to sell things. They are not aggressive or high pressure so don’t buy anything unless you want to. We had a young lady get on and sing. I gave her $10,000.00 COP and she was thrilled .

AIR:  Air travel within Colombia is quite affordable, making it an attractive option when covering considerable distances. Due to the country’s mountainous terrain, even relatively short journeys can take an entire day when traveling by road or bus. To save time and effort, it’s advisable to search for economical flights for intra-country travel.

LATAM Airlines and Avianca are prominent South American carriers, operating numerous flights within Colombia. On the other hand, Easyfly is a smaller Colombian airline that offers flights to both major and lesser-known airports that may not be covered by other airlines. Easyfly has a  fleet of ATR aircraft which are turboprop planes. Even though they are very safe , many travelers are inappropriately  uneasy with this kind of plane

CLIMATE: 

The areas we visited enjoy a warm climate year-round with few extremes in temperature.  Medellín’s weather is not as scorching as other cities located at similar latitudes near the equator. 

With an average annual temperature of 22 °C (72 °F), Medellín experiences consistent temperatures throughout the year, with minimal variations. The range usually falls between 15 to 30 °C (59 to 86 °F). The city is renowned as the “La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera” or “City of the Eternal Spring” due to its pleasant spring-like climate that prevails throughout the year. Nevertheless, as Medellín lies in a valley, and many districts are situated on slopes, temperatures can be slightly cooler in the surrounding mountainous areas.

In spite of being near the equator and being July, the climate was quite pleasant, certainly better than the Charleston area this time of year.

Overall, Colombia is a great place to visit.

On the following pages we document the trip with our own photos and videos, and we have also embedded Google street view maps, as close as possible to where we were, allowing panoramic views of the area.

FORWARD TO DAY 1