Colombia is fast becoming the travel highlight of South America. After decades of struggling with crime and cartels, Colombia has become a hub for digital nomads and budget backpackers. More and more people are visiting to soak up the sun and enjoy the country’s low cost of living. I loved my time in the country. […]
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Is Colombia Safe to Visit?
Last Updated: 8/23/23 | August 23rd, 2023 Colombia is one of the most popular countries in South America for backpackers and travelers. In 2022, it saw over 4.6 million visitors — a huge increase from the early 2000s, when just 700,000 visitors came to Colombia each year. Over the past few decades, Colombia has been […]
How Much Does it Cost to Travel Colombia?
Last Updated: 6/14/23 | June 14th, 2023 A trip to Colombia wasn’t going to break the bank. I knew that much. But would it be a bargain? Only a visit there would tell me for sure. And so, I spent over five weeks in Colombia, varying my time between dorm rooms and cooking my own […]
My 21 Favorite Places to Visit in Colombia
Last Updated: 7/8/23 | July 8th, 2023 From the blue waters of Tayrona National Park, the sweeping views of the Cocora Valley, and the ruins of San Agustín, Tierradentro, and the Lost City, to the white colonial buildings of Popayán and the hustle and bustle of its metropolises, Colombia is packed with things to see […]
So, I Got Stabbed in Colombia
Updated: 9/15/22 | September 15th, 2022 Editor’s Note: I wavered on writing about this for a long time since I didn’t want to put people off on Colombia or perpetuate the myth that danger lurks around every corner. As you can tell from my posts here, here, here, and here, I really love the country. […]
The 20 Best Things to Do in Bogotá, Colombia
Last Updated: 1/4/24 | January 4th, 2024 The capital of Colombia, Bogotá was the home to the region’s indigenous people, the Muisca, before the Spanish arrived to plunder gold and resources. Centuries later, it’s been the country’s main city ever since. Before I went, everyone told me Bogotá wasn’t anything special: dirty, crowded, hard to […]
This is Not Your Parents’ Colombia
Updated: 9/15/22 | September 15th, 2022 Colombia’s troubled past — cartels, paramilitaries, poverty, petty crime — casts a long shadow that still reaches to today. The nation is still viewed by many as a place where danger lurks around every corner.* Having grown up hearing stories of drug lords, kidnappings, murders, and muggings, these ghosts […]
Santa Marta (and North Colombia) Travel Guide
Founded in 1525, Santa Marta was the first place the Spanish settled in Colombia. Today, it remains a busy port and one of the top places for Colombians to vacation. It’s also the gateway to some amazing destinations along the Caribbean coast. Most people who backpack through the city do so on their way to […]
Medellín Travel Guide
Medellín is the most popular city in Colombia (maybe even South America). It’s a hot spot for digital nomads and remote workers, expats, and travelers who come to backpack Medellín as they travel through Colombia. Set in the Aburrá Valley, Medellín has a temperate year-round climate that makes it one of the fastest-growing cities in […]
Bogotá Travel Guide
The capital of Colombia, Bogotá, is a city most people tend to pass through on their way to explore other areas of Colombia. They make an obligatory visit since they are in the country and go off to spend time somewhere “better.” Most travelers say Bogotá is only worth a few days. Those travelers are […]
Cartagena Travel Guide
Cartagena is a perfectly preserved colonial town on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. During the narco heydays, Cartagena was considered the only “safe” spot in Colombia for tourists. It was where foreigners vacationed, cruise ships docked, and wealthy Colombians built their vacation homes. Today, this colorful colonial city remains one of the most popular destinations for tourists […]
Cali Travel Guide
Founded in 1536, Cali is one of South America’s oldest cities. Its blend of Indigenous, African, and Spanish traditions makes it one of the most interesting places to visit in the country. Located in the Andes on both sides of the Cali River, it’s situated at an elevation of 3,327 feet and has the closest […]