Colombia
Leaving South America: Reflections and a numerical breakdown
I’ve spent a lot of the free time in my life traveling — through Europe, Australia, Egypt, India, the Caribbean, etc. — but South America always stuck out as one glaring to-do flag that just never was crossed off the list. And now, after 4.5 months through Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Colombia, I can’t … Continue reading
Two weeks in Colombia: Ending in Medellin
After a whirlwind trip through Bogota and Cartagena, we arrived in Medellin, our last city of Colombia — and South America — a few days ago. We were so excited to check out the city that just 15 years ago was dominated by drug wars and the infamous Pablo Escobar, and has since had a … Continue reading
Two weeks in Colombia: Cartagena, quite possibly the most beautiful city in the world
Colombia gets a lot of love from backpackers, but no city within the newly minted go-to destination gets as much love as Cartagena. A small coastal town with a culture all its own — a vibrant mix of Afro-Caribbean-Spanish — Cartagena is called the jewel of the Colombian coast in my Footprints guidebook, and after … Continue reading
Two weeks in Colombia: First stop — Bogota!
Unlike some backpacker trips, ours has been characterized by a lot of slow movement and deciding things on the fly. Not the case for Colombia. Our trip to the country only worked out once we realized we had a two-week gap in our travels before heading to Hawaii, so with that short time, we’ve had … Continue reading
The first two days: Fainting in Colombia and arriving in Lima
Because our time is free flowing and cost efficiency is key, our first flight out included a nine-hour layover in Bogota, Colombia. Unfortunately, it was from 9pm to 6am, which meant all we could really do was sleep–on cold wooden benches. It was less painful than it sounds, but at 3:30am, when we couldn’t toss … Continue reading