Traveling through Colombia was an amazing experience we’ll never forget, but if we had known these tips before our trip, it definitely would have gone more smoothly.
The altitude hits hard
When we arrived in Bogotá, we were ready to immediately explore the city. Little did we know that after taking 5 steps out of the airport, we literally would not be able to breathe. The altitude of Bogotá (over 8,600 ft) is no joke. Lesson learned the hard way by my already vertically challenged husband and me. Take things slow and drink lots of water when you first arrive. You may even want to pack some medication to help prevent altitude sickness.
Cash is king
We assumed credit cards were commonplace. They’re becoming that way, but weren’t always so. There were places in smaller cities like Salento where we could not pay for meals or attractions with plastic. We also embarrassed ourselves when we tried using our cards to pay for a jeep ride to Cocora Valley and the driver laughed at us. Tip: Withdraw pesos beforehand and carry small bills.
Safety isn’t one-size-fits-all
We had been hearing plenty of safety warnings before arriving. Some of the places we visited felt fine, but some of them, such as Medellín, required extra caution. One night, we took a wrong turn down a quieter street, and it just didn’t feel right. We quickly retraced our steps. Always ask locals or your hotel staff which is safe to go to.
Bus rides take forever
We didn’t realize just how long travel can be in Colombia. Our bus ride from Medellín to Salento was 8 hours and 45 minutes, when we were expecting it to take about five hours. Many of the roads are twisty and don’t allow for fast travel. If we were to redo this trip, we would plan on taking fewer long-distance bus rides and consider flying between major cities.
Coffee culture surprised us
If you’re used to fancy espresso drinks, you’ll find Colombia’s typical morning brew (called tinto) quite simple: black coffee. While my husband is a latte guy, he had to adapt. It wasn’t until we visited one of Colombia’s many coffee farms located in what is called the Coffee Triangle that we realized how much care and detail goes into growing coffee here. Still, finding truly specialty Colombian coffee outside of the tourist-ridden coffee shops proved harder than we expected.
You’ll want to pack layers
I cannot stress this enough. Colombia’s temperature ranges drastically depending on where you visit and what time of day it is. We could be sweating one minute in Cartagena under the Caribbean sun only to freeze through our clothes at night in Bogotá. On one afternoon in Medellín (also known as the “City of Eternal Spring”), it poured out of nowhere, and we were drenched (thank goodness we packed layers). Light layers you can add/remove will come in handy, as will a sturdy rain jacket.
Street food is amazing but be careful
My favorite snacks were arepas and empanadas from local street vendors. However, we learned the hard way that not all street food is created equal. After my husband tried some random snack from some shady guy on the street corner, he was miserable for an entire day, stuck in our hotel room. Lesson learned: make sure it looks fresh, and that there’s a line of people waiting to buy it.
Beaches aren’t always what you imagine
We had visions of white sand beaches but discovered that popular beaches like Playa Blanca outside of Cartagena were crowded and loud. We found more secluded beaches such as Tayrona National Park where we hiked to beautiful beaches deep in the jungle. Reading about off-the-beaten-path places helped immensely.
Learning some Spanish goes a long way
We spoke a bit of Spanish but soon discovered just how much easier life would’ve been if we’d had a stronger grasp of it. One memorable experience was when I tried to explain a vegetarian dish at a local restaurant, only to end up accidentally ordering fish. Colombians are patient and helpful, but a phrasebook or language app will avoid so much confusion.
Bring lots of bug spray
Cartagena’s beaches and Amazonian jungle were breathtaking, but the mosquitoes would not quit. One night we had dinner out on the beach, but then we spent the entire time swatting bugs. Our constant companion thereafter was bug spray. Don’t make the same mistake. Pack it, and pack extra!
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