Comments on: Why Travel to Colombia?

By: clemencia mcdonald

clemencia mcdonald — Sun, 20 Jun 2024 02:26:48 +0000

PORQUE COLOMBIA ES MUY HERMOSO PAIS ME GUSTA CARTAGENA MEDELLIN BOGOTA Y SANJOSE DEL GUAVIARE MIS ANCESTROS PERTENESCO A UNA TRIBU INDIGENA

By: Sandra Bermudez

Sandra Bermudez — Tue, 25 May 2024 14:19:06 +0000

Adam,
Great comment about Colombia. I was born and raised in Colombia and then moved to NYC 20 years ago. I try to go as often as I can because I still miss the food, sceneries and most its people. I am so glad to see that many people are traveling to Colombia and they are finding out what a beautiful country it is. Hope you go back soon!!!

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 20 May 2024 17:25:46 +0000

Great article. I absolutely LOVE Colombia, and it was actually our favorite country during our year long RTW trip. The thing that made it tops for us was the people. They were always so warm, friendly, and most importantly, happy. Their smiles and happiness were infectious, and our four weeks there were simply not enough. It’s definitely tops on our list of places to go back to.

As far as the drug aspects of the country, obviously it was around, but when going out to bars in my own midwestern, US city and being there late night, there is plenty of nefarious activity going on. I’ve walked into plenty of people doing lines in the bathroom of local bars.

Unfortunately for Colombia, they have such a reputation, and even more unfortunately, if it wasn’t for tourists and western countries rampant drug use, there would be no market for the cocaine they produce. The vast majority of the cocaine produced in Colombia goes to the US or Europe for white, western people to consume. And can you really blame some of these dirt poor people for trying to capitalize and get out of poverty? I know it’s hard for me to do so.

No matter what, Colombia gets a bad rap from some people, and it’s always from people who have never been there and believe the doom and gloom of the media. In our six months in S. America, literally EVERYONE we encountered who had traveled around S. America and been to Colombia rated it as one of, if not THE, favorite country. We were no different.

By: Liliana

Liliana — Sun, 25 Apr 2024 17:56:17 +0000

Wow…I´m very happy you even traveled to Colombia…being colombian and being raised in the States I´ve grown up being called drug dealer…etc ….. as many colombians often are but we defend the country and its people because we are truly proud of being colombian regardless of its reputation….Thank you for sharing your experience….

By: Brendan

Brendan — Thu, 08 Apr 2024 20:03:07 +0000

Great article, although I have not see the coke snorting you refer too. More of that in bars and clubs in London!
I loved Colombia so much I stayed and opened my own tour operator with two other British lads who fell in love and stayed too. Spread the word, its a fantastic country to visit and also to live. Viva Colombia!

By: Juan Valencia

Juan Valencia — Fri, 12 Mar 2024 02:20:46 +0000

I’m a Colombian and the info here is good, though it could be more accurate. To tell you the truth, I have always thought that the stereotypes concerning Colombians have been extremely exaggerated and influenced by politics. I’ve lived here all my life, but I’ve also travelled through the rest of Latin America and it’s pretty much the same.

Here are some pics of Colombia, taken from the inside.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juanfervalencia/
.-= Juan Valencia´s last blog ..Beautiful Manizales =-.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 08 Mar 2024 13:35:57 +0000

Another one of our readers had mentioned it in a comment that the high grade coffee is sent overseas where it can be sold for more money. This is the case with most countries in Latin America. Although, we did enjoy sitting at Juan Valdez, an exact replication of Starbucks with what I considered, good coffee. There are many coffee tours in the Coffee Region where you can test all different kinds of coffee, including the good stuff!

By: Laura Scott

Laura Scott — Thu, 25 Feb 2024 01:10:50 +0000

Thank you for your info and response! Safe travels!

By: Aracely

Aracely — Wed, 24 Feb 2024 23:22:47 +0000

Laura, I felt save in Colombia but I’m usually always with Jason and rarely walk around alone. I don’t have the same experience as a woman traveler. But looking at the general infrastructure of bus stations and police, I think it is comparable to Peru. I saw women traveling alone as well. We haven’t been to Argentina yet so I can’t comment. I hope that helps.

By: Sofia - As We Travel

Sofia - As We Travel — Wed, 24 Feb 2024 08:39:45 +0000

I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but when you’re in Colombia you gotta try it right? Didn’t cocoa beans used to have a higher value there than gold? If so it must be some pretty good coffee !

By: Laura Scott

Laura Scott — Tue, 23 Feb 2024 04:29:38 +0000

Thanks for this report! I am curious as to how safe you feel a single woman would be there? I have been to Peru and Argentina with no problems. Is it comparable?

By: Aracely

Aracely — Fri, 19 Feb 2024 00:06:32 +0000

Federico, thanks for the information on Mexico. In the beginning of our trip we actually weren’t planning to go to Colombia and because we heard such great things from other travelers about we decided to go. It’s nice to hear the same about Mexico and I am sure one day we will make it out there as well.

By: Aracely

Aracely — Fri, 19 Feb 2024 00:04:14 +0000

Brian, you are right, we could have spoke up and asked to change rooms that night. But to be honest I’m not sure we would’ve been heard. The hostel staff were also blasting music at 4am so we are not so sure how that would’ve worked out. We did however leave that hostel the next morning.

By: Aracely

Aracely — Fri, 19 Feb 2024 00:02:28 +0000

Andre, I agree, the people of Colombia are amazing. We made great friends there and hope to one day go back and visit them.

With regards to the availability of drugs, I my opinion, everyone has a different experience everywhere. Jason and I definitely experience much more drug offerings in Colombia than anywhere else. Thank you for sharing your experience with our audience. It is important to get different perspectives on our site.

And I agree with you that small towns feel safer than the big cities this was specially true for us in Central America where we mostly visited small towns and rarely stayed in a big city for very long (with the exception of Panama City, which we loved.)

By: Aracely

Aracely — Thu, 18 Feb 2024 23:56:31 +0000

Catia, when you get on the road you are very likely to meet people that have been to Colombia, they will convince you to go. Jason and I were initially planning not to go to Colombia but heard such great things about it we decided to go and as you know are so glad we did.

By: Catia

Catia — Thu, 18 Feb 2024 18:17:23 +0000

Thanks for writing about this, Columbia is on my list of possible destinations on my RTW. If I decide to go I'll point worried family members here to help give some peace of mind. .-= Catia´s last blog ..Monarch Butterfly Reserve, Santuario Sierra Chincua, Mexico =-.

By: Federico

Federico — Thu, 18 Feb 2024 05:27:14 +0000

Oops, apparently it never got through. Anyhow, totally agree with you. I have just arrived to Mexico after spending about the same time as you in Colombia and have left with the same feeling of satisfaction. The country is safe despite those randow road checks and the people are very friendly. I did not see anything drug related, but then I always slept in pensiones or hostales, not hostels, thus had rooms for myself at very good rates. Cartagena with Playa blanca, Salento, Bogota or Popoyan with Silvia in the South are destinations not to be missed. I had been wainting to go to Colombia for years, and having finally made it I now am sure I will be back (will post in my blog soon). And hopefully have a better time when I visit Venezuela than what i have had now.

Happy travels,

Federico
http://www.maitravelsite.com

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 18 Feb 2024 01:58:04 +0000

So glad you had the chance to check out Colombia on your trip. I did run into a few coke users, but once I started renting a room in an apartment, I was able to distance myself from that activity. .-= Dave´s last blog ..It’s a Jungle Out There =-.

By: Andre

Andre — Tue, 16 Feb 2024 17:08:43 +0000

I spent a couple of weeks in Colombia and it is hard ot compare to other countries. There is so much diversity and the best of colombi has to be its people.
as far as drug use I did not think it was more available than other latin countries like mexico, ecuador, panama or peru. Also if you are in a more touristy city then you are more likely to have people offering drugs.

I found myself feeling safer in Colombia than Peru and Mexico City. I traveled much in the countryside. loved those little towns that have so much culture especially in the coffee region. Guerillas and Paramilitaries supposevely are still around but they are not interested in travelers. they know who they are going after and not some random traveler. I know this from reading about colombia much.

By: brian

brian — Tue, 16 Feb 2024 16:54:09 +0000

Thanks for the first hand report. A lot of people have been touting Colombia recently so I guess there is something to it. The open drug use is kind of scary though. Law enforcement may look the other way but then they decide this would be a good time to conduct a raid! Not cool at all. I would have get out the room if someone is snorting coke in front of me.

“Excuse me, can I change to a room with non coke users? Gracias!”
.-= brian´s last blog ..Help a New Solo Traveler on her trip to Spain =-.