Unlike a lot of its neighbors, Colombia has coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The Rosaria Islands, which are the perfect day trip from Cartagena, have crystal-blue water, so it doesn’t really come as a surprise that they’re popular with divers, who proclaim a special connection with the coral reefs. If you’re obsessed with hiking, you’re in luck because you can roam through the lush jungles of Tayrona National Park; make it 2 days and stay a night in some of the tents/hammocks to make the experience count.
When you finally run out of excuses not to go, just book your ticket because you can figure out the rest later. There’s so much to do that I bet it’s easy to fill a month-long itinerary, but between all the crazy options and the FOMO, that initial excitement quickly fades away and is replaced by brain fog. It’s pretty simple: what changes isn’t the reality of it all, but how you react to it. Before you head off to Colombia, there are a few things worth bearing in mind, so hear me out, especially if this is your first time.
You Need to Pack for an All-Weather Trip
Colombia is one of the 13 countries sitting right on the equator, so there are no seasons, but that doesn’t stop people from joking that their 4 seasons are: hot, hotter, wet, wetter. Seriously now, you’ve got 30°C on the Caribbean coast, but it’s cold in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where it snows for days at a time. Because of climate change, the rainy seasons are no longer as tightly defined as they used to be. You don’t have to buy the biggest troller you can find because everything you need for rain, shine, or sleet can (and should) fit inside 60 liters of space – aka, a medium-sized suitcase.
Grab an eSIM if You Don’t Want to Go Off-Grid
You can use WhatsApp for everything and have no problem at all as long as you have a pretty damn good Internet connection. In other words, a minimum of 0.2 Mbps. It doesn’t matter if you want to get in touch with your loved ones or access all the docs shared in a work group. Colombia, especially in major urban areas like Bucaramanga, has made progress in improving its digital infrastructure. But if you need solid Internet in an area where traditional providers don’t offer service – like Vaupés, which is deep in the Amazon jungle – you’re going to wish you had the Holafly eSIM for Colombia.
I’m convinced you’ve told yourself a million times, “Yikes, this isn’t going to be cheap,” while checking directions to your hotel or posting your vacation pictures on Instagram. You’re paying for the convenience of using your carrier’s network without switching SIMs. If you don’t want a ton of roaming charges, set up an eSIM before you leave home so that as soon as you land at El Dorado International Airport, you can get online. Performance doesn’t depend on local conditions, so you can engage in data-heavy tasks like hotspotting -you’ve got unlimited data, by the way.
There’s a Reason Colombia Is Called the Queen Of Fruits
You’re beat…and you have to leave your comfortable hotel room or the Airbnb you’ve just checked into to grab a bite to eat, so you settle for the closest, most convenient thing you can find. You’d never guess, but Colombia has some of the greatest fruit diversity in the world. Gulupa, maracuyá’s lesser-known cousin, can be enjoyed fresh or used in smoothies; you can tell when this passionfruit is ripe because its dark purple skin becomes wrinkled. The vitamin C in one gulupa equals 8 oranges, in case you were wondering. I know many people are crazy about uchuva, which delivers a sweet burst of flavor, followed by a tart finish, but there’s no accounting for taste, so you be the judge of that.
Don’t Even Try to See Colombia All in One Trip
Colombia is like really big – it’s 4.3 times the size of the UK, but you wouldn’t be able to tell just by taking a peek at the map. It’s nearly impossible to see the entire country in just one trip. You need at least 5 days to get a taste of one big city – say, Bogotá – and its surrounding areas – Laguna de Guatavita, Zipaquirá, La Chorrera Park, Piedra Colgada, and more – so avoid putting your supervisor in the difficult situation of having to deny your PTO by submitting your request in advance. Pick one section of the country to explore and don’t sweat the small stuff.
You know people always say you need to go off the beaten track, and frankly, they’re totally right. It’s a metaphor, just to be clear, and it doesn’t mean wandering where you’re not supposed to, so you just have to keep your eyes open big and wide for the moments that make the journey unforgettable. Head over to the Pacific region, where nature reigns without a hitch. For example, you can go to Nuquí, in the Gulf of Tribuga (Chocó), where you can get a glimpse of humpback whales; if you’re lucky enough, they’ll do an acrobatic jump.
It’s OK Not to Tip, But It Sure Is Appreciated
Now, every single place wants a tip, and yes, I get it, everyone wants to make a bit of money, but it’s getting out of hand, don’t you think? Dining out in Colombia doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, but when you get the check, it’ll include the propina (tip). You don’t have to leave anything extra. If you want to make a kind gesture, ask your server where the fee is going – let’s say it’s going to the house; in that case, leave a tip for the person who took care of you. Tipping your taxi driver isn’t the norm, but you can tell them to keep the change or throw in an extra bill or two as a thank you.
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