My name is Jonathan, I am a 21 year old student at Warwick, I went to Colombia in the summer of 2006, and wanted to share a little bit of it...
First of all, it was of little surprise to me that Colombia has had just five reviews on the country in general. This can probably be accounted ... Read review
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Advantages: diverse, stunning, peaceful, cheap, friendly, coffee, climate Disadvantages: language barriers, long bus journeys
My name is Jonathan, I am a 21 year old student at Warwick, I went to Colombia in the summer of 2006, and wanted to share a little bit of it...
First of all, it was of little surprise to me that Colombia has had just five reviews on the country in general. This can probably be accounted by the fact that when you take one look at the foreign office website, all but a handful of Colombian provinces are blacked out as "no go zones." ... ...claim, I chose to kindly ignore this advice, and venture out to what has now become one of my favourite countries in the world, and despite my age, I have been to over 30 countries across all the continents.
My journey in Colombia began on the caribbean coast and ended on the border to Ecuador, where my travels continued down the West coast to Santiago de Chile. I appreciate that I am just one traveller amongst many, but having travelled ... more
My name is Jonathan, I am a 21 year old student at Warwick, I went to Colombia in the summer of 2006, and wanted to share a little bit of it...
First of all, it was of little surprise to me that Colombia has had just five reviews on the country in general. This can probably be accounted by the fact that when you take one look at the foreign office website, all but a handful of Colombian provinces are blacked out as "no go zones." Whether feeling adventurous or just plain stupid as some would claim, I chose to kindly ignore this advice, and venture out to what has now become one of my favourite countries in the world, and despite my age, I have been to over 30 countries across all the continents.
My journey in Colombia began on the caribbean coast and ended on the border to Ecuador, where my travels continued down the West coast to Santiago de Chile. I appreciate that I am just one traveller amongst many, but having travelled from one end of the country to the other entirely by public transport with out any problems whatsoever, I feel compelled to let others know that Colombia should not be ignored out of blind fear of the unknown.
I should add here that coming back to the UK was a massive culture shock. The week I returned I paid twice as much for a train between London and Winchester than I did for a bus a third of the way across Colombia. Considering Colombia is six times the size of England, the magnitude of this can be appreciated a little better!
Colombia is a stunning country, extremely diverse and full of a wonderful population that seems to struggle tirelessly to dispell the drug fuelled reputation it has gained thanks to the minority in the Amazon basin region of the country. It baffles me that so many people I talk to can be so ignorant about something they know so very little about. So here is my small attempt to change the mind of some.
I have one particular gem that I want to share, but am half reluctant to do at the same time in fear of it being over run by tourists! A little way south of Bogota there is a city called Pereira, just outside this city lies a tiny village called La Bodega. Off the road, up a very long dusty track lies Finca Villa Maria - a hidden paradise that seriously takes some beating. This is coming from somebody who has seen the pyramids, dived the great barrier reef, watched caribbean sun rises and lounged on a then unspoilt dubai beach.
Finca Villa Maria is a working coffee farm smack bang in the middle of a huge valley. Coffee and plantain grow as far as the eye can see. The farm itself is made up of the house and the processing plant itself. The family run business hosts guests at the house for a mere £15 a night. This includes 3 home cooked meals a day, a swimming pool, as much fresh coffee from the surrounding hills as you can drink, use of horses, a fishing lake - the works. The views are quite literally inexplicable. Hammocks rock effortlessly in the corner of the plush villa decking. Mangos hang from the trees, parrots and humming birds fly wild, resting on the trees an arm reach away. A wonderfully humble man named Hector who runs the farm is all too happy to show guests around the coffee processing plant and give lifts to the nearest populated town. The last point being particulary wonderful. The deserted location equals the most tranquil atmosphere I have ever experienced. By day, the only sounds are of the donkeys coming down the valley side carrying produce. By night, the wildlife comes alive, and depending on the time of year - thunderstorms roll in and give the most spectacular light show of bright purple lightning and thunder rolling around the valley in surround sound that Bose would be jealous of.
For the walkers out there, a climb to the top of the valley will make your ears pop. I managed it twice, with the second time capping off a wonderful stay as golden eagles flew meters above our heads. The farm below was a mere spec on the landscape, and the only accommodation in site. So, for those who wish to escape, in every single sense of the word - Villa Maria is quite simply unbeatable.
This is just one gem of many in Colombia. I could write pages on the country and not get bored. I sincerly hope that this review has got through to some who have read it. If as a result just one person can talk about Colombia without bringing up drug barrons or kidnap, I will be happy. I graduate next year I cant wait to return to this beautiful country afterwards. Many some of those reading may be tempted to do the same.
Advantages: Amazing cuisine; coffee; very, very cheap; locals are charming and helpful Disadvantages: Kidnapping. Like the Sword of Damocles, a pall of fear hangs over everyone. Beggars/prostitutes. Oppressive humidity in Buenaventura.
Columbia has recently been rated the 3rd most dangerous place in the world, and I can believe this, but the situation is not so cut-and-dried.
The biggest and only real problem is the kidnapping. According to locals I met in 3 cities, the cartels will kidnap you no matter who or what you are. If you look (in their eyes) American (Gringo) i.e. Anglo-Saxon, then you are the highest risk group, because by definition, you have more money. I come from ... ...Anglo-Saxon. But it doesn't really matter - if you are worth a million dollars or just one, if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, you will be kidnapped.
I arrived in Bogota in late July. A tropical country, I thought, better not take a heavy jacket. Well, Bogota is half-way up a mountain, so it is pretty cold. It looks like any other capital city - 2 million tonnes of brushed concrete and dog-dirt. And EVERY road was dug up, EVERY SINGLE ...
MrDarcy 06.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Colombia
Advantages: Beautiful country, not overrun with tourists Disadvantages: Some risks are inevitable
Mention Colombia, and most people think of drug cartels, kidnappings and general lawlessness. The real picture is not nearly as bad.
I'll shortly be heading out to South America and making my second visit to Colombia. It is a beautiful country, the people are (on the whole) amazingly friendly and helpful, and the security situation is not nearly as bad as it was in the early 90's.
Yes, there are risks. People do go missing, kidnappings and killings ... ...totally safe. I don't believe the risk is such that no-one should consider travelling there.
At the same time, don't expect travel there to be totally easy - some places are off-limits, and others are difficult to get to and not really set up for tourism. But it's worth the trouble. ...
lss22 25.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of General: Colombia
Advantages: cheap cheerful and gorgeous beaches Disadvantages: drug cartels, kidnapping - the usual
People immediately think the worst of Columbia and I guess a for good reason. Mu mum went grey whilst I was awayjust from worry but I was absolutely fine. I did the typical uni thing and went travelling with my then boyfriend to meet up with his sister who was travelling all of South America and Columbia and Venezuela were the last two. We first travelled to Venezuela and then made our way over to Columbia, my first impression was it is so cold. ... ...all sun people and moved on up the country. The aim was a national park near Cartegena, Cartagena is lovely. A old town and new combined, a mix of tourism and locals - but it works well. Travellers are well looked after, with the hostels and little cheap hotels. The national park was beautiful, sandy beaches, people sleeping in hammocks, no electricity, communal showers the occasional falling coconut. The peaceful life, this made the holiday for ...
sparkle99 18.02.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of General: Colombia
I have been to colombia about 6 times, and i wish more people would visit this country, the country is immediety associated with kidnapping and drugs, but why does the news never meantion the beauty that is in this country? the mountains, the fauna, the people...
There are many things to do and see in colombia from Bogota , which is a typical city - i recomend visits to the gold museam, simon bolivas house and monstarate (wheather you hike up - ... ...but best to go with people who know the way or on sundays when many people go up, or take the lift) to travelling to the cost of Cartengena and Santa Marta which have beautiful views and lovely climate, trips to san Agustin are always worthwhile to learn about pre-colombian history.
The food is wonderful and cheap , and you get complete meals started from soup and main course, please try plaitain, areapas, and all colombian cuisine.
The people ...
Carolena 10.09.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of General: Colombia
Advantages: A country of extremes Disadvantages: Its a long flight
I went to Colombia for the first time in August 2006 with my family and friends asking 'why?' The immediate response to my decision to travel there was that it was a place of drug runners, murderers and thieves and yes, maybe parts of the country are best left alone but the rest of it is so big and so beautiful that to not see it is a crime in itself.
I stayed in Quindio but we traveled hundreds of miles in all directions from there, as far as Medellin, ... ...the road brought with it a new visual experience and a view more spectacular, although the 8 hours taxi ride from Quindio to Bogota was one I might not repeat.
Mountain folk on horses pull up alongside the 4 x 4's, children sit on the side of the road selling corn or arepa, streams tumble down mountains and the earth is red covered in a green and verdant blanket. There are too many ways to describe this beautiful country than could ever fit on this ...
jalazar1 09.03.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of General: Colombia
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