I went to Colombia for the first time. It was an exciting 10 days, but there are a few things I’d skip next time.
October 8, 20240
The Rosario Islands are located off the coast of Cartagena.
Mira Miller
Our first stop was Cartagena, and we stayed right in the middle of the historic walled city.
After spending a couple of days exploring, we participated in an organized boat tour of the Rosario Islands. The group of islands in the Caribbean Sea is one of Colombia’s natural national parks.
Our daylong tour allowed us to enjoy the clear blue water and snorkel amid stunning coral reefs. Considering Cartagena was the hottest stop of our trip, we were very glad to spend a day on the water.
We also had some time to sit on the beach and enjoy a traditional Colombian lunch featuring a whole fish, plantains, and rice.
The tour was pricey ($142 a person) but so worth it.
Walking around Getsemani is a must.
There was so much good food to try in Colombia.
Mira Miller
Tasting some local delicacies is an essential part of experiencing a new place, in my opinion.
Some of my favorite Colombian dishes were creamy seafood rice, ceviche, empanadas, arepa de huevo (an arepa filled with a fried egg), and bandeja paisa (a pork-filled plate that’s popular in Medellín).
The tricky trek to our hostel in Minca was more than worth the effort.
The waterfalls along the hike were stunning.
Mira Miller
From our Minca hostel, we participated in an organized hike to see several waterfalls and a river.
I would absolutely do this again — the views were unmatched.
But next time, I’ll be sure to pack some proper hiking boots. It was a challenging trail, and I wish I had more supportive footwear.
Prioritizing good food by making reservations in advance was the right call.
I liked being able to unwind after a long day.
Mira Miller
All three of our accommodations across the country were calm, quiet, and peaceful.
Although it’s often tempting to book whatever’s closest to the city center, we were so thankful we had a zen place to come back to after our long, busy days.
It made the trip incredibly relaxing even though we were moving around a lot.
The El Castillo gardens were beautiful, but I’d skip the museum tour next time.
It was enjoyable to visit a monastery that resembled the house in Disney’s “Encanto,” see some incredible city views, and learn all about Cartagena’s history.
But it was pricey at $90 a person.
A group tour would’ve cost much less and likely provided a similar experience. I later saw offerings for between $15 and $50 a person.
La Serrezuela Mall wasn’t as cool as it sounded.
I ended up getting sick on our trip to Colombia.
Mira Miller
We had plans to visit Comuna 13 (also known as San Javier), a vibrant and lively neighborhood with a beautiful history of resilience. Unfortunately, I got sick at the end of our trip.
We also missed our day trip to Guatapé, a colorful town known for its giant granite rock, which can be climbed to access sweeping views.
We heard from other travelers that both of these experiences were well worth it, so next time, those are top priorities for me.
