Colombia: South America's best kept secret

South America » Colombia
July 4th 2008

Published: July 5th 2008

Conquering our fears Back in September 2007, when we started our travels in South America, the one country we were sure we would avoid was Colombia. However, as we travelled through South America we met more and more people who raved about Colombia and who convinced us to at least consider a visit. Colombia still has a reputation as an unsafe country, stemming from the 40 year civil war between r... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 41, Displayed: 21

At the mirador in Villa de Leyva

Ruth in Cartagena

Posing with the Botero statue.

Barichara sculpture

Modern art on Barichara's main square provides a contrast to all the colonial buildings in the town.

Cathedral in Barichara

Insect close up

Spotted during the hike along the old Spanish road from Barichara to Guane.

Guane

A tiny, sleepy village at the end of the hike along the old Spanish road from Barichara.

My trusty looking parachute

Shadow of the glider

View while paragliding

Dancing lady, Taganga beach

Sunset in Taganga

Nice view from the terrace of La Case de Felipe, an excellent hotel in Taganga.

Las Lajas

The spectacular Santuario de Los Lajas, on the Ecuador-Colombia border, near Ipiales.

Clock gate in Cartagena

Bogota Cathedral

Shoestring dinner, Villa de Leyva

Bolivar statue, Bogota

Statue of the great man (Simon Bolivar) in Quinta Bolivar, where he lived occasionally between 1820 & 1830.

Church in Villa de Leyva

Main square of Villa de Leyva.

Kronosauras fossil

In a museum 6km southwest of Villa de Leyva. The Kronosaurus fossil was found in this spot in 1978, and a museum and small village has been built around it.

Villa de Leyva main square

Dinner in Bogota

5th July 2008

cricri
non-member comment

confident in colombia
So after reading of your experiences, I may now surely head north from Ecuador instead of the Peru thing. Is it possible to bus it to Bogota or would you recommend the fly? Upon leaving Bogota, I'll remember to catch Leyva, San Gil, Taganga, and most importantly--Cartagena.

5th July 2008

Gunga
Carolyn Taylor

Lovely blog
Hi Barry, I loved reading your blog. I wanted to visit Columbia after my stay in Peru last month but it just got too complicated. The 'Botero' museum was on my list was was Cartegena. Thanks for all the info on the smaller towns. I will definitely try to get there before the hoardes. Enjoy Central America. Carolyn ( blogger name ' gunga')

6th July 2008

jim
non-member comment

great read
your blog is really a great read I hope you continue to travel and have fun - be safe!

4th August 2009

sp
non-member comment

thanks
Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to write your blog. I'm planning a trip there in December but was having second thoughts but reading your blog makes me feel loads better about going.

8th December 2009

meli
non-member comment

you didn't go to medellin??..... is the most beautiful city in colombia... is just amazing... beautiful women, the best parties ever... the most clean city, perfect weather... nicer peolple..... if you went to colombia, but you missed medellin.... you can't tell you were there

28th December 2009

diana
non-member comment

I dont know what to think.
seems to me that you didnt like colombia 100%.. I would say 89%.. some comments for me were just kind of rude.. but anyway... colombia is a great country and I am happy that you enjoyed your stay there.

28th October 2010

lupe
non-member comment

gorgeous
thiz place lookz ggreous!!i would love to visit it

9th November 2010

Andres
non-member comment

Without a doubt, is a great review of Colombia.. You really got the feeling of the country, but just missed that we do not love Bolivar that much! I have travelled through most of the world and I definetely always find myself in love with Cartagena... maybe not the most beautifull city in the world (Rome is still the best for me in the occidental hemisfere) but definetely a jewel of latin america with a mixture of spanish, colombian and caribean architecture. I think this is one of the best reviews of Colombia that you can find in blogs!

10th November 2010

VIVIANA
non-member comment

EXCELENTE
COLOMBIAAA ES EL MEJOR PAIS DEL MUNDO GRACIAS POR ESCRIBIR TANTAS COSAS BONITAS SOBRE NOSOTROS!!!

2nd November 2012

tratamientos celulitis
non-member comment

tratamientos celulitis
Good post! If you wanna to have a places to visit in latin america you need to find out a very good page before...

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Colombia: South America's best kept secret

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