Cali and San Cipriano

I started in the south, exploring Cali, renowned for its salsa dancing. From Cali, you can venture to San Cipriano, a small indigenous village off the beaten track. You can enjoy tubing down the river, a fun & unique experience. The journey to San Cipriano itself is an adventure, involving a wooden cart powered by a moped that travels along an old railway track through the Colombian countryside. It’s perfect for thrill-seekers, and upon arrival, you can spend the day tubing down the peaceful river.

San Agustín

San Agustín is a beautiful small town, surrounded by lush countryside. It’s famous for its archaeological sites, which you can explore on a day trip that also includes visits to stunning waterfalls. You can also go horseback riding which is lots of fun.

Salento

Salento is a picturesque area renowned for its coffee production, offering numerous hiking trails and coffee tours. I stayed in an amazing hostel retreat (Viajero Hostel Salento), involving yoga in the mornings overlooking the mountains and cooking with friends in the evenings. Salento is also known for its tall wax palm trees, and the full-day trek through Valle de Cócora which is a must.

Medellín

Medellín is a very cool and cosmopolitan city, full of lively bars, clubs, and restaurants that offer a vibrant nightlife and opportunities to mingle with locals. The El Poblado and Parque Lleras areas are packed with trendy bars and salsa clubs. I would recommend the free walking tour, which provides fascinating insights into Colombia’s turbulent history and the era of Pablo Escobar. A day trip to Guatapé, about two hours from the city, is also worthwhile. It’s a charming small town, and climbing the huge rock, El Peñol, rewards you with breathtaking views.

Cartagena

Cartagena was my favourite part of Colombia. The locals are incredibly friendly, and the city is full of history, with vibrant and narrow streets to explore. Spend an afternoon wandering the Old Town’s colourful streets, dotted with cafes and restaurants. Don’t miss the fortress, Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, and enjoy a sunset cocktail at Café Del Mar with stunning views. In the Getsemaní area, where I stayed, you’ll find Demente, an authentic tapas bar. This backpacker-friendly area is full of cool bars and street food, with lively nightlife. For a beach day, take a trip to the Rosario Islands or visit Playa Blanca, a lovely beach where you can enjoy BBQ’d fresh fish or lobster for lunch.

Caribbean Coast

After Cartagena, I traveled along the Caribbean coastline, visiting Santa Marta, Taganga (a great spot for scuba diving), and then Palomino. The dreamer hostels were good fun and really social. They both have swimming pools and are great for nightlife and meeting people. Santa Marta provided some of the best nights out, featuring a chiva bus party that ends at a cliff-top club overlooking the sea (El Mirador Hotel y Club Social).

Palomino is a laid-back village where you can also go tubing. I visited Tayrona National Park, where you can camp on the beach and stargaze at night.

San Blas Islands

One of my favourite experiences in South America was sailing from Cartagena to Panama on a catamaran via the San Blas Islands. It’s an absolute must! The islands are paradise, still relatively untouched by tourism. Enjoy lobster lunches, paddle-boarding, and snorkelling in the clearest waters I’ve ever seen. There are numerous boat companies to choose from, so read reviews and talk to fellow travellers to find the best deals and reviews.

Top Tips

• The Caribbean coast was my favourite part of Colombia; I recommend spending at least two weeks exploring from Cartagena.
• The best way to travel to Panama is a catamaran, via the San Blas islands.
• Internal flights are very affordable, making it easy to travel from the south to the north.
• Salsa is really popular, so take some lessons or visit a salsa club.
• Colombia is relatively safe, but it’s important to stay street-smart. Avoid displaying valuables or cash. I never encountered any issues and found everyone to be friendly, but I did meet a few backpacker friends who had some unfortunate experiences so stay alert.