Colombia, Mi Encanto
- Lotte Brenart
- May 15
- 9 min read
Best time to visit: December to March, but it's always a good time. 🌈
I tried to rank my favorite places, but it’s hard to pick a favorite place in a country as big and diverse as Colombia. I was literally amazed by every place I visited. The nature, the food, even the long bus rides. The vibes were ON. So, here’s basically every place I’ve been to.
Taganga
When I arrived in Bogotá, I immediately caught a domestic flight to Santa Marta with one clear mission: get my Open Water certification. From Santa Marta, I took a bus to Taganga (20').
Taganga used to be a tiny fishing village, but now it’s a hotspot for diving backpackers. It’s super affordable to do your course here, and it’s perfect for beginners (warm, clear, and calm waters). I did mine with Reef Shepherd, which I definitely recommend.
The town is surrounded by mountains, which I would've loved to climb in my free time. However, after someone told me he got robbed and lost all his belongings, including his shoes, I decided to work on my tan instead. I took a boat to Playa Grande, where I stranded on an overcrowded beach. I walked along a little coastal path and discovered a smaller, quieter beach. Ahh, diving and tanning, life's great.
Hostel: Divanga Hostel: €10/night for a dorm
Palomino
From Taganga, I took a bus to Santa Marta and then continued on to Palomino (2 hours).
I fell in love with Palomino at first sight. It’s this cute little village on the Caribbean, full of backpackers and surfer vibes. After my diving adventure, it was the perfect place to unwind. I spent my days walking barefoot on sandy streets, swimming in the ocean, eating fresh empanadas, making bracelets with new friends, and dancing the nights away on the beach. Idyllic, really.
Fun things to do:
Tube down the river: 40,000 - 50,000 pesos
Festival Bonanza at El Rio Hostel (or other parties)
Parties on Palomino beach - full of Latino vibes
Go shopping in cute little stores (heads up: there's no ATM, so bring enough cash)
Meet someone with a guitar, gather on the beach, and get cheesy
People say it’s a surf town, I didn’t even see one good wave while I was there... Could’ve just been bad luck.
Hostel: The tiki hut hostel €15/night for a dorm
Food: Grosso (the best empanadas,Palomino Plaza, Prima Luna Restaurant, La Chavela taquería, Cinemart gallery
Cartagena
If you want to feel Colombia, you have to go to Cartagena and walk through its colorful streets. Every few minutes, you’ll find dancers showing off their moves.
We joined a free walking tour through the historic center of Cartagena and Getsemani. I strongly recommend doing one, as it's a city with such a rich history.
Fun Facts: Columbus stranded here, thinking he’d found India. That’s how Cartagena de Indias got its name. Getsemaní, once a dangerous neighborhood, has undergone a massive transformation in the past 12 years. Today, it's bursting with colorful flags, umbrellas, street art, and so much more.
Hostel: Quintas by Maos
Food: Restaurante Espiritu Santo (traditional food)
Cabo de la Vela
We stayed in a town called Riohacha, about a 3-4 hour drive from the desert. The papaya level (danger level) is high , so please be careful.
We booked a jeep through our hostel that took us to different places.
Our first stop was Salinas de Manaure, where 80% of Colombia's salt is produced. Some of the lakes were pink, thanks to tiny fish that help purify the water (the same fish flamingos eat to get their pink color). 🦩
As we continued into the desert, we were confronted with the reality of poverty in ways I hadn't expected. It was a reminder that travel isn’t just about beautiful landscapes, it also shows us the harsh realities many face. It was eye-opening, and it was painful to realize how little I could do to help in that moment.
With a heavy heart, we continued our journey into the desert. We hiked up to several viewpoints, where the landscapes were beautiful and unique, but if I were to go again, I’d do it on my own. I felt trapped in the tour, rushing from one stop to the next without enough time to really take it all in.
Conclusion: Not the most fun day, but it's also part of the reality.
Hostel: Bona Vida Hostel La Quinta (€9/night for a dorm)
Tayrona Park
The night before entering Tayrona National Park, we stayed at a nearby hostel to leave our big backpacks behind and take smaller ones with us.
Hostel: Eco Hostal Yuluka €12/night for a dorm
We began our hike at the El Zaino entrance (the main one). The entrance fee is around €20, depending on the season.
Right before heading in, you book your sleeping spot. You can’t book anything in advance. The options include hammocks, tents, or cabins. I had my heart set on sleeping in a hammock at the mirador (€15). I thought it’d be an adventure… and it was, but not quite the kind I expected. It turned out to be a super windy, wet (even though it didn't rain) and cold night. Honestly, I wouldn’t really recommend it. The sunrise was nice, though. So hey, I took one for the experience.
We were prepared for a tough hike, but it ended up being a pretty easy and beautiful walk through the jungle. It’s super touristy, though. Be prepareed to be surrounded by a bunch of other people.
We decided to camp at Cabo San Juan, which is about two hours from the entrance. It's a stunning spot, no doubt, but there’s not a whole lot to do once you're there. So after a while, we got a bit bored.
Looking back, it probably would’ve been better for us to keep going and hike further to the next campsite, Playa Brava.
Minca
Coffee, waterfalls, and hummingbirds.
Fun things to do
Visit a coffee farm
We walked to Finca La Candelaria from town, which took us about an hour, but you can take a motortaxi for a quicker ride.
Sunset at Casa Loma
This place has an amazing view over the valley, perfect for sunset. There’s a chill vibe, good music, and they also offer yoga classes. It's a lovely spot to hang out for a few hours or even stay overnight.
Cascada de Marinka
These waterfalls are about 30 minutes from town by mototaxi. The entrance fee is around 10,000 COP. It’s a nice spot to cool down, with two big waterfalls and places to relax.
Pozo Azul
This is a very popular spot, so it can get crowded. If you keep walking past the main pools, you’ll find a smaller waterfall further up where we were the only ones.
Hostel: Jungle Joe (10/night for a dorm)
Food: Cafeteria y Laboratorio de Cafe Caficosta
Medellin
We took a domestic flight from Santa Marta to Medellín.
Although I'm usually not a city person, I kept extending my stay because I loved it here.
Fun things to do
Ofcourse, a free walking tour
A guided tour through Communa 13 - booked it through our hostel
Until a few years ago, this was the second most dangerous neighbourhood in the world, taken over by Guerrillas. I remember our guide telling us stories that made me feel sick to my stomach. It was surreal walking through those same streets just a few years later. But now? The neighbourhood is full of colors, music and dancers. Goosebumps.
Pub crawl in Provenza - papaya level 5! Always stick with a group here.
Cable car over Medellin
15 minutes + photos + pick up from hostel = 200,000 pesos (€40)
Museum of Antioquia (Botero) - For freeee!
Hostel: Noah boutique hostel (€12/night for a dorm) + extended 2 nights in Living hostel (€27,50/night private room)
Jardin
Howdyyyy! After the big city life, it was time to go back to nature. We took the most beautiful 4-hour bus ride from Medellin to Jardin. This little mountain town looks like it came straight out of a postcard: colonial, colorful houses, a lively central square, cowboys, and coffee farms. It quickly became one of my favorite places in Colombia. And uhu, once again, we kept extending our stay because we couldn’t get enough.
Fun things to do
Such a beautiful (but pretty exhausting) hike that takes you past several waterfalls.
TIP: start early!
Horseback riding
Hike to Café Jardin - so you get rewarded by a coffee with a view
La Garrucha (the wooden cable car)
Visit another coffee farm: Café Historias (this was my favorite one)
Hotel: Charco Corazon (34/night for a little hut)
Salento
Fun things to do
Shopping
I spent all my money in this town, the little shops were just too cute!
Play Tejo – A Traditional Colombian Game at Los Amigos
We tried Tejo, a super fun local game that you have to play with a beer in hand. It’s loud, messy, and full of explosions. So much fun!
Hiking in the Cocora Valley
Catch a ride in a Willy (the colorful jeeps) from the main square. They’re super cheap and leave all the time. Try to go early, the weather’s usually better in the morning.
The Cocora Valley is where you’ll see the tallest palm trees in the world, up to 60 meters high. They only grow in Colombia and a small part of Peru. The hike normally takes around 5 hours, but we did 7 because we took it slow and made lots of stops to take it all in. But It’s not a hard hike at all.
Hostel: Viajero Salento Hostel (€16/night for a dorm)
Food: Coco Bowl, Meraki, Café Jesús Martín
Desierto de la Tatacoa
We hopped on a bus from Salento to Neiva. When we got there, we realized we just missed the last bus to Villavieja. So, we grabbed a taxi in the station and about eleven hours of travel, we finally arrived at our destination, ready for desert magic.
We spent one night in Hotel Proyecto Moonlight in Villavieja (€15/night private room), so we could head to the desert the next day. The owner of our next accommodation was so kind to come pick us up.
The same guy led us through the two areas of the Tatacoa desert: Los Hoyos (the grey desert) and Cuzco (the red desert). The landscapes were so unique and stunning. I felt more like I was in Mexico than I did when I was actually in Mexico (lol).
Hotel: Mana star lounge hotel (€40/night for a private hut)
The main reason I wanted to visit the desert was for stargazing, as there's almost no light pollution here. Ofcourse, the clouds had other plans for us. Still, the experience in our little hut in the middle of nowhere was unforgettable. We enjoyed some peace and quiet with a glass of red wine and a game of Shithead.
A word to the wise: keep your backpack closed and don't take any food. Our backpacks became a home to a colony of ants, and the previous guests had an unexpected visit from a scorpion. Ah, nature...
San Andrés
I started my trip in Colombia underwater, diving in the Pacific. So, it only felt right to end it the same way. Right before flying home, we booked a return ticket from Bogotá to the island of San Andrés. A few chill days, salty hair, and one last dive? Yes please.
San Andrés is a tiny island in the middle of the Caribbean, full of white sand, palm trees, and insanely blue water. Think karaoke, piña coladas… and yes, even hummus. If you have time, you can combine San Andrés with Providencia Island, for more crazy dives with sharks.
Fun things to do
Go diving
The visibility here was insane. I saw beautiful coral, eels, stingrays, lobsters, and
– drumroll – my very first octopus! Woooohoooo! 🐙
Rent a buggy
You can get around by bus, but cruising by buggy is so much more freeing. The roads are easy. Just follow the main road and stop wherever you like. It's a small island so you'll be around very quickly.
Buggies are everywhere, so we just walked up to one of the rental spots on the street. Prices range from 150,000 - 250,000 pesos, so bring your best negotiation skills.
Go parasailing
We counted at least seven shades of blue when we were flying over the ocean. The mix of coral reefs, white sand, and different depths made the ocean look like a painting.
Watch the Sunset at Raggae Roots
Hop on the bus or cruise over with your buggy.
Bring your swimwear. There’s a springboard where you can jump straight into the ocean. A dreamy way to end the day.
Disclaimer, it closes quite early.
Johhny Cay Tour
We got a little tourist-trapped by a guy on the beach, and yeah, the tour was pretty touristy… but if you mentally erase the crowds, it’s actually paradise.
TIP: Bring watershoes. There are sea urchins everywhere.
You can rent them there, but that's gross.
Party boat
It was a bit pricey for what it was, and the crowd was a bit older than we expected… but you have to make the party yourself, right?
Hostel: Viajero San Andres Hostel (€14/night for a dorm)
Beachbar: Playa Marrakech
Food: Hasbi (the best hummus), El Peruano
Writing this blog filled my heart with so much love. These past 2,5 months in Colombia changed my life. From my yoga teacher training to solo adventures, backpacking with Romy, getting my open water diving certification, sipping the best coffee straight from the source, and connecting with a culture that feels so me. Colorful streets, endless empanadas and arepas, latino energy, wild nature... it was all just such a vibe. One thing’s for sure: I’m not done with Colombia. I need to go back. ASAP.
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