Colombian highlights and timeline

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sinderella
sinderella

Hello everyone,

I will be heading down to South America later this year to study my last semester of law school in Quito, Ecuador. While I have wanted to visit the Andean countries for nearly a decade (and plan to visit Peru and Bolivia as well) I have recently been turned on to traveling in Colombia as well. I won't have a ton of time so am looking for those who have traveled there and know the places I am interested in to give me an estimate on how much time to dedicate to seeing the following places in Colombia (e.g. traveling times in between-- I have travelled a lot in Central America so I need to reorientate myself to traveling in a much bigger country!):

  • Cartagena, Santa Marta/Taganga, Tayrona National Park, Lost City 6-day hike
  • the Zona Cafetera and the wax palms
  • colonial cities such as Villa de Leiva near Bogota and Popayan
  • San Agustin

I imagine Bogota would be a natural place to pass through and visit as well. Although not sooo interested in the cities people say that Cali has great salsa dancing (which I love) and would also love to see all the Botero works in Medellin.
I would be traveling to and from Quito on this trip and would be willing to do overnight buses (where not completely sketchy) and internal flights to make things go faster.
Is there anything I am missing? Also, if I only had a maximum of 2-3 weeks, what can I reasonably see in that amount of time and what SHOULD I make sure I don't miss?

Thanks so much!

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peejee
peejee
  • Cartagena, Santa Marta/Taganga, Tayrona National Park, Lost City 6-day hike

2 weeks (a bit more would be more convenient)

* the Zona Cafetera and the wax palms

2 days is enough I think
* colonial cities such as Villa de Leiva near Bogota and Popayan
1 day in villa de leyva is enough - nice but small and don t go there in weekends, too touristy !

* San Agustin

1 day, but it takes a day to get there

considering no bus or flight times here - look at the map, some distances are rather huge. You are missing out on medellin and it s great environment. Cali was nice for me but is considered rather dull for others. Don t go there outside of Thurs-Sat !

if you have only 2-3 weeks....3 weeks would be a minimum....skip villa de leyva... don t skip popayan because it s on your way from quito....bus from popayan to medellin... have a stopover and explore the environment....bus to cartagena overnight...and make a choice.. what do you like more ? beaches or ancient cities ? can t do it all !

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peejee
peejee

NB san augustin - worthwhile for sure, but not a highlight considering other archeological highlights in SA...

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lanilein
lanilein

by the way you can also see otero paintings and sculptures in Bogota. There is a small museum downtown, in Casa de la Moneda which has many Botero paintings and also others from his private collection.

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