Help with itinerary and transfert!

Night buses are safe enough in the north of Colombia, like between Bogota and Medellin, if that's what you want. It's just in the south of Colombia it's not recommended.

For Jardin, yes you'd need an overnight stay. The bus journey from Medellin takes 4 hours at least.

1.5 days is enough time for Minca.

If the rain looks to be too bad, probably no tour operator will take a group on the Ciudad Perdida route.

Personally, I'd wouldn't take a chance on flying into Bogota the same day as an international flight to Europe. There are too many things that could go wrong. Give yourself an extra 24 hours. There's plenty to do in Bogota.

Thank you so much for your answer, always very detailed!

So I should probably wait to be in Santa Marta to book the Ciudad perdida trek, considering also the weather..? And for the buses and hostel.. is gonna be very crowded in November and I should book thinks in advance?

If you want to stay in hostels with other gringos, you can book in advance. If you just want lodging, you can go with the flow. November is not a busy time in Colombia. For the buses, you can book the day before for night buses, and for going between places like Cartagena and Santa Marta, you just go to the bus station and get on a bus when you want to leave. The buses leave constantly on busy routes like that. The only time you'd need to find out the bus schedule would be for Jardin, because the buses go only maybe 4 times each day.

Thank you very much!!

We are currently in Colombia and have just finished what you have planned for the first half of your journey. We stayed overnight in Guatape but you could easily do it in one day. If you’re planning to climb 'the Rock' ask the driver to drop you there as it is the stop before the town itself, if you go into the town you’ll have to travel back on yourself. Guatape town is nice just to wonder around, we would suggest getting there early to fit everything in.
We had two nights in Cartagena and decided not to do the beaches as they aren’t as nice as Tayrona, so we stayed in the old town and explored the city instead of the beaches. We stayed at the Aqualina hotel it was in the old town great location.
Most hotels will offer a bus service direct from your hotel in Cartagena to your hotel in Santa Marta or Tayrona just ask the hotel and they will arrange it for you. Cartagena bus terminal is further out of the old town so this service worked better for us.
We decided to stay outside the national park and just visit for the day and we are so glad we did. We stayed at the Costeno Surf Beach Camp which was a 15-minute drive from the park entrance and it was beautiful. The hostel is right on the beach; it was a little paradise we would really recommend it. We did a day trip into the national park and it was beautiful but we are glad we didn’t stay; it was a little too busy for us but we're sure it would be a great experience. Bear in mind if you walk into the park it’s around a three hour walk to Cabo San Juan.
If you have any more questions, check our site www.bonvoyagetravelers.com

Thank you so much for your answer!! I checked your blog.. what a great trip you are doing!!!
Thanks for the advice about the surf beach camp in Tayrona, I'll definetly go for it.. does the camp offer lift to Tayrona Park?

I understand from your blog that you planned to cross overland the border Colombia-Ecuador, I read about some bus-strike over that region.. have you heard anything about it? As far as you know, is it safe? And is it easily doable in 3 days (stops at nights)?

Thank you again, and happy and safe journey!!

Your welcome. The hostel doesnt provide a transfer to the park but at the enterance there are mototaxi who will take you there and arrange a pick up time for 10,000 pesos each way.

We havent heard of a strike, there was a truck strike whilst we have been here but thats finished now. Dani has done the crossings a few times and she says its safe. Were travelling from cali overnight, will stop in ipales to see the church then head tompasto to do the crossing the same day. 3 days is plenty of time depending on where you want to stop.

Safe travels

I would consider switching things up in your itenerary slightly (if time permits). I would do San Gil at the start of your trip and take the bus to Medellin, as opposed to at the end and bussing from Santa Marta. That will save you several hours on the bus and you can fly back to Bogota at the end of your trip instead of taking as many overnight busses.

Since your itenerary includes many flights, I assume you noticed that the internal flights are not much more expensive than the long distance busses and well worth the time they save you.

For Tayrona national park, the options for lodging are limited and expensive, I was there last year and spent a night in the hammocks which I believe cost about $18 CAD for the night.

The park itself is beautiful although food and places to stay are very overpriced. As a previous poster says, it is 3 hours to get to Cabo San Juan and although overpriced, I am really happy I spent the night.

I had heard form other travellers about Costeno beach and heard it was a great place to stay, but I opted to travel a little further to a place called Palomino (1 hour from Tayrona). This had a relatively deserted beach with a couple resort like hostels. The bar closed down at 12 and every night everyone went out to the beach for some beers under the stars and usually a late night swim. 2 of the nights there were phosphorescents in the water which was a bonus.

I left my main bag in Santa Marta and took a smaller day pack with me for my trip to Palomino and Tayrona, I had not planned on staying in Palomino as long as I did but I kept saying to myself '1 more day'. It was a great way to spend 6 days (4 in Palomino and 2 in Tayrona) and would recommend it as an option instead of 4 days in Tayrona.

I was also by myself at the time and really enjoyed the people I met in Palomino

Thank you, very helpful!! I will consider the change of the itinerary and check different flights.

Ca I ask you where you stay in Palomino and the place in Santa Marta where you could leave your big bag?