Hey everyone,
I´m a woman traveling alone and I know advice has been given over and over on this forum about what to do and see, but have patience! Because here I am asking again..
I have been kickin it for 6 months in Brazil,with my visa expiring right now in Manaus. I thought to make my way overland to Peru, but I actually would like to get out of the jungle and to some idyllic un-touristy beach ASAP. I thought maybe Colombia? I am with out a LP guide for Colombia.. I have no guide or information at all on Colombia.. Only that I have heard its really beautiful and its potential dangerous. Anyway, I have no idea where to stay, how to get from place to place, etc..I have no idea where the nice beaches are, what are the cool things to see in Colombia, where NOT to go because of safety, etc..
Can you hit me back with advice? Especially:
1> If I fly from Manaus, then I will be landing in Cartegena.. Can someone tell me where to stay CHEAPLY in Cartegena and how to arrive there from the airport..
2>What are the most beautiful beaches in Colombia?
3>Has anyone done the trek to the "Lost city" -is it safe? and where do you start from?
4> I have read that you shouldn't travel off the beaten path in Colombia b/c of safety reasons...true or false?
5> any other not-to-be-missed places in Colombia... Please recommend
Any advice at all would be appreciated,
Peace,
Alexis
No LP Guide? Gosh...are you in luck. Would you like to have just the chapters about Colombia? I can arrange it. I've PM'd Roman about your problem. Nice guy that he is, he has arranged to let you download just those pages direct from the Lonely Planet web site for only a minimal fee. You can do this at any internet shop and print the pages out right there. Here is how. Go back to the main South America branch and scroll to the top. Roman has put a special post just for you explaining how you can easily do this. He is not supposed to show favorites like this so please down load as soon as possible. Let's just keep this to ourselves. He might get in trouble if others find out how nice he is being to you.
Idyllic untouristy beaches huh?
Try searching for some of the mega-diatribes I have written (and links to photos) about Providencia.
The LP Colombia is worthless.
You can stay at Casa Viena in Cartagena, it's a cheap popular hostel. You can get plenty of info about traveling here there. Search this forum for information on treking to ciudad perdida, thousands of people have done it recently without any problems.
Traveling off the beaten path can be risky, check local conditions at any of the hostels in cartagena, medellin, or bogota.
Go to Medellin.
Head for santa marta, taganga, parque nacional tayrona, Ciudad Perdida you can bus it to carcacas from manaus and get a bus onto santa marta you will not be disapointed. Medellin is nice too if like cities.
Hi, in my opinion:
1) In Cartagena I stayed in the Hostal Santo Domingo. Great location inside the walled city and quite cheap. I gave their contact information in a post in this branch. Cartagena tends to be more expensive than the rest of Colombia because it is very touristy. If you hire a trip to the Islas del Rosario bargain hard at the dock. The prices charged to people who bargain and to the ones who don´t are amazingly different!
2) Beaches are not great in Cartagena. For nice beaches, spend a few days in Parque Tayrona. You can rent a hammock or even cabins or ecohabs (though these are quite expensive). Great beaches, jungle... and you can walk to Pueblito (ruins of a Tayrona City). Pueblito is not like Ciudad Perdida, but it´s a nice walk up the jungle if you are not up for the 6 day trek to Ciudad Perdida.
3) If you want to take the trek to the Lost City you should go to Santa Marta and book it from the only agency that goes there. It is called Turcol. I think that they charge you around US$ 200 for the whole trek including meals. Just ask about the trek in any hostel in Santa Marta. I heard that the Miramar Hostel arranges trips, try there. As far as I know the trek is now safe. I heard that Turcol used to pay "a right of passage" to the Paras that were in the area. I was told last year that the Paras have retired from that area now. Situation in Colombia changes a lot constantly. Just ask the locals, they are the ones who know better.
5) Don´t miss: Bogota (beautiful city, a great susprise for me), Cartagena (the walled city is so gorgeus you can´t stop taking pictures), Parque Tayrona, Villa de Leyva... I didn´t have time to go the coffee area (Eje Cafetero) but I heard it´s great...
cartagena is beautiful but i found it somewhat expensive. the old city is stunning though. worth stopping by for a few days in my opinion.
from cartagena bus to Santa Marta-4 hours. Casa Miramar in santa marta is highly reputable, but i recommend taking the 10 minute bus ride straight to Tagana...little fishing village, great scuba diving, etc.
most definintely go to Tayrona national park, 1 hour from santa marta. rent hammocks to sleep, most beautiful beaches that ive seen in south america (but i didnt go to brasil....), pristine, beautiful, peaceful- great little hikes. the whole thing.
lost city trek. leaves from santa marta and taganga, highly recommended. from what i hear its very safe (now), a tough trek but well worth it.
yes, its true its not the best country to travel off thebeaten path, but i assure you that you can find peace and tranquility at park tayrona.
enjoy!
trusted partner
