Are you a fan of gangster movies? We certainly are, but we always shake our heads when people make travel decisions based on what they see in movies like this. For example, you might assume that Colombia is harsh environment that no one should visit, because there have been problems in the past. Some of those problems still continue today. However, we would have to also make the argument — if you’re from say, New York City, isn’t it also a dangerous place to live because of what you read about in the movies? Anyone that truly loves the great city of New York City would immediately rush in to defend it, saying that violence is everywhere and you just have to be careful.
That’s the same argument that we make to anyone that thinks that Colombia should be off limits — it’s really what you make of it. If you think about it, there can be arguments made against just about any city that you can think of, and definitely every country. In fact, a lot of people that aren’t from the United States report that they were definitely afraid to visit, but they are certainly glad that they did!
So, if you’re thinking about Colombia, you might be looking for not only information on the country, but also how to move around safely without ending up on the evening news.
First and foremost, what brings people to Colombia is the fact that they have plenty of things to do. Northern Colombia is home to many fantastic attractions, including the city of Cartagena. If you haven’t made it out to Cartagena, then you’re definitely in for a treat — this city is filled with beautiful luxury amenities, including cafes, hotels, and of course — the beautiful beaches with crystal-clear water. If you go just a few hours outside of Cartagena, you’re going to run into Tayrona Park. This is a large park that has even more beaches, and even some forest — yes, that’s right — if you’ve been dying for a hike through the forest, you can definitely do that. If you’re really looking for adventure, you can always check out the “Lost City” — Ciudad Perdida.
Want to go for some exotic pampering? There’s Volcano Totumo, which offers true volcanic mud — which is supposedly good for the skin. Don’t worry; they cool it off before they smear it on you!
If you want to be more centrally located, you might want to think about going to Bogota. It’s got plenty of shopping opportunities and is well known around the world as one of the most important cities in all of South America. It’s an economic powerhouse, so if you happen to want to get your feet wet in international business, this is definitely the place to be!
Southwest Colombia is home to even more treasures — like Cali, which is the 3rd largest city in Colombia. Salsa is really big here, which means that you will definitely get pushed into dancing salsa eventually — you better take lessons!
Now, you might be thinking about Colombian coffee — yes, you can get that coffee if you really want it. It’s just a matter of reaching out and seeing all of the different blends and flavors.
If you’re going to experience Colombia right, you will definitely want to make sure that you actually bring spending money — otherwise, you’re going to be missing out on a lot!
Let’s go back to the first premise — staying safe in Colombia. The best advice that anyone can tell you is to make sure that you stay in a tight knit travel group and you don’t flash a lot of money. It can be tempting to want to play big shot while you’re on vacation, but…well; you know how the saying goes; a fool and their money are soon parted. You will also need to make sure that you keep your personal identification safe — identity theft has become a problem globally, and Colombia is no exception to that rule.
Overall, as long as you use common sense, there’s really no reason why you can’t enjoy Colombia to the fullest!
