As of today, our rough itinerary is below:
A few months ago, Gabby told me she would have a couple of weeks off from school during early-to-mid April and that she would be interested in traveling to South America. After checking flights to most of South America, we decided to spend a couple of weeks together in Colombia, after which time she would be returning to LA for her friend’s wedding and might remain in South America for an additional week or two.
- Josh is arriving on Thursday March 28th at 3PM and Gabby is arriving on March 28th at 11PM
- Bogota- (3 Nights) (Thursday March 28th, Friday March 29th, and Saturday Night March 30th)
- Hotel B3 Virrey
- Flight reserved for 3/31 at 9:14PM from Bogota to Medellin
- Things to do
- Gold Museum
- Mount Monserrate (Mountain above the city with good views)
- Botero Sculpture Museum
- Barrio La Candelaria (Neighborhood in Bogota with restaurants and character)
- Botanical Garden (not a must do but if we’re in the area)
- La Chorrera waterfall (not a must do but a nice waterfall/hike 40 minutes from Bogota)
- Parque Metro Politano Simon Bolivar (Not a must do but a nice city park in Bogota)
- 93 Park Square (nice area to have dinner in town)
- Parque De Usaquen (nice park and neighborhood)
- Things to do
- Fly from Bogota to Medellin on March 31st
Salento (1 Night) (Stay in Salento for the night of March 31st)Hotel Salento Real Eje Cafetero (staying the night of March 31st)Things to doMain town in coffee beltCocora Valley Hike is a short hike out of Salento (On a list of the best hikes in Colombia)Kasaguadu Natural Reserve Cloud Forest (4km of hiking)https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1580963-d5612468-Reviews-Kasaguadua_Natural_Reserve-Salento_Quindio_Department.html
- Medellin – (4 nights) (March 31, April 1st, April 2nd, and April 3rd)(Sunday-Wednesday)
- Flight reserved for 4/4 at 4:36 PM from Medellin to Santa Marta
- Laguna de guatape
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297478-d3776131-Reviews-Laguna_de_Guatape-Medellin_Antioquia_Department.html
- Medellin metrocable (possible to park arvi)
- Architectural castle/museum
- Plaza Botero (Plaza with statues and shops/restaurants)
- Pueblito Paisa (small old town with views of the city)
- Parque Lleras (area to go out at night with restaurants/bars)
- Parque Piedras (nice place to go hiking)
- Laguna de guatape
- Fly from Medellin to Santa Marta on April 4th and stay the night in Santa Marta
- Staying in Hotel Sierra Nevada
- Ciudad Perdida via Santa marta- (3 Night/4-day backpack trip) (Nights of April 5th-April 7th)
- We would start in Santa Marta on Sunday April 5th at 9AM at arrive back in Santa Marta on Wednesday April 8th at 5PM
- We leave at 9AM on day-1 and we arrive back in Santa Marta at 5PM on Day 4
- Cost is about $290
- Santa Marta (the starting point) is a coastal city near Cartagena
- https://www.goatsontheroad.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-trekking-the-ciudad-perdida-in-colombia/
- Fly or minibus from Santa Marta to Cartagena on the night of April 8th or morning of April 9th
- https://www.busbud.com/en/bus-santa-marta-cartagena/r/d3gpzq-d3f74v
- Cartegena -(3 nights) (Nights of April 8th, April 9th and April 10th)
- Staying in OZ Hotel in Cartagena
- Things to do
- Walled city of cartagena
- Castillo San Felipe De Barajas (Historical castle)
- Plaza Santo Dominga (nice courtyard)
- Sanctuary of Peter Claver
- Plaza de San Diego (Touristy Area in the walled city)
- Gabby is flying back to LA on Thursday April 11th at 5PM
Other Random things to consider
- Purace National Park (national park in the southern part of Colombia with nice 12 mile trail) (Near Peru)
- Parque Nacional Natural Sumapaz Bogota (national park 1-2 hours away from Bogota – Need to go with a tour)