Colombia for the Summer

namaimo

Hi all,

I am thinking of heading over to Colombia for about 4 weeks (hoping to take August off work!). The flight options I have researched so far seem to leave me with two options fly with Iberia airlines Dub-Madrid-Bogota or fly with Continental Dub-NY-Bogota. Both flights are around €1000 so not cheap! Does anyone else any alternative flight options/ideas?


As I said I hope to have 4 weeks over there. Would you suggest sticking with Colombia and doing a loop of the country or would you say to try and take in another country too? And if so which one? Peru/Panama/Venezuela ?


I have always wanted to go to Colombia and I think it will be amazing even though I get a lot of funny looks when I mention I’m heading to Colombia for the summer! Id love to hear from anyone who has been/what you would recommend doing/seeing etc. and any tips or advice you can send my way would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

darrenh

I cant comment but I will say I'm jealous! I've traveled a good few countries in South America and regret not making it to Columbia. Every traveler I have met who has been there, said it was their favorite country on the continent. I think you would be right to spend the 4 weeks there and take it all in at your own pace. enjoy!:D

RATM

You'll have a good time for Colombia for sure- its one of my favourite countries for sure

4 weeks is just about right for the size of it- you could hop over the border to Merida in Venezualea which is a cool and chilled uni town but tbh I'd avoid the hassle of that border (its a long hard slog) and just stick with Colombia.

Flight prices there can be expensive as flying to and from South America still seems to be the preserve of the rich.

Lufthansa AFAIK fly Frankfurt-Caracas and would have an onward option to Bogota- you could try combining that with a Aer Lingus/Ryanair cheapie, it might work out better but I can't be sure, try and let us know how you get on.

dory

I've been looking into flights into flights for Peru and it's around the same. Always tricky to get cheap flights to/from South America.

RATM

dory wrote: »

I've been looking into flights into flights for Peru and it's around the same. Always tricky to get cheap flights to/from South America.

Yeah for sure Dory. But sometimes bargains can be thrown up- I got a return open jaw last summer on TAM Airlines. It went London-Lima-overland to BA and then back to London all routed via Sao Paulo. I bought it off Expedia and I considered it a bargain at a little over 700.

baztard

Try
Ireland - USA (relatively cheap)
USA - Panama (I vaguely remember it being a mix of cheap and expensive depending from where you flew)
Panama - Colombia (very cheap $100 or so)

namaimo

Thanks for the replies so far. I found a flight! Dublin-NY-Bogota return for €840 with Continental. I know its not cheap cheap but everything else i was looking at was coming in at €1000 plus.

Now I'm starting to plan an itinerary and could use some help! Whats the best route through Colombia bringing me back to Bogota in a month? I was thinking Bogota-Medellin-Santa Marta( 6 day Ciudad Perdida trek)-Taganga-Cartegena-Cali-Bogota...am I on the right track?

Are hostels/2star hotels fairly easy to come across as you hit each new town? Any recommendations are welcome! Ive heard the Crazy Croc is good in Bogota.

Does anyone have any experience of the Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) 6day trek? Any footwear advice? I was thinking hiking boots but then you have to pass through rivers&streams...

Any other advice/suggestions would be more than welcome!

Bruz82

Just on Caracas, i had 4 mates who went there and got robbed by the cops on the first night about 30 yards from their hotal ( American dollars and a digital camera) They said they were the only gingos in the city and they didnt leave the hotel for 3 days after, im sure their is good stories but just to let you know, They also said Colombia was cool!!