Travel Info for Colombia

halcyon4

Myself and my girlfriend are planning a 2-3 week to Colombia next January.
I have a few questions to ask before starting to plan the trip.

1) What is the best way to book cheap flights to Colombia? i.e->
a) use skyscanner or mopodo etc...
b) follow particular airlines(Iberia/Air France ...) and wait for sales
c) use travel agency sites like expedia etc...

2) Is it best to book flights early or late?
...ie-> do prices remain pretty constant, or can you get bargains by booking early / late. I guess about 800 return to Bogota is about as good as it gets (~1000 to San Andres).

3) Has anybody dived there before? Where are best dive sites ... is it San Andres & Providencia Island, or are there other hidden gems?

4) What parts of Colombia are unmissable?

Any help greatly appreciated

themacman

I've always just used Expedia and the like, and would imagine the longer you leave it, the more expensive it will be (open to correction here). If you are currently getting flights at 800 return that's an excellent price imo.

I don't dive so I can't really comment on the best spots, but I recall some some great value diving up near Santa Marta - there's a small village about 20 mins away with lots of dive schools.

Highlights for me are-
Medellin, beautiful city built with Pablo Escobar's drug money.
Ciudad Perdida trek, done out of Santa Marta.
Cartagena, it's touristy but definitely worth a look, "the jewel of the carribean".
Leticia, little place in the jungle, not accessible by road, you prob won't make it here if you only have 3 weeks though.
Their coffee, and the eye candy.

I'd recommend not sticking around in Bogota. It's a rough looking place and there's an edge to it after dark. High altitude too so the weather is crap.

HankScorpio1985

halcyon4 wrote: »

1) What is the best way to book cheap flights to Colombia?

Skyscanner. I flew last year with Delta from Manchester through New York. I was told on here though that if you try and fly through Miami it will work out cheaper. 2 separate airlines. I think it was spirit airways from Miami. But I couldn't get it cheaper.

halcyon4 wrote: »

2) Is it best to book flights early or late?

This is the 100 million dollar question. In my opinion prices for long haul flights do not change much. I booked mine 3 weeks before I left. It was £560 return. Just keep an eye to be honest.

halcyon4 wrote: »

3) Has anybody dived there before? Where are best dive sites ... is it San Andres & Providencia Island, or are there other hidden gems?

I didn't go diving because I didn't have time. Those islands are supposed to be lovely but if you have only a short time there it depends how much of a priority it is.

halcyon4 wrote: »

4) What parts of Colombia are unmissable?

Ciudad Perdida Trek.
Cartagena.
Barrichara.
Parque Nacional Tayrona

jobless

themacman wrote: »

I've always just used Expedia and the like, and would imagine the longer you leave it, the more expensive it will be (open to correction here). If you are currently getting flights at 800 return that's an excellent price imo.

I don't dive so I can't really comment on the best spots, but I recall some some great value diving up near Santa Marta - there's a small village about 20 mins away with lots of dive schools.

Highlights for me are-
Medellin, beautiful city built with Pablo Escobar's drug money.
Ciudad Perdida trek, done out of Santa Marta.
Cartagena, it's touristy but definitely worth a look, "the jewel of the carribean".
Leticia, little place in the jungle, not accessible by road, you prob won't make it here if you only have 3 weeks though.
Their coffee, and the eye candy.

I'd recommend not sticking around in Bogota. It's a rough looking place and there's an edge to it after dark. High altitude too so the weather is crap.

Taganga is the village near Santa Marta.... its about 5km and has a few dive schools and the diving is really cheap.... the one we went with you can actually stay in Park Tayrona for a night....

Cartegna is nice for a night or two.... medillin is nice enough.... If you are near it i recommed visiting Solento..... it has a beautiful trek trough valle de cocora, breathtaking scenery....

i second avoiding bogota

themacman

Taganga, thats the one. Parque Tayrona is also a highlight for me, don't know how I forgot to include it. Salento is a lovely little spot too.

Meathlass

Cartagena and Playa Blanca close to it

jobless

jastin123 wrote: »

Country description:-
Colombia is a medium-income nation of some 46 million inhabitants. Its geography is very diverse, ranging from tropical coastal areas and rainforests to rugged mountainous terrain. Tourist facilities in Colombia vary in quality and safety, according to price and location. Security is a significant concern for travelers, as described in the Department of State’s Travel Warning for Colombia. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Colombia for additional information.

? what use is that to the op..... a simple google search would tell him a lot more....

mikedragon32

jobless wrote: »

? what use is that to the op..... a simple google search would tell him a lot more....

Spot on Jobless!

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1090.html

ck086

Sorry to hijack..
I've a month to spend in Colombia, travelling solo - female.

Want to see Cali, Salento, Medellin, Cartagena, Santa Marta and the lost city trek. Anyone think that's too much time? Or any advice greatly appreciated.

Have been travelling SA solo for 3 months and have loved it but I'm still a bit nervous of Colombia...

Flynn

ck086 wrote: »

Sorry to hijack..
I've a month to spend in Colombia, travelling solo - female.

Want to see Cali, Salento, Medellin, Cartagena, Santa Marta and the lost city trek. Anyone think that's too much time? Or any advice greatly appreciated.

Have been travelling SA solo for 3 months and have loved it but I'm still a bit nervous of Colombia...

I found many people had that same attitude, where they're happy to travel anywhere in SA but are a bit nervous about Colombia. Don't be! It's no different to traveling in Bolivia say.

Just note that the trek is 6 days excluding time spent in Santa Marta the night before and when you get home from the trip. So for Santa Marta & Trek allow a minimum of 8 days. I had to skip Medillin because of it but i reckon it was worth it. If I was doing the trek again i would bring some money for tips.. Your tour guide will have a young kid probably about 16 or so and he does all the lifting, there are a lot of steps and i doubt the guides give them much so maybe bring a few bob for that!

Dont know why Bogotá is getting so much stick... yea there are places you dont go after dark, but i found it a cool city, great nightlife and some really cool museums / art galleries. Cartagena's museums were cat!

If your in Cali, San Cipriano is a cool day trip.. a small village in the jungle and you get there by train tracks on an old converted honda 50 & pallet. Brilliant.

kraggy

What sort of weekly budget would you need for Colombia?

And how would it compare to Peru and Bolivia in terms of:

a. budget
b. things to do and see

I've been to Peru and Bolivia and would like to back to SA at some stage. What other countries do you folk recommend? I was also in Argentina for around 2 weeks but apart from Buenos Aires, I was a little underwhelmed. That said, I didn't get to Ushaia or the glaciers or any of the south or west.

jobless

kraggy wrote: »

What sort of weekly budget would you need for Colombia?

And how would it compare to Peru and Bolivia in terms of:

a. budget
b. things to do and see

I've been to Peru and Bolivia and would like to back to SA at some stage. What other countries do you folk recommend? I was also in Argentina for around 2 weeks but apart from Buenos Aires, I was a little underwhelmed. That said, I didn't get to Ushaia or the glaciers or any of the south or west.

Colombia is quite cheap.....not as cheap as Bolivia but still cheap...i would say its cheaper than peru in fact.... It's a beautiful country will plenty to see and do.... see some of the replies above....
I'd also recommend Ecuador.... had a blast there... if you can afford the extra expense of a trip to the galapagos then go