From the Northern coastal beaches of Palomino to the southern ancient ruins of St. Augustine, Colombia offers an amazingly diverse playground for all types of visitors. The country has lush jungles, mountain treks and crystal beaches. There's the chance to live the big city experience or stroll through cobblestone streets in the smaller towns throughout this large country. The Colombian people are energetic and lively and the music that flows through the country is as uplifting and beautiful as the people. Whether you're up for a coffee tour in Salento, trying grilled ants in Barichara, or strolling back in time in Cartagena - Colombia is at the top of our list.  

Why Travel To Colombia?

A hundred times over, the people of Colombia make this place a must see. We felt that the locals are willing to embrace tourism with an open mind, accepting backpackers as people rather than just their wallets. Most of the country is relatively fresh of tourism, which offers backpackers a truly off-the-beaten-path experience. We felt safe while traveling and exploring Colombia and we can't argue with the prices for tourists to travel. From the Andes mountains, to the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Pacific ocean to the Caribbean Sea, this country's topography is rich and full of variety. Whether it's the beautiful beaches to the lush jungles, Colombia offers it all.

The Nitty Gritty About Colombia

48.9 million people live in Colombia, 8.9 of them live in Bogota, the capital.

The National Currency is the Colombian Peso (COP).

The country is the world's third largest exporter of coffee.

The National Language is Spanish.

Colombia is roughly the size of Portugal, Spain and France put together.

Colombia is named after famous explorer, Christopher Columbus.

1/3 of Colombia is covered by the Amazon Rainforest.

Our Route

Cartagena — Santa Marta —Palomino — San Gil — Barichara — Medellin — Guatape — Salento — San Augustin —Ipiales

We travelled through Colombia two times for a total of 10 weeks, traveling by bus, tuk-tuk, taxis, and boat.

Transportation in Colombia is wildly affordable. You'll pay roughly $1USD/1mile on the buses. The comfort on the long-haul buses were quite reasonable and we even received free wi-fi on most of the buses in the northern part of the country. Flying between big cities is affordable using Viva Colombia and Avianca. Also Spirit now flies to Colombia from the states and within Colombia. 

The Rugged Budget

Transportation from A — B is roughly $1USD/1mile

Taxis usually 10,000COP ($3.08USD) for ten minute ride; it's acceptable to negotiate 

280ml beer is roughly 3,000COP ($1.08USD) sometimes less

Accommodation in a mixed 4 bed hostel from $5USD — $18USD/ night; The farther South we traveled the more common it was for hostels to allow/provide tent options for their accommodation. 

Colombia From The Scratch My Pack Lens

Helpful Hints For Traveling Colombia 

There are many places still in Colombia where English isn't spoken so enjoy and invest some time in learning the language. It's fun!

Bogota & Cali, as big cities often can be, is a little unsafe at night, so just be mindful and attentive to your surroundings.

Because much of the coffee made in Colombia is exported, invest in trying coffee from top export regions like Salento.

We encountered some hostels that allowed patrons to pitch tents on the property for just a few dollars which meant access to wifi, showers, and sometimes free breakfast for just a few dollars.

Each region has a different variation of arepas and how they are prepared, try them all.

The voltage used in Colombia is 220—240 V so the US, Canada and most South American countries require a voltage converter for charging electronics. 

The best way to buy bus tickets is to actually go to the bus station. You can roughly search around on the internet to find timetables and prices online for buses using sites like Busbud and Recorrido, but because there are so many buses and varying schedules their sites can’t always offer accurate information. 

Some Fun Stuff To Keep You Busy

El Penol Rock, Guatape: 12,000 COP ($4USD)

740 stair hike up a giant rock. When you reach the top you have waiting for you, 360degree views of the town and lake.

Playa Blanca, Cartagena: 20,000 COP ($7USD)

A beautiful white beach located on an island full of fresh seafood, huge palm trees and crystal clear water. Free to be on the beach, only costs money to get a boat to the island.

Zipline, Guatape: 10,000 COP ($3.50USD)

4 minute Zip-line over the lake and town of Guatape.

Bungee Jumping, San Gil: 70,000 COP ($23USD)

Ready for an adrenaline rush? Jump from either 70m or 35m jump over the Rio Fonce from the top of a crane.

Gondola Ride, Medellin: 3,000 COP ($1USD)

Take the Gondola across the city of Medellin for stunning and humbling views of the city.

Las Lajas Sanctuary, Ipiales: Free

Hike down a small mountain to see this beautiful Gothic style church.

Archaeological Park, San Agustin: 25,000 COP ($8USD)

Visit this unique UNESCO site to explore the ancient ruins and stone carvings from 2000 years ago.

Las Gachas Swimming Holes, Guadalupe: Free (30min hike from town)

Take a beautiful short hike through the countryside and visit this unique swimming hole. It is a small river that has over a dozen, 3 meter deep holes within the river you can jump into.

Where Did We Stay (Accommodation we Recommend)

Cartagena: El Viajero Cartagena Hostel ($15/night)

We recommend this hostel to anyone visiting the ancient city Cartagena located on the Caribbean Sea. The hostel featured comfortable beds, clean rooms complete with air-con, friendly and helpful staff, a moderately priced bar, great atmosphere and superb location.

Santa Marta: Eco Hostal Yuluka ($11/night)

This is a really unique hostel. The entire property which consists of 6 bungalows, a great pool, and a huge kitchen/restaurant were built with only the materials found on the land. The hostal built around the huge rocks and trees that lay on the property to try and sustain an eco-friendly lifestyle. We absolutely adored this place both times we stayed here. The staff were wonderful, the beds were comfortable, the pool was clean and refreshing, the property was beautiful, and the free breakfast was a nice touch.

Palomino: Primaluna Beach Hostel ($16/night)

This was a really cool hostel located right next to the beach. Palomino is a hippy beach town where all the building are built in bungalow style, with grass roofs and wood floors. We enjoyed this hostel, and in fact extended our stay by a couple extra days. The pool was awesome, the staff was very friendly and helpful, the bar was reasonably priced and the location was perfect. 

San Gil: La Pacha Hostel and Camping ($7/night)

We absolutely love this place! Amazing owners, very eco friendly, and a unique stay! Check out our review below called "Glamping Around the World: La Pacha Hostel in San Gil, Colombia" for all the information about this awesome place! Do not miss your chance to stay here. 

Barichara: Tu Casa Barichara (Must Contact for Price)

To this day, this is our favorite place we have ever stayed. We stayed here for a total of 2.5 weeks and absolutely fell in love with the house, the town and the local people. This is a Homestay & Hotel combo more than a hostel. This means you get your own room in the house (complete with a living room, family room, kitchen, bathroom, courtyard and outside jacuzzi) and for a few hours a day the owners, Margarita and Don will come around and offer to take you anywhere you want to go. They want to give people a 'real' experience of the town and what is has to offer. The house is beautiful, the owners are some of our favorite people and the town is a hidden gem!

Medellin: Hostal Lleras Calle 8 Medellin ($8.50/night)

This is a nice hostel in a very nice part of the city. The hostel is located in a clean and safe part of town and is close by to many tourist attractions. The hostel features clean rooms, privacy curtains in the dorm rooms, multiple kitchens, clean bathrooms, and a movie room with air-con. Definitely a nice place to stay when visiting this huge city.

Salento: La Floresta Hostel ($8/night)

As far as we could tell this was a pretty average hostel but our stay was unique and fun. We stayed in a tent that was fully furnished with a mattress, sheets and pillows. Every morning we were offered free coffee while overlooking a nice view of the mountain side where the coffee grows. Nice staff, great location and comfortable hostel.

San Augustin: Hotel Casa De Nelly ($8/night)

As far as we are concerned, this is the only place you should stay when visiting this city. Here you are treated like family because the owner herself is a backpacker. That means she provides backpackers with the needs and wants backpackers have; because she herself is one. The hostel has a very comfortable atmosphere, complete with a nice kitchen, fireplace, wood floors, huge outside patio, garden, clean rooms, soft beds, and great staff. We had family dinner here every night, which is a great way to meet people and share an experience with fellow backpackers while being treated like family.

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