Start your trip in this scenic colonial town. Possibly one of the most visited cities in the country, Cartagena is rich in history.

There are plenty of international flights landing here too.

Things to do:
Do a walking tour
Go through the historical part of town and discover the history of Cartagena. You can find tours through the website Getyourguide.

Watch the sunset
Just make your way to The Walls of the Old City and enjoy the sun going down.

Visit the Castillo de San Felipe
It’s also a great spot to enjoy the sunset from.

Have a tipple at one of the best cocktail bar in the world, Alquimico
Make sure to arrive early if you want to secure a spot at this sumptuous bar. They infuse all their own alcohol with botanicals and create the most delicious cocktails catered to your taste. The barmaid literally asked me what I liked and made me a tipple on the spot.

Eat at a local eatery
Due to being a popular tourist spot, Cartagena has a lot of swanky and up-market eatery but if you’re wanting an authentic local meal experience, go here. Expect tasty home-cooked meal at a very reasonable price.

Go party on a rooftop bar
Don’t miss the opportunity to get your dancing shoes on one of Catagena’s infamous rooftops.

Stay:
I would recommend staying in the neighbourhood of Getsemaní, the artist barrio of the city. Expect plenty of cool bars, cafes, a bustling nightlife and graffitis painted on (almost) every wall. It’s the ideal spot for the night owl and artist at heart.

If you’re after something less gritty, stay in the historical part of town nearby.

One advice is don’t be cheap and stay out of the city centre to save money, I’ve heard horror stories of people held at knife point because they stayed in some unsafe parts of town. Stick to the tourist spots and you’ll be safe!

Travel:
2.5h to 4h from Rio. You can get a private transfer or else get a bus from Rio Novo station to Conceição de Jacareí, then a boat from there directly to Ihla Grande

Things to do:
This beautiful island has gorgeous beaches made of fine white sand and clear blue waters. You can chill, go on hikes to remote beaches or even go on a boat tour around the island. We did the boat tour and found it a bit too touristy for our liking. Also, it was all in Portuguese so we didn’t get any insights from the guide. If you’re after some peace and quiet by the beach, I would recommend doing one of the hikes instead.

This little hippy surf town is the perfect place to unwind for a few days.

Travel:
1h+ bus from Tayrona park

Things to do:
Take a surf lesson. There are plenty of options directly on the beach, you can learn with Jose who has a great rating online.

Go tubing down the river. Enjoy some downtime by tubing along the river. If you can, rent the tubes yourself and get a group together with some beers. The activity is very chilled so a few bevy’s make it a lot more fun too.

Visit the Dog shelter Palomino: I loved visiting this shelter, you get to take all the dogs out to the river and go swim with them. They are all so cute and they are pretty much all up for adoption. It’s a great activity to give back to the community and explore the area.

Watch the sunset on the beach
Enjoy a happy hour cocktail at Paluna Beach Rest or Makao Restaurant bar

Put your dancing shoes on and go to the liveliest bar in town, Maria Mulata. They have live latin bands there every night. The staff were also very friendly and offered us some free shots and cocktails too.

Rave at the beach bars
At the weekend Palomino attracts all the nearby locals and offers a beach party to remember so if you’re in the mood for a late one, head to the beach and dance the night until the morning away!

Enjoy a delicious meal at the french-own restaurant, Casa Cocotte. I know it’s not a local spot but nonetheless the food is worth trying.

Have a massage. You can find plenty of people offering this service on the main strip or else you can book directly with the FreeSoul Hostel too.

Stay
The ocean can be pretty rough here so I would recommend getting a place with a pool if bathing is essential for you.

Casa Del Pavao Real Boutique Hostel
It’s a great option if you’ve got a bit of cash to spend. The hostel is a short walk from the beach, they also have a lovely pool and organise plenty of local activities.

Free soul Hostel
If you’re on a budget this hostel is a great choice. The rooms are clean and the staff very friendly. It’s located in the heart of town but there are no pools. They offer massage services along with yoga lessons too. They also have a kitchen on-site too.

Travel:
The best way to get here if you’re coming from Palomino is a taxi. This will take approximately an hour.

If you’re on a budget, take a bus towards Santa Marta and stop at Mamatoco which will take 90min. Then from Mamatoco get a bus directly to Minca and takes about 30min. This will cost approximately 12,000 + 9,000 COP for the total journey.

Things to do:
Eat at the Lazy cat.
It’s the best spot in town for a good hearty meal at a good price. The chicken would orange sauce is delicious

Go hiking to Pozo Azul
Minca is the perfect place for the hiking enthusiast. Pozo Azul is a swimming hole in the Rio Gaira. It’s a great place to hang and go for a swim. Beware it gets really packed with tourists though.
Take Calle 1 to get there until Mis Ojitos. From There, it’s a 20 minutes way on a dirt road to Pozo Azul.

Check the mirador 360
Enjoy views from the top by going to this lush mirador. You can hike up or get a moto-taxi there too so it’s accessible to anyone. You’ll get to enjoy sumptuous views of Santa Marta, the Caribbean, Tayrona, and the Sierra Nevada.

Check the sunset at Casa Loma’s sunset bar This is one of the best spots in town to catch a beautiful sunset overlooking Minca’s jungle. Make sure to get there early to secure a seat.

Visit a coffee/cacao farm
Try some local delicacies at some of the best farms in town. Finca La Candeleria is a good bet.

Stay
Casa Loma
This beautiful guest house has the best views in town although it’s a steep hill up to get there and the only way up is by foot. So… if you’re travelling with lots of heavy luggage, I would recommend staying somewhere else.

Rio Elemento
Alternatively you could stay in more central part of town at Rio Elemento. They have a pool and cool accommodation in jungle huts.

Travel:
The best would be to fly from Santa Marta to Medellin directly which will take 2hours. The bus will take about 15hours.

About
For a whilst, this Colombian town, home to the psycho Pablo had a bad and dangerous reputation. Things have changed in the last decades though and nowadays Medellin is one of the most visited cities in Colombia. With its hipster atmosphere, cool bars, fancy cafes and countless hostels it attracts travellers and digital nomads from around the globe.

Things to do
Have a stroll in Poblano
This the trendiest area in town. You’ll find lots of nice brunch spot, designer shops along with great bars.

Go on a walking tour
Learn about what makes Medellin so iconic by taking a stroll with Real City tours. Tours are free and are donation base.

Go on the cable cars
Catch the best views in the city here.

Visit Comuna 13
Take the infamous escalators in one of Colombia’s most colourful ‘favelas’. Once a very dangerous area of Medellin, this area has now become a popular tourist spot due to all its beautiful graffiti art.

Get cultured at the museum of modern art.
It’s a beautiful piece of architecture and the perfect activity if you fancy getting artsy in the city.

Go to a football game
Experience the electric atmosphere of a Colombian football game. Tickets can be purchased at the local supermarket EXITO.

Enjoy a coffee at Pergamino
Try some local beans and delicious food at this hipster coffee shop. They sell beans there too if you fancy taking some back with you.

Stay
El Poblado is the most popular part of town for travellers. It’s safe and is a great place to go out-out and eat out.

Travel:
Take a bus from Medellin directly to Salento, this should take about 6 hours. Whenever possible, book your tickets with the Busbud website.

About
Salento is a charming Colombian town located in the Coffee Triangle. It is known for its colonial architecture and the nearby Cocora Valley with giant wax palm trees.

Things to do
Eat at Brunch de Salento
This place is a tourist’s favourite, mainly because of their delicious peanut butter brownie.

Go hiking to the Cocora Valley
This is the main attraction in the area, the valley is renown for its towering palm trees. Whilst you’re there, visit coffee plantations & walk up to the mirador to enjoy picturesque views of the town.

Play Tejo
This rather unusual game involves dynamite, balls and sand pits. This is a local's favourite so it's a great place to make friends with Colombians and practice your spanish.

Dance salsa
Head to the main square and go dance your shoes off at one of the town’s salsa bars.

Stay
La Serrana Eco Farm and Hostel
It has beautiful views over the coffee plantations or the hippie hostel Yambolombia. We stayed there and had a great time, the staff were very friendly and breakfast was included.