Colorful Colombia

Colorful Colombia: A 4-Day Itinerary

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Bogotá:

While Bogotá may feel very large (it is the capital of Colombia after all), each individual neighborhood has a unique allure and charm to it that I found to be very enchanting. The weather is always crisp and chilly at night - and it’s common for an afternoon shower to pop up, so bring a rain jacket!

Day 1:

Monserrate is a wonderful way to start your trip by seeing the entire city as well as getting in picturesque views like no other. I'd recommend taking the funicular railway (which operates between Tuesday and Sunday) to the top of the mountain and then peruse around the viewpoint and markets. 

After allocating a few hours to Monserrate, you'll be ready to eat a hearty lunch at Canasto, a delicious, healthy restaurant ranging from salads to hefty burgers (be sure to order a fresh juice!). We took a salsa class post lunch - which was so fun and one of the hardest workouts I’ve had in quite awhile. Let’s just say I have a whole new admiration for Dancing With the Stars!

Cap off your day by having dinner at Salvo Patria, a Colombian restaurant that sources all of its food from local farms. The mango chilango cocktail is hard to beat! 

Day 2:

If it's a Sunday, be sure to start your morning out at the flea market in Usaquén known as "Mercado de las Pulgas de Usaquén". If not, I'd recommend going to one of the many markets offered throughout the city. After your morning at the market eating all of the fruit possible, go to La Candelaria to see the colonial-era cathedral and neoclassical Capitol in Bolivar Plaza. It's a pretty touristy area filled with street performers, but I think it's an essential part of Bogotá to see. 

The free Museo Botero is right around the corner and displays international art by so many renowned artists such as Picasso, Monet, and of course, Botero. By this point, you're ready to play a game of Tejo, Colombia's version of cornhole. Following this fun game, treat yourself to a nice dinner at Bistro el Bandido for some live music and delicious food, followed by a late-night of dancing at Andrés Carne de Res.

Things to do:

• Jardín Botánico de Bogotá

• Walk through La Candelaria

• Take a coffee tour

• Sunday market "Mercado de las Pulgas de Usaquén"

• Monserrate

• Catedral de Sal

• Ciclovia

Places to Eat:

• Andres Carne Del Res on Saturday night

• La Puerta Falsa

• Mesa Franca

• Abasto

• Prudencia

• Tabula

• Mini Mal

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Minca:

This tiny, sleepy mountain town in the Sierra Nevadas overlooks Santa Marta & the Caribbean encapsulating the true feel of Colombia. With only a population of 800, you'll feel like you stumbled upon a hidden gem from the many backpackers in South America (although there are still a lot here). 

We stayed in Minca for 2 nights at an adorable AirBnb that sits on an awesome river. If you prefer a hostile, Casa Loma & Sierra Minca are both very popular in the area (I recommend visiting both for the views and ambiance, nonetheless).

We started our morning by having a large breakfast at Duni to prepare for our full-day hike to Los Pinos (be sure to pack a lot of water and snacks). It’s recommended that if you choose to do this 5-6 hour hike, start early in the morning. About one hour into the walk, stop by the beautiful Las Cascadas waterfalls to cool off (5,000 COP entrance fee). At this juncture, you can pay a motorbike to take you up to Los Pinos which will take about 30-minutes. After you hike/bike to the top, enjoy the beautiful views and scenery (you may even be lucky to see a howler monkey like we did!). On your way down, stop by Sierra Minca (10,000 COP for a day pass) for a beer on the large hammock or a dip in the swimming pool.

Once we got back to our stay and showered, we walked up to Casa Loma to see the sunset and then had a nice dinner at Arabesca (be sure to bring cash to Minca as there are not many places that take credit card.)

There are so many things to do in this little town, like taking a coffee or chocolate tour, and it should definitely be a place everyone should visit while in Colombia.

Minca feels very isolated compared to the nearby coastal town of Santa Marta, but it is so welcoming. Be mindful of the thriving tourism (although it can be a great thing) and respect the culture of this local town.

Things to Do:

• Happy Hour & sunset at Casa Loma

• Hike up to Los Pinos

• Relax at Sierra Minca

• Take a tour with Jungle Joe

• Hike to La Cuidad Perdida

Places to Eat:

• Duni

• The Lazy Cat

• Arabesca Minca

• Restaurante Santisabella

• Bururake

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Cartagena:

Pictures do not do this romantic port city on the Caribbean coast justice. The walled-in area known as Old Town, which was founded in the 16th Century, is adorned with colorful colonial buildings and cobblestones, making it the perfect beach getaway. The food and shopping is exquisite along with the hospitality from all of the locals. It seems like every building and window box bursts with bougainvillea and geraniums.

2 nights is a great length of time in Cartagena. If you choose to go to the beach for a day or so, which is highly recommended, then 3 nights is sufficient. For us, we treated this destination as a wine and dine trip, which may not be up everyone’s alley. Below is brief one-day synopsis with additional recs. It’s such a delightful city that anything and everything you stumble upon will be worth it.

We started our vacay by checking-in to the Anandá Hotel Boutique, where we were greeted with delicious fresh fruit. After settling in, we immediately walked through Old Town and stumbled upon the notorious La Cevicheria (where Anthony Bourdain ate) and had amazing octopus and fresh ceviche. Following our meal, we decided that margaritas were calling our name. El Baron sits in Plaza de San Pedro Claver offering delicious bites, cocktails, and people watching.

After our food and drink tour, we took some time at the hotel pool and prepped for dinner at la Vitrola, a Cuban inspired restaurant with live music that is an absolute must. After dinner, walk to the Getsemani neighborhood to the institution, Cafe Havana, for live music and salsa dancing (you’ll need cash to get in).

Things to Do:

• Visit a mud volcano

• Explore old city (includes the neighborhoods of Centro, San Diego, and Getsemani- where most tourists stay)

• Go to Plaza Aduana, Plaza Santo Domingo with Botero statue, and Plaza Bolivar

• Mercado de Bazurto

• Boat to Gente Del Mar in Rosario Islands

Places to Eat:

• La Perla

• Carmen - order Caribbean prawn tacos, the succulent pork fest and the deconstructed seafood 'cazuela'

• Don Juan - grilled octopus & prawn and lobster risotto are delicious!

• de Silvio - pizza and fresh fish

• La Mulata

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While our trip to Colombia was nothing short of amazing, I don't want to list every thing we did so that you can also create your own experiences and memories! I am so grateful for this day in age where we can share our recommendations and stories; however, I was saddened on this trip after seeing so many people absorbed in capturing the perfect Instagram shot and missing out on the world around them. So on your next trip, whether to Colombia or elsewhere, I challenge you (and myself) to really soak in your surroundings.

I hope you found these recommendations helpful. If you have any additional places or things to add to this itinerary, please let me know in the comment section below!

Want to know what I’m up to on the every day? Follow along on Instagram at @cocozentner_art or on my Pinterest page. I love to post what inspires me, behind the scenes of my painting process, and my pup, Maudie!

What questions do you have around traveling in Colombia? Leave a comment below!

Until next time,

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To see more about what inspires CoCo, check-out her Instagram page at @cocozentner_art!