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Help with Colombia Itinerary

by susu111 Online Now

May 1, 2012 at 2:35 PM

I'm planning to visit Colombia in a month, and would appreciate some input on my itinerary. I have 12 days, and of course am finding that it's not nearly enough to visit all the places on my short list. I think I already know the answer, but any thoughts on whether the tentative itinerary I've posted below is overly ambitious? I want to see as much as possible, but obviously don't want to come back from vacation more tired than when I arrived! June 1 – Friday Bogota June 2 – Saturday Bogota June 3 – Sunday Cartagena (arrive on early morn flight) June 4 – Monday Cartagena June 5 – Tuesday Tayrona (3-4 hrs from Cartagena) OR Playa Blanca (35 min boat ride from Cartagena) June 6 - Wed Tayrona or Playa Blanca; back to Cartagena in eve June 7 – Thurs Cartagena; fly to Medellin in eve June 8 – Friday Medellin June 9 – Sat Medellin June 10 – Sun Coffee triangle (not sure where yet but probably stay at a finca - early morn flight from Medellin or 5-hour bus ride) June 11 – Mon Coffee triangle; back to Medellin in evening June 12- Tues Fly back to Bogota in morn (late night flight back to US) So, is there something you would cut from this itinerary? (If push comes to shove, I'm thinking I may have to skip Medellin or coffee country.) Is Tayrona as breathtaking as my guidebook makes it out to be, or should we visit nearby Playa Blanca to save time? (I'm not a huge beach person, but when I go, I really like feeling secluded; I want a really scenic, mellow place where I can sleep in a hammock, not a resort.) 3 days in Bogota and Cartagena doesn't seem like much, but should I consider shaving off a day in one of those places and adding it somewhere else? For what it's worth, I love places with a lot of history, beautiful architecture, great food, etc. I'm not sporty, but I like the idea of spending at least part of the trip in a more rural/rustic part of the country (hence the finca idea). Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!

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Re: Help with Colombia Itinerary

by imolinar May 7, 2012 at 10:17 PM

I think I would skip Tayrona as you dont have much time. I have never been there though to tell you if it is really worth going there. Instead of playa blanca and Tayrona why dont you go to Rosario Islands?. You can take a day tour from cartagena, the boat takes about 2 hours to reach there. I dont think in beginning June there are too many tourist yet. The islands are so beautiful, crystal blue waters, and you can do snorkelling. In my opinion more beautiful than Playa Blanca, anyways you can do playa blanca half day while in Cartagena. I dont know but maybe skip Medellin and spend more time in the coffee triangle instead, there you can stay in a finca, and go to the coffee park, panaca, hot springs, etc. Maybe try to stay an extra day in Bogota, you can visit the salt mines in Zipaquira, or Villa de Leyva (very colonial town).

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Re: Help with Colombia Itinerary

by susu111 May 10, 2012 at 6:04 PM

Thanks for your very helpful suggestions! I'm going to play around with my itinerary a bit more and see what's feasible.

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