Christmas in Colombia

It time for me to make plans for Christmas. I've never been in Colombia during the Holidays and I don't want to arrive only to discover that everything is shut down and everyone is chillin' with their families for the week. Does anybody have any ideas as to places that might be especially interesting at that time ?

I'm mostly interested in Medellin, Cali, Santa Marta and Barranquilla.

By Albatross on Aug 25, 2005, 08:38 in Friendly Talkzone.

teddyblbear says on Aug 25, 2005, 15:40:

Fun Fun Fun My wife tells me that Colombia put a lot on the Christmas season, In cali they have huge parades including as many as 2500 horses. one of her friends rides in the parade every year.

You will not need to fear for everything shuting down, It won't happen. I just returned from 15 days in Caliu, (July) and last year I was in Bogota. You will have a very enjoyable time as long as you make typical security precautions. We had planned on going back to Cali for this Christmas but the family decided that want to come here instead. So I suspect a Colombian Christmas in Atlanta.

helen says on Aug 25, 2005, 20:14:

teddy, did you have fun in bogota? i didn´t last year and went to cartagena for new year which was a bit of a crock....i´m in colombia this year for both holidays and am buggered if i know how to make it better. if you don´t have loads of family here it seems a bit hard. most of the places i hang out in bogota closed last year for xmas and the place i ended up in with colombian friends was so full i could hardly let my stomach out....thoughts for this year?

Bruce V. Shrader says on Aug 26, 2005, 08:30:

Go To Cali They have a big Feria there. Bull Fights for about 10 days, parades,
and etc. I don't think anything closes. You won't be disappointed.

spy1984 says on Sep 15, 2005, 19:02:

What about Medellin. I will be there through Christmas

vladimiro says on Sep 15, 2005, 19:34:

El Alumbrado de Medellin They celebrate Christmas for 2 months in medellin. Every night there are crowds walking along the river and at pueblito paisa to look at the lights and decorations. The whole area is lined with vendors selling things. The paisas are so proud of these decorations and talk of them as if they were some world famous spectacle. They are actually not that spectacular but the atmosphere is really nice, and with people enjoying themselves so much with something so simple it is very unique.