Good Itinerary

carter says on Jan 10, 2006, 14:00:

depends what your interested but thats the pretty stock standard trail.

I recommend atleast one small town, have a look at
Salento
San Gil
Barichara or
Villa de Leyva

as possible sites

if you have any questions let me know

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Gator says on Jan 10, 2006, 14:17:

I Would.. not be that optimistic about seeing the Lost City-it's a six day hike round trip through some rough country.

Split Cali and Medellin three nights each

I would juggle my schedule and add a small town-out of Bogotá two days to Villa de Leyva or to Coffee Country out of Cali-Armania to be specific.

If you miss the countryside you miss the real Colombia.

Must see the Gold Museum in Bogotá and lots of time in Cartagena in the Old Walled City and Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. Don't have time at the moment to list it all.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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juangasa says on Jan 10, 2006, 21:54:

Hi Ascot
The only place that I don't recommend you is the visit to the lost city in St Marta. could not be safe. that is a natural park where the guerrilla have some control and far from the city. The Tayrona park is safe but have some precautions with that trip too.

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Principe says on Jan 10, 2006, 22:11:

well if you want a disagreement I say absolutly hit Tayrona... and Lost City if you have the time.... and I thought Bogota and especially the Gold Museum were quite boring. But Im always in Bogota on weekdays.. so who knows.

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Colombiche says on Jan 11, 2006, 07:31:

AScot Your itinerary sounds quite comprehensive, very busy to say the least.

I have noticed that you overlooked "El eje cafetero" (Colombia's coffee growing region).

Eje cafetero happens to be one the most lovely and developed regions in Colombia and also one of the most widely visited by tourists (aside from the Atlantic coast and the precolumbian ruins). Tourism is growing rapidly in this region, the scenery is lovely , transportation is easy, you will find very good hotels, resorts and sight seeing in this area.

I suggest the following places in El Eje Cafetero:

Panaca (Armenia) (natural park, including a zoo)
Parque del Cafe (Armenia) (A tourist attraction, a coffee growing park)
Termales de Santa Rosa - Beautiful natural park, right at the top of the mountain there are 5 lovely hot spring pools (Please see my pics).
Manizales - Very pretty small city, then again, I might be biased because I am from there!
Pereira - Very lively night life, nightclubs, good cheap shopping.


Parque Termales de Santa Rosa

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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Colombiche says on Jan 11, 2006, 07:37:

Parque Termales de Santa Rosa
Parque Termales de Santa Rosa - Little Hot Spring Waterfall

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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Colombiche says on Jan 11, 2006, 07:39:

Check out the following page: www.turiscolombia.andes.com

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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raalrock7 says on Jan 11, 2006, 09:09:

Medellin 2 nights??? Are you insane... Of the other cities Medellin is by far the most beautiful, fun and perhaps safe... Medellin 10 nights and split the rest. Although the other posters are right... El Eje Cafetero is great, a "can't miss" But 'como Medellin no hay HP'

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caslug says on Jan 11, 2006, 09:48:

i would reduce cali from 4 to 2 days.. and put the 2 extra days to another place or spend more time in med bog or zona cafertera. another bit of advice is try to hit the big cities(bog/med/ctg) on the weekends and do the small town stuff during the week. that way you have the best of both world, lively/party atmosphere on the weekends in the big cities and laidback touristy stuff with the small towns during the weekdays/nights.

Also, since you're mention end of july/end of august. Checkout feria de la flores in MED it's in august. 4 or 5 days in MED for this is quite an exp, i did it last year and had blast.

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carter says on Jan 11, 2006, 09:59:

Caslug surely your not saying that a weekend in Medellin is better than a weekend in a small town like San Gil.

You don´t know how to party.

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litost says on Jan 12, 2006, 02:10:

My recommended itinerary would be something like this:

5 days for Bogota and nearby towns (Villa de Leyva, Zipaquira)
5 days coffee region (Parque del Cafe, Salento, Pereira, Santa Rosa, Manizales)
4 days Medellin and towns (especially Santa Fe de Antioquia)
3 days Cartagena
5 days Santa Marta, Taganga, Parque Tayrona
3 days Leticia

Cali, while a pleasant city, is not as interesting as other places given your ambitious tour and time restraints. I would say the same for San Andres (which is beautiful), unless you really want to just hit the beaches for a few days.

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Albatross says on Jan 12, 2006, 04:14:

Litost Why do you recommend Santa Fe de Antioquia ?
Also, how far is it from Medellin, are there busses and is the route safe ?

Thanks

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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litost says on Jan 12, 2006, 04:52:

Santa Fe de Antioquia is along with Villa de Leyva probably the best conserved towns in Colombia. With the advantage that it is more colorful, and warmer, than VdL. There are picturesque houses, buildings, churches, squarest, etc. , the setting is brilliant green mountains, lots of fruits, there are good bars and restaurants, etc. Very popular on weekends and holidays among paisas. The nearby Puente de Occidente is a good sidetrip too. It's about 2 hours by bus from Medellin, on a decent road that as far as I know is safe.

Some pics of Santa Fe de Antioquia in my photo gallery:

http://community.webshots.com/user/litost99

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Ascot says on Jan 12, 2006, 08:14:

Thanks Everyone Hi, Thanks to everyone, and please if you have anything to add ...do so.

litost, I looked at your webshots photos and they are all excellent - are they from one trip? or multiple visits to Colombia? if one trip, how long did you go for?

I have three guide books now, so shall look at this site, the books, and a map of the coutry to try and get a better idea of what to do.

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litost says on Jan 13, 2006, 06:05:

Ascot,

I am colombian-american, and have lived in both countries a considerable amount of time. After graduating from college in Bogota in 2002, I spent most of 2003 and 2004 working in Miami. Then in december 2004 I went back to Colombia and stayed until august 2005 (now I'm studying in Paris). I didn't travel during the whole time, I stayed a couple of months in Santa Rosa de Cabal where I'm from and spent most of the rest of the time in Bogota looking for a job and working. So those pics are all between dec 2004 and august 2005, but over several short trips. I still feel there is so much more to see though!!! La Guajira, los llanos, Santander, Amazonas, Tierradentro, Ciudad Perdida, la Macarena, the Pacific Coast, Gorgona, Providencia...

Enjoy Colombia and feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the places I've been to.

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EMAN says on Feb 10, 2006, 16:11:

Eje Cafetero Your pitures of Eje cafetero and this region are beautiful. I will be in Medellin in April for 9 days and plan on going to Armenia and the Cafe region for approximately 3 days with my novia. I will take a bus from Medellin to Armenia, any suggestions on what buses go there and what are the safest? Any recommendations and suggestions in reference to where to stay and what to do, would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

EMAN

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litost says on Feb 10, 2006, 16:47:

3 days is really tight, but if that's all the time you have I recommend taking a bus to Armenia (approx. 6 hour trip, Bolivariano is the best company), from there you could visit the Parque del Cafe one day and dedicate another one to Salento and the Valle del Cocora (I recommend spending the one night in Armenia to visit from there the Parque, and you can spend the other night in Salento). The third day you could either spend in the hot water springs in Santa Rosa de Cabal (if not on a low budget than stay in the Termales Hotel which is very nice, otherwise you can stay in one of the many hotels near the center and just arrange transportation to the springs) or spend the day in Manizales which is a pleasant city on your way back to Medellin.

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EMAN says on Mar 19, 2006, 05:38:

Eje Cafetero I have wrapped up my plans for my excursion to the coffee region, they are:

Friday: Arrive into Medellin - spend night at novias

Saturday: take early AM bus to Armenia - go to Hotel Estelar to check in and drop off luggage. Go with guide to Valle Del Cocora & Salento -spend all afternnon & night there.

Sunday: Leave Hotel Estelar & go to Finca in Montenegro(will spend 2 nights there)- drop off luggage & spend all day at Parque Del Cafe.

Monday: Balsaje during day - night???

Tuesday: Leave Finca & head towards Santa Rosa De Cabal, will be able to spend this night in the region, so here are my options:
1. Spend all day at hot water springs/Santa Rosa De Cabal &
night at Hotel Termales. Leave Wednesday for Medellin.
2. Same as above but night in Pereira
3. Same as # 1 but night in Manizales

My girlfriend goes to the University in Medellin and must be in class Wednesday at 6PM as she will have already missed 2 classes.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

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montesdeoca says on Apr 16, 2006, 08:43:

Itinerary What about the La catedral de Sal in Bogota?

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