Before travelling please be sure to consult any local travel advice.

We are absolutely mad about Colombia! If you are thinking about planning a trip to Colombia, then the most valuable advice we can give is to simply do it!

Do not be put off by people’s opinions of the country who have not ever visited. We met a few travellers along the road who had been put off initially and then regretted their decision after the endless hype.

Colombia has come a long way over the last few decades. Of course there are still dangers, but no more than most big cities. Most problems can be avoided by taking the same precautions you would in any other South American country (or even some western cities for that matter). A bit of common sense goes a long way.

In a nutshell: the music, the scenery, the history, the food, but most of all the people are what make Colombia completely magical in our eyes!

Panoramic views from Comuna 13 in Medellin

We were not surprised to find Colombia is a top contender for most travelllers favourite country in South America. It certainly is for us.

Costs

CURRENCY: Colombian peso
1 USD = 3,829 COP
1 GBP = 4,871 COP

*As of May ‘2024

Colombia is a very cheap place to visit. This means your money can go a long way if you budget accordingly and make some smart choices.

Having said that, I think we actually spent more money in Colombia than most other countries in South America. Primarily because we spent the most time there but also because we just had to take advantage of the fantastic value of activities there (one of those spend money to save money kind of deals, ha).

South America, Colombia, San Gil, rafting, white-water rafting, adventure, adrenaline, — White-water rafting in San Gil

While some might want to disperse the adventure activities, it might benefit your heart (and head) but it won’t benefit your wallet. After some research and our own experience, we definitely recommend cramming in the action sports in Colombia.

Bungee-jumping, white-water rafting and even paragliding were a steal! And we personally didn’t feel the lower price meant less safety, something I was definitely conscious of.

If you save adventure sports like this for Chile and Argentina, you can definitely expect to pay at least double the price.

Food

Colombia is not well-known for its cuisine although if you like bread, cheese, meat and rice then you won’t have a problem. I was a massive fan!

I will say that a bit more spice would have been welcome; they are not massive fans of it in Colombia or much of South America it seems. However the array of delicious street food more than makes up for it.

Pandebonos, arepas, empanadas and buñuelos are just some of the mouth-watering treats on offer. In fact, every country we visited in South America had its own unique take on empanadas. I became a little obsessed to be honest. Who doesn’t like deep-fried cheese in pastry!?

South America, Colombia, Medellin, Bandeja Paisa, food, foodie, lunch — A hearty Bandeja Paisa, the local favourite in Medellin

A great way to enjoy some super cheap local food is to order the “Menu del Dia” for almuerzo – that’s the “Menu of the Day” lunch special. For just US$3-4 you get a hearty bowl of soup (a chicken or beef broth with vegetables) and a main of chicken, beef or chicharrón (deep-fried pork belly) with rice, beans and salad.

It’s not a surprise that on many occasions we didn’t need dinner!

The Journey

From the sun-drenched Caribbean shores in the north, following the path of the Andes south through rainforests and along raging rivers, we scheduled ourselves a generous 6 weeks to take in as much as we could from this amazing destination.

If you hadn’t already picked up on the vibe, we quite proudly feel like ambassadors for this remarkable country. We will forever hold a special place in our hearts for Colombia and would love for other travellers to experience it’s wonder (and hope we will again in the future!).

By sharing our own journey and unique experiences, we hope to inspire your next backpacking venture to South America and to have as much fun as we did 🙂