15 Days in Colombia by Jérémy

In February 2023, my brother Geoffrey had his first Colombian experience, accompanied by our mum, who's already a Colombian travel veteran. This 15-day itinerary was crafted to highlight some of my most cherished spots in Colombia:

• We dedicated extra time to Medellin, which is my current home city.
• Beaches were a significant part of our itinerary.
• We concluded the trip in the mountains of Salento.

We chose Air Europe for our flights, taking the Paris-Madrid-Medellin route. This is especially convenient if you don't plan on visiting Bogota (no judgment here).

A notable part of our travel was renting cars, which I find to be the safest and most comfortable way to explore. However, if you've never driven outside of France, this might not be the best option for you.

Detailed Itinerary

Tuesday, February 7

• Landed in Medellin at 7:40 PM.
• Opted to rent a car for exploring the area around Medellin.

Wednesday, February 8

• Strolled through Providencia in the morning, which is one of Medellin's best streets.
• Headed to Guatape post-lunch.
• Checked into Boato Hotel, which we found to be excellent.

Thursday, February 9

• At 9 AM, we climbed El Penol, Guatape's renowned rock, to enjoy the views without many tourists.
• Participated in a boat tour around the lake, which was included in the hotel cost.
• Lunch at Atma Guatapé, our favorite restaurant in the area. It's accessible by either boat or car.
• Swam in the lake at Atma.
• Drove back to Medellin (90 minutes) and dined at La Rufina, a spectacular mountain restaurant. If you're a fan of BBQ and motorcycles, you'll love it.

Friday, February 10

• Took a tour of notable spots in Medellin, like Las Palmas and Pueblito Paisa.
• Ate at a local restaurant named Alma, where we tried the Menu del Dia.
• Ended the day with dinner at a recommended Korean BBQ restaurant.

Saturday, February 11

• Started the day with some exercise, then lunched at Mondongos to try Bandeja Paisa.
• Attended La Solar Medellin, a major music festival in the city. Don't miss the two big festivals each year if you can help it.

Sunday, February 12

• Ate lunch at KAIME before heading to Comuna 13.
• Traveled by Metro and took a graffiti tour.
• Cooked a French meal in our apartment.

Monday, February 13

• Returned the rental car at the airport.
• Took a direct flight to Santa Marta via Alianza.
• Checked into my dream Colombian hotel: Senda Maloka Barlovento, located at the entrance of Tayrona Park.

Tuesday, February 14

• Visited Tayrona Park in the morning (Note: the park might be closed in February, so check online).
• Enjoyed some lovely hikes outside the park as well.
• Took a taxi to Minca in the mountains.
• From Minca village, used Moto-Taxis to reach our hotel.
• Checked into Mundo Nuevo Eco Lodge and tried to arrive before sunset, which is breathtaking.

Wednesday, February 15

• Spent a laid-back day in Minca, including some hiking.

Thursday, February 16

• Headed to Santa Marta Airport.
• Opted for a Moto-Taxi to the airport—thrilling but not for the faint-hearted.
• Rented a car from Localiza at the airport.
• Drove from Santa Marta to Cartagena (Airport).
• Checked into Hotel Casa Tere in Gensemani, the old and artistic district. There may be better options.

Friday, February 17

• Headed to the pier at 8:15 AM for a boat to the Rosario Islands, provided by our hotel.
• Checked into Fragata Hotel, which was spectacular.
• Enjoyed island activities and nighttime swimming in a fluorescent lagoon.

Saturday, February 18

• Relished a leisurely breakfast and lounged on the island until our 3 PM return boat.
• Checked into Hotel Casa Cytia in Cartagena's old town.

Sunday, February 19

• Took an early morning flight via Avianca to Pereira Airport.
• Took a taxi from the airport to Salento.
• Checked into Casa de las Dos Palmas in central Salento.

Monday, February 20

• Spent the day hiking in Cocora Valley.
• Opted for the longer hike leading to the House of Hummingbirds.

Tuesday, February 21

• Took a taxi to Armenia Airport.
• Flew back to Medellin.

From Wednesday, February 22 Until Our Departure

• Enjoyed the last few days of our trip back in Medellin before our departure to France.

Note

This is a rough outline and should be tailored to your preferences and comfort level. I designed the trip for a balanced experience—cities, beaches, and mountains. Feel free to copy and paste this into our shared WhatsApp group to receive personalized feedback!

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