Laura Joy Bowman
I have traveled to, and have lived in many countries, but Colombia completely stole my heart. The people make you feel so welcomed and at home, the landscapes take your breath away, the music and the dancing fill you with joy, and the food makes you come back for more. I can't wait to help you plan you trip here, and make you as excited about Colombia as I am!
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"Colombia "
How did you get involved in travel?
"I was 2 weeks old the first time I got on a plane, and I have never stopped since. I come from a family of travelers and it has always been part of my life. I absolutely love traveling and discovering new places, meeting new people, speaking different languages, trying out new foods. I studied International Hospitality Management and am now helping travelers book unforgettable experiences in Colombia. "
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"A magical experience was on Isla Grande near Cartagena, when I swam with bioluminescent plankton! It was truly incredible..
Tayrona Park was spectacular, Caño Cristales left me in awe, and Cali got me dancing all night! "
Featured trips & expertise
Colombia's Coffee, Whitewater, and Caribbean Islands Adventure - 15 Days
With 15 days you can experience all of the highlights Colombia is renowned for throughout the world. Your journey starts in the heart of Colombia's Coffee Region, where you'll overnight on a working coffee farm. From there, head to the reborn metropolis of Medellín, a city whose reputation as a global hotspot is enhanced by its rising culinary and art scene. Then, it's time for a bit of nature as you embark on a rafting trip down the Río Verde and end your adventure on the Caribbean coast where you'll explore Cartagena and nearby islands.
4 Day Colombia Highlands Tour
The images you see in many publications advertising Colombia typically feature virgin rainforest and windswept Caribbean beaches. But in the center of the country, you'll find an entire highland region abounding with colonial villages, ancient archeological sites, and other unique landmarks. The best part is that these highlights are invariably located within day-tripping distance of the nation's capital, Bogotá. So pack your cold-weather clothing and prepare for a quick jaunt to Colombia's highlands region.
Bogota and Cartagena - 6 Days
Six days is just long enough to experience the energy and culture of Colombia's most exciting destinations—with a bit of beach time thrown in for good measure. You'll start off in the cosmopolitan capital of Bogotá where you can indulge in the thriving food and art scene, then jet off to Cartagena to explore Old Town—the inner-walled city that abounds with colonial architecture and history. Throw in a day trip to the Caribbean Rosario Islands and you have a vacation worth its weight in gold.
Planning Your Trip to Colombia
Colombia's travel scene is booming as travelers discover this nation's endless appeal, from the physical beauty of the Amazon and Andes to its vibrant culture and sophisticated cities. Here’s the low-down on planning your visit, including visa issues, getting around, and where to stay.
8 Best Cocktail Bars in Cartagena
Cartagena may be best known for its colonial attractions and grand Afro-Caribbean cuisine, but the bar scene in this coastal city is also world class. Here are eight of the best cocktail hotspots for every taste.
Recent trip reviews for Laura Joy
Trip cartagena medellin and cocora valley, Colombia - Aug 8 - Aug 13, 2019
We planned a trip to Colombia and got advice from Laura. We have seen wonderful places in Colombia and had excellent hotels. Also the city guides we booked seemed the best in town with a lot of knowledge and fun in doing their job. We had a short trip of 2 weeks, and it was worth in experience 4 weeks plus!
Hi Anne,
Thank you very much for your kind comments, I'm really happy you enjoyed your trip here!
Hope you went back to the Netherlands with lots of fun memories!
Warm regards from Cali,
Laura
Bogota, cocora valley, medellin and cartagena - 9 days, Colombia - Jul 15 - Jul 24, 2019
Excellent trip. Hotels were well selected, transfers were all in decent cars and activities all went to plan. Medellin for me was the best location with Salento a close second.
Hi Rob!
Thank you very much for taking the time to tell us about your trip, I'm very happy to hear you enjoyed your time in Colombia!
Warm wishes from Colombia!
Laura
Cartagena & tayrona park - 5 days, Colombia - Jul 8 - Jul 14, 2019
Every aspect of our trip was spectacular. Laura and the kimkim team did an amazing job both on the ground and before our trip to make it simply unforgettable. All of our guides were wonderful including our drivers. I would definitely recommend and use kimkim again for future holidays.
Hi Martha!
I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed your trip with us, I hope you went home with lots of fun memories! Your photos show it all!:)
Looking forward to welcoming you again!
Laura
Bogota, cocora valley, medellin and cartagena - 9 days, Colombia - Jul 15 - Jul 24, 2019
Excellent. Thanks.
Hi Debora,
I'm glad you enjoyed your trip here!
Thank you for your feedback!
Laura
Planning your family trip to colombia: best tips & advice, Colombia - Jun 1 - Jun 22, 2019
I traveled with my two boys 10 and 12 years old, we visited Bogotá, Sta Marta, Tayrona, Cartagena, Isla Baru and Cali, everything was so smoth transportation always on time, accommodations, Tayrona trip with the guide, Wilson was excellent my boys learned so much, in regards of organizing our intynery? Laura was always patient, worked with our budget, and always very professional and understanding of our needs. I definitely recommended it.
Ligia
Louisiana, USA
Hi Ligia!
Thank you very much for taking the time to talk about your experience!
I'm so happy to hear you and your boys had a great time in Colombia! It was a pleasure organising your trip!
Looking at the photos, I'm sure you went home with great memories!
Kind regards,
Laura
Sher/bendelstein colombia, Colombia - Apr 18 - Apr 29, 2019
We loved Cartagena and Medellin and the surrounding areas. The tour guide we had in Medellin, was particularly outstanding - Juan Manuel, I think.
Laura was very responsive when any issues arose, and they were promptly fixed.
This was our 2nd experience with KimKim and we'll do it again!
Dear Gail and Peter,
I'm very happy you enjoyed your trip here with us!
We're looking forward to welcoming you again!
Sher/bendelstein colombia, Colombia - Apr 18 - Apr 29, 2019
Our guides Juan and Anna Maria in Medellin were great. So too was Balthazar in Bogota. A pleasure meeting them all.
Hi Les!
Thank you very much for your kind words, I'm glad you enjoyed your trip here!
Hope you went home with lots of nice memories!
Kind regards,
Laura
5-day trip to some of colombia's major sights, Colombia - Apr 9 - Apr 13, 2019
Great trip that KimKim and the local team in Colombia managed to fit into my tight schedule. I had been worried that my short amount of time available would hinder my experience, but with the help of Laura and the whole Colombia team, I felt that I got a great view of the country in even just a few days. Everyone made my trip easy, smooth, and full of activities, even when a last-minute change had to be made. Great job! I plan to use KimKim for another trip in the future!
Hi Jason!
Thank you very much for your kind words. I'm so happy you had a nice time in Colombia!
We're looking forward to welcoming you again!
Kind regards,
Laura
Bogota, cocora valley, medellin and cartagena - 9 days, Colombia - Feb 3 - Feb 7, 2019
We only booked a portion of our trip with Kimkim and overall it went well, but there were a few hiccups throughout that I thought would have been organized through the service. For instance, it said we had a coffee tour booked, but the hotel was unaware and there was no English tour guide. Also the driver we had to Medellin didn't know the address we were going to, despite me giving it to the service beforehand, meaning we had to turn the data on our phone.
Otherwise went smooth and all parties turned up on time! Our guide in the Cocora Valley was great.
Hi Naomi,
Thank you very much for your review!
I'm very sorry about the two issues you encountered during your trip here, I have taken note of them and will be looking into what happened. Thank you for the feedback!
I'm glad you enjoyed your time in Colombia!
A mix of culture, adventure and wildlife, Colombia - Feb 7 - Feb 28, 2019
We had a truly memorable trip to Colombia. Clearly there are some internal communication issues with the Logistics Department at Aventura Colombiana but Laura was very quick to initiate action to try to resolve situations as quickly as possible.
Two guides that really stand out are Alejandro who took us on a bird watching expedition. Very knowledgeable and personable. We had a great time. And Gian who took us on a really relaxed and interesting city tour in Cali. The biggest... read more
Hi Joyce,
Thank you very much for your feedback!
I have taken good note of all your comments regarding the issues you encountered and also regarding Alejandro and Gian, I will let them know you enjoyed your tours with them!
I'm glad you enjoyed your time in Colombia!
Colombia trip, Colombia - Dec 16 - Dec 23, 2018
Had great time in Colombia! Trip was very well organized by Lisa! Thanks!
Hi Christina!
Thank you very much for travelling with us! We hope you enjoyed Colombia!
Laura