The Colombian Trip

My wife and I just returned from a 9-10 day tour of Columbia. The tour was quite ambitious as we visited Bogota (one full day), Amazonia (2 full days), the Coffee region (3 full days), and even a quick one night stopover in Cartagena (one day). This involved a lot of flights as all flights connect through Bogota. So it was quite tiring and rather head spinning. The good thing though was that we got to see an amazing diversity of peoples and places in one tour.
What we saw of Bogota, on an e-bike tour!, we found to be both beautiful and interesting, and Monserrate and the views of Bogota from it, were amazing (but buy a pass that gets you to the head of the line if you can).
Amazonia was, for us the greatest highlight of the tour. We found it, as lovers of wild life, birds, and peoples/cultures with dignity, a simply charming, magical place. We were based out of Punto Nariño, and travelled everywhere by small boat, except on our return trip to Leticia on a river "bus". Every boat trip was a guided natural history adventure, stopping to see the dolphins at Leticia, and on both banks of the river to photograph birds, monkeys, or to have some other curiosity pointed out. We navigated lakes with water lily pads and flooded forests. We visited two different indigenous communities and a monkey rehabilitation sanctuary, and photographed humming birds, Macaws and Toucans, birds hiding in the trees or in flocks, and butterflies. I did a night walk in the rain forest and photographed frogs and sleeping morpho butterflies. We visited a indigenous cultures museum and shopped for unique crafts in Leticia.
We also loved the Coffee Region. This is a mountainous or hilly, moderate temperature, rain forest region with coffee, fruit orchards, avocados, etc., as well as national forest. It is beautiful and the climate is very pleasant when we visited (February). We visited a beautiful hillside farm, where we were shown a fabulous orchid collection and treated to a delicious lunch, and the farmhouse, where we watched many colorful birds and humming bird feed. We visited two very beautiful rural towns, Filandia and Salento, where we visited a basketry workshop/studio and were taught by a craftsman to weave small baskets. We stayed in a charming hotel at a farm in a national park in the Corcora valley and did an early morning birding exploration in the hills. And we visited a botanical garden, where we learned about the local ecology, with a large enclosed butterfly habitat where we could view native butterflies up close. Our last night was spent in Cartagena, in a fabulous hotel just adjacent to the old city. This is also very beautiful, historical, with a lot of shopping and fine dining, quite different from our previous experiences. (We didn't have time to investigate the beaches, but not our thing anyway.)
In almost all of our adventures we were accompanied by a driver and a guide. We have very little Spanish, but the guides spoke English, and all were super knowledgeable about birds and could identify them by their calls and spot them in the trees, as well as being knowledgeable about the local cultures and history. Though it is hard to single any out, Sergio Leones in Amazonia and Juan Camilo in the Coffee Region were truly outstanding, and we learned so much from them. But even the drivers seemed to have a great knowledge of their natural history and be able to spot the birds. Our small boat trip from Leticia to Punto Nariño to Leticia on our day of arrival was a fascinating adventure as our Spanish-only speaking boat driver made many stops to point out birds and other things along the way and we had a great time trying to communicate in hand waving, my tiny amount of Spanish, and an iPhone app.
Our accommodations were outstanding, although in Amazonia they were, as you would expect, a little less refined. All were beautiful and full of character. Particularly of note were Sazagua (in Pereira) and Sazagua Boutique (in Corcora), being beautiful and having great food, and our hotel in Cartagena.
Indeed, everywhere we went, the food was outstanding, and, as you would expect given our itinerary, of a great variety.
Did we feel safe in Colombia? Yes, certainly anywhere we went we had no concerns at all (although we were with guides most of the time). Indeed I found the Columbians we met to most generous, and, especially, to be extremely pleased to be able to share their beautiful country with us, along with its natural wonders.
Would we go back again? - YES. But, probably with a more relaxed schedule, doubling down on the things we liked the most, and with some new twist.
Last, but not least, many thanks to Margarita, our Kim-Kim local specialist, who suggested the itinerary, modified to our satisfaction, worked out all the details, hired the guides, made all the bookings, watched out for us throughput the trip, and was a model of efficiency and courtesy.

Margarita and her team went above and beyond to ensure that we had a wonderful trip to Colombia. Thank you for taking such good care of us! Everyone we worked with was friendly, helpful and polite. I couldn't ask for more. Muchas gracias

Our time to Columbia was amazing. It was a last minute trip but Andrea was so great at putting it all together for us. She was able to switch hotels easily when the one we wanted was not available. Communication with her was fantastic and she is such a lovely person. She was a joy to work with!
Columbia is such a beautiful country with such interesting history and culture. Each destination had its own special appeal. The food was incredible, activities were fun, the people are so friendly and we never felt unsafe. Columbia is a must visit in South America.

Hotel Reviews

El Cielo Hotel

Medellin

Beautiful small hotel with incredible restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Felt very inviting

Location

Walkable to nightlife area but could have been a little closer.

Staff

Staff was extremely nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bio Habitat Hotel

Quindío, Armenia

Unique and beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Cool layout, fun vibe

Location

Great views with lush surroundings

Staff

Everyone was very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Pestagua Relais Châteaux

Cartagena de Indias

Such a beautiful hotel!

Authenticity & Character

So charming and beautifully decorated

Location

In the middle of town

Staff

Friendliest staff yet!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was amazingly comfortable

Hotel Punta Faro

Isla Mucura

Beautiful beach hotel in the middle of the Caribbean, like staying on a deserted island

Authenticity & Character

Felt very relaxing and low key

Location

Surrounded by beautiful Caribbean water

Staff

Staff was very nice but as a non-spanish speaking person it was a little difficult to communicate as none of the waitstaff spoke any English so at times they were a little hesitant to approach to us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room is a little no frills. Service at beach was limited

Activity Reviews

Colorful Colombia: Hike to Guatapé Rock, Guatapé & Peñol-Guatape Reservoir

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking in the Cócora Valley up to "The Hummingbird House" & Explore Salento & Filandia

Colombia

Not for the faint of heart. It was a very long hike but really beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee Farm Experience

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It took me a little while to get to writing this review, but this family trip remains vivid in all of our minds! I planned this quite last minute (my fault) but Margarita was able to put together a trip that we all loved. It felt very bespoke. Our local guides were lovely and knowledgeable. We also appreciated that some of the activities we did - jungle walks, horse-back riding, a farm and cooking class visit, a basket-weaving class, visiting Palenque, and a drum lesson - all felt like off-the-beaten path experiences. We prefer private experiences and that is what was delivered. The hotels were perfect for us, small and boutique (especially for such a last minute trip). Finally, one member of our party has celiac and needs a strictly gluten-free diet. margarita contacted every restaurant and notified them, making our dining experience truly a joy. I would definitely recommend Margarita to others (and, in fact, I have). Thank you for a lovely trip!

We were first greeted by our cheerful guide, Andrea, at the airport. We spent a day with her traveling around Bogotá. She was enthusiastic and had lots of knowledge re Colombian history, art, food, and culture. We had a great first breakfast at Hotel Coco in their top floor sunroom with views of the mountains surrounding Bogotá and a colorful spread of delicious Colombian fruits and other tasty foods.

Next, we went to Medellin and were met by Claudia and Martin. Claudia was a most excellent guide! Her knowledge, friendliness, and passion for her country was well complemented by English speaking driver, Martin, who added his own perspectives on various parts of Medellin culture and sights. We were so fortunate to have the two of them together. Our time with them was the highlight of the trip.

We then went to Cartagena and enjoyed our time there. We had a different guide for each event (Cartagena walking tour, kayaking, drum demonstration, horseback riding on the beach).
We then ended our trip with some time at the Caribbean resort island of Baru. We enjoyed kayaking to nearby islands and walking around an aviary where all the birds of Colombia are highlighted. Then one last night in Bogota before returning home.

Important points:
- so helpful to have someone greeting us at each airport and facilitating each departure (we took 3 domestic flights since driving within Colombia is too time consuming)
-very impressed with Avianca and LATAM Airlines
-easy and timely communication with trip organizers and guides using WhatsApp
-hotels were all modern and comfortable
-the best part of the trip was learning about the country by spending time with guides that were eager to show their love of Colombia, especially those that we spent multiple days with

Trip highlights not to be missed
-cable ride to Monserrate, a mountain that overlooks Bogota
-Museo Botero and Museo Del Oro- in Bogota, museum of the artist and sculptor Botero and nearby museum of gold
-Mercado de Paloquemao - tasted exotic fruits, a fun place if you like local markets
-Museo Casa de la Memoria, Medellin - museum dedicated to honor the memory of victims of urban conflict, paramilitaries, and drug trafficking in Medellin
-coffee plantation (Café de la Cima) - we visited a great family run place 1.5 hours from Medellin in Fredonia
-Guatapé - big rock to climb with stunning views and a boat ride on a nearby reservoir; tuk tuk ride in colorful town of Guatapé
-Comuna 13 and Santo Domingo neighborhoods in Medellin - use metro and metro cable car with guide
-Plaza Botero and Museo de Antioquia
-Getsemani neighborhood of Cartagena
-rum and chocolate tasting in Cartagena
- kayaking at Isla Baru
-aviary at Isla Baru
-street food: grilled corn, empanadas, arepas, fresh mango slices

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Coco

Bogotá

Such friendly staff! And a spectacular breakfast spread in a room that views the Bogota skyline and mountains.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Safe neighborhood with close by pharmacy and grocery store and tons of restaurants.

Staff

So friendly! Freddy was super helpful and welcoming!

Cleanliness & Comfort

We would recommend this hotel to all travelers.

Quinta Ladera

Medellin

Interior design was very artistic. Quiet, safe neighborhood, close to El Poblado restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Poblado neighborhood can get noisy at night though this hotel is far from the noise. Laureles neighborhood is a good alternative though not as lush with greenery.

Casa La Factoria by Faranda Boutique

Cartagena

Beautiful decor in an historic building. Great location in the old city within a few blocks of Plaza de Simon Bolívar and Plaza de Santo Domingo.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Appreciated the air-conditioning.

Aura Hotel Barú By Sport Barú

Cartagena, Bolivar

Nice to have some time to relax. This was a low key retreat which was perfect for us. Kayaks, ping pong, paddle boards and other activities and games available.

Location

Very beautiful and picturesque Caribbean retreat but isolated.

Staff

Helped get us a ride to the nearby aviary.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Paloquemao Farmers Market | Colonial Downtown & Monserrate

Colombia

One highlight at this visit, and for the whole trip was that our guide presented us with a sample of 6 exotic juices and their corresponding fruit.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrea was great! She bought us some samples of fruit to take back to the hotel.

Transport

The City of The Eternal Spring & Street Food In La Comuna 13

Medellín

We didn’t now much about all the factions that was part of the violence in the earlier decades in Colombia. That changed after we visited the Casa de la Memoria museum. It was an emotionally moving set of exhibits that is a must visit for anyone interested in understanding the violence that Medellin and the rest of Colombia suffered under. Saw both comuna 13 and Santo Domingo. Two different and fascinating neighborhoods. Comuna 13 gets all the attention and as a result is very touristy but Santo Domingo is quieter and maybe more authentic. The cable ride to Santo Domingo was a breath taking view of the city.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved the dynamic duo Claudia and Martin.

Transport

Travelled on the clean and modern metro and the cable car transportation.

Full day Coffee Workshop - "From the plant to the cup"

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Walked the steep hills with the coffee farmer as he explained the the coffee process. We also harvested the coffee berries our selves.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claudia translated for us as the farmer talked about coffee growing and roasting. Also, we tasted coffee and learn to discern different coffee types.

Transport

Discover Cartagena by Kayak

Colombia

Pleasant time kayaking but the trip did not match the description. Guide did not speak English so we did not learn much. Though Cartagena is a beautiful city from the inside, it wasn’t as interesting from the water.

Quality of Experience

Colorful Colombia: Hike to Guatapé Rock, Guatapé & Peñol-Guatape Reservoir

Colombia

We enjoyed a boat trip on Peñol reservoir viewing vacation homes and beautiful scenery. Some of the properties were owned by Pablo Escobar. We then climbed up the famous rock El Peñol, which was not as difficult as we thought it would be. The views were spectacular. We then went to the town of Guatape, which is a fun colorful place to visit and walk around. After that we had a really tasty lunch at a Spa/Glamping restaurant called Bosko.

Quality of Experience

Great scenery, town, guide, driver, and food.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon-Night Walking Tour

Cartagena

We learned about Cartagena‘s history walking through the old city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Horseback ride at the Beach

Cartagena

First visited the horse farm of Paso Fino horses and learned about their unique gate. We then went to the beach and met the horses there and rode them on the beach. After that we had a nice lunch at a nearby resort.

Quality of Experience

We were met at our hotel by Maria, who it turned out, was from the family that owned the horse farm. During the drive to the farm, we learned about her life experience riding horses.

Food

Great ceviche!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drum Safari - Sounds of Cartagena

Cartagena

We had a fascinating experience learning about the Afro – Colombian rhythms presented by an ensemble of drummers and dancers in a small beach town north of Cartagena. The event didn’t include a tour of the neighborhood as the description suggested. we appreciated the importance of maintaining this heritage.

Quality of Experience

Better with a bigger audience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide and interpreter Jhoker, who is also a musician, was really wonderful in helping present the info the drummers were relating.

Transport

Great driver! I left my phone in the car and he came back to give it to me.

Free day in Baru

Isla Barú

This was a relaxing place to close out a wonderful two week trip to Columbia. The views were beautiful from the various dining rooms. There were lots of comfortable places to sit and areas where you could play games like ping-pong or volleyball. They had kayaks and paddle boards that could be used at any time. The friendly bartender was available to make great drinks like limonada de coco and exotic cocktails. Paddling around the resort was easy in the morning when the water was still. We did manage to find a ride to a nearby aviary, which is well worth the trip.

Quality of Experience

Hotel Aura Baru was well situated, relaxing, and low-key, but isolated. There is no town nearby to visit. It would been great to have an opportunity to go by shuttle to the aviary. Perhaps the hotel could provide a daily trip to the aviary for visitors who are interested.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly staff.

Transport

The ride to the aviary, which took 10 minutes, was quite expensive for Colombian standards. The hotel should provide a shuttle to the aviary once a day for anyone interested.

Enjoyed our trip to Colombia.

Highly recommend Wendy. Excellent contact and follow up before and throughout the trip. The itinerary was great to see the sites and absorb the culture of Colombia.

I returned to Cartagena, Medellin, and Bogota with the incredible package by KimKim, a travel agency that truly understands the art of crafting unforgettable experiences. What made this trip truly exceptional was the outstanding service provided by their dedicated travel agent, Margarita Moreno.

From the moment we began planning our adventure, Margarita's expertise and commitment to ensuring our satisfaction shone through. Our group consisted of high-profile, spontaneous world travellers with changing unique plans and demands, and Margarita not only met but exceeded every expectation.

One of the standout features of KimKim's service was the seamless customization of our itinerary. Margarita listened attentively to our preferences and meticulously curated an itinerary that perfectly balanced cultural exploration, relaxation, and adventure. The result was a journey that felt tailor-made for us, providing an authentic and immersive experience in each city.

What truly set Margarita apart, however, was her unwavering dedication to going above and beyond her duties. I was very impressed, when in Medellin we commissioned a large format artwork, and Margarita took it upon herself to shipped to us in USA. The fact that she went the extra mile to coordinate the shipping speaks volumes about her commitment to ensuring our satisfaction and creating lasting memories.

Throughout the trip, Margarita's attention to detail, extensive local knowledge, and proactive communication made everything effortless. From organizing private tours to recommending hidden gems, she demonstrated a level of professionalism and personalization that truly set KimKim apart.

The accommodations selected for us were not only luxurious but also strategically located, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the local culture and vibrant atmospheres of Cartagena, Medellin, and Bogota. Every day felt like a new adventure, and we owe much of that to Margarita's thoughtful planning.

The trip was very well organized. All the guides and drivers showed up when they were supposed to. The guides were all very knowledgeable and personable. We spent the most time with Andres for our Playa Tayrona National Park portion of the trip. He was a great person to work with, fun, knowledgeable and polite and well organized. We had a great day hiking with him in the Park and another great day with him tubing down the Don Diego River. Our private boat trip through the Rosario Islands to snorkel was fantastic!

One aspect of Kim Kim I loved was being able to ask questions of the guide on What's App such as what to bring, when we were going to have lunch, etc. It was like having a personal guide with you all the time at your disposal.

I would highly recommend Wendy and the KIM KIM team for your travels to Colombia.

This trip was really wonderful. Margarita was excellent. She was responsive and always able to come up with plans and was extremely accommodating to our preferences and requests. The on-site representatives and drivers were great. They were on time, friendly and easy to communicate with. Of note, Camelo and Andres were absolutely wonderful, going above and beyond. Andres was extremely knowledgeable about the history and facts of Colombia. He treated us like special guests throughout our time together. The hotels and restaurants that Margarita selected were excellent quality. We'll definitely be using KimKim to plan future travel adventures. Thank you!