My Travel Plans Revealed – Where I’m Heading Next Month!

I’m sorry for springing that big travel announcement on you and then immediately going silent. I’ve spent this last week of work having drinks with friends, going to parties and dinners, and eating big lunches nearly each day of the week. I was exhausted. (And my stomach hurt.) But I’m still super pumped about all of this support – I just can’t keep doing all these weeknight cocktails… and I cannot eat anymore cake!

But now I can finally reveal my plans for the next few months! Are you ready?

Wax Palms in Salento – Photo Credit:  Jonas Schleske (changes made)

I’m going to Colombia!

(Yes, the country, not the capital of South Carolina. Please don’t spell it wrong again, mom.)

Before you freak out, as many of you undoubtedly know, Colombia is no longer all drug cartels and violence like it was in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. I too have been watching Narcos (yeah, it’s amazing) and I know that our parents probably remember much of that violence from the news.

But Colombia has really turned things around, and now tourism is flourishing in many areas of this beautiful, vibrant country. Medellín, once the murder capital of the world, was recently named Innovative City of the Year in a global competition by the Urban Land Institute and the Wall Street Journal. The Colombian people were even voted the happiest in the world. The biodiversity of this country is huge (so many plants, animals, and crazy fruits!), the best coffee is grown here, the people are beautiful (um, Miss Universe is so pretty that her face makes me want to cry), and it’s the birthplace of salsa dancing. Also, the Spanish they speak is reportedly some of the clearest – as in, it’s spoken with the least accent – but I’ll believe that when I hear it.

(Not to compare it to that other Latin American country I lived in, but Argentina, your Spanish is SO hard to understand, your people are definitely not the friendliest, and tango is extremely difficult!)

Cartagena de Indias – Photo Credit:  Luz Adriana Villa

Where to first?

On October 6th, I’m boarding a flight to Cartagena, Colombia. It’s a colorful colonial town on the Caribbean Coast. It’s steamy hot and incredibly historic, bordered by a wall and fort built by the Spanish who arrived in the 1500s. There’s street food (arepas!), nearby beaches, and lovely plazas to hang out in.

Cartagena is undoubtedly a popular tourist destination, so prices here are somewhat inflated, but it’s a beautiful, must-see destination. I only have my first two nights booked, so I’ll be able to move on to the next destination once I’ve had my fill.

And I truly hate the cold weather, so I’m getting out of North Carolina just in time. Who knew that it’s actually a quick, cheap flight from RDU to Cartagena?

Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona – Photo Credit:  Mark Rowland

And then?

I’d like to make my way up the Caribbean coast to Santa Marta, get Scuba certified, and hike through Parque Tayrona to the beaches. If I’m not tired of the ocean yet, then I may head further up the coast to Palomino, a sleepier beach town, or maybe check out some waterfalls in Minca. But who knows? I hate to even tell you potential plans, because I know how they might all change.

I want to visit Bogotá and Medellín, see any town in the Zona Cafetera (the coffee region), hike the Valle de Cocora, maybe pass through Calí or Popayán, do a food tour or two, and take some Spanish lessons along the way. I actually had a list of all of the things I want to do in Colombia that was entirely too long, but I think I better leave it at this:  There are SO many things I want to do!

That’s why I’m going to Colombia. The geography and landscapes, the weather, the cities, the outdoor activities, the people, the rave reviews it gets from travelers, and the opportunity to practice my Spanish. And, not to be opportunistic, but the Colombian peso is currently at a record low against the dollar, making Colombia more of a budget destination than ever.

Bogotá – Photo Credit:  Eduardo Zárate

What about after Colombia?

Well, I’ll be making my way south through Ecuador and Peru. The only thing that will be defining my itinerary is meeting my dad in Lima. We’ll be traveling to Cusco to potentially hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (and yes, I’m working on booking those permits right now – it’s low season, so fingers crossed!).

The idea is to keep the schedule loose and so I’ll be able to stay longer in the places that I love, though I realize this could end up with me having to haul ass through South America to meet my dad in time. We’ll just have to see…

Guatapé, Colombia – Photo Credit:  Jenny Cardona

I’m super excited to visit South America again after a six year hiatus, and I’m open to any and all suggestions! Please let me know if you have any must-dos in Colombia, Ecuador, or Peru or recommendations in general for my trip!

Yes, I’m getting a little nervous, and I’m also starting to think that maybe I should’ve given myself more time in between the end of work and the start of my trip (gotta get those paychecks though, right?). But for now I’m enjoying waking up whenever I want and working leisurely on my blog, because I’ve got all damn day to do it! The freedom is glorious.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve just got to go call all of my banks and credit card companies to let them know where I’m going…

Are you surprised at my destinations? Do you have any tips or must-see sites in Colombia? Let me know!