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Ridiculously Cheap Airfares to Columbia - Should we go?

Ridiculously Cheap Airfares to Columbia - Should we go?

Old Sep 1st, 2015, 02:27 PM
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Ridiculously Cheap Airfares to Columbia - Should we go?

Part of the way that we end up places is an spontaneous leaping on good deals when ever they come along and I think we may be heading to Bogota because of a deal that's currently available on American.

In case anyone is interested American currently has some ridiculously cheap fares to Bogota, I found $289 roundtrip from San Francisco in March though others were reporting closer to $200.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...264-ai-rt.html

Was I planning a trip to Columbia you may ask? Well, no is the answer, but Columbia IS on our very long list of places we'd like to go, sometime!

I had a ticket I needed to book to New York (mid Nov - late Dec) so I spent a few hours last night playing around with the routings and I came up with SFO- NYC, NYC-BOG, BOG-SFO for $505 including taxes! So it looks like a couple of weeks in Columbia from just after Christmas into mid Jan, coming home on a flight from Bogota to Cancun and then San Francisco. I was looking at spending about $550 for the flights to New York (because we were coming back over the holidays) so essentially we're getting the possibility of flight to Columbia for free.

I can cancel anytime up till this evening, so if anyone has any thoughts on Columbia do chime in. Perhaps the holidays are not the best time to go? It seems there's plenty to do and it's quite reasonably priced. I've had a very quick glance at some of the more recent trip reports and it looks like an interesting spot. We're interested in architecture, history, culture, food, snorkeling etc.

If anyone else is interested in a cheap deal to Columbia do check out the flights before they go away.
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Old Sep 1st, 2015, 05:08 PM
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I just got back from Colombia and would enthusiastically recommend it. There's still a bit of grit in places, of course, but not more than home. Cartagena is delightfully picturesque, Medellin is fascinating and vibrant, and Coffee Zone is lush and lovely. I didn't get to nearly as much of the country as I would have liked (18 days included two in Nicaragua and three in the Peruvian Amazon before Colombia) but really enjoyed what I did see. I met some of the nicest people there.

I'm planning to do a trip report at some point soon, but who knows when that will be in reality...

Anyway, I'd say to go for it!
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Old Sep 1st, 2015, 08:16 PM
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Thanks Amy,
I really appreciate the encouraging remarks. I haven't changed the ticket so looks like we'll have 19 days in Columbia. Given how little we know about Columbia I would love to read any further thoughts you have and or any sort of trip report!
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Old Sep 2nd, 2015, 02:27 AM
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I'll get on to the trip report soon but in the meantime, here are some picture links(with captions)from my trip to Colombia:


Cartagena:
https://missalg.smugmug.com/Travel/Colombia-2015

Santa Elena, Medellin, Pereira, and Bogota:
https://missalg.smugmug.com/Santa-El...dellin-Pereira
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Old Sep 2nd, 2015, 12:23 PM
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Amy,
Thanks so much for posting the links, I think we've made the right decision to go! My only worry is that it could be very busy over the New Year or that places we go will be shut down for the holiday, we'll arrive into Bogota Dec 26th and leave on Jan 14th.

I loved your photos, the people, the food, the flowers. Perhaps now is the time to start drinking coffee! The weather in Cartegena looked great and it looks very scenic. Medellin looks really interesting too, I was fascinated to see the cable cars used as public transport.

I need to have a closer look at everything but thanks for the inspiration it is very much appreciated. Looking forward to your trip report. I would say "no pressure" - but it wouldn't be true!
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Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 10:58 PM
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I'm not sure that I should be allowed to go to a country when I can't spell the name! It is of course Colombia not the rubbish I wrote above.
I DO wish Fodor's had an edit button.

We're just starting on the research, bear in mind we had no intention to go beyond New York a few days ago and now we're off to Bogota. I'm already aware that 19 days isn't that long for such a large country. San Augustin and Tierradentro look interesting as does Medellin and Cartagena.

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2015/...a-edition.html
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Old Sep 4th, 2015, 09:35 AM
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Hey WTB -- we arrive in Bogota on 12 January! once again our paths could cross on yet another continent. We're spending about 3 weeks in Colombia before going to Ecuador for a month. If you havent read glovers TR try to find it.
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Old Sep 4th, 2015, 09:42 AM
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And Amy, pls do a TR -- there is so little on Colombia.
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Old Sep 4th, 2015, 10:16 AM
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OMG! LOL! OMG

Yestravel, I can't believe it, really I'm in shock - which should be evident from the excessive use of exclamations marks!!!. The US, Europe, Asia and now South America, what are the chances and all without any conscious planning?

Too funny. I haven't booked or planned anything (perhaps I can steal/share your ideas) but we fly out on the 14th so we will be back on Bogota Jan 13th. Getting together sounds.

I've started Glover's TR but need to spend more time scouring it.

FYI Amy's started her trip report, yay.
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Old Sep 4th, 2015, 12:15 PM
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Yes, Yay to Amy's TR...waiting for it.

Our travel stars must be crossed. The itn is on its way.
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Old Sep 5th, 2015, 10:27 AM
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Thanks Yestravel!
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Old Sep 7th, 2015, 07:23 PM
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I think I wrote that their Christmas holidays run from mid December to mid January, so I wouldn't wait too long to line up hotels in popular vacation destinations. Maybe that would mean Bogota is less crowded, though. I stayed a few nights in Abadia Colonial in the old Candelaria section, and a few nights at Hotel B3 Virrey in the newer section. Also did a short side trip to Villa De Leyva.

I have a trip report here from last year.

http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...-next-week.cfm
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Old Sep 7th, 2015, 07:33 PM
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I think SusaninToronto will also have a report worth reading, in addition to glover.
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Old Sep 7th, 2015, 10:56 PM
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Thanks mlgb, I've been scouring the forum and did see your trip report which I very much appreciated, along with the others mentioned. It seems you are one of the "cheap flights lets go" brigade, like ourselves. I loved the confusion over the changing of the guard in your report!

I appreciate the reminder about the holidays and I'm trying to arrange an itinerary as soon as possible. here's what we're leaning towards, it's not particularly typical but hopefully it will cover our interests and as you said in your report you can come back to see the rest.

ITINERARY 19 nights - Would love any feedback from Fodorites

3 nights in Bogota on arrival, would love to do the graffiti tour (loved your pictures) main fruit and veggie market, Botero and gold museum. We'll probably stay in Chapinero when we arrive and La Candelaria when we depart.

2/3 nights San Augustin, direct flight to Nieva and bus or transfer to the UNESCO World Heritage Archeological zone. We could stop in the Tatacoa desert for a night (amazing star gazing apparently) and then head south for San Augustin.

2 nights Tierradentro, arrive by road - again bus or transfer. If we take a jeep we would be able to stop at additional archeological sites like Alto de los Idolos and others on the route. Here we'd hike to the surrounding burial sites and statues. Seeing the area on horseback is also an option.

2/3 nights Popayan, by road - you guessed it bus or transfer. It's a colonial city and was recognized by UNESCO as a City of Gastronomy whatever that means!

2/3 night in Pasto for their Carnaval de Negros y Blancos. It looks like an amazing event and it falls on the five days prior Epiphany. Again we'll travel by road. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacks...es%27_Carnival

4 nights Cartagena we'll fly north via Bogota/Cali or Medellin.

1 night Bogota prior to returning to US. Hope to meet Yestravel and Gotravel.

We have an extra day or two and if we don't head down to the Carnaval in Pasto we could fit in Medellin and/or the coffee growing area. Right now we could add a day to Bogota on the way back or to Cartagena. This is all very preliminary, but we're excited by the combination of history, ancient artifacts, culture, colonial architecture and hiking that we'll be able to combine on this southern loop.

Accommodation seems reasonable but I have to say hiring a car or jeep through an agency for private transfers is MUCH more expensive than in many of the other places we've travelled recently (Egypt, Burma, Sri Lanka) so perhaps we'll end up on the bus. Hopefully it will probably be cheaper to arrange on the ground, though it's generally my presence to arrange this stuff in advance.


Let me know if you have any thoughts? One thing we have to look into a little more carefully is safety in this region, though there seem to be plenty of backpackers. The advice I've read says not to take night buses but I wouldn't do that anyway. There aren't so many reports on this area as it was previously hit with FARC activity.
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Old Sep 8th, 2015, 10:31 AM
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I'll be interested in comments since as you said, its "not particularly typical." Carnival sounds fascinating. I can never decide whether to include carnivals and festivals or avoid them.

In terms of holidays we were also told that the first couple weeks in January include the holidays and many places become very crowded. But, really, you travel when you can and just adjust as much as you can.
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Old Sep 8th, 2015, 11:24 AM
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Yes I think it will be busy well into January which is why we're thinking of heading south and ending in Cartagena. I think you're very sensible to arrive later.

In some of the Pasto Carnaval stuff I found says they get a lots of foreign visitor, but if so only a few of them are talking about it! I'm not sure how much feedback I'm going to get. I can't find it on any English tour itineraries and there are still plenty of hotel rooms available so it's not quite Rio! There are a few comments on Thorntree and TripAdvisor but not much overall.

We're also ambivalent about these things but for some reason this looks interesting. I particularly like the final day which is dedicated to the "Guinea Pig and Country Life"! Lots of dressed up guinea pigs and lots to eat too! The only other time we went to something like this was in Cachoeria in Brazil (Salvador) where I looked up friends of friends and we ended up staying under a staircase, not idea to say the least. here at least we'll have a proper hotel room!
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Old Sep 9th, 2015, 12:05 AM
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Here's a blog post that gives you a sense for the Carnaval for anyone that's interested...
http://discoveringice.com/1966/trave...-colombia.html
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Old Sep 9th, 2015, 05:06 AM
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Wow! Very colorful. I could do without the powder or whatever they are throwing, but otherwise looks like a fun time to me. Can't wait to hear about it.
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Old Sep 9th, 2015, 11:28 AM
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I'd be going if it was me...love SA festivals.

You could always go for just a day or two.
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Old Sep 10th, 2015, 05:43 PM
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Ok, I think we're moving towards a final itinerary. As you suggested mlgb we'll plan on a short trip to the Carnaval, we'll be in Pasto for two nights. I'm not looking forward to being covered in shaving cream and talc, but that seems to be the price of admission!

3 nights Bogota
3 nights San Augustin (for New Year)
2 nights Tierradentro
2 nights Popayan
2 nights Pasto (Carnaval)
3 nights Medellin (Christmas lights!)
3 nights Cartegena
1 night Bogota

We'll fly from Bogota to Nieva (for San Augustin), Pasto to Medellin, Medellin to Cartagena and Cartegena to Bogota, not that Ive booked any of it yet!

Getting to and from Tierradentro looks like a BIG hassle. I read something that mentioned only one bus daily at 6am! I'm quite happy to take a half decent intercity bus but I think my days of getting up at the crack of dawn to hanging onto a boneshaking country bus. where I might not get a seat for a 6 plus hour journey might be over!

Unfortunately, I've had little luck with the travel agencies who quoted ALOT for the San Augustin - Tierradentro-Popayan triangle. Instead I contacted someone at a small hotel in San Augustin and it looks like we can prebook taxi/jeep transfers through them. I think it will be well worth the cost. We'll bus it between Popayan and Pasto which looks straightforward.

The travel agents seem to want huge amounts to customize this part of the itinerary so I'm glad to have an alternative. We'll have some luxury at the beginning (Bogota) and the end (Cartagena) but the rest looks pretty modest, to be honest modest is the only option in the places we're going in the south, they look simple but good.

On the luxury end of things has anyone stayed at the Tcherassi Hotel in Cartagena?
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