by Sandi Todorovich, Luxury Travel Advisor

South America was a region of the world that I had not yet experienced, mainly due to the fact that I was living in Europe and focusing on other parts of the world, until I eventually returned to the USA. When I found out we were invited to a wedding of a dear friend in Colombia, I was ecstatic to hit my first country “over there”. The wedding would take place in Cartagena, but as I thoroughly researched Colombia, I discovered that its regions are quite different from one another. I knew we had to make it a 10-day trip and explore the various areas. Each region has its own history and a different climate than the others as well, so it was really like taking three trips in in one.

We started the trip in Bogota, Colombia’s capital, located at an altitude of over 8,500 feet, in the Eastern Andes. While Bogota lies almost on the equator, due to its high altitude the average daily temperature is only 60 - 64 degrees year-round. Dress in layers and be prepared for off and on rain!

Most of the hotel areas are located north of the historical center in Zona G, Zona Rosa, Park 93, and even further north in Usaquén. This once-separate city is a fashionable neighborhood with colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, a central plaza, a Sunday market and plenty of bars.

Taxis are very easy to use in Bogota, but be prepared for the lack of English being spoken throughout the city. I found that the best way to get around, albeit a slightly higher price, is arranging a vehicle through the hotel.

We spent our days exploring the different neighborhoods and hitting the obligatory tourist spots such at the Gold Museum and a visit to the top of Monserrate for the incredible sprawling view of the whole city. There is a very large and international dining scene in Bogota, with numerous upscale restaurants around Zona G and Park 93.

After 3 nights in Bogota, we took a 50-minute flight on the domestic airline, Avianca, to Medellín, the second largest city in Colombia, in the Antioquia region. In this “City of Eternal Spring,” the average high is 81 degrees year-round. English is spoken more frequently here than in Bogota, but it is not widely used. Medellín is known as a friendly city and once here, it’s hard to believe it was ever known as the most violent city in the world. Recently, its homicide rate and extreme poverty have dramatically decreased, thanks in part to a group of innovative mayors who laid out plans to integrate the poorest and most violent hillside neighborhoods into the city center in the valley below. By using a cable car system, they were able to significantly cut down travel time between the two locations, which increased the opportunities for work. In 2013, Medellín was chosen as the most innovative city in the world.

We had only 2 nights to spend here, and spent one day exploring the city. On the second day we wanted to venture outside of town to take in some of the local villages and hiking opportunities. We hired a driver for the day who took us to La Piedra Del Peñol and Guatapé, approximately 2 hours away. La Piedra is a massive stone rising 650 feet out of the flat ground of Guatapé that you can ascend to the top for stunning views of the surrounding lakes and islands. The climb up is done entirely by a set of 649 stairs that have been built into one side of the rock. The ascent is straight up, but the vantage point from the top is worth the effort!

After the climb, we went to the nearby town of Guatapé to spend a few hours exploring the streets. This picturesque town is known for their zócalos - the beautifully sculpted and painted depictions of village life that adorn the lower half of most buildings in the town center. It is truly a contrast to the cosmopolitan larger cities we had just visited.

On Day 6, we flew just one hour north to the beautiful Caribbean seaside city of Cartagena, where we spent the next 5 days. Unlike Bogota and Medellín, Cartagena features a tropical wet and dry climate, with average highs around 90° and humidity averaging around 90% year-round. English is spoken here much more frequently than in the south.

Cartagena is comprised of 4 main areas including downtown, San Diego, Getsemaní, and Bocagrande. We stayed in the popular area of San Diego, inside the city walls, in both the Sofitel Santa Clara and the Casa San Agustin. Both hotels are high-end, but have totally different vibes going on. The Sofitel is a large and grand luxury hotel with plenty of dining options. Their enormous swimming pool was a necessity with the heat and humidity after a day of walking around town! On the other hand, the boutique Casa San Agustin was charming and romantic, with an authentic Colombian style combined with contemporary touches throughout the hotel. The center courtyard pool is part of an ancient aqueduct and has a serene feeling to it. Both hotel choices are great options, depending on your personal preferences.

There is much to see and do in Cartagena, and we were unable to do it all due to the extravagant wedding activities that were being planned for us while there. You must walk the walls and venture off into the streets, as they are so quaint and colorful. You can rent a boat to the islands for the day – a very popular thing to do! The dining choices in Cartagena are plentiful, between local Colombian options and high-end fine cuisine. We fell in love with this ‘City of Sun’, and were so happy to end our stay here.

Overall, our first trip to South America was a huge success, and we can’t wait to see what the next adventure brings our way!