Kimkim Trip Reviews for Colombia

Margoth and the team were fantastic. They provided us with an amazing trip. All our tour guides and drivers were excellent. Everything went smoothly and we enjoyed it all. Margoth and the team were available to us throughout to answer any questions we had and help us with bookings. Cannot recommend them enough. Thank you!

We had a really lovely experience in Colombia, and can't wait to return. In hindsight, we may have not moved from place to place quite as often, but given the amount of time we had in the country, I think Michael did an excellent job of maximizing our time while there. There were amazing things in every area, but the magic of El Dorado Nature Reserve and Venecia House cannot be overstated. Fred, at El Dorado Nature Reserve is one of the kindest and most lovely people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. His energy was so calm, warm, and sweet. Everyone at El Dorado works so incredibly hard, and it did not go unnoticed and was so appreciated by my partner and I. The food was delicious, the rooms were lovely, and we really enjoyed sitting out on our balcony in our downtime. It's truly one of the most beautiful places, if not the most beautiful place, I have ever been to. The view from the restaurant is jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Though Tayrona National Park was very hot and humid, our day exploring with our guide had lots of rewards. From the beautiful park itself to the birds, to the adorable monkeys. It was a really incredible place, and our guide, Juaren, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and even went above and beyond to help us find one of our favorite birds! He was also our guide the previous days in Minca, where we went to a beautiful waterfall and on a morning birding hike with him.

Cesar, our guide for our Santa Marta city tour was also excellent. He braved a very very hot day in Santa Marta with us and made it enjoyable despite the scorching sun. (Which was no easy task!) We learned so much from him and really enjoyed our time with him and getting to know more about Colombia's history.

Heading to Manizales and the Venecia Coffee Farm House was a welcome respite from the heat of Santa Marta. We instantly felt relaxed upon arriving to the house. From the beautiful open rooms to the beautiful views from the wrap-around porch. Hammocks can be found in various spots around the porch, perfect for a nap and relaxing. The ladies who work at Venecia are so incredibly kind, and make some of the most delicious food. I am still dreaming about one of the soups we had while there.

While in Manizales we really loved our amazing guides at the Tinamou reserve. Another magical experience. The place was beautiful, and we saw many species of birds while there. The breakfast and lunch were very tasty and our guides were very knowledgeable and kind.

We also visited Finca Romelia which was also really nice. The owners, Jose and Marisa, were so welcoming. Jose's passion for the orchids, his home, and the nature around him was infectious. We loved getting to chat with him about his beautiful plants and home and felt inspired by the passion he has for this amazing place. Marisa prepared a fabulous lunch and breakfast for us, and easily accommodated us being vegetarian. Adrian, our guide, and his brother Juan, were the sweetest. We had a really nice time walking the property looking at birds, but also just chatting with them and getting to know them and the family more. It was a more relaxing day which was welcome and treasured.

The very minor issues we did have (and they were very very minor, such as not being able to locate our driver at one spot for a few minutes) were always quickly resolved by Michael. He was very responsive and helpful to any questions we had, though everything ran very smoothly and we didn't need to reach out very often. All of our drivers were great as well. We were very sad to leave Colombia and can't wait to return for even more adventures.

Hotel Reviews

El Dorado Nature Reserve

Minca

The magic of El Dorado Nature Reserve cannot be overstated. Fred, at El Dorado Nature Reserve is one of the kindest and most lovely people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. His energy was so calm, warm, and sweet. Everyone at El Dorado works so incredibly hard, and it did not go unnoticed and was so appreciated by my partner and I. The food was delicious, the rooms were lovely, and we really enjoyed every minute of our stay at El Dorado. It's truly one of the most beautiful places, if not the most beautiful place, I have ever been to. The view from the restaurant is jaw-droppingly beautiful. We saw so many amazing birds, creatures, and plants during our stay. Our balcony provided a great bird-watching post, as did the restaurant when we wanted to take a break from hiking and relax. I definitely would love to go back!

Authenticity & Character

The people that work here, and the nature that surrounds you is absolutely magical

Location

It's one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. I like that it's hidden up in the mountains away from everything.

Staff

The entire staff was so lovely. Fred was absolutely amazing and made us feel so welcome and cared for.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was very clean and the beds were comfy. Loved our balcony!

Hacienda Venecia Coffee Farm

Manizales

Heading to Manizales and the Venecia Coffee Farm House was a welcome respite from the heat of Santa Marta. We instantly felt relaxed upon arriving at the house. From the gorgeous open rooms to the beautiful views from the wrap-around porch. Hammocks can be found in various spots around the porch, perfect for a nap and relaxing. The ladies who work at Venecia are so incredibly kind, and make some of the most delicious food. I am still dreaming about one of the soups we had while there. Everything was very clean, and we loved being surrounded by such amazing nature and wonderful people.

Authenticity & Character

The house itself is really beautiful, and I love that they have preserved and maintained the property from it's original design. The colors are cheery, and look so lovely against the greens of the plants surrounding it. The people who work here are so kind and wonderful.

Location

Absolutely beautiful house, gardens, and views.

Staff

Some of the kindest people ever. The ladies are so incredibly kind and talented.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfy beds and very clean rooms.

Activity Review

Santa Marta City Tour

Colombia

Cesar, our guide for our Santa Marta city tour was also excellent. He braved a very very hot day in Santa Marta with us and made it enjoyable despite the scorching sun. (Which was no easy task!) We learned so much from him and really enjoyed our time with him and getting to know and see more about Colombia's history.

Quality of Experience

Cesar was very friendly, knowledgeable, and entertaining.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was so friendly and kind. Both the driver and Cesar were so nice.

Transport

Comfy car, with cool air conditioning, and always ready to pick us up to move on to the next spot.

This was my first time planning a trip through KimKim. Normally I enjoy doing the travel planning myself, but I thought I'd give KimKim a try. I'm so happy they connected me with Michael and the Chaska Tours team. Planning with Michael was a breeze, and he was very patient with all of my questions and itinerary changes. Not only did they take care of all the mundane logistics (e.g. airport transfers, a driver to transfer us 5 hours to our next hotel, in-country flights, etc.), but they also set us up with some fantastic guides in each city. Luis Miguel in Medellin was especially knowledgeable about the local history, and our guide in Parque Tayrona jogged in the sweltering heat to find a medic for my husband who had a sudden illness (husband is OK, but it was a little scary at the time!). Michael also suggested activities that I don't think I would've found on my own; for example, in Bogota we did a lovely dinner with 2 amazing ladies who are seeking to build cultural connections over food. The service from everyone they booked us with was top-notch - everyone was on time, super friendly and we had an amazing vacation.

Activity Reviews

Visit the Silletera Culture & The Flowers of Santa Elena

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee-Culture Tour

Medellín

This was a perfectly fine tour, not a bad way to spend a few hours if you have them. It was different than other coffee farms we had been to, so it was interesting to see the difference in farming methods.

Quality of Experience

The farmer seemed like he really knew his stuff about coffee. However, he spoke quite softly so it was hard to hear and understand him at times. We were grateful to have our local guide there with us as well, as he was able to add in additional commentary

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tubing on Don Diego River

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boquilla Mangrove Tour

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bogotá Walking Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monserrate Hill Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Social Dinner-Experience: Colombian Food

Bogotá

This was such a great experience and warm welcome to Colombia! We thought we were going to a restaurant, and were quite surprised to be dropped off at an apartment. But we felt instantly at home with a warmest welcome and shots of aguardiente. We learned a lot about Colombian cuisine and the value of food diversity. It was so great to get away from the touristy parts and to meet some Bogota locals. This was one of our most personable, memorable experiences of Colombia and I'd highly recommend it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traffic in Bogota is no joke! It took us longer to get there than expected (but not the fault of our driver)

Hike Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park

The hike itself is beautiful and we saw many animals along the way - monkeys, iguanas, crabs, lizards, etc. We are all in pretty good shape and hike with some regularity. However, we weren't prepared for the humidity - it was HOT - and that made the trip a bit miserable to be honest. Our guide was great and very patient, and adapted the schedule to our needs. But I would definitely check the weather before doing this hike again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cartagena Street Food Tour

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rosario Islands Day Trip

Cartagena

Honestly, I wasn't sure that I was going to like this. Many of the videos I'd seen online showed the Rosario Islands as a complete party destination, and that wasn't really what we were looking for. But it was actually quite peaceful and relaxing. We went an hour by boat from Cartagena to a small cove on an island. We were assigned our own shaded lounging bed on the beach. There were maybe 25-30 other beds and lounges, somewhat close together but it didn't feel too crowded. Lunch was included, but snacks and drinks were available to order; while they were more expensive than what'd you'd see on the mainland, they weren't ridiculously overpriced. The biggest drawback was that there were a lot of jellyfish in the water, which really discouraged everyone from swimming. Plus, it was so hot and humid going in the water and braving the jellyfish was the only way to cool off.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guatavita Lagoon & Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral Day Trip

Bogotá

I revisited the Salt Mines on this trip as I wanted to show it to my family. It was worth going back to, although some of us felt a little carsick from the road and exhaust. This was just a minor inconvenience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

Our guide was phenomenal, providing a wealth of information about the city's history and politics. The tour highlighted the city's transformation, which was quite fascinating to learn about. Definitely one of the best guides we had on the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peñol Boulder & Guatapé Boat Trip

Medellín

This was a great experience. The area was absolutely gorgeous, making me wish we could have spent a night there. Lunch was included at a restaurant in town, which was a nice touch

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate & Rum Tasting

Cartagena

This was run by the same company that handled the chocolate workshop. The rum tasting was a fantastic experience which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate Workshop

Cartagena

This was a hit with both myself and my daughters (ages 23 and 16). The air-conditioned environment was a definite plus in the heat. It was a fun experience and one of our favorite activities on the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thanks to Michael and his team for planning an amazing trip in Columbia. Communication was excellent throughout and Michael made sure everything went smoothly for us. He did a great job customizing the trip to our interests and finding unique accommodations. The guides and drivers were all very good.

My friends and I just returned from a 9 day adventure in Cartagena, Columbia. Everything was arranged by Michael at KimKim. When we arrived at the airport, we had a driver waiting for us.
Our guide in Cartagena, Lee was fantastic and was funny and informative. We did the Toluma volcano mud bath and it was awesome! We traveled North to Santa Marta, Riohacha & Cabo de la Vela. We hiked in Tayrona National Park. It was so beautiful, but VERY HOT AND HUMID!! the hike in was 2 1/2 hours and pretty easy. But after swimming and having wet/sandy feet, I developed blisters and so we opted to ride the horses back out. This was an amazing choice, the horses were very well behaved. We drove further north and visited a Wayuu village and were welcomed into their rancheria in Manaure. We then ventured to Cabo de la Vela in a very remote area. The rustic accommodations were charming and clean. The food was delicious. Our guide Estephanie, was so nice and took really good care of us. Our driver (Jr,) was also very nice and knew the local language and we felt very safe. Our last day back in Cartagena, we met up with Lee again for a local market tour and a visit to the Fort Castle San Felipe de Barajas.
Everyone says Colombia 🇨🇴 is not safe, however I felt very safe here, the people were friendly, the food was delicious and the old walled city is AMAZING with its colonial architecture. It has a Caribbean vibe, the streets are colorful and the music has a great beat.

There is one thing to be aware of though. Twice on our drive to Santa Marta and Riohacha, we were stopped by unannounced road protests. Groups of people will block the roads in protest of something the government is doing. It just depends on how long it takes the police to arrive and open the roads. The first time, we were stopped for approximately 45 minutes. Our driver had been stuck there before for over 4 hours! Then on the way to Riohacha, they blocked a bridge and were only letting 40 cars cross each hour. We were about 100 cars back so we thought we’d be stuck for a long time. But after about an hour, the police cleared the protesters. So just be aware that those types of things can happen at any time. We did not have any issues returning to Cartagena thankfully!

Thank you Michael, Lee, Estephanie & Jr for an amazing time in Colombia 🇨🇴

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa Tere

Cartagena

Great location for walking in the old walled city! Great breakfast, cute rooftop pool and very clean. It is located in the Getsemani area. I did end up in the shower (covered in soap and shampoo) when the water ran out and they had to activate the reserve tank which took about 10 minutes.

Authenticity & Character

Charming

Location

Great location to walk everywhere in the walled city.

Staff

Everyone!

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had 3 queen size beds for the 3 of us which was really nice.

Hotel Akuamarina

Santa Marta

This hotel was in a good location for walking to the bay and shopping, restaurants etc..

Authenticity & Character

This hotel is very basic. It was clean and the breakfast was good, but had no hot water for showers. It’s a good thing it’s very hot there so the cool water was tolerable.

Location

Staff

Very friendly and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vey basic amenities.

Hotel Taroa

La Guajira

This hotel was great! They couldn’t accommodate the 3 of us together so we each got our own room. I slept so well there. Shower had hot water and the rooftop restaurant was very nice with great views!

Authenticity & Character

Very modern and clean.

Location

Right across the street from the beach.

Staff

Very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was very comfortable. They did shut off the AC in the middle of the night though.

Ranchería

A VERY Rustic place. It’s in the middle of nowhere. Right on the beach in Cabo de la Vela. The dinner was delicious, but the breakfast was very small and just ok. There is no electricity during the day or hot water. They finally turned on the generator after it was pitch dark for about an hour. Great for stargazing as there is no light pollution.

Authenticity & Character

Minimalism at its finest. Basically camping.

Location

The journey to get here is very treacherous. There are zero paved roads and it’s very bumpy.

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Walking tour in Cartagena's Historic Center

Cartagena

Lee did a fantastic job of giving us the history of this beautiful city.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lee was amazing !!

Transport

AC!

Tour to Totumo Volcano

Cartagena

We love a spa treatment so we were excited to bathe in the 51 healing minerals of Totumo. You need to be able to climb up and down a slippery ladder into and out of the mud pit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park

The hike is about 2 hours to the beach. It’s a moderate hike but the heat and humidity make it more difficult. Stay hydrated and take your time. The beaches are beautiful and we swam for a good amount of time. The food was delicious. We opted to ride the horses back out as I developed blisters from my wet water shoes. The horses were very well behaved and they handled the steep terrain very well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was great! He showed us frogs and lizards and crabs. He was knowledgeable about the indigenous peoples that live in the national park. He secured horses for us when my feet were hurting from my blisters.

Transport

Door to door service with AC!

Tour to Cabo de Vela (2D/1N)

La Guajira Desert

This place is difficult to reach! There are no bathrooms and it’s about a four hour trek on bumpy dirt roads.

Quality of Experience

Food

The fried fish was 10/10

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Estephanie & Jr. were outstanding.

Transport

Very bumpy and dirt roads for hours.

Local Market Experience: Bazurto Market

Cartagena

Lee is a great guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a very smooth trip to Colombia thanks to Margarita and the local guides we worked with in Cartagena and Medellin. Would definitely recommend this service and use it again!

Colombia was one of the most fantastic places we have visited, a cultural melting pot that is energetic, exciting and full of promise. During our trip we visited Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena, with each feeling like their own unique cultural microcosm. We visited art museums, underground cathedrals, immense beer halls, walked in an energetic pride parade, played Tejo, drinking with locals, walked graffiti covered sidewalks, snorkeled in blue water, and danced the night away in sweaty bars with giant grins on our faces. We barely scratched the surface in our 10 days here, so we look forward to coming back to visit with guides Andrea, Sol and Isaac and the excellent organisation and planning of trip curator Margarita so we can see even more of what this paradise has to offer.
Margarita planned an amazing time for us, with all of our wishes and limitations in mind. She was always available and matched us with guides who were kind, knowledgeable, and lots of fun. We felt looked after at every turn, they went above and beyond.

I want to commend Margoth and the entire team we worked with for the wonderful work they do. I was looking to plan a vacation with my mom when I came across the KimKim website. From the curiosity phase they were quick and friendly. Once I committed, they made sure we were prepared for our trip by contacting us ahead of time with important details like immigration forms and a summary of what to expect ahead of the trip. The hotels as guides were A+. David the guide in Bogota was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and kind. All of our drivers were also very punctual and made sure to stay on schedule. The restaurant recommendations we also superb. On our second leg, we went to Cartagena where again we were met with a great guide. Jose Miguel was very warm and also very knowledgeable. We arrived before check-in and he made sure to wait with us until we were able to get up to our room. We were also connected with the same driver for the entirety of our time in Cartagena and Emerson was a charming and funny guy. He made great conversation and like all the other drivers he was always punctual. There were 2 small instances when we had different drivers and this is when we started to see how how much care Margoth and her team had for our trip. On our trip to a beach club, we had some rain and the driver was late so they made sure Jose Miguel was there to meet us upon our return. He ensured we safely got back to our hotel with a Taxi. He made sure to take down the Taxis info and he ensured a safe arrival. Our favorite activity in Cartagena was the dance class. I would definitely make it longer or make it a multi-day activity on another trip. The last leg of our trip was to Baru. On the way to the dock, I left my cell phone in the back seat of the car and the driver returned immediately to return it. Again, the best service and care from this team. At the Sofitel, we ran into a small medical issue and I reached out to Margoth and her team after hours she immediately escalated the issue and got us some help. Last but not least, we had purchased some jewelry and she had Felipe send us all the info. We arranged to get to the airport and bit earlier to process the tax refund however, the counter would not take our digital copies and they rushed a messenger to the airport with hard copies so we could claim our refund. Again, this team went above and beyond. We were able to process the refund which was about $700 and we made our flight. I had never used a travel agency before and now I may never go back to planning my own trips. This was an incredible experience. Thank you for helping me create wonderful memories with my mom.

The care and professionalism of KimKim staff and guides were evident and much appreciated! Our first guide, Lina, was personable, patient and informative. We really enjoyed her energy and passion for us to learn about Colombia. Her suggestion to visit district 13 was an excellent suggestion! We are an antistatic family, so it was a memorable experience! We wish her all the best with her future endeavors; she has a gift! on our next destination, we briefly met Jhovanny who was briefly filling in for Juan. He was awesome with his bird knowledge and leaving a great impression on us for such a brief moment with him. Out final guide, Juan was personable and humble. He was also knowledgeable about the part, the horses (which he helped us to feel comfortable to touch one!) He and Anderson were very helpful with us arriving to the airport.

My family's biggest gripe was having to get up at 3am, so we would be ready for our pick time. When we arrived to the airport, we waited nearly an hour to check in. It appeared that we could have arrive later since the airport itself wouldn't even be open until 6am! Having to get our children ready for such an early departure was frustrating since we waiting once we arrived.

All in all, the hotels were really beautiful, but please keep in mind that two bathrooms makes far more sense for a family of four.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Terasu Salento

Salento, Quindío

such a beautiful place, great host and relaxing experience overall

Authenticity & Character

Location

We were walking distance from market square.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The pillowcases were damp, but everything was clean and tidy

Quinta Ladera

Medellin

A bohemian vibe that was fun to experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The lack of space for a family of four was not desirable..

Activity Reviews

Social Transformation In Medellín

Medellín

We were very happy to support such a creative neighborhood.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cócora Valley, Salento & Coffee Farm

Colombia

The best part was learning about the high quality coffee and touching the horses that roam free.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

What a great trip. The itinerary that Dean helped me create was a perfect way to visit Colombia. In less than 2 weeks I enjoyed a wonderful introduction to an under appreciated country. Between the gorgeous natural scenery and stunning street art Colombia is an outdoor visual feast.

The tours were excellent with a good mix our outdoor activity and culture. Every guide and driver was a pleasure to meet. All were professional, punctual and knowledgeable. Their passion for Colombia was infectious. I especially enjoyed my time with Lina and Martin in Medellin. Almost immediately I knew I was traveling with friends.

Finally, I’m happy I organized this through kimkim. As soon as I landed in Bogota to start my trip I was greeted by Wendy who graciously escorted me to the hotel, briefly showed me the neighborhood and offered suggestions where to eat. Every step of the way Dean and Wendy communicated travel arrangements (usually boarding passes for in country flights) or just to check in.

Hotel Review

EK Hotel

An excellent hotel with a boutique character. The room was spacious and the bed comfortable. I slept well. Excellent location with many restaurant options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bogota's vibrant street art.

Colombia

If you like street art you will love Colombia! Having a guide like Daniel tell you the back story of some of these wonderful pieces of street art adds so much.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very professional.

Transport

Exclusive Cocora Valley, Salento & Filandia Experience

Colombia

An amazing landscape.

Quality of Experience

Are you kidding? Look at the pictures. This place is special.

Food

A very good choice of restaurant. Very festive atmosphere in the pretty town of Silento.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very professional. Filip was a great guide. He was attentive to my hiking pace while also providing information. I really enjoyed that he did not over talk as some guides may do allowing us both to enjoy some moments of serene silence to soak in this amazing place.

Transport

We avoided the inevitable traffic snarls and crowds. A great job!

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

Medellín

Unfortunately the area around Botero park is not that nice, but really it is no different than other cities. Fortunately, it was but a small distraction from the rest of the tour. The Botero statues are worth seeing and Comuna 13 is special. What the people of this community have done for s an inspiration. I loved being there.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lina took me to berracas de la 13. The service and food was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My first day with Lina and Martin. Within an hour or so I felt like I was traveling with friends. Lina was very knowledgeable in the history of Medellin - the good, bad and infamous. But it was her infectious optimism about the people of Medellin that made this day really special.

Transport

Martin!

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

Colombia

Another great outdoor tour. A great combination of boat ride to see the surroundings from the water, a climb up El Penol for a Birds Eye view, and a stroll through a colorful small town.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My second day with Lina and Martin. I was with friends.

Transport

Martin!

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

Colombia

One of my favorite days in Colombia. I have a new appreciation for the skill, dedication and hard work that goes into my morning coffee. Learning this at Cafe de la Cima was a great experience. They were fantastic hosts and produce great coffee. I’m glad they ship to the US!

Quality of Experience

Food

A great home cooked meal. The arepa with cheese! So delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I really enjoyed sharing a fantastic lunch with Lina and Martin. Lina introduced me to the famous Colombian cheese bread. I want more. She was right. My life would not be same after the cheese bread. :)

Transport

Martin!

Hiking in the Tayrona National Park

Colombia

I expected this to be spectacular and it was. If I were a poet I might be able to do justice with words.

Quality of Experience

The location was worth putting up with the heat and humidity which I normally try to avoid.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very professional and knowledgeable.

Transport

Walking Tour

Cartagena

I really enjoyed walking through the Getsemani neighborhood. Lively and colorful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Isaac was great guide. Very professional. His enthusiasm was infectious and welcome on a hot and humid morning.

Transport

Palenque: The first “free town” for Africans in the Americas

Cartagena

Very interesting tour of a landmark of freedom in the Americas. Glad I visited and I really appreciate the work the people of this community are doing to keep this unique culture alive.

Quality of Experience

Food

One of the best fried fish meals I’ve had. I’m salivating just thinking about it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We planned this trip inspired on the movie Encanto and it paid off! Our group included two seniors, 2 adults and 2 kids (7,8 y/o). We started in Medellin and then visited the Eje Cafeteo. Everything was taken care of. All tours were gear to both adults and kids. My daughters loved the visit to the Silletera Farm. Don Nacho showed them how to build their own flower arrangement. The coffee tour was also super interesting and the whole process kept the seniors and children engaged. It was a little difficult for my mom due to mobility issues but overall Hacienda Combia was an excellent choice. We also went to a chocolate farm (El Turpial), where we learn how to make our own bar of chocolate from scratch, a wonderful hands on experience. We also planted palm trees at Cócora Valley and made baskets in Finlandia. The meals that were included were delicious. Communication was excellent. Overall, I highly recommend going to Colombia. It was an unique lifetime experience for my kids to enjoy w their grandparents.

Hotel Reviews

Bh El Poblado

Medellín

Close proximity to all and very convenient to access food and entertainment.

Location

Next to Santa Fe shopping Mall

Staff

Breakfast was served with delight!

Hostería Mi Mónaco

Armenia

Family own and away from the noise. Peaceful. Well kept.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little tricky to come and go from but if you plan ahead or if you have a car it would be perfect.

Staff

Always willing to help w a smile!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Sazagua

Pereira

I would consider this luxurious. Because it is an eco g friendly hotel it does come w some bugs, but nothing that would stop me from staying again. Rooms were clean, beautiful and spacious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Streetfood Experience

Medellín

Our experience was limited due to my mom’s mobility issues . What we had was great. We wish we would have been able to do more.

Visit the Silletera Culture & The Flowers of Santa Elena

Medellín

Amazing! Don Nacho was one of the highlights of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Interactive Coffee Tour in Hacienda Combia

Armenia

The tour and experience were amazing. Very informative and engaging. The walk is not for anybody who has mobility issues though, but for those able it is a most do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Parque del Café

Colombia

A most do if you have kids. Following the recommendations from our tour guide Carlos, we got there early and were able to do w/o lines. The cafe show was very colorful and professional.

Pablo Escobar History Tour

Medellín

Without glorifying Pablo Escobar, the story behind the recovery after the damage he did was interesting and enlightening. From a historical and educational point of view, we enjoyed learning how Medellin grew to be the city it is now.

Quality of Experience

Lina, our guide was very knowledgeable and was always attentive to our needs. She adjusted the tour based on our preferences and capabilities

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both Fabian and Lina made the tour interesting. We felt comfortable and at home with their grace and kindness.

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

A most do. Bringing to my children the aspects of different ways of living in other countries was refreshing and educational for them. We really enjoyed the art and the culture behind Comuna 13.

Quality of Experience

Peñol Boulder & Guatapé Boat Trip

Medellín

Beautiful sightseeing. Some of us were unable to do the hike to the top but were able to enjoyed the views from the Mirador while enjoying snacks. The boat was a surprising experience that we were not expecting. The boat guide was very entertaining!

Quality of Experience

Food

We enjoyed our lunch. We met the owner and chef of the restaurant and were very please with his offerings. He went out of the way to please our picky eaters.

Visit of Cocora Valley, Filandia & Salento

Salento

Carlos, our tour guide, was amazing. His knowledge of the fauna and flora of the area was very educational. The views were stunning. Planting a palm tree was one of the highlights for my children

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We love Carlos and Guillermo. They made our experience fun.

Transport

Cacao Experience - Finca El Turpial

Colombia

We love the Turpial. Mr. Pierre was wonderful and the experience was amazing for all ages. Not only we were able to enjoy making chocolate from scratch but also other fruits from his farm.

Quality of Experience

Margarita was excellent during the trip and made sure to check in every day to see how the tours were going. The team in Cartagena was excellent and made our stay very enjoyable. Luis really took care of us during the tour in the national aviary and the trip to the Rosario islands, and helped us admire the nature there with his knowledge of the local wildlife. They were also able to adapt when we had to change locations due to AC issues, which was a great help. Carolina was amazing during our time in San Andres and met with us on our arrival to go over the itinerary. She also made sure to meet with us every day before the boat trips to confirm the tours, guide us through the process, and recommend local restaurants with traditional food. Because of Margarita, we had a great time in the Caribbean region of Colombia and I will definitely want to return as soon as possible!

David was responsive and helped us craft a tour that was personalized for our interests. The trip offered excellent variation.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa Deco

Bogotá

The hotel is in a nice location. The rooms are attractive. The hotel is small so you feel more welcome and cared for as compared to large hotels. The problem was that the room faced a busy street. So, I was kept awake by roaring motorcycles, cars honking, people talking on the street... This particularly affects me because I am a light sleeper.

Waira Suites

Leticia

The Leticia hotel was nice. The food was good. We were only in the hotel one night and we left early in the morning so it is hard to say much about it. The Puerto Narino hotel was excellent. The breakfast was good. The location was good. The staff were friendly.

Hotel Akuamarina

Santa Marta

The room was fine. The breakfast was good. The location was a little ways away from the tourist area but it we could comfortably walk to the area. The location seemed like it was not entirely safe but that may just have been our imagination. The hotel does not look like much from the street. Nonetheless, there were no issues whatsoever.

Quetzal Dorado Ecolodge

Zaino

An absolutely beautiful hotel. The main area had a fabulous view. The rooms were gorgeous - totally unique from anything we have ever been to. The food was excellent.

Waira Selva Hotel

Puerto Narino

See the comments with the Waira Suites in Leticia.

Hotel Don Pedro De Heredia

Cartagena de Indias

The hotel has character. Our room was quiet but our friends were in a room that faced the street. The noise kept them awake. The staff were friendly and helpful. We did not eat breakfast at the hotel because our boat tour started too early. The breakfast they packed for us was good.

Activity Reviews

Fruits of Colombia Food Tour

Bogotá

Fabulous guide. She was informative, friendly, and helpful. We were surprised that there was so much to learn about the fruits (e.g., their benefits).

Bogota's Essentials (City Tour & Monserrate)

Bogotá

The guide was superb. She was informative, friendly, and helpful.

Leticia & Puerto Nariño (4 Days/3 Nights)

Leticia and Puerto Nariño

Being in the Amazon was an experience of a lifetime. Our guide was incredible.

Cartagena Bike Tour

Cartagena

Our friends went on this and said that it was excellent.

Walking tour in Cartagena's Historic Center

Cartagena

Our guide was very knowledgeable.

Rosario Islands Day Trip

Cartagena

Our friends went on this and had an excellent experience and said that the island was beautiful. My wife had food poisoning (likely from food eaten on the walking tour). So, we did not go on the tour.

Cartagena Street Food Tour

Cartagena

The food was tasty. The guide was knowledgeable. We were a little nervous about whether all of the street food was safe to eat or not. Nonetheless, there were no issues.

Overall we were very pleased with our trip to Colombia. The trip was well organized and balanced. In fact before the start I was a little worried, but it worked perfectly for us that out of 12 nights we spent three nights in each of four very different locations: Bogota, Pereira, Medellin and Cartagena. We definitely recommend this approach for first visit to Colombia.

Filipe and his team took care about every detail and all four local guides (David, Omar, Patricia and Sandra) were very knowledgeable and passionate about their country.

Fact is that we were quite lucky with the weather, but regardless of this we dare to say that going to Colombia in rainy season was the right decision and a great experience.

Wonderful vacation in Colombia!

Margoth made every effort to understand what we were looking for and did an amazing job planning out the itinerary in detail. I had a mix of phone/email interactions to finalize our plans.

We had a mix of city, culture and nature in Cartagena, Medellin and Bogota. Every local guide was knowledgeable and keen to ensure that we got the full experience. The drivers too were experienced and professional.

It was fun to go to the cooking class and rum tasting in Cartagena! They were quite different experiences.

Margoth and her colleagues made excellent restaurant recommendations and were super responsive to make changes.

This is my 4th trip with KimKim and it reaffirmed why I use them. They take away the stress of planning, safety, and dealing with situations on the ground. It allows us to really enjoy the local place, people and experiences.

I highly recommend Aracanto to plan your experience.

Hotel Reviews

Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton

Cartagena

The hotel was really nice, and the food was good. We had a great experience here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Residence Inn Bogotá

Bogotá

The hotel was good, and the food was very good. I had a great experience here. The kitchen was a nice addition.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sites

Medellin

The hotel was fine and in a good location. The breakfast was meh. We ended up eating at the nice cafes next door. The washer/dryer upstairs was a bonus in the middle of the trip.

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast was mediocre; Limited choices, weak coffee in a country that is known for it's coffee.

Location

Safe and easy to walk around. Close to the nice restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Availability of Washer/Dryer

Activity Reviews

Half Day City Tour of Cartagena

Cartagena

The city tour was fantastic, and the local guides were absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed this experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour of Medellín (with Local Market and Comuna 13)

Medellín

The city tour was great, and the local guides were fantastic. I had a really good experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highlights of Bogotá City Tour (with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill)

Bogotá

We had a great time on all of the city tours. The guides were very knowledgeable and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at La Provincia

Medellín

The restaurant was lovely, but it would have been nicer to have more time there as our flight was delayed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at Candé

Cartagena

Food was interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Clean cars; Drivers on time and highly professional.

Rum Tasting with Chocolate Pairing

Cartagena

Fun activity! They offer 8 types of rum and some appetizers to go with it.

Quality of Experience

The person doing the tasting made it interesting and fun.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at Alma

Cartagena

Great food!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner Reservation at Mistura

Cartagena

Loved the food and vibe!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mangrove Tour with Local Fisherman

Cartagena

Great experience to ride in the boat amidst the mangroves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cooking Class and Lunch

Cartagena

What a treat! We learnt a lot about Colombian food and preparation. We made the cocktails, starters, main course and dessert.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner Reservation at OCIO / OCI.Mde

Medellín

The food was fantastic! The drinks were really interesting!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guatape and El Peñol

Colombia

Great experience. Our guide Patricia was very resourceful in making changes on the fly to deal with the weather.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at El Correo (Y Amada) Provenza

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Usaquén and Guatavita Lake Tour

Bogotá

Great experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driver had to drive patiently through slow moving traffic

Suggested Dinner at Artisanal Crepes & Waffles (Crepes & Waffles Artesano Rosales)

Bogotá

Nice, light food. Desserts were great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Pass at Tierra Bomba Island at Makani Beach Club

Colombia

The beach club experience was really good. The warm, clear and best of all no rocks on the floor bed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had such a wonderful trip to Colombia thanks to David and his team. We stayed 2 nights each in Bogota, Salento, Tayrona, and Medellin. We loved the diversity in experiences from cities and cultural tours to beaches, forests, and mountains. Overall, the service was great at all hotels. We always felt safe and really appreciated that there was always a driver waiting for us during airport transfers. The only thing we would change, if possible, would be to decrease the number of flights - have direct flights instead of connections. We've written about a few highlights of the trip below:

Bogota: 1) Fabiola greeted us warmly at the airport and showed us around the highlights in the city. In addition to the various tours she guided us on, she helped me get set up with a Colombian sim card. We enjoyed learning about the city from her and also practicing our Spanish with her. 2) Highly recommend the fruit tour. The guide, Maria, is exceptionally knowledgeable about everything in the market. We loved her passion for biodiversity and our immersive experience learning about the different species of fruits. 3) We enjoyed the hike in Chingaza for beautiful plants, flowers, and landscapes, It was very muddy and rainy, which was actually a fun challenge for us!

Salento: We loved our hotel. The views were beautiful and the food was delicious. Our tour guide, Carlos, gave us a wonderful tour of the Cocora Valley, pointing out many birds and giving explanations of the plants. He showed us his family's work-in-progress DIY infusion cafe and created a delicious tea for us with herbs grown in the garden.

Tayrona: Hotel had amazing food and we enjoyed hanging out by the pool after hiking in Tayrona Park. We were happy to pick mangos from the hotel garden and eat them for dessert.

Medellin: Sebastian led us on a wonderful "transformation" tour of Medellin. We learned so much from him on the history and culture of Medellin. Highly recommend him as a guide for anyone visiting Medellin.

Activity Reviews

Fruits of Colombia Food Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Big Bogotá City Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Hike in Chingaza National Park

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Salento & the Cocora Valley

Salento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee Farm Tour in Finca El Ocaso

Salento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Peñol & Guatapé

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Michael was very helpful in putting our trip together and taking into account our interests. Everything worked out well. We had great guides in Bogota (Alexander who was incredibly knowledgeable) and in Medellin (Froi was a very interesting person to talk with as he was very knowledgable about Colombia's history and nature). We also had a great birdwatching walk outside Medellin with Rafa, whose enthusiasm for and knowledge of birds was wonderful! We enjoyed our trip out to Jardin as well.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Boutique Casa Passiflora

Jardín

This hotel had charm and was clean and lovely. The hotel did all they could to look after us, including leaving treats in the room and bringing us a beer in the hot tub!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Legado

Bogota

Really lovely place to stay in Bogota. The staff were helpful. The breakfast was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Cielo Hotel

Medellin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Despertar

Jerico

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Patio del Mundo

Medellín

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room smelt of damp

Activity Reviews

Bogota Highlights Tour

Bogotá

Alexander was a very knowledgable, interesting guide

Quality of Experience

Alexander had us try all the fruit and other food in the market

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Really nice, really interesting

Transport

Nice people

Jardín: Coffee Village Tradition

Jardín

Nice tour, but not sure we needed a tour guide for Jardin. Paola was nice and knowledgable and we appreciated that she pointed out bird sanctuary. Wish she would have also told us about walk up into hills of Jardin.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Could provide water? Basic cab. Seemed a little speedy, but I guess that is good in the mountains. Seemed safe enough.

Cultural Heritage: Jericó - Chapels, Arts & Crafts

Colombia

Don't think a tour guide is necessary as there isn't much to see in Jerico besides the town itself.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very nice guide, but maybe should consider things to do outside the town and limit the time in the museum.

Transport

Ecological Walk - "La Miel" Waterfall

Medellín

I believe our initial walk had to be canceled do to flooding. The replacement walk was very difficult and the park guide did not know much about nature.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

From was great, but park guide did not know much

Transport

Martin was very nice

Daytrip: Silletera Culture in Santa Elena & La Piedra de Guatapé

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Birdwatching in the Natural Reserve "La Romera"

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Food

Maybe should choose a more interesting place to have lunch.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rafa is a great bird guide. Very knowledgable

Transport

Nightlife Experience: Medellín Tango Culture

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Streetfood Experience

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Don't think this tour works really. Went to 2 stands to eat and that was about it. Not really worth it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Michael from Chaska tours proposed an excellent itinerary and was attentive to our wishes and needs during the planning phase, and was very patient with our endless questions. When our arrival flight was delayed by a day, Michael rescheduled our affected tours more than once providing us peace of mind during airport chaos. When one service didn't work out as planned, Michael promptly arranged a refund. We truly enjoyed the personal and in-depth experience of all the tours and transportation.
Our tour guides Jauren, Joker, Sandra, and Jamie were fabulous and spoke good English. It was amazing to tour a coffee farm with a 5th generation local who grew up and worked there. Touring through the forest and archaeological site by someone who is clearly committed to the preservation of native fauna, flora and peoples was captivating even for the teenagers in our group. I can't say enough about this service and our visit to the country of Colombia. Cartagena is historic and charming, the area around Tayrona Park is beautiful. Hotels were clean and comfortable, the food was delicious and not expensive. The people we met were gracious and welcoming. Everything about our trip went great and we're looking forward to using this service to plan our next family vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Casa La Fe

Cartagena de Indias

We had adjoining family rooms on the street side with balconies. These are fabulous rooms. The breakfast was made to order from a menu with many selections. The rooftop pool and bar are fun, the views delightful. Many nearby restaurants to choose from. The staff was helpful and wonderful. Would totally stay at this hotel again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Watapuy

Santa Marta

Wonderful resort style hotel in a natural setting. You can walk to Tayrona Park from here. The staff is helpful, the restaurant is great. The cabins are peaceful and large. Book it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel El Prado

Barranquilla

It's an older hotel, very large, historic. Staff was very helpful. The breakfast was spectacular.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Cartagena Street Food Tour

Cartagena

Our guide Joker was funny and great! Food was excellent, it was fun to walk to various parts of the old city to try different things.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A really - we were walking :)

What an amazing week!

Margoth helped us put together a fantastic, varied 8-day sampling of Colombia, starting in Bogotá and the surrounding Andean Highlands, making a quick detour to the Coffee Region, and ending with some (relatively) relaxed days on the Caribbean Coast.

We really enjoyed all the different experiences, from the unique, remote, soaking wet landscape of the páramos, to the hot, bustling streets of Cartagena, and ending with a blissful day on Isla Barú.

We had Byron as our guide for our first four days, touring Bogotá and the surrounding area. He was absolutely brilliant — knowledgeable, friendly, and professional from the first minute to the last.

Our favorite excursion was the Chorrera waterfall hike, a fun adventure with Byron which took us through some of the most beautiful countryside we have ever seen.

The cooking class at Sazagua was also wonderful, even though by that time we were exhausted -- the chef was quite the character, and kept us laughing as we made some delicious food which I will be attempting to recreate at home!

The rum tasting in Cartagena was a really fun way to start off the more relaxing third of our trip, and the tropical fruit tasting also surpassed our expectations. I have a lot of allergies, and was worried that I wouldn’t be able to participate very much, but with Margoth’s help, the staff at Oh La La went way out of their way to accommodate me and make things fun for both of us.

Our guides in the Coffee Region and in Cartagena were also competent and professional, if less fantastic than Byron. In particular, our Coffee Region guide was quite negative about the Cocora Valley, and while we were interested and saddened to learn that most of the famous wax palms are slowly dying (and cannot be replaced due to the removal of the surrounding forest to make way for agriculture), his overall disparagement of tourism in the area was depressing, surprising to hear from a tour guide, and even seemed hypocritical considering that he was contributing to erosion in the park by walking on the grassy slopes instead of the step paths. He did perk up some while showing us Filandia and teaching us about the local coffee, which are clearly his preferred activities.

Our drivers throughout the trip were all skillful and professional, and most were also very friendly, sometimes feeling like extra guides. I especially enjoyed chatting with Alexander in the Coffee Region, Johannis (sp? Our driver to Chingaza), and the driver who took us to our hotel in Cartagena (whoops, forgot his name), and we were impressed with the way Edwin skillfully handled some mechanical problems on the way back from Chorrera.

We were initially a bit nervous to travel to Colombia after growing up hearing bad things in the news, which was part of the reason we decided to use a tour company, even though I am usually an independent traveler. In the end we felt safe throughout the trip and it went very well, but when a few things did go wrong (a bit of altitude sickness, the aforementioned car trouble), Margoth and her team were so responsive and got things right back on track. We felt very taken care of and were able to spend our time enjoying instead of stressing or worrying about details. I am now considering going through Kimkim again for future trips.

We were very impressed with Colombia as a country and with Aracanto as a tour company, and would highly recommend both to anyone looking for a South American adventure.

Hotel Reviews

Residence Inn Bogotá

Bogotá

Great place to ‘land’ in Colombia. The rooms were spacious and the breakfast was awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The breakfast staff was great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

I loved the spacious, well laid out room.

Hotel Boutique Sazagua

Pereira

Really lovely hotel. We loved our cooking class and watching the birds at breakfast. This wouldn’t be the best place to stay for someone afraid of dogs, as several (big, friendly) live on site… then again, Colombia wouldn’t be the best country for someone afraid of dogs.

Authenticity & Character

Felt family run and friendly

Location

Near the airport

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great showers

Sofitel Baru Calablanca

Cartagena

Lovely beach resort. The swimming area is a bit small and they close both the beach and the pools right at sunset, a bit early for my taste. It can be a bit of a hike from your room to the lobby and restaurants, but for check in and check out they bring you and your luggage on a golf cart.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique las Carretas

Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar

This was a great find, with a fantastic location, a small pool, a great breakfast, etc — and the staff were so helpful and kind (when my friend wasn’t feeling well one morning, they made her a special soup for breakfast!) Excellent experience and value, but I do recommend bringing earplugs as it got a bit noisy at night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dinner Reservation at Harry Sasson

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Excellent tomato soup

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Colombia!

Colombia

Very smooth pick up at the airport and drop off at the hotel

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lake Tour

Bogotá

We loved this tour for our first day in Colombia. There was a fair amount of driving, but we enjoyed seeing the countryside along the way. During the short hike to the lake we learned a lot about the Muisca people, the history of exploitation by Europeans, and the local plants. Our guide Byron was knowledgeable about everything! We had a quick lunch at a local bakery, and then it was off to Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral, which was really unique and cool. I was astonished to learn that it is still a working salt mine in addition to an active church!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Usaquén Stop with transportation and Chocolate Workshop

Bogotá

This was a lovely way to spend our morning in Bogotá. Usaquén is a cute area and we quite enjoyed shopping at the flea market, though I could have spent even more time there. At the chocolate tasting, we learned a lot about how chocolate is made and how the terrain and the process contribute to its flavor profile. I also got to try the famous local snack of chocolate and cheese!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day City Tour of Bogotá

Bogotá

We saw the highlights of the Gold Museum and explored the pretty neighborhood of Candelaria and busy Bolivar Square. Our guide, Byron, was very knowledgeable. Unfortunately, because of spending the morning in Usaquén, we were a bit rushed and did not have time to go up to Monserrate, but the weather was not great for a view anyway.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Dinner Reservation at El Cielo - Please confirm on your side

Colombia

It was a lovely and special meal, but not the best I have experienced… mostly because the pacing was a little off especially at the beginning (three times, we had just put the food in our mouths, with no chance to savor or discuss it, and they were already whisking it away and describing the next thing… and yet the whole experience still took over two hours). The reservation process was also rather bizarre, and they didn’t seem to understand the recommended procedure of calling a cab for us (eventually, and awkwardly, they called us an Uber). Still, I very much enjoyed washing my hands with chocolate and watching the flaming brandy at the next table over, and several of the courses were both creative and uniquely delicious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chingaza Natural National Park Tour

Bogotá

It was very cool to learn about and see this unique landscape. The drive there and back through the countryside was also beautiful. I appreciated how the team stopped whenever I wanted to take a closer look or a picture of a roadside shrine, abandoned factory, or tiny calf. If you are on the fence about which excursion(s) to take from Bogotá, I would prioritize Chorrera and Guatavita over this one (especially because you can see a little bit of the páramo landscape on those tours as well), but if you have time, it is great to see these Andean wetlands and the unique forms of vegetation that thrive here.

Quality of Experience

Food

It was a picnic lunch with simple sandwiches, but I enjoyed going to a supermarket to buy the ingredients, and the chicharrones and guava candies gave it a local touch.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chorrera Park with Waterfall

Bogotá

This was our single favorite excursion during our trip to Colombia. The countryside was beautiful from the car and the hike, and the waterfalls themselves were spectacular. You get to go behind Chiflón, and close enough to Chorrera to feel the mighty, wet wind blowing from the cascade.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cocora Valley, Salento, and Filandia Coffee Town

Colombia

The sites were beautiful, but this wasn't the best experience of the trip, partially because we were exhausted, partially because the trip was a little rushed due to delays after our plane came in late the night before, and partly because our guide wasn't very excited about Cocora Valley -- it's clear he goes there too often and thinks tourism is having a detrimental effect on the local nature, which we can understand, but it was a bit of a bummer especially when we were quite tired. The towns were very cute and we loved the overlook from Filandia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cooking Class and Dinner

Colombia

This was really fun. We were worried about cooking since we were tired after five busy days of touristing, but the chef kept us laughing the whole time. The dish we made was a delicious chicken dish somewhere between a risotto and a curry. I will definitely be making it again at home with the recipe, spices, and pot we were gifted!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rum Tasting with Chocolate Pairing

Cartagena

A fantastic start to our time in Cartagena. We got to try 8 very different rums, and the bartender was very friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner Reservation at Candé

Cartagena

This is a very lively restaurant with live performances. The food was very good as well. It was on the louder side for my taste and was a bit of a confusing wait to get drinks and seats.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Walking tour Cartagena and short Fruit Tasting

Cartagena

Nice informative walking tour of the old town, I learned a lot about the history of the area and the meaning of the knockers on the doors. It was super hot up on the old city walls, so we stopped for refreshments before continuing to the fruit tasting. I was worried I wouldn't be able to participate much in the fruit tasting due to my allergies, but they went above and beyond to accommodate me. I enjoyed it much more than I expected to due to the friendly staff and the experience of seeing and tasting so many different things. The last part of the tour took us through some of the street art of Getsemani, which was also cool to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide Oscar and driver Sandro in Bogotá were outstanding; they were always on time, as well as being patient, enthusiastic, kind, funny, interesting and willing to indulge my off-the-beaten track requests. They made me want to see more of Colombia and are full of suggestions for my next trip.