Unforgettable trip
Colombia
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Jul 3 - Jul 15, 2023
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](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/9435ee8d14a71a028d3e48a7dd536975956583ec/medium-ce7fce82de6bc033e06227d16200e400.jpg)
![Coffee-Culture Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/fb97a8b5db386363c25cc9ae016ff1472b566fba/medium-ba2a2ea50e8ab5cb4f26c38664c61457.jpg)
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.
![Tubing on Don Diego River](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/dc5f11709b01ec9493688bf91cf0a3204501c2b9/medium-999c4de40c8550cb2f1ab6b6fd560095.jpg)
![Boquilla Mangrove Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/trip_plan/days/photos/b1d79f3bdf40fc09ab927276d6204fe56638c9cc/medium-d93cf8c9acb43cfbde14c83cd129b349.jpg)
![Bogotá Walking Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/0dd8ed89578228adb14bdc761fd84923206a972d/medium-c7caafe0b37175ee2e70f1ef0bfeac38.jpg)
![Monserrate Hill Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/dbf55d15f495cefb128022eaa0d705900c36be04/medium-3e6fe9155509fd96f7c36c5ff9500d79.jpg)
![Social Dinner-Experience: Colombian Food](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/f10397768973ab7284d32f1b7bb57f7e36c4ec88/medium-e972fc78e498492c556826d875f99f91.jpg)
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!
![Hike Tayrona National Park](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/trip_plan/days/photos/4b5bedd41a045c1929441ef3b370c271c27945b8/medium-c28c684cc76ab0e1b88923188fefff48.jpg)
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.
![Cartagena Street Food Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/8d006ef7216259ab6cb2c2432abd6a96f098fc0a/medium-fa4c5b1d2b64bb2a36a860493df13110.jpg)
![Rosario Islands Day Trip](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/5550ab030ee3e66993851f3728bebd831209bc87/original-4ab1fdf9d6cdcc353bccb21a290ffff9.jpg)
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.
![Guatavita, Zipaquirá & Salt Mines Day Trip](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/7249037ed83e7dccc8efd42be9be54cb38d62930/medium-dbcae98c39e842853f42d2809837d6d6.jpg)
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.
![Medellín Transformation Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/f342d0a3914a26bef80d2d1a64e1d754099146c8/medium-45fbbcea826b27c5b73ffd305647eca9.jpg)
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.
![Peñol Boulder & Guatapé Boat Trip](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/1158524b17351117904c0bdd940348610da710df/original-492ad84b4b61e2377ecbef100ae48925.jpg)
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
![Rum Tasting](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/b59d80b4e5ec60d14fe3c51008d49155d19d9ffb/medium-69b76c9295e2068024f5a71aebd24749.jpg)
This was run by the same company that handled the chocolate workshop. The rum tasting was a fantastic experience which I thoroughly enjoyed.
![Chocolate Workshop](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/2ca7c6e9d63317d930b87e7d02ab7aea7a492810/medium-ea636de8af8d4ea27b02b5f7747e8dd7.jpg)
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.
![Michael](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/users/profile_photos/765bb0ebe9b51b98b9de02bf71fe5878106fdd92/original-dc554732696a108b6764090c7e57f273.jpg)
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're thrilled that your first-time planning a trip through KimKim was a success. We're relieved to know that your husband is okay after the sudden illness in Parque Tayrona and that the guide went the extra mile to help. I am happy to hear that the suggestions for activities added to your experience, including the lovely social dinner in Bogota. We're overjoyed that you had an amazing vacation with everyone being on time, super... Read more