Let me repeat :: This will NOT be your typical travel blog post about Colombia but more about my adventures. As a matter of fact it is more something you may read in a book or something.  Don’t encourage me about that though HA!

For this portion of our adventures in Colombia Roydio planned what was supposed to be a romantic time at the beach. So far we had pretty much flown from one place to the other and we kinda missed driving as we do in so many of our other travel adventures. So we rented a car in Cartagena (I’ll cover our time in this magnificent place in a later post in this series).

We set out to what we had read was an undiscovered gem of a coastal location south of Cartagena, “a peaceful oasis that cultivates the idea of sustainable travel.” And we were really looking forward to it getting away from the hustle and bustle.

The beginning of our drive was a breeze. The sky was a little overcast but perfect for driving because it wasn’t too hot. The landscape was amazing. Have I told you how much I love the landscape of Colombia? We were so happy we chose to drive this portion of our trip.

And then the rain came.

It didn’t just come, it literally attacked us. The wind and rain pelted our windshield and it became difficult to see. And wouldn’t you know it Roydio had to use the facilities right when it started. It seemed like hours before it let up. And he patiently waited until the rain let up a bit before getting back in the car.

We got back on the road and after driving a few miles the rain finally stopped. And we could see in the far distance that the clouds were giving way to blue skies. When we got off the main highway we took the turn off and proceeded on our leisurely drive to the beautiful Colombia beaches we’d heard so much about. This is where our adventures continued.

So most of the roads off the beaten path in Colombia are made of dirt and rocks. We had experienced that in Armenia and again in Medellin but because we weren’t doing the driving I didn’t take much notice of it. We took it slow and tried to enjoy the ride.

We arrived in a small town called San Onofre. We took a turn where the road split. And we noticed that there were no cars on this road, only a motorcycle or two. (I may or may not have mentioned that I am married to Indiana Jones #2 but I have to keep it real) So Roydio went into “Colombia adventures mode,” driving slowly because the rain left huge holes in the muddy road that were difficult to navigate. Now see at this point my anxiety reared its ugly head. I couldn’t help thinking that now would NOT be a good time for a flat tire. Not that there would ever be a good time mind you. But the rocks on the road were really big and we were in a rental car with nary a soul in sight. Eek!

After what seemed like hours we finally saw life on this road, a motorcyclist. It gave us hope that we were nearing our destination. Then we saw another motorcycle. But still not a single car. Ours was the only car. When we finally arrived in what appeared to be a small town we slowly made our way down the road over bumps and into ditches.

People stopped to stare at us as we bumbled by. At the end of the road a barefoot man with a big smile came over to our car and directed us into a “parking lot” which was just a plot of grass under a tree, after which he insisted on carrying our two suitcases about 200 yards down the street and around the corner until we reached a beach with white sand. We walked about 100 yards….

…and there it was :: Dos Aguas Lodge.

This beautiful undiscovered paradise on a pristine white sand beach. This “peaceful oasis that cultivates the idea of sustainable travel” was indeed beautiful, indeed undiscovered and I can see why!

And it was indeed sustainable. No potable or hot water, mosquito nets over the beds and to say it was hot is an understatement. The ceiling fan didn’t do much more than move the hot air around. The mattress was hard (I love a hard mattress but this was H A R D). There was a hammock hanging in our room and a night stand by the bed.

The owner and staff were super friendly and actually spoke English so that was really nice, especially in Colombia where very few do. Once we checked in and dropped our bags off in our room we came out to have lunch in the little hut of a restaurant on the beach next door. After the adventure we had getting there we were really hungry!

After lunch we grabbed an available chair and took a nice long rest.

Well actually that is pretty much where I stayed, on the beach, for the next two days in Rincon del Mar. Roydio did get into the water but I was content to just lay out in the sun and relax after the craziness that had ensued getting here.

If you are a backpacker, used to roughing it and looking for a beautiful place to relax for a few days you will enjoy this paradise and beautiful beach with clear water in front and amazing mangroves in back. And they do serve a good breakfast, too.

If you are not used to carrying a pack on your back and getting around on a motorcycle I’d say you might want to get there by boat. That’s really what we should have done.

I don’t consider myself a diva but I’ve gotta keep it real. I really didn’t sleep much because the bed was uncomfortably hard and it was so hot all during the night. I got up several times to wet a towel for my face to get a little relief. And I got bit by mosquitos and bugs. A lot. In spite of the net. Ugh. And there was a couple with a baby in the next room who kept crying (why do people bring babies to a place like this?). It’s really a shame because it is such a beautiful place.

I really should have joined in on the night boat tour to see the glowing plankton (that is my one regret) but I really was content to just spend all day sitting in a beach chair or in a hammock relaxing and drinking my limonada de cocos. That part was so great. And I may have taken a few naps out there as well…

Then came the time for us to leave and make the trek back to the main road from Rincon del Mar. If it was bad coming in believe it or not it was worse going out. It had rained again the night before.

The new rain made the roads even worse (if that was even possible to imagine). OMG I tried not to think too much but I definitely had several bouts of anxiety as we bumbled our way out of there.

I kept telling Roydio not to stop because if there’s one thing I know :: you never stop on a muddy road for fear of getting stuck.

Well, sure enough :: it happened! We got stuck in the mud and our wheels just kept spinning and there was no way out.

Out of nowhere appeared a man in the road in front of us who walked over and began trying to push our car out of the mud. After several attempts and to no avail he signaled for us to wait. When he returned he had a shovel in his hand and began digging out the mud from underneath our tire. The ditch we had gotten into was so big it seemed to just get worse.

Then again out of nowhere another guy on a motorcycle appeared. Between the two of them and a shovel and their brute strength lifting up the left side of our car as we revved our engine several more times, they were able to get us free. So very thankful, we gave them 20,000 COP for their help. When we were on our way again we started thinking. Where did they come from? And where in the world did they get a shovel? I looked back and they were gone. Hmmmm, do you believe in angels?

Then as we slowly made our way much further down the road and just as we thought we were in the clear we got stuck a second time. There was a truck coming our way (a truck? on this crazy road?) and we thought maybe he would offer to help us as well. Yea, no. The driver stopped, got out of his truck and just stood at the side of the road and watched us struggle. It was obvious that he couldn’t get through until we moved so I guess he chose to use this time to take a little break. Indiana Jones #2 went into his “Colombia adventures mode” again and after about 10 minutes of rocking the car back and forth, back and forth, he finally got us out and we were again on our way. The Lord was with us for sure on this trek!

Now it was time for us to make it to the second destination on the beach :: the Playa Manglares resort in Isla Baru. As we were making our way there I told Roydio there was no way I was going to go through that again and if the next place had the same kind of roads we should just keep driving and find something else. Well, lucky for us, Playa Manglares was right off a good road and the place was wonderful.

We had air conditioning and even though there was no hot water it was warm and comfortable enough to take great showers. Whew! And no mosquitos. Yay!

At the Playa Manglares resort they serve you breakfast, lunch and dinner because there is not really anywhere you can walk to for meals. It’s located on another beautiful beach (be sure to wear water shoes, though). The owner and her family are lovely as are the rest of the staff. And it is so peaceful and beautiful.

At dinner the first night we met a lovely couple from London with whom we decided to take a boat tour to the Rosario Islands. The following day we had perfect weather. No rain clouds anywhere in sight. It was a truly lovely day with wonderful company.

Our tour guides couldn’t have been older than 17 but they were adorable. The boys spoke only Spanish so this gave us a good opportunity for us to learn more! We went through mangroves and through a group of islands, one where the boys lived. He even pointed out his madre and she waved as we went by.

We arrived at Bendita Beach where we enjoyed a few hours in the sand and water. And on our way back we stopped for lunch on one of the islands.

Interesting Fact :: Several of the Rosario Islands are available for rent. For example, Isla Matamba can be rented for approximately $1300 per night and sleeps 16 (divided by 8 couples that only comes to $162 per night! For an entire island to yourselves!). Available on the island is a restaurant (3 meals are included), bar, jacuzzi, mini golf course, tennis court and various water sport activities.

Here are some more pics of our time on the water ::

Click here to see for yourself what you can do in Cartagena and the Rosario Islands! You won’t regret going. But just take a boat there. Trust me. Just do it.

The two days we spent in the Playa Manglares resort and the Rosario Islands were amazing but it went by much too quickly. If you drive a little further down the road in Isla Baru there are more touristy resort options such as Playa Blanca but I’m really glad we opted for a quieter location.

So there you have it :: our adventures to the beaches in Colombia. Although we would have done things differently had we realized what we were in for, it makes for a great story. And the beaches really were gorgeous.

What do you think of our Colombia adventures to its beautiful beaches? Would you have gone for the adventure or would you have chosen the easier way? HA! Either way I think you would enjoy it there.

TIP :: Do your research, people! You can’t always believe everything you read so make sure you read between the lines to assure that you will have the best experience possible!

Read More ::

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Medellin :: 10 Do’s and Don’ts You Must Know

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Although this post was more of an adventure article rather than an actual travel post I hope I’ve given you enough reason to explore the beaches of Colombia. Should I be blessed with the opportunity to return I’d love to explore the other islands and perhaps even stay a few days in Rosario. Definitely on my bucket list would be to experience the bioluminescent plankton tour on Isla Grande. I could really kick myself for not going when I had the opportunity! But we’ll just have to come back!!

I do hope you enjoyed this post on my Colombia adventures and that one day you will come out to create your own!

The post Colombia Adventures :: NOT a Typical Travel Post appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.

On our journey through Colombia we flew from Armenia to Medellin. 

We were assured that in recent years Medellin has been transformed to a safe place to travel. Of course we are always aware of the dangers of walking the streets at night so that is something we generally avoid no matter where we go. This city was no different. But honestly we never felt unsafe anywhere we went throughout Colombia.

DO … visit La Comuna 13

On our first full day in Medellin, a city once heartbreakingly lost to violence with a most tumultuous history, notorious for the drug and gang wars that once dominated the area, we really wanted to visit La Comuna Trese (13) an over-populated and low socio-economic zone that crawls up along the west hills of the city with thousands of brick and cement homes stacked close to one another which I had read had made an amazing transformation since the days of Pablo Escobar.

I am so thrilled to have taken the time to visit because this is a city with a story of meaningful change, credited to its residents and their resiliency to reinvent itself, transforming the neighborhood which was once a pivotal center for paramilitary, guerrilla and gang activity and a location ideal for crime into a place of optimism that’s livable, vibrant and growing. La Comuna 13 is an amazing place and one I fell in love with.

Since its transformation residents are no longer afraid to leave their homes and quality of life has changed for the good. As we walked through the narrow roadways, kids were playing soccer in the streets, vendors were selling fruit and empanadas and we laughed with friendly shopkeepers who let us sample their signature green mango ice cream topped with lime and salt. It felt safe, comfortable, friendly.

The one thing that is very evident as we walk along the streets is the graffiti. This is what La Comuna 13 is known for :: artistic scenes on its walls. As I came to find out it was art that saved the city, used as a vehicle for creative and political expression. The walls became a canvas to tell its history, beautifying the area and bringing optimism and peace. And there is a story to every artist’s work. I recommend taking a tour so that you can hear the stories for yourself and experience what makes this place so special.

Enjoy the photos I took of some the amazing walls in La Comuna 13. Hopefully it will compel you pay it a visit one day.

DON’T … believe all the hype

Nowhere in our travels to Colombia did we ever feel unsafe. Everywhere we walked we found friendly people and safe atmospheres. Please don’t believe all the hype about dangerous Colombia. Be mindful wherever you go but don’t let it stop you from enjoying your travels!

DO … go see Botero Plaza

A well-known artist born in Medellin is Fernando Botero Angulo. (As a side note, the culture of Latin Americans is to use first the father’s last name and second the mother’s last name) His signature style called Boterismo (no need to describe what it is, just take a look at my photos) makes him the most recognized artist from Latin America and self-titled “the most Colombian of Colombian artists.” In 1958 he won 1st prize at the Salon de Artistas Colombianos and has attained international recognition for his paintings, drawings and sculptures (some of his pieces have sold in the millions of dollars) with exhibitions all over the world. And in 2012 he received the International Sculpture Center’s Lifetime Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award.

His donation of 23 bronze sculptures for the front of the Museum of Antioquia in Medellin became known as the Botero Plaza which is where all of my photos were taken.

DON’T … miss going to the museum

One thing I wish we would have done is to go into the Museo de Antioquia which is rated as one of the best museums in Medellin and housed in the previous Municipal Palace. It was right there under my nose and I just had a lapse in judgment. It is recommended that you start on the third floor and work your way down.

Louise didn’t go to the Museo de Antioquia. Don’t be like Louise.

DO … eat at Mercado Del Rio

As we travel around the world one of my favorite things to do is visit a mercado. Basically the word mercado means “market” but that definition has been expanded to include fine eateries, like a food court but much more elegant and trendy, and with many amazing food restaurants to choose from. Some do include the sales of produce and seafood and meat as well. While in Medellin we went to Mercado Del Rio and it was beautiful!

Here they serve everything from alcoholic beverages to appetizers to main courses and desserts… and the atmosphere is awesome! They even have large screen TV’s throughout playing the ever popular futbol (soccer). Fabulous! This mercado did not disappoint, for sure.

I would definitely recommend this mercado. But don’t let that stop you from finding others! This was our final night with family and friends – it was a great way to end our time together.

DON’T … forget to bring all your friends!

Mercado del Rio is a great place to hang out with your friends! The atmosphere really lends itself to fun in every sense of the word. Food, friends and fun all go together so have yourselves a great time!

DO … visit Marinilla

We had a wonderful tour guide to drive us out to a famous landmark in Guatape but on our way we had to stop in this yet another adorable Colombian town with yet another cute plaza.

In the municipality of Marinilla we visited the Museo del Cristo y las Cruces where you will find more than 2700 crosses of different styles, sizes, materials and countries of origin on display. The collection was donated in 2005 by Roberto Hoyos Castaño who collected the pieces for more than 35 years from his travels around the world.

DON’T … miss stopping for a cup of cafe

Marinella is a great little town to stop for … what else? COFFEE! Every city in Colombia is actually a great place because after all you are in Coffee Country! Try a cup at 9Bares Tienda de Cafe. It’s highly rated on TA!

DO … climb La Piedra del Penol

Our plans in Medellin included several adventures that we were very excited to participate in…. one of them being to climb La Piedra del Penol. This is a famous landmark also called The Rock of Guatape. At its highest point it is 7005 feet above sea level and is composed of quartz, feldspar and mica. 

At the base you will find food and market stalls. As you climb there are several “resting” points (at least that’s what I used them for HA!) and halfway up is a shrine to the Virgin Mary.

It was an extremely hot and humid day but we did it! We climbed a whopping 745 steep steps to the very top! WHEW!

When we got there there we found a three-story viewpoint tower, a souvenir shop (I bought a “rock” for my collection – how original, right?), a bar and there are lots of chairs and tables where you can enjoy a little refreshment before making your way down.

If you ever find yourself in this area of Colombia this is an absolute must do!

DON’T … miss out on the cerveza michelada con mango

It is tradition to celebrate your climb by having a cerveza michelada con mango, the local beer, which they serve with salt and lime on the rim of the glass. Although I’m not a beer drinker I did have a sip of Roydio’s to celebrate making the trek and then I ordered my fave drink in Colombia :: limonada de cocos (coconut lemonade). OMG it is FABulous! We were both pretty proud of ourselves having made it on this hot and very humid day and these cold drinks were just the ticket!

DO … visit Guatape 

We made our way to Guatape where we stopped again to enjoy another beautifully colorful town.

When you get to the city of Guatape you will find a square. Of course. Like every other town in Colombia. And oh the beautiful Colombian colors were everywhere! I loved it!

And you’ll find great views of La Piedra del Penol on the way as well!

DON’T … miss taking a boat tour!

The building of the dam (see more info below) created a truly picturesque place. We were smart and took a boat tour on the reservoir. And I must say it was a perfect day to be on the water! Don’t miss your chance to take this wonderful tour!

DO … enjoy Viejo El Penol

Since we were in the town of El Penol, or what we thought was El Penol, we had to look around and check it out…

We found out that this is just a replica of the original town which was founded on June 20, 1714 but had to be relocated in 1978 because of a flood and they had to construct a hydroelectric dam which created the Guatape reservoir as we know it today.

If you want to get a taste of how the old town of El Peñol might have been, you can stop at Viejo Peñol, featuring a reconstructed plaza and church. There are souvenir shops and a couple places to grab coffee, ice cream, or something to eat.

DON’T … forget to bring your good camera

Make sure you find your way to the outside behind the shops and you will find THE BEST views of the city! OMG you will not believe how photographic this town is! If you’re looking to take some Instagram-worthy pics, this is definitely the place to go!

DO … take Cable car up to Parque Arvi

It seems that everywhere we went in Colombia we ended up on top of a mountain. I had many opportunities to overcome my fear of heights HA! But I must say that the views are tremendous and it was worth every trek UP!

It was getting late in the day and even though it was closing soon we decided to take the cable car up to Parque Arvi which is both an ecological nature preserve and pre-Hispanic archeological site on the eastern slopes of Aburrá Valley in the northeast area of Medellín.

The cost to take the cable car from the metro to Santo Domingo was included in the metro ticket but there we paid 4600 COP ($1.50US) per person for a 10-minute ride up to the park which is a very large, 4352 acres in fact, ecological park deep in the woods on top of the eastern mountains of Medellin where you can hike all around. It was a pretty amazing ride over the tall pine and eucalyptus trees in this forest.

When we got to the park entrance we had a relaxing time exploring the beautiful surroundings. There are some displays with information about Parque Arvi there and some shops and a restaurant as well as some comfortable seating scattered all around.

We ordered some refreshments at the cafe and just enjoyed our surroundings and relaxed for a while before heading down to Santo Domingo.

I highly recommend a trip up in the cable car in Medellin to Parque Arvi. Whether or not you hike the trails in the park or not – trust me you will be rewarded with some of the best views of the city! And if you’re able, time it so that you get the sunset on your way down!

DON’T … expect for anyone to speak English

As a matter of fact, everywhere you travel in Colombia you will be hard-pressed to find English-speaking people. You will be able to find some tour guides that will speak English but not here in Parque Arvi. And as a general rule the local people do not speak English at all.

DO … stop in Santo Domingo

Since it’s on the way down from Parque Arvi Santo Domingo is a great place to stop, especially if you’re looking for some local interaction and community engagement in your travels. Once known to be one of the most violent neighborhoods in Comuna Popular it has turned over a new leaf in its progressing atmosphere and urban improvement initiatives. 

We enjoyed walking the streets of Santo Domingo. Again, we felt completely safe here. And it was really nice to see how the locals live.

DON’T … be afraid to eat on the streets

We had absolutely no worries about eating on the streets anywhere in Colombia. The food is yummy and safe to eat! Here in Santo Domingo you can eat on the streets for much cheaper than in the city. We ordered a local plato (plate) of pollo (chicken) with all the trimmings for a mere 5000 COP ($1.75 US). It was yummy and more than enough for the two of us :: we even had some leftovers to feed a local street dog.

DO … splurge at San Carbon Restaurant

Before leaving Medellin we chose on our final night to enjoy dinner at a nice restaurant located right up the street and walking distance from our hotel. Known for their steaks, the food was delicious, the atmosphere indeed was “fancy” and there was live jazz music which we also really enjoyed. It was a great way for us to end our amazing time in Medellin.

DON’T … expect to pay local prices

Prices at San Carbon are higher than the average restaurant in Medellin, or for Colombia in general, but if you’re looking to have a nice dinner this is the place to go. Excellent food and atmosphere!

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Medellin was one of the biggest surprises on my travels to Colombia. Not only was I intimidated by all the hype about it not being a safe place to travel but this amazing city blew me away and made me a believer in all things good about in the world.

If there is one thing that I hope you gleaned from this post is that you can safely and happily travel to this city and have the most amazing time of your life here. I do hope you will follow my lead and come support all the wonderful things Medellin has been doing and continues doing to transform a bad story into a good one. Because that is exactly what is happening in this place. How blessed I feel for having had the opportunity to experience it.

The post Medellin :: 10 Do’s and Don’ts You Must Know appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.