Colombia: Where Coffee is Sacred and Salsa is a Survival Skill
Colombia isn’t just a country — it’s a full-blown experience. A place where the mountains touch the clouds, the coffee could revive the dead, and everyone somehow knows how to salsa… from birth. This is a land of contradictions, colors, and really questionable decisions involving street food at 2 a.m.
Bogotá: High Altitude, Higher Expectations
At 8,600 feet above sea level, Bogotá is not messing around. Visitors should expect breathtaking views — and a lot of actual breath-taking if they try walking uphill too fast. The city is a blend of colonial charm and urban cool, with graffiti that belongs in a museum and museums that actually contain gold.
Things to do (and survive):
Take the cable car to Monserrate and try not to cry from the height or the views
Visit the Museo del Oro, which contains enough gold to make a pirate weep
Stroll through La Candelaria, a neighborhood that looks like it was designed by a poet with a paintbrush
At night, salsa spills onto the streets — and while locals move with effortless rhythm, tourists can be spotted flailing with enthusiasm and zero coordination.
Salento: Coffee, Clouds & Cow Encounters
Salento, in Colombia’s Coffee Triangle, looks like it was built for postcards. It’s all rolling hills, technicolor buildings, and enough caffeine to keep a llama awake for a week. It’s also home to the famed Valle de Cocora, where palm trees grow so tall they probably need their own weather systems.
Highlights include:
Learning everything there is to know about coffee (and then drinking it all)
Hiking among 200-foot wax palms, surrounded by mist, cows, and a deep sense of awe
Attempting to take Instagram photos while being photobombed by mules
The pace is slow, the air is fresh, and the coffee is so good it may ruin all future coffee forever.
Cartagena: Heat, History & Hair Regret
Cartagena is the jewel of the Caribbean coast, and also the reason hair products sell so well in Colombia. The heat is relentless, but so is the charm. The walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with colonial buildings, vibrant plazas, and sunset views that turn everyone into poets (or at least travel influencers).
Essential experiences:
Walk the ancient walls while pretending to be in a period drama
Sip drinks at Café del Mar while judging other tourists’ sunburns
Take a boat to the Rosario Islands, and contemplate never returning to real life
Bonus: Random street performers appear frequently. Sometimes they’re dancers. Sometimes they’re dressed as Shrek. All are entertaining.
Medellín: Reinvention with a Side of Street Art
Once infamous, Medellín has undergone a glow-up so impressive it should be studied. The Metrocable offers stunning aerial views of the city’s neighborhoods, and areas like Comuna 13 showcase art, resilience, and reggaeton at every corner.
For those seeking cardio and inspiration, El Peñol in nearby Guatapé delivers both — after a mere 740 steps straight into the sky.
Worth the climb for:
Panoramic lake views
Colorful town vibes
The right to post dramatic “I made it” photos
In Summary:
Colombia is a country that dances to its own beat — literally. It offers volcanoes and valleys, beaches and barrios, coffee and chaos. It doesn’t try to be perfect, just unforgettable. And it absolutely succeeds.
Go for the coffee. Stay for the culture. Return for the arepas.
This adventure brought to you by Giovanni Galvis and help from ChatGPT 6/4/2025