Colombia with two young kids
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Anonymous
| We're considering a 7-10 day trip to Colombia in late March with our two kids (aged 5 and 3). At first we were thinking of just visiting Cartagena and perhaps the Rosario Islands, but now I wonder whether we should try to fit in Bogota or Medellin (or skip Cartagena and do both). The parque explora in Medellin sounds promising, and my kids would love the cable car system. In Bogota I'd love to take a day trip to see the salt cathedral, and visit to the museo del oro. Thoughts on itineraries geared towards younger kids would be welcome. |
Anonymous
| If you go to Cartagena, visit aviario nacional, which our kids really enjoyed. Consider possibly a visit to an eco lodge in La Macarena to see the river of seven colors. That part of the trip was a highlight for us, although it required a flight. Botero museum was great too! |
Anonymous
| Cartagena is very small and will not occupy kids for more than a day or two. There are sloths in the Parque Centenario, and there are some folkloric dance performances in the various squares, but other than that, I feel like Cartagena is mostly about food, shopping, and architecture, which doesn’t typically interest young kids. |
Anonymous
| Also Cartagena is very hot year-round, so keep that in mind for your kids’ tolerance for being out and about. |
Anonymous
|
I spend a lot of time in Colombia and I can't really think of many activities geared towards kids. The only tourists I typically see with kids here are Colombians from other cities. The whole Eje Cafatero (Manizales, Pereira, Armenia) region has a lot to offer. Lots of small pueblos in the area like Salento are great for a couple of days.
I'd probably recommend Medellin, as it has a lot to offer. You could stay in Poblado or Laureles. You could also ride the cable car up to Parque Arvi or go to Santa Fe de Antioquia for a couple of days. Just be careful with your cell phones and don't listen to anyone when they tell you that neighborhoods like Laureles and Poblado are safe. Tons of robberies there, but if you use common sense, you should be fine. |
Anonymous
| I would go to a beachy resort somewhere, and save Colombia for another trip when you and your husband are the only travellers. |
Anonymous
|
I liked Bogota as a walking city and when I was there for a week for work last fall. But I agree with others, I can’t see what specifically I would bring kids for, especially because it’s far from the coastal cities.
It’s great for parks, for coffee shops, for upscale shopping, nightlife and dog watching. (Almost everyone seemed to have a dog!). But probably not necessary to see if you only have a week’s time. Remember the altitude really high relative to DC so drink lots of water and stay hydrated. |
Anonymous
+1 This is probably the best advice. Also, Colombia is 10X better if you speak Spanish. I honestly don't know how people navigate things in Colombia without basic Spanish. |
Anonymous
| We enjoyed the Sofitel Baru Resort. Short boat ride from Cartagena. |
Anonymous
| My husband is Colombian so we travel there frequently to his hometown and other beach vacation destinations. Agree with others that the cities aren’t geared toward kids travel. At the same time, our kids love going there and have been traveling there since infants and are now teens. But what makes the trips memorable for them are the differences between there and the US. Something I’m not sure young children will grasp. We spend time on the family farm riding horses, playing with farm animals or going to the beaches on the north coast and spend most of the time on the water (charters boats) fishing or snorkeling. |
Anonymous
| We did Cartegena and Medellin with a 5 year old. It was great. Parque Explora and a day trip to Guatape were big hits. We loved the Rosario Islands as a day trip from Cartegena. |
Anonymous
+1, they are connected with the Sofitel Legend in Cartagena and will coordinate your transport. They have a kids club. |
Anonymous
Just looked up the nightly rates. Over $3000 per night!? |
Anonymous
| That sounds wildly incorrect. I just stayed at the Sofitel Baru in November for under $250/night USD |
Anonymous
The presidential suite is a bit over 3k. The “cheap” rooms are about $600 a night. |