What cal you tell me about Bogota, or other Central or South American cities?

[Anonymous]

I loved Buenos Aires but I think it would be too long a flight for 5 days and day trips outside the city are far. I also loved Colombia - Cartegena was too hot for me! Bogota was quite interesting and there are some cool day trips you can take from there. You may want to consider Central America - Costa Rica or Nicarragua.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all the great replies so far!

It will only be about a five day trip so we want to keep costs and travel times down. I like the idea of Panama and perhaps a direct flight.

[Anonymous]

Antigua Guatemala (not to be confused with the Caribbean island). It's beautiful. A UN world heritage site. It was the capital for Spanish Latin America during the colonial period.

[Anonymous]

Panama City is my leadt fav place on earth! Terrible pollution, terrible traffic and terrible weather.

Got to either Bogota or Mexico City. For culture MC can not be beat! Go to the anthroppologie museum, The Sun and Moon Pyramids. Eat lots of amazing food!!!

[Anonymous]

I second Guatemala.

Do Antigua and lake atitlan. Do it. Do it. You will not regret.

Antigua has lots of history and volcanoes around.

Atitlan is gorgeous and has many towns to explore. Go!!!

[Anonymous]

You can be from your house (if you're in northeast) to Antigua in 12 hours. Even if you have a stopover to Guatemala city. Antigua is an hour drive or less from GC airport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Panama City is my leadt fav place on earth! Terrible pollution, terrible traffic and terrible weather.

Got to either Bogota or Mexico City. For culture MC can not be beat! Go to the anthroppologie museum, The Sun and Moon Pyramids. Eat lots of amazing food!!!

I'm the poster who first suggested Mexico City. (I was glad that someone else posted about the subway - when I last visited it was the murder capital of the world; obviously things are better now and I still think in terms of sights, culture, food, and proximity it's a good choice). I have also been to Panama City and while I did enjoy the food, the canal, and the nature/wildlife/rain forest, I didn't think the city itself had much to offer. The Casco Viejo was pretty but not a very big area; the rest of the city is not very pedestrian-friendly and the traffic is epic. We rented a car (my husband drove) and it was pretty insane. We drove along the coast and found some beaches not far outside the city but everyone kept telling us the really nice beaches were further away. Aside from the canal and surrounding rainforest, which is amazing, I didn't find Panama as pretty in terms of scenery as Costa Rica. I think Bogota also sounds like a great option - again, one that was not a destination when crime was high but an option again apparently.