Anonymous
Post 08/11/2022 08:57     Subject: Colombia for Thanksgiving?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Cartagena is a tourist dump. Try to experience the real Colombia instead.

For example?


I'm not the pp you quoted.

When we went (New Years 2019/20, so right before Covid) we didn't got to Cartagena because I knew it was a destination for cruise ships, and I wanted to avoid that. We had two "home bases" of Medellin and Bogota.

Medellin was WONDERFUL. I found a company called Super Tours Medellin https://www.supertoursmedellin.com/en/ and took a city tour of Medellin (including Comuna 13) with Carolina. I would also recommend visiting Guatape (we did that with a different tour company, but Super Tours does Guatape too and we like them better than the other company.)
At Christmas Medellin puts on a huge light display--you walk around a park to view it. There's food for sale and carnival rides at the light display too, it's huge! Thanksgiving might be too early, but if they are up when you are there it's worth checking out!

We didn't love Bogota as much as Medellin but there was still a lot of nice things there. We took a tour of the Salt Cathedral which was neat. We also went hiking in a cloud forest at Chicaque natural park.


LOL. Here you are dissing tourists, then saying that you yourself took a tour. Actually, you took two!

Some of us are fluent in Spanish and don't need tours.


I didn't "dis tourists"--I don't want to be around cruise ship crowds. There's a difference.
Yes, some of us are fluent in Spanish, myself included. Being fluent in Spanish doesn't make me an expert in all things Colombian, nor does it give me the desire to drive around Colombia on my own.
Anonymous
Post 08/11/2022 05:01     Subject: Colombia for Thanksgiving?
There’s a lot to do in Medellin, but your kid might want to add an additional trip on there to take advantage of while you’re there so maybe let them
Be the guide and see where they want to go. If the kid is there for 6 months, I would definitely recommend trying to visit Bogota, Cartagena and then others would be Salento, Eje Cafetero, Villa de Leyva, Santa Marta (Tayrona), Cali based on interests.
Anonymous
Post 08/11/2022 00:04     Subject: Re:Colombia for Thanksgiving?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Older son will be based in Medellin. I guess I assumed people flock to the coast for beachy weather & experience. Logistically, it would be a lot easier if we just stayed in Medellin (seems obvious now but it’s not a place I’ve heard of where people I know vacation).


Lots of people vacation there. You must just be muy aburrida.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 22:36     Subject: Re:Colombia for Thanksgiving?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Older son will be based in Medellin. I guess I assumed people flock to the coast for beachy weather & experience. Logistically, it would be a lot easier if we just stayed in Medellin (seems obvious now but it’s not a place I’ve heard of where people I know vacation).


Medellin is a great city with perfect weather and plenty to do and see. Isn't your son already telling you that? You can go to the beach anywhere.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 22:30     Subject: Re:Colombia for Thanksgiving?
OP here. Older son will be based in Medellin. I guess I assumed people flock to the coast for beachy weather & experience. Logistically, it would be a lot easier if we just stayed in Medellin (seems obvious now but it’s not a place I’ve heard of where people I know vacation).
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 22:05     Subject: Colombia for Thanksgiving?
We loved Medellin and also visited a pueblo called Santa Fe about an hour outside the city.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 21:26     Subject: Colombia for Thanksgiving?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Cartagena is a tourist dump. Try to experience the real Colombia instead.

For example?


I'm not the pp you quoted.

When we went (New Years 2019/20, so right before Covid) we didn't got to Cartagena because I knew it was a destination for cruise ships, and I wanted to avoid that. We had two "home bases" of Medellin and Bogota.

Medellin was WONDERFUL. I found a company called Super Tours Medellin https://www.supertoursmedellin.com/en/ and took a city tour of Medellin (including Comuna 13) with Carolina. I would also recommend visiting Guatape (we did that with a different tour company, but Super Tours does Guatape too and we like them better than the other company.)
At Christmas Medellin puts on a huge light display--you walk around a park to view it. There's food for sale and carnival rides at the light display too, it's huge! Thanksgiving might be too early, but if they are up when you are there it's worth checking out!

We didn't love Bogota as much as Medellin but there was still a lot of nice things there. We took a tour of the Salt Cathedral which was neat. We also went hiking in a cloud forest at Chicaque natural park.


LOL. Here you are dissing tourists, then saying that you yourself took a tour. Actually, you took two!

Some of us are fluent in Spanish and don't need tours.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 19:05     Subject: Colombia for Thanksgiving?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Cartagena is a tourist dump. Try to experience the real Colombia instead.

For example?


I'm not the pp you quoted.

When we went (New Years 2019/20, so right before Covid) we didn't got to Cartagena because I knew it was a destination for cruise ships, and I wanted to avoid that. We had two "home bases" of Medellin and Bogota.

Medellin was WONDERFUL. I found a company called Super Tours Medellin https://www.supertoursmedellin.com/en/ and took a city tour of Medellin (including Comuna 13) with Carolina. I would also recommend visiting Guatape (we did that with a different tour company, but Super Tours does Guatape too and we like them better than the other company.)
At Christmas Medellin puts on a huge light display--you walk around a park to view it. There's food for sale and carnival rides at the light display too, it's huge! Thanksgiving might be too early, but if they are up when you are there it's worth checking out!

We didn't love Bogota as much as Medellin but there was still a lot of nice things there. We took a tour of the Salt Cathedral which was neat. We also went hiking in a cloud forest at Chicaque natural park.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 18:56     Subject: Colombia for Thanksgiving?
Bogota, Medellin, Santa Marta (Parque Tayrona) but also depends on how much time you have and traveling style.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 18:50     Subject: Colombia for Thanksgiving?
Anonymous wrote:Cartagena is a tourist dump. Try to experience the real Colombia instead.

For example?
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 18:04     Subject: Colombia for Thanksgiving?
Cartagena is a tourist dump. Try to experience the real Colombia instead.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 18:03     Subject: Re:Colombia for Thanksgiving?
The older sibling is already there? Or headed soon?

I would wait to see what they may want to show you.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 16:37     Subject: Colombia for Thanksgiving?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So many question as I just begin to consider going with hs aged kids to visit older sibling there for 6 months. Where in the country? Plan for beach or other great adventures? Areas to absolutely avoid? Other things I need to consider? TIA


Went with a friend (two twentysomething ladies) about 12 years ago or so. Went to Cartagena. Enjoyed it. Took a boat out to one of the little coastal islands and spent the day there. Visited the old fort, and walled city. Went to the mud volcano. Enjoyed our time there.

Cartagena is on our list too.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 16:23     Subject: Colombia for Thanksgiving?
Anonymous wrote:So many question as I just begin to consider going with hs aged kids to visit older sibling there for 6 months. Where in the country? Plan for beach or other great adventures? Areas to absolutely avoid? Other things I need to consider? TIA


Went with a friend (two twentysomething ladies) about 12 years ago or so. Went to Cartagena. Enjoyed it. Took a boat out to one of the little coastal islands and spent the day there. Visited the old fort, and walled city. Went to the mud volcano. Enjoyed our time there.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2022 16:17     Subject: Colombia for Thanksgiving?
So many question as I just begin to consider going with hs aged kids to visit older sibling there for 6 months. Where in the country? Plan for beach or other great adventures? Areas to absolutely avoid? Other things I need to consider? TIA