Caffeinated in Colombia
November 16th, 2009 Posted in Cheap Latin America Travel, Destination reports
I’ve spent the last few days bopping around Colombia after taking a seat on Spirit Air’s new route to Armenia, Colombia. This is the Coffee Triangle region of the country so I’ve been jacked up on caffeine the whole time (just the black liquid pick-me-up, not the other white powdery one.)
First impressions are that the people are beautiful, so is the countryside, and I haven’t felt the slightest bit uncomfortable yet. Though people at home raised an eyebrow when I told them I was coming here, it has been all positive after arrival—as expected.
Colombia is not one of The World’s Cheapest Destinations, but outside of Cartagena anyway, it’s certainly affordable. Domestic tourism is actually most of the tourism here, so prices are geared to locals nearly everywhere. You can pay $15 for dinner, but that’s a big fat steak and trimmings at a fancy place. A meal in a simple place is a few bucks. There are lots of little rustic hotels dotted around the countryside, many of them situated on working coffee plantations. So the java is reliably good. This zipline trip with some clips in the video below was the equivalent of 20 bucks—less than I paid in Guatemala a few years ago.
Here’s a little tour for you.
6 Responses to “Caffeinated in Colombia”
By Kyle on Nov 16, 2009
If you’re in Armenia, drop by Manizales. You can get a kick ass view from the top of the church towers.
By tim on Nov 17, 2009
Kyle, I’m in Manizales right now! Didn’t go to the top of the church towers, but on the hillside with the founders’ statue and there’s a great view from there.
By carmel on Nov 17, 2009
How is the food there? I have always wanted to go, food quality is very important to me
By Bargain Travel Blogger on Nov 18, 2009
I have wanted to visit Columbia for ages! I had no idea that you could travel there for so little! Coffee Country here I come!
By AirTreks Nico on Nov 18, 2009
I recent got back from a trip to Colombia and absolutely loved it. It was much different from what I expected (cleaner, safer, more developed) and I found the Spanish to be easier to understand than in Mexico.
I also found it to be pretty cheap, not only once we arrived but getting down there too. Avianca Airlines has some great deals to Bogota and beyond.
Have fun!
By tim on Nov 18, 2009
Carmel, in the region I was in, it’s lots of hearty food based on meat, potatoes, plantains, beans, and mild white cheese. Of course all the fruit and vegetables you could want in the markets—and great fresh-squeezed juice. Not a real foodie area though. You have to go to the big cities for that.