Backpacking through Colombia: What’s It Really Like? (An Honest Guide)
I’ve visited Colombia numerous times now, and having just finished a 2 month trip here I’ve got some new fresh insights into what it’s like backpacking this popular South American nation .
Some things were exactly the same from my first trip here (and probably won’t change in the next few decades), whilst other things really surprised me in both good and bad ways too.
Backpacking through Colombia: What’s It Really Like?
In this article I’ll give the low-down from my recent trip around Colombia, including the best bits, the “not so best” bits as well as some extra tips you can use for your own trip here.
The Really Good Parts
Diverse Geography and Sceneries
One of the biggest reasons I looked forward to heading back to Colombia was because of the epic landscapes.
Similar to my experience in Peru, here we can find everything from a valley of giant palm trees to unreal Caribbean reefs to go diving in. This means that even with just a couple of weeks, you can fit in a tonne of exciting places that are all close together.
Tayrona National Park was one of these. Even though it’s insanely popular and busy, the entire area is massive so you may find yourself alone a lot on some of the trails.
I decided to camp overnight at one of the less busy sites (Don Pedro), and at night the place really came alive with shrieking Howler Monkeys and the constant electrifying buzz from the surrounding insects.
Of course Cocora Valley also has to make this list. I mean when else are you going to see so many super-sized palm trees in your life?
A Raw and Fiery Local Culture
Like with most countries in South America, the people are pretty friendly and outgoing. However in Colombia they really go the extra mile, where they are often very passionate and outgoing.
This means that you may be taken back a bit once you arrive, however you just need to push through this and you’ll find that you’ll learn loads whilst here. From getting good at salsa to discovering local foods in markets, it’s a good idea to try and be more open in Colombia (you’ll have a more memorable experience overall).
Some of the best ways you can meet locals is of course by staying at hostels and chatting with people. However you can also be proactive too and head on walking tours or with guided experiences.
Adding to that – if you’re really looking for a more memorable experience then you can head to some lesser-visited areas and try things the local way. When I went to Santander, I ended up trying the infamous Hormigas Culonas which is definitely an experience in itself!
The Not So Good Parts
Most of the Country is now “Gringofied”
You probably already have a good idea what I mean by the above, however if you don’t – it essentially means that many parts are now overrun by foreign tourism.
Whilst this is good to an extent (where awesome places are revealed to us), too much of it can really take away from the raw culture that the destination or site originally had to offer.
One great example is Medellín, and especially the popular area of El Poblado. After just two nights here I swore to myself that I’d never come back under my own free will.
Overrun with nightclubs, prostitutes and drug dealers, I felt I was once again on one of those famed party islands in Southern Europe.
Other areas I strongly felt this was in Cartagena (around Getsemani, the historic center as well as the beaches), and in some parts of Santa Marta.
Notable Safety Concerns
Aside from getting detained and threatened in Venezuela, I’ve had literally no incidents after 3+ years of backpacking and living around Latin America.
However in the above “gringofied” places I always felt less safe than I did in local areas which the media said were unsafe. Yes that’s right – even in many areas of Venezuela I felt a hell of a lot safer than I did than in say Cartagena or Medellín.
The reason being is that when overtourism hits an area of Latin America, so does targeted and organized crime too. This is why you’ll get offered drugs or have prostitutes calling out at you every 2 minutes, whilst pickpocketing is also a usual issue.
This can easily be resolved by staying in a less touristy neighborhood which is still close to popular sites and things to do.
My Opinion: Should You Go Backpacking Around Colombia?
Personally I hate the word “should”, given everyone is different and has their own goals when traveling.
However I would consider Colombia a good choice for those who want to experience a magnetic culture, where you can try a variety of new things (whether that be dancing salsa, snorkeling along the Caribbean coast or eating typical Colombian cuisine).
If you’re not a fan of touristy places then you can still definitely enjoy Colombia, however you’ll want to do a bit more planning beforehand. Be prepared for places like Medellín and Cartagena to be super “gringofied” (both for the reduced culture and more expensive prices).
If you’re looking for places that aren’t yet overtouristy, then I would add Bahía Solano or Santander into your trip.
Backpacking through Colombia: Final Words
And that’s all for my thoughts on my most recent trip around Colombia.
Whilst not one of my all-time favorite countries in Latin America, Colombia still offers a real punch in terms of its landscapes and passionate culture.
There are of course certain things to keep in mind (such as staying safe and areas that are becoming tourist traps), however Colombia does still deliver in many different ways for a backpacking trip.
Are you heading to Colombia soon? You’ll most likely touch down in the capital first, so be sure to check out our 3 Day Bogotá Itinerary.
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