Traveling Through the Vibrant Heart of Colombia: A Bogotá Adventure
Bogotá, the sprawling capital of Colombia, is a city of stark contrasts and vibrant energy, where the historical and the modern seamlessly coexist. With its rich cultural heritage, stunning natural beauty, and booming culinary scene, Bogotá is a destination that truly has it all. Here is my first-hand experience from my most recent adventure!
Nestled high in the Andes at an elevation of over 2,600 meters and hosts at least 7 million citizens within its borders! This vast city contains a melting pot of diverse languages, cultures, and nevertheless, stunning views! With the outside reputation that Colombia has, it can seem overwhelming at the thought of traveling to and through this massive country, but let me tell you it's easier than you think!
For my birthday this year, I was set on crossing a highly anticipated destination off my list, San Andrés Island! With this incredible island being owned by Colombia, you would think it is right off the Colombian coast and a quick ferry ride away. On the contrary, it is located closer to Nicaragua than Colombia and requires a few flights within the mainland before making way to paradise.
My sister and I flew from Dallas to Atlanta, Atlanta to Bogotá then Bogotá to San Andrés. The last leg between Bogotá and SAI consisted of a 10-hour layover which started in the late evening of the day.
Getting Around
Given that we rather not sleep in the airport, we opted to stay at an Airbnb located 20 minutes away from the airport. Uber is serviced within the city, as well as, official taxis to get around with ease.
This portion of Uber is different than the platform within the U.S. as it lists Taxi cars, as well as, Uber-certified drivers. Our trip from the airport to our Airbnb would have cost only $3.19 USD (12,120 Colombian Pesos). Much better than the prices that we have back at home!
Due to the late night, we chose to take a taxi straight out of the airport for our first transit. A gentleman with a badge walked up to us to let us know that he was available to transport us to our destination.
The initial price that he offered was 180,000 pesos which is the equivalent of $47.36 USD. This was the most I have ever been quoted for a taxi ride with a "short" distance. I was honestly appalled and slightly offended. lol
Travel Tip: ALWAYS confirm and negotiate the price before getting in the car or beginning the route!
I am a traveler who is all about traveling SMART and within a budget to maximize every trip. There was no way that I would be willing to pay that much. I quickly got out of my Google Translate app to ensure that I relayed that message as clearly as possible. lol
After negotiating, he knocked it down to $15 USD. It was not the ~$4 USD that I hoped for, but due to the late night hours and limited time frame... the quicker we got settled for the night, the better!
Potential Language Barriers
Being a native Texan and one who travels to Spanish-speaking countries often, I am used to hearing Spanish and able to understand Spanish (for the most part). The accents in Colombia are not only thicker than what I am used to, but the locals use phrases that are not typically known for non-Spanish speakers. I HIGHLY recommend that you pre-download a translator app with offline capability to utilize during your time within the country.
Google Translate has a feature that will even translate languages using your camera that can be hovered over signs and menus. Super helpful!
If you are of Spanish or Afro descent, locals may assume that you are Colombian and know Spanish without hesitation. Be prepared and be patient with yourself as you relay your communication.
Food Options
Colombia in general is known for its flavorable food choices and styles. As soon as we landed, we couldn't wait to try our first meal in this beautiful country! Unfortunately, by the time we reached our Airbnb, most of the establishments were closed near our loft.
At this point we were starving, so I ordered food through an app called Rappi. This app is the equivalent of Uber Eats and DoorDash. All you need to do is create an account and enter your current location to be served correctly.
Once completed, everything else is easy as pie! It will give you an ETA for delivery and you can see how far your driver is post-confirmation.
We ordered two chicken wraps, two papas fritos (french fries), and two bebidas (drinks) from a place called O'Napo. I couldn't help but also order $2 USD Colombian beers to get a sip of their local beverage.
Let me tell you... we both had no regrets!!!
Takeaways
Although we were not there for long, I feel that these are great tips to keep in mind regardless of how long you are within the city! As always, please be safe and aware of your surroundings.
Let a close friend or family member know your location and itinerary before each adventure and/or during it for extra safety precautions.
Do not give your address out to strangers nor tell them how long you will be staying.
If you are traveling solo, wearing a ring on your wedding finger or mentioning that you are meeting with a friend or spouse is a great way to add another layer of illusion that you are not alone.
Take advantage of your layovers! If you have time to leave and get back to the airport, I recommend doing so! The best day trips can come from it.
All in all, new surroundings may feel weird at first, but don't limit yourself to the possibilities of an awesome experience!
Stay tuned for the rest of the details of my route to San Andrés Island!
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