Solo Female Travel in Colombia..

I wrote this in my journal, following a month of solo female travel in Colombia:

“Never have I felt the comfort of strangers more so than in Colombia, a place once known as the ‘Murder Capital of the World.’  Never have I encountered more people who went out of their way to help me: not in England or France, Croatia or Peru, not in Turkey or Thailand ~ & certainly not in my home country of the United States. 

It is odd, the paradoxes we come across in travel.”

Solo Female Travel in Colombia

Originally, Colombia wasn’t on my South America travel itinerary.  The plan was to cover Peru, Chile, Argentina, & Ecuador.  My friend, however, was dying to visit Colombia.  But I was skeptical.  Colombia’s “bad” reputation concerned me, and I did NOT want to tell my family (who were already concerned about my travels), that I was starting my trip in Colombia, the so-called “Murder & Cocaine Capital of the World.”

Clearly, Colombia’s reputation had gotten to me. 

If I’d given in to my initial fears about Colombia, & not traveled there ~ it saddens me to think of all the beauty I would have missed, & the people I never would’ve met, whose warmth & kindness I can still feel long after I’ve left. 

And that’s why I’m writing this piece: to offer my perspective on solo female travel in Colombia.  Though I wouldn’t recommend Colombia to a first-time solo traveler (I think you need more life experience & street-smarts under your belt before tackling Colombia alone), I DO want to offer encouragement for other experienced travelers who wish to travel there ~ whether solo or with friends.

 

Map of Colombia

So Why Colombia?

So why did I change my mind & decide to visit Colombia, instead of pursuing my original itinerary of Chile & Argentina?

Answer: Money.

At the time, a flight from Peru (where I was) to Santiago, Chile (where I was supposed to meet a friend) cost about $800.  INSANE!!  Flights to Cartagena, Colombia ~ however, were about $150.

Enter: Colombia.  

Getting to Colombia

Step 1 =  Buy a $150 flight from Lima to Cartagena on Viva Colombia, versus an $800 flight from Lima to Santiago.    

**Step 2 =  (VERY IMPORTANT!!)  Call friends who’ve traveled to Colombia.  Get advice, ask about potential dangers or problems, & basically get reassurance that it’s “okay” to travel there.  Check with the State Department for up-to-date travel advisories.

Step 3 =  Find a killer place to stay in Cartagena ~ like the Hotel Movich Cartagena de Indias, which has one of the most AMAZING rooftop pools in the city!!  My friend gladly took on this job, & found us an insane penthouse apartment for $60 US per night ~ complete with a rooftop pool. 

Any worries we had about Colombia dissolved when we saw this view.

Solo Female Travel in Colombia

And so: that’s how I found myself in Colombia. 

After two weeks, my friend flew home, & I suddenly found myself alone in Colombia.  I now needed to navigate from Cartagena to Bogota, then over to Medellin & Guatape.  And finally, back to Medellin.

Was I nervous to travel solo in Colombia now ~ as a blonde American? 

The truthful answer is: no. 

Why not?  After spending time in Colombia, & getting my own feel for it: I simply didn’t feel afraid.  People in Cartagena were laid-back, friendly, & funny.  We walked at all hours of the night & day with no problems.  Three different friends of mine had recently traveled to Medellin & Guatape, raving about both places. 

So my concern for solo female travel in Colombia simply lessened just by being in the country.

 

Colombian Encounters

Here are some examples of what I encountered, during my solo female travel in Colombia:

• A man running after me through the streets of Guatape, yelling, “Senora!  Senora!”  I accidentally left my bank card in the ATM, & this man who spoke no English ran until he caught up with me, just to return my card.  I wondered if someone would’ve done this for me in the United States.
• An invitation to join a 30-person conga line at a popular Guatape hotel ~ called Hotel Los Recuerdos (which has KILLER views of Guatape’s famous “Rock”).  I’d accidentally crashed a 40th wedding anniversary!  Instead of being upset ~ they urged me to join them!  
  
• The funniest, most welcoming taxi drivers I’ve found anywhere in the world.  With excitement in their voice, they’d ask something like, “So, what do you think of our country?”  Their passion for their country shined, as did their desire to educate newcomers about the great treasures of their country.
  
• Great bull-shitters.  I bought a fantastic turquoise necklace from a gregarious man in Cartagena.  Every time we went to Old Town, I looked forward to seeing him & getting the latest gossip.  There’s something about finding people to bullshit with, that makes a place feel like home very quickly.  
• Helpful concierges.  In particular, the gentleman at Casa Pestagua Hotel & Spa in Cartagena not only gave us a grand tour of the hotel, but he then spent 20 minutes creating an impromptu photo sessionwith us on the rooftop.  He captured some of the most spontaneous & glorious shots of our trip.
  

My take-away?  It felt as if people everywhere, all over the country, were going out of their way to change my mind about their country.  As if to say, “These are your expectations of Colombia ~ but let me show you what we’re really like.” 

And they don’t just tell you how great their country is.  They show you. 

Solo Female Travel in Colombia…

Perhaps one day, you’ll see for yourself how Colombia is reinventing itself.  When you do: tell me all about it.  For I love this country, & wish more people could experience its culture, & fall in love with it as I did.  

For in this way, we can begin to change the narrative.  We can begin to change the conversation: from one of violence & mistrust, to one of music, beauty, laughter & dancing ~ of curiosity & passion. 

Because that ~ that is the real Colombia.

xoxo Noelia 

Read Next: Solo Female Travel in Medellin

Pin It