By Daniella De Windt
Latin America, here we come! Two inexperienced 23-year-olds, my friend Sofie and I set off on a great backpacking adventure through Costa Rica, Colombia and Panama, to celebrate the completion of our Bachelor degrees. After many months of planning, receiving tips from knowledgeable travellers, discussing which bikinis to bring, and persuading our protective family members, it was finally time to embark on our three-month trip in September 2019.
I will be sharing our adventures and recommendations over the following weeks in The Weekender.
Tayrona National Park
Our next destination was not far from El Rio hostel and after a fun moto taxi ride, we arrived at the lovely Viajero Tayrona – a former five-star resort now renovated into a boutique hostel with a private beach, gorgeous pool, and spacious dorms.
But before we could indulge in all that luxury, we took a bus to Tayrona National Park – a beautiful natural park only eight miles away. The park covers about 60 square miles of land and 12 square miles of sea and is the second most visited natural park in Colombia. And it was soon clear why the park is so popular: the diverse biodiversity, the well-kept trails, the stunning views, and lush greens.
We enjoyed the exercise, some fresh coconuts sold by the indigenous inhabitants along the way and some great conversation with our newly-found travel buddies – we figured we deserved some drinks after burning all those calories. After a quick shower in the Bali-style outdoor bathroom, it was time for happy hour and a Dia de los Muertos party on the nearby Costeño Beach where we danced till the sun came up.
The next day called for ultimate relaxation and the Viajero Tayrona hostel was the perfect place to do so. Reading a good book in a hammock, tanning under the Caribbean sun, laughter in the pool, creamy piña coladas, and a good night’s sleep after a hearty meal – life does not get much better than that.
Minca
After a long and sweaty journey in a packed bus and an intense taxi ride up the hills surrounding Minca, we finally arrived at our hostel. Casas Viejas is a hostel lodge located in the heart of finca La Victoria – one of the biggest and most famous coffee farms in the northern Colombian mountains – and boasts its cosy atmosphere, breath taking mountain views, comfy hammocks, and morning yoga sessions.
We arrived well after dark, so after a hot (!) shower and some card games, we bundled up under our mosquito net canopies. Morning yoga started at 7:30am, but thanks to the stunning mountain views and crisp air, it was relatively easy to get up and start moving.
After yoga, it was time for the hostel’s famous waterfall hike – a three-hour trek through the coffee plantation passing by numerous waterfalls, bamboo trails, and scenic views. By now, it had almost become a tradition for me to fall at least one time on every hike. So, of course, I was the only clumsy person to manage to nearly fall down a waterfall and walk around in wet clothes for over an hour.
Lunch consisted of fresh sandwiches and carrot cake at the coffee plantation’s little café after which we all took a well-deserved hammock nap. But we did not have much time to lose, as we could not go home without doing the sunset walk to the panoramic viewpoint before trying the hostel’s handcrafted beers and signature cocktails #doitforthegram.
Cartagena
Cartagena was our last stop in Colombia and boy had we looked forward to the city well-known for its colourful buildings, tropical temperatures, amazing food, and lively nightlife! And as it turned out, we were extra lucky to have planned our stop here during their Independence celebrations – that meant parties and parades all weekend long!
We stayed at the Republica hostel – perfectly situated within the walled city in the historical centre. The hostel’s rooftop terrace, air-conditioned common areas, and cool pool provided much-needed relief after roaming the hot and vibrant streets.
Cartagena’s famous food scene surely did not disappoint. Luckily, the popular Pezetarian restaurant for their fresh and affordable organic seafood dishes was located right next to our hostel. Another great find was La Taperia – an intimate Spanish tapas restaurant situated along the old wall. The tapas selection changes daily, the paella is fresh and authentic, and the sangria is affordable and perfect for those warm Cartagena days.
Colombians love to party, but the people in Cartagena seems to have mastered the art of going out. From chic rooftop bars, to bustling salsa clubs, to late-night electronic joints, Cartagena has it all. Café del Mar is the most popular place for drinks. It is a bit of a tourist trap and relatively expensive, but the prime location (literally on top of the UNESCO World Heritage walls), the stunning views of both the historical walled city and the modern skyline, and the amazing cocktails are most definitely worth it.
After a night of dancing, brunch inevitably calls. We loved Stepping Stone in the up and coming Getsemani area. Not only do they serve delicious and trendy food, it is also a social enterprise café aiming to fight inequality by increasing education and employment among disadvantaged youth. Another great (and air-conditioned) wake-up place is Café Epoca with their quality coffee and made-to-order eggs and French toast! It was so good that we ended up visiting there twice within 48 hours.
To be continued …
