Our 7 Final Thoughts On Colombia

After spending 37 days in Colombia, here are some final thoughts. See our post on our “Our Top 10 First Impressions in Colombia” to see more of our thoughts of this wonderful country.

1. Colombia is a wonderful country for tourists to visit. Colombians are excited to have tourists in their country and have demonstrated an amazing resiliency in rebuilding its reputation as a great place to travel. There is so much to see and do, and for the most part, Colombia is incredibly economical for the backpacker budget or those looking for an affordable holiday.
   

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2. Despite the fact that Colombians are comfortable standing relatively close to each other and are quite tactile while conversing, they are also very respectful of privacy. For example, if you are withdrawing money from an ATM, the next person in line will always stand at least three metres away or if you are entering your credit card pin in a machine, the teller will most often look away in another direction.
   

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3. People earn their money. It is rare to see individuals begging for money on the streets in big cities. Instead, individuals will try to sell a product (candy and fruit are very common) or perform to earn their income.
   

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4. Despite being illegal, Uber is a safe and a mostly reliable way to travel. However, it is important to compare prices to taxis, as sometimes Uber’s prices can be elevated. See our post about Our Experience Using Uber in Colombia for more information about our experience.
   

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5. Colombian food is affordable and delicious. We enjoyed the well priced set meals (menu del dia), the abundance of fresh fruit available, arepas, buñuelos and other fried foods, as well as other snacks (potatoes, plantains, mangobiche). In addition, grocery shopping is easy and affordable.
   

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6. Crepes And Waffles is a great Colombian chain restaurant. The menu is extensive, the food is delicious and there are plenty of healthy options to choose from. You can also find locations everywhere in major cities in Colombia. In fact, we visited locations in Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena!
   

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7. The country offers extremely diverse landscapes, terrains and climates. Colombia is a beautiful country with mountains, beaches, jungles and more. A one hour flight can take you from blistering 35+ degree humid temperatures in Cartagena to wearing a light jacket in moderate mountain weather in Bogotá. There’s so much to explore! We can’t wait to return to Colombia to explore the Amazon!
   

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