After finishing my studies, I went on my six-month solo trip to Colombia. I didn't just choose the destination on a whim, but started saving a year beforehand with the desire to get to know my roots better. I had already been to Bogotá for a month in 2011 to meet my family, but hadn't seen much of the country. So at the end of 2021, I fulfilled my dream of discovering the country, learning the language and now I can tell you about my experiences. That's why you'll discover Part 01 of this blog about places you should visit in the north of Colombia.
1. Minca
This is one of my favorite places in Colombia. Although this place doesn't have a beach, you'll find an environment that has lots of incredible things to offer. Every day you can go on a hike to a different, even more beautiful waterfall or to a breathtaking viewpoint. Some hostels here also offer cocoa ceremonies, which I would have loved to do. Nature had a meditative effect on me here and I simply enjoyed my time. I definitely recommend this place if you want to get lost in nature and enjoy a bit of the great outdoors.
2.
It was the first time in my life that I had seen monkeys in the wild, which makes this park a wonderful memory for me. The park can be reached by bus from Santa Marta and is perfect for a day trip. Some people even camp in the park, but I would recommend staying in a hostel outside as the tents are not really comfortable and everything in the park is more expensive. The park offers incredible nature and beautiful beaches. You also get the chance to discover the habitat of the indigenous peoples and drink delicious coconuts.
3. Playas de Mendihuaca
I took a moto-taxi from Tayrona Park to my hostel on Mendihuaca Beach. There is a huge selection of hostels here to enjoy the beaches and meet new people. But the ride from the park to the hostel alone was one of the best experiences for me.
4. Palomino
From Tayrona Park to Palomino, you could stop again at almost every opportunity. For example in Buritaca, where you can swim in the river and see how the river flows into the sea. In Palomino you will find a small hippie village with lovely little artesanal stores, nice hostels and a quiet area to relax. For me, Palomino was just a small stopover where I surfed for a day and then made my way next to Cabo de la Vela.
5. Cabo de la Vela
I took a bus from Santa Marta to Uribia and then a jeep to one of the most exciting places I have ever visited in my life. This is the perfect place to try out kitesurfing, spend the nights outside in hammocks and get to know the culture of the Wayuu (indigenous people). There is no running water in this area and electricity is only available in the evenings from storm generators. During the day, you can experience wonderful places with the moto-taxis and simply enjoy life. This place is also very close to the northernmost point of South America (Punta Gallinas), lots of people take a tour there from here. I decided against it because I didn't have lots of time and heard from a visitor that it was no different to Cabo de la Vela. It's up to you whether you want to travel next. But if you really want to disconnect from the world, you should visit this place.
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