1. Describe Colombia in one word?
Beautiful, because of the scenery, people, and landscapes. I like the language and the general vibe of the place. It’s very fun and free, but also relaxed and chaotic at the same time.
2. How did you find your tour leader?
I loved my tour leader, Andres. He was so enthusiastic and energetic, and genuinely one of the coolest people I've ever met. He is a bit of a traveller himself, as he lives on a motorcycle when he's not leading tour groups. He made everyone feel comfortable and ensured all our needs were met, and was also very knowledgeable about the history and places. He also knew all the shortcuts and was friends with everyone that we walked past on the street. He was basically a local legend there.
3. What were your fellow Explorers like?
There were 13 of us in total. Everyone, I believe, was over 50 other than myself, and there was a mix of solo female travellers and a few couples. Andres and every local leader that we had made sure that everyone was safe and well looked after around the town. No one ever felt uncomfortable or unsafe whilst we were out there.
4. What was your accommodation like?
We spent seven nights in a comfortable hacienda and six nights in comfortable hotels. The accommodation was of a high standard with good breakfasts and plenty of space for solo travellers. Overall, it was clean and comfortable with great views from the hotels.
5. How did you find the pace of the trip?
We never felt like we were in one place for too long. There could be times when we wanted to stay somewhere longer, but based on how far we had to cover, I think we did a very good job of it. The drives didn't feel too long, even though they were five or six hours at a time.
The countryside is beautiful – you kind of forget about how long has passed. As we were going through, I think everyone was comfortable and ready to move on by the time we did, because all the activities we were doing fit nicely around the day.
6. What was your highlight of the trip?
There was one day in particular that I really enjoyed. In the morning, we visited the wax palms – they were very impressive. Then we went to play tejo, which is basically throwing discs at targets filled with gunpowder. You get a beer and have a good time.
Apart from that, I really enjoyed the mug painting session, which came after the coffee tour. We also did a weaving class for a bag where they showed us how they traditionally used to make them.
7. Can you tell us a fun fact about Colombia?
They’re one of the biggest coffee importers in the world, and they sell more coffee than they keep. So, the majority of the biggest coffee plantations don't actually use their own coffee. Also, Colombia is the most biodiverse country in the world per square kilometre – there are over 1,900 bird species!
8. Was there anything that surprised you about Colombia?
The kindness of the people around us. Every Colombian we met was really kind, and they’re just very down-to-earth people. Fun fact: they love the artist Fernando Botero.
9. What’s the food and drink like in Colombia?
It is very hearty. Lots of beans, rice, and meat – the sort of stuff that keeps you going throughout the day so you can get over the hills. Although it’s heavily meat and fish, they also cater for vegans and vegetarians, as there are lots of great fruits and veggies out there. There are massive avocados and lots of other diverse fruit, stuff that you don't grow in the UK. The bandeja paisa was really nice – I would say it's on par with an English breakfast.
10. Is this tour suitable for solo travellers?
Yeah, definitely. It's a good mix of different activities, and you don't spend the whole time with just one or two people – you meet and talk with everyone. It’s not just for couples either, which is nice. It’s beautiful, but you don't have to be with someone to enjoy it.
11. Is there anything else that you’d like to share?
There were so many highlights on the trip, like the farmers market on day two, where we tried different types of fruit that we'd never seen or tasted before. At the end of the trip in Cartagena, we all had a go at playing the drums and other instruments, and then a live band performed for us for about two hours.
Earlier that day, we visited an all-women-run business called DAMARTES, which helps women gain financial independence through hands-on workshops. They invited us all in and showed us how they make beads and sell them. It was really fun.
