NEW! Colombia's Colonial Jewels & Caribbean Coast (2012)

We are well traveled and always look forward to a new adventure. Colombia provided us with just such a time. The fact that it is so new to tourism is what made the trip most enjoyable. The people are lovely--very friendly and accomodating. Neither of us speak Spanish but, that was not a deterrant at all. If interested in people you can always find a way to communicate.We found the daily activities to be well spaced and our guide, Leon, had lots of suggestions for us for our free time. He actually spent a good bit of his free time going out and about with us. Hotels were adequate, food quite good and the attractions worth seeing and doing. Mud baths , home-hosted and the school visit were particularly enjoyable. I would recommend going now before the country becomes tourist fixated. I'm sure as the tours increase the itinerary will be tweaked but, we enjoyed it just as it was.

Traveler: Pat Venuto from Pt Charlotte, FL traveled on April 16, 2012

We are 23 time travelers, have been to 50+ countries with OATGCTGCCL, Smithsonian, Tauck, Elderhostel, others, and on business. And have lived in several for a few months.

Colombia was a refreshing new place. Our departure was #17 for OAT. 14 of us were ALL Inner Circle, and got along great.
The hotels were all clean and the staff eager to help. Colombia is emerging from years of internal turmoil, and now welcoming international visitors. It has yet to be spoiled by foreigners. It is an undiscovered destination; go before the hoards arrive in the coming years!

The OAT and local people were great, the street food tasty, the restaurant food MUCH better than other C.A. or S.A. countries (IMHO.)

If I were offered a free vacation to return to any of the previously visited 10 countries below the Rio Grande, I would not hesitate to pick Colombia!

Sure, there were 'quirks', and some problems associated with a new trip, but seasoned travelers will adapt!
We were deeply impressed with the country and OAT. GO NOW, while you can see a real Colombia.

Traveler: Robert Hoenes from Marietta, GA traveled on April 16, 2012

This was a great trip; different from other OAT trip's I've taken, but that's one of the things I really liked about it.

Extremely friendly people
Vendors who left you alone after only one "No Thank You"
Leon - a wondeful guide, full of joy
Fantastic food
Only 1 factory stop with no pressure
Loved the Volcano mud bath; so much fun!
Wonderful memories of dinner in the fishing village outside of Santa Marta. So peaceful and relaxing.
We had the best group of people in any OAT trip I've taken, which made it really nice.

I would recomment this trip to anyone who wants to have a new experience.

Traveler: Tamara Parker from Aptos, CA traveled on April 16, 2012

I feel the description of the itinerary in the brochure was better than in reality. Maybe Columbia is still not ready for American tourists. Few people speak English, even hotel staff.

Traveler: Patricia Ferris from Fairfax, VA traveled on March 09, 2012

Our home hosted dinner worked out well, but only because we had 2 people who knew Spanish. The host family did not really speak English. Lots of smiles and guesses.

Traveler: Arthur Sharenow from Lexington, MA traveled on February 03, 2012

This was our second OAT trip and we chose it because we wanted to try something different. Since Colombia is a new place for travelers to visit we were not disappointed. While some might say it isn't ready for tourists, this is the thing I found very refreshing. The Colombian people were all very friendly and did not have preconceived notions of Americans. Several times on the trip local people walked with us because they heard us speaking and were either curious about us or wanted to practice English. I enjoyed all the hotels and the food, while a little boring, was served in an effort to feed us based on American standards. It would have been nice to have tried a little more of the local fare.

Our guide, Leon, was as good or better than any guide we have had on any other trip with any group. In fact, it seemed sort of strange that when we left Bogota, his home, we had to have local guides from each of the other cities. I felt Leon could have done the job and was a bit distressed by all the changing of guides and drivers through out the trip. Be ready for all kinds of extra tipping! Leon also spent all of our "free" time with us, taking any one who wanted to good places to eat and walk. We took an hour to walk a normal 15 min. stretch of a street because Leon talked with local people and showed us things we would not have noticed on our own. Everyone should definitely try the chocolate with cheese and the fried plantains.

There was not too much to do at night but since we like to take pictures we spent the time walking around and felt very safe. The hotels were well situated in the cities but there was still not too much to do in the evenings. In Cartagena there is a great patio on the hotel roof where you can sit and spend time with friends.

A couple of tips I have for people taking this trip include clothing and bug spray and food warnings. Bogota was much colder than we expected and we wore the same shirts all three days. Bring a jacket and rain gear. We were warned about all kinds of illness that being bit by bugs could incur and brought high test bug spray and even sprayed many of our clothes before we left. While a little caution is wise, we never actually saw any mosquitoes! I would bring some bug stuff for the evenings and the hike in the park, but not get crazy. We also seemed to be able to eat all the food on the trip and were just cautious of the street venders, There was plenty of bottled water.

I would say I enjoyed this trip because it was unique, but I also realize that it is a new trip in a country not normally toured by Americans so the experience is only going to get better. Enjoy the local people and appreciate an evolving country,

Traveler: Sue Jacobson from Saint Paul, MN traveled on March 16, 2012

The trip is new and still being changed to
improve I think with every visit of a group.
Did not do the pre or post trip.
Liked Bogota.Loved the gold museum and
especially the Botero Museum. Hotel is clean, fresh close to Presidential Palace so in good area. Desk clerks are trying really hard to satisfy American consumer. Free Wi-fi.
Felt safe strolling around city by myself.
Loved Leon our guide for the whole trip.
He went over and above to try to please everyone.
Santa Marta- Did not do the hike. Some really enjoyed. I liked the free time to explore parts of the old city on foot. Felt very safe doing so. There is not much else to do here unless go to the ocean and sunbath.
The volcano mud bath was really enjoyed by those that participated then you go in
ocean to wash off; this is on way to Cartagena.
Cartagena- my favorite of the cities. Loved the old wall city (where our hotel was), loved exploring the area. Beautiful colonial
architecture. My favorite city visited.
I thought food was good most everywhere.
The Arepas are excellent but we did experience them quite alot. Our hotel was nice, large rooms, small bathrooms, clean. Desk clerks were not very nice nor
accommodating except for one young man there on the day we arrived. He was great and so sorry to say I have forgotten his name. Anyway, I think the trip is worthwhile but all travelers are looking for different things when they travel. I would say you should go!

Traveler: Vicki Fowlkes from Salem, AR traveled on February 27, 2012

This was an excellent trip, but different from other OAT adventures. The focus was on the historic parts of major cities and we missed the small towns typically visited. Tour leader Alex was excellent at providing optional adventures-usually walking tours- during free time. Also we were impressed with Leon the guide in Bogota. Hotels and meals were upscale relative to our other OAT trips but we had to use our free time to experience the local cuisine.
Surprises-
Botero museum and gold museum in Bogota
Changing of the guard at the presidential palace was very interesting. This is one block from the hotel in Bogota. I recommend it.
Salt cathedral was very large and not what we expected.
Mud volcano was a hit for those of us who participated. We are still laughing!
Warning- Bogota is at 8500' elevation and hilly. Even if you are in decent condition you may get short of breath. This is not a trip for those with significant physical limitations.
Colombian culture is different.Enjoy the adventure.
Paul Murphy

Traveler: Barbara Murphy from Bakersfield, CA traveled on March 09, 2012

Pre trip was Bolivia. It has a lot to offer, but spending 5 days at such a high altitude, made it very difficult to enjoy. The trip leader was wonderful, but it's too many days too high.
Columbia - Bogota was okay.
Santa Marta must be reworked. I thought it was a waste. But knowing someone from there, I was expecting to see other sites and swim in warm calm waters, which did not happen. This can be totally improved to make it a worthwhile stop.
Cartegna was the best of the 3 locations.
Overall, there is not much to see or do in Columbia, compared with other south american destinations. I would not recommend this trip in it's current form.

Traveler: Elizabeth Kessler from Cliffside Park, NJ traveled on February 21, 2012

Since Columbia is a fairly new tourist destination for the world, there are very few travel books about Columbia. I did order from Amazon--Colombia, the essential guide to customs and cultures, by Culture Smart, about $10. There are many other world countries, published by this company. I have the one for China and Thailand, all good references. If you want current information about restaurants and things to do, go to trip advisor or New York Times travel section.

In Bogota, have your guide take you to a small shoppe that serves hot chocolate with cheese to put into it. The Botero Museum is wonderful. Cartagena is a beautiful city, just shop on the days when the crowds from the ships aren't in town.

If you take the Panama extension, the dug out trip to visit the Embera indigenous tribe is a unique experience. No matter what you have heard or read, they do have clothes on!

Traveler: Kaye Caster from Colorado Springs, CO traveled on February 20, 2012

This was my 4th OAT trip and if it had been my 1st OAT trip it would have been my last; fortunately the previous 3 exceeded my expectations.

On this trip, the itinerary was changed for the 3rd time upon arrival at the airport and 3 items were deleted from the Bogota portion of the trip without any substitutions. We were expected to "make our own discoveries" in Bogota.

When this was presented to the tour director he indicated that the program changed several weeks prior to our trip yet the latest revised itinerary from OAT was dated 1302012 -- just days before our trip started -- and he was unaware of the OAT 132012 revision.

I was disappointed in the hotels which in Bogota and Cartegena lacked facilities for our group to gather in the evening for relaxation and discussion of the days events (or non-events on this trip). The rooms in these 2 locations had very poor lighting especially in the bathrooms.

The breakfast selection got progressively worse as we moved from Bogota to Santa Marta to Cartegena to the point that many in the group would buy fruit and other breakfast items from the vendors or supermarket to bring to breakfast. And the dinners were boring with sea bass one of the options everynight and not edible in several of the locations. One of the included lunches was an 'egg arepas' and you only got 1 which wouldn't satifisfy anybody. Later in the day when we stopped for a comfort break our tour director indicated there would be snacks for sell to augment the '1 egg arepas lunch'.

For me the trip lacked substance, it lacked the normal 5 - 6 daily adventures that OAT is known for , the hotels and food I found to be sub-standard for OAT and a general feeling that this 'work in progress' will need multiple revisions -- I didn't pay for so much free time to make 'my own discoveries" that I was bored beyond words. I left with little feeling of what Columbia and the people were really about and was glad that the trip was over.

It was, unquestionably, the worst tour I've taken in 10 years!

Until such time that the trip adds substance and improves in basic areas like food, hotels, adventures, learning experiences, etc., I would NOT recommend this trip to anyone unless you want to waste your time and money

Traveler: Theodore Lattanzio from New York, NY traveled on February 06, 2012

I was unhappy to find that although your booket issued the usual warnings about raw and unpeeled fruits and vegetables, all dinners came with salad a no cooked vegetables. I spoke to our guide about a change and he thoughtfully arranged to have ccoked vegetables served, but, alas, it was our last dinner. This wasn't a big deal, just a minor disappointment.

Traveler: Goldie Sternheimer from Columbia, MD traveled on February 06, 2012

I was on the 7th OAT trip to Colombia and my 14th adventure with OAT in February and the schedule had been revised (I assume based on previous travelers comments.)
Overall it as a worthwhile trip but if you are not comfortable with Spanish or Portugese then it can be difficult.
Colombia as a country is a work in progress for English speaking visitors with few signs in English (including the Avianca in-flight magazines) and seldom will you find a hotel employee who speaks or understands English.
The hotel in Bogota is located next door to the Colombia Senate building and is very very safe (lots of security people with guns) and I had no fears anywhere in the country as far as exploring on my own--in fact it was fun to sit in the Bolivar Plaza in Bogota and watch the armed security guards escort legislators in and out of automobiles. The Bogota hotel is also located only 2 blocks from a major supermarket (cleverly named "Exito") if you want something to snack on (The market also sells liquor BUT only after 3pm)
Overall I found a lot of down time with most afternoons free--which was a bit boring.
The walk and ride up to Monserrate Hill is a waste of time unless you're looking for an aerial view of the city and the church at the top is nothing to write home about.
The best thing about Bogota is that you CAN drink the water and electricity throughout the country is the same as in the U.S. making the need for converters unnecessary. I found it strange that coca tea, used for high altitude adjustment, was seldom seen. (If you do buy a packet of it remember you can't legally take it into the U.S.)
Santa Marta seemed to be a stopping place for no reason except to watch fishermen selling their catch, and the mud baths enroute to Cartagena were not as good as others I've visited (unless you like strangers pulling off your bathing suits afterwards to get the mud off).
Having visited numerous coffee plantations on previous OAT trips I wasn't looking forward to the coffee visit in Colombia but found it very good as it concentrates on the actual taste, smell, etc of ground coffee, not how it's grown.
OAT guides were very honest about civil strife in the country and that was refreshing and informative ( Pablo Escobar & friends).
Be prepared for long lines at immigration and customs upon entering the country and getting to the counter is terribly confusing and frustrating. I've always thought OAT should spend a bit of time explaining what to expect and how to get through customs in each country in which it operates. (the line on the right that says "connecting flights" can also be used as a fast way through customs just keep going straight ahead instead of turning right as the sign suggests.) Also have your baggage claim check handy because you need it to get out of the airport after you've gotten your luggage.
After you get out the front door, bear left and around the corner & at the end of the building you'll find a currency exchange counter. Use it because cambio offices in the country are difficult to find. You will have to give them the name of the hotel you're staying at and be fingerprinted before they will issue you with Colombia money. Again the lack of English speakers can prove difficult--just keep shoving dollars at them and nodding and make sure they stamp a small inked circle on each bill--that is a sign that the bill is genuine and not counterfit. Running out of pesos and trying to use US dollars is an almost impossible task.
The in-country flight from Bogota to Santa Marta uses the domestic terminal which is very easy to navigate. You can take bottled drinks through security without a problem but not matches! (go figure?). It is also very easy to find your way around the Cartagena airport for your flight back to Miami.
The hotel in Cartagena is located in the old city whose streets are so narrow that the tour bus can't get down them so be prepared to walk about 3 blocks down narrow sidewalks pulling your suitcase behind you.
If you smoke, forget about getting a smoking room at any hotel--they don't allow it--but do allow smoking in open patio areas.
If OAT is still using the Don Pedro de Heredia hotel on your trip (its a good hotel) go to the 5th floor after sunset for a great night shot of the lighted cathedral.
Download a map of the area from the hotels website--its much better and less confusing that the one OAT provides. All the main sights are within 600 yards of the hotel.
Although the old city feels confusing, you
really can't get lost because it is surrounded by the wall--just keep walking along the inside of the wall and sooner or later you'll end up at the main gate where your bus originally stopped and you'll know how to get to the hotel (it's right across the street from a "dollar store"--but there's nothing in the store for a dollar! lol.)
Senior hint: many attractions such as the Inquisition Museum offer a senior discount for admission. All you need to do is ask for it. It usually ends up being the same price as that charged for children.
Overall I would recommend the trip and if you can plan it to coincide with Carnival that's an added plus (we were 1 week too early for the celebrations).

Traveler: Terry Miller traveled on February 06, 2012

A truly fabulous adventure! The food and the people were great. Coffee tasting was a highlight as were the mudbaths. A must-see site is the Salt Cathedral within the salt mines of Bogota. Awesome! Although I did not purchase any, the emeralds were a good buy. Others on the tour bought rings and things. They were authenticsted when they returned to the U.S.A. This is a tour you will remember for ions...

Traveler: Edna Tobias from Hermosa Beach, CA traveled on January 24, 2012

We agree totally with the previous review-it was a very good trip with outstanding guiding. Having been in all Central and South American countries, Columbia was a very welcome addition Bruce

Traveler: Bruce Fisher from Vero Beach, FL traveled on January 23, 2012

Returned recently from this trip, my 25th OATGCT trip in the past 6 years. Colombia was the only major country in South America I had not visited previously, so was looking forward to this very much. Realize it is a new tour for OAT (my departure was only the second), and it was definitely worthwhile, but there are some problems which I have brought to OAT’s attention and hope they will be addressed immediately.

Most serious problem was with the hotels, particularly in Bogota and Santa Marta, although a problem with all of them was lack of English capability. Only about 2 percent of the front desk personnel spoke English, so most requests to fix problems were greeted with a shrug and no action. Had to have the Trip Leader intervene all the time, but even then some of the requests were not honored. Also, written instructions in English are necessary for in-room safes, heatair conditioning convectors, hot water heaters, etc. If the hotels cannot provide them, then OAT should.

Casa de la Botica in Bogota had a great location close to museums and churches for daytime, although one does have to be careful walking around after dark. Rooms were supposed to have heat (evenings can be cool at 8600 feet), wifi capability, in-room safe and a rod for hanging clothes, but it took 3 rooms (meaning repacking twice) to get that, even though the rooms are in a new addition and have only been open a few months. So my advice would be to check out the room thoroughly before unpacking. Also, it was not possible to call a cell phone in Colombia from the hotel – you could call a cell phone in the US or Europe, but not in Bogota, a really crazy system since there are 45 million people and 45 million cell phones in Colombia!

Santa Marta Real Hotel was the worst. Rooms were the most poorly designed I have seen in a long time. Air conditioner blew right on the head of the bed, so instant sinus trouble or no aircon. There was a single light, in the ceiling toward the head of the bed that was passable for reading in bed, but not for doing any work at the desk after dark. There were no convenient light switches or electrical outlets for computer use, and it was not possible to make any phone calls from the room. On the second night, there was a “Sweet 15” birthday party with scores of screaming teenagers. Hotel is entirely tile and marble, with no soundproofing, and the party kept moving between the open-air roof restaurant and the lobby, so no sleep was possible until well after 1 a.m. That establishment needs to decide whether it wants to be a hotel or catering hall, it is not capable of both.

Don Pedro de Heredia Hotel in Cartagena was much better once I found out how to operate the in-room hot water heater in the bathroom, so do ask about that early-on. It has a great location, for both day and nighttime, close to many restaurants, museums, sights and interesting street activities.

For all the hotels, take Kleenex (none was provided), a wash cloth, and travel alarm.

Since it is new, the itinerary for the trip is being tweaked, and there were several changes made after I made final payment in October, so I was stuck with the result. Some of the changes were fine, but I was especially concerned when 1 day in Bogota with a visit to the superb Botero Museum and free time was replaced by a 3-mile hike over steep terrain at 11,000 feet – a significant change. I kept to the original schedule myself and had a delightful day at that museum and others and several churches (Santa Clara was the highlight), all within a short walk of the hotel. The rest of the group (5 couples) did take the hike, with very mixed reactions – 1 couple really liked it, 2 thought it was OK, and 2 absolutely hated it.

More time is needed at the fabulous Gold Museum in Bogota, including some free time to wander on your own. Insist on that, even if it means walking back to the hotel on your own – an easy 15 to 20 minute walk, perfectly safe in daylight. Don’t feel compelled to play the local guide’s childish picture identification game -- fine for elementary school students, but not far seasoned adult travelers. Instead use the time to explore on your own.

The mud volcano also had a mixed reaction – the 6 tour members who did it really enjoyed it, the 5 of us who did not enjoyed not doing it even more, but that choice was available. No one opted for the Rosario Islands optional tour from Cartagena, so instead our excellent Trip Leader Alex took us on an impromptu walking tour of Gethsemani, part of the walled city we had not seen on the previous day, and it was an extremely interesting Learning & Discovery experience. That should be an included tour! By contrast, the Emerald Museum “Learning & Discovery Experience” was much less satisfactory, as the museum “exhibits” were mediocre. Am not a shopper, so this became just another OAT forced shopping stop. Going back to the hotel for free time to pursue other activities of one’s own choosing would have been preferable.

Traveler: Richard Carlson from Arlington, VA traveled on January 09, 2012

Mention the country of Colombia to most people, and the first things that come to mind are cocaine, drug cartels, and guerilla insurgencies. No wonder my friends wondered why I planned a trip there.

My guides had experienced hardship and trauma in their lives, but they eagerly shared the beauty of their country, its history and culture.

I was on the very first trip to Colombia, and Gabriel Bohorquez, OAT’s Regional General Manager EcuadorColombia, traveled with our group. There were also two of the guides who were going to lead future trips with us for several days. Each gave helpful support to our extraordinary tour leader, Jorge Galvis.

Impressive indeed was the thoroughness of Gabriel and his team. They valued our input to tweak the itinerary for future travelers.

If you like classical music, you might want to schedule your tour in January during the international music festival in Cartagena. The two concerts I attended were inspiring. But throughout the year you can hear salsa and folk music, such as vallenato and cumbia. Colombia’s music is as diverse as its climate, people culture, flora, and fauna.

I definitely recommend this trip.

Traveler: Jayne Hanlin from Saint Louis, MO traveled on January 06, 2012