I got married in Cartagena — then watched a friend get shaken down over a street baggie. The honest safety truth, and how to skip the trouble.

I lived in Medellín three years, then watched it change. The honest answer on whether it’s safe — and exactly how to stay that way.

Colombia welcomed 6.9 million visitors in 2024—and for good reason. But before you land, arm yourself with the right information: visa rules, regional safety nuances, health prep, and practical details that separate prepared travelers from overwhelmed ones. This guide walks you through what actually matters.

The Colombian coffee region looked nothing like I expected. I pictured rolling hills and a good cup of coffee. What I got was a 1.5-hour dirt road into the mountains, a gondola swinging over a 2,000-meter valley, 2 wild condors, and a sushi restaurant in a mountain town that had absolutely no business being that good. Eight days. Four hotels. Every price — in pesos and USD — because vague travel blogs are useless.

Colombia has become one of the most exciting destinations for boutique hotels, eco-lodges, and luxury stays in the world – and finding the besthotels in Colombia has never been more exciting. Tourism has surged over 200% in the last decade, and with that boom has largely come from design-led boutique hotels, jungle lodges, luxury haciendas, and high-rise stunners that make you want to extend...

"In Colombia, the only risk is that you'll want to stay." It's true, I've experienced this firsthand, when I went to Colombia on what was supposed to be a 4-week trip and I stayed 3 years. There are manyreasons that things turned out the way they did, but one of them is that there are just so many things to do in this country! Colombia has literally everything, in all environments from Caribbean...

Medellín, once famous for its notoriously violent history, has transformed into one of South America's most exciting urban destinations. This city is nestled in the Aburrá Valley and surrounded by lush mountains. A river runs through El Poblado when it rains, and the city pulses with innovation, creativity, and warmth year-round. Beyond this striking mountain backdrop and creative neighborhoods,...

If you came across this searching for all-inclusive resorts, then you might need a change in your life, in which case you've come to the right place. All-inclusive resorts are trash. They're optimized for profit at the expense of quality. They're for people who don't want to learn about the country they're visiting, try anything new, or do anything out of their daily routine-enabled comfort zone...

The only risk with Colombia is wanting to stay. That tagline is catchy, but not 100% true. Colombia definitely wins when it comes to biodiversity, sexy ladies shaking it to raggaeton music, and serving up the world's best empanadas (sorry Venezuela...). But when I polled my Colombian TikTok account asking what Colombia is known for I got the following responses: Coffee, drugs, cocaine, coca,...

The best restaurants in Medellín, from El Cielo’s 21-course tasting menu to $4 street-food ajiaco — with real prices so you eat well at any budget.

The safest cities in Colombia for 2026 — Medellín, Cartagena, the Coffee Region and more — plus the real scams to know and how to travel smart.

The 45 coolest things to do in Medellín — the must-dos, the hidden gems, and the best day trips, with real 2026 prices, from someone who lived there for 3 years and keeps going back.

The 9 Colombian street foods you’ll find on every corner — empanadas, arepas, bandeja paisa and more — and why the best meals here cost under $5.

This blog post is in response to this question that I got on my This is How Much a Destination Wedding Costs in Cartagena, Colombiablog: "Hello! I saw your blog about your awesome and very beautiful destination wedding in Cartagena! My fiancé and I are doing the same thing, yay! I was wondering if I could ask you a question regarding the yacht day. I'm struggling finding a boat for the amount of...

What to buy in Colombia — the 13 best souvenirs and gifts, from coffee and emeralds to leather and mochila bags, plus where to buy them.