Just Back From… Colombia with Mary Anne Nelson

Where have you been?
Colombia. Villa de Leyva, Chivor, Medellin, Coffee Region, Honda.

Have you been before?
To Colombia, yes. I lived in Cali until I was 13 then I went back there for holidays a couple of times. I then went to Bogota and Guajira in 2007 but I’d never been to the places I visited on this trip.

If so… notable differences?
I can’t say - I didn’t see much of Bogota this time and I hadn’t been to the other areas before.

How did you get there?
I flew on Avianca’s direct flight from London Heathrow to Bogota and then on to Medellin.

How long were you there?
2 weeks.

General route?
I started off in Medellin then flew to Bogota. The rest of my trip was all self-drive: I drove to Chivor, Villa de Leyva and back to Bogota. I then drove to Armenia, Pereira and Manizales in the coffee region and on to Salamina, Honda and back to Bogota again.

Which was your favourite…
Place: Salamina.
Hotel: Hacienda Venecia.
Excursion: Horse riding in La Samaria wax palm forest.

Appeals to which type of traveller?
Adventurous, curious travellers who want to discover the real Colombia – and people who like to drive!

What did you pack/take with you?
Nothing out of the ordinary – walking boots, lots of t-shirts, one or two jumpers/fleeces and swimming costume.

Any good food, drinks, restaurants or bars recommendations?
Try the delicacies offered in Salamina! Macana, steamed eggs...

How would you summarise your trip in a sentence?
The most exhilarating trip I have had – so far.

Any top tips?
Negotiating certain routes in Colombia requires some skill and concentration, but the rewards are amazing – you will get to see breathtaking landscapes and some incredibly beautiful little villages.