February 04, 2021 to February 17, 2021
My 122nd country visited on my journey beyond #lakbay100, 93rd solo backpacking trip, 5th country in South America and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. Colombia served also as the 9th country on my 2020-2021 America Pandemic Adventures Filipino Solo Trip, the new normal of traveling.
Colombia is the only country in South America with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea as well as the country with the world's second most biodiversity. Lying to the south of Panama, Colombia controls the land access between Central and South America. With Panama to the north, Colombia is surrounded by Venezuela to the east, Brazil to the southeast, and Ecuador and Peru to the south west. The country was named in honor of Christopher Columbus, following the Italian version of his name (Cristoforo Colombo). Although Columbus never actually set foot on the current Colombian territory, in his fourth voyage he visited Panama, which was part of Colombia until 1903.
https://wikitravel.org/en/Colombia
 |
| 13 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Colombia |
 |
| 13 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Colombia |
 |
| 13 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Colombia |
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT COLOMBIA
timezone - UTC -0500H capital - Bogota language - Spanish currency - Peso (COP)
1. Colombia is the only country in South America that has coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
2. Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, after only Brazil which is 10 times its size, and one of only 17 “megadiverse” countries. It has the highest amount of species by area in the world, including more species of bird than all of Europe and North America combined.
3. Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, at 13,000m, is the world’s highest coastal mountain range.
4. Colombia is the world’s leading source of emeralds. It is also the third largest exporter of coffee in the world after Brazil and Vietnam.
5. Colombia is named after… Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer who was sponsored by the Catholic monarchs of Spain to travel west.
13 DAYS SOLO PANDEMIC TRIP IN RAINY COLOMBIA ITINERARY
Day 00: Feb. 04, 2021 Thu / Flight to Cartagena
Day 01: Feb. 05, 2021 Fri / Cartagena
Day 02: Feb. 06, 2021 Sat / Cartagena
Day 03: Feb. 07, 2021 Sun / Medellin
Day 04: Feb. 08, 2021 Mon / Medellin
Day 05: Feb. 09, 2021 Tue / Medellin
Day 06: Feb. 10, 2021 Wed / Bogota
Day 07: Feb. 11, 2021 Thu / Bogota
Day 08: Feb. 12, 2021 Fri / Bogota
Day 09: Feb. 13, 2021 Sat / Bogota
Day 10: Feb. 14, 2021 Sun / Bogota
Day 11: Feb. 15, 2021 Mon / Bogota
Day 12: Feb. 16, 2021 Tue / Bogota
Day 13: Feb. 17, 2021 Wed / Bogota
GRAND TOTAL: $1,551,000 + 131 USD / EXCHANGED USD 490 + 130
 |
| 13 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Colombia |
 |
| 13 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Colombia |
 |
| 13 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Colombia |
COLOMBIA SOLO TRAVEL TIPS DURING PANDEMIC:
Airport Immigration Issues: one of the easiest / fastest / relax airport entry I ever had. In just less than 2 minutes I have my passport already.
Places Visited: Cartagena, San Basilio de Palenque, Medellin, Santa Fe de Antioquia, La Piedra del Peñol, Guatape, Bogota (Centro, Barrio Egipto Alto, Cerro Monserrate), Zipaquira Salt Cathedral, La Chorrera Waterfalls, Guatavita, Guaduas, Tunja, Villa de Leyva
1. Flight from Cartagena to Medellin is way cheaper than night bus. I just booked my flight ticket 2 days before my departure date (Viva Air Colombia) for 41 USD with 1.25 hour travel against the night bus for 83 USD with 15 hours travel (please take note that the Cartagena Bus Terminal is around 45 mins travel from Centro).
2. There's a direct van from Cartagena to Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park. The travel time is less and the fare is just slightly higher than those in Cartagena Bus Terminal.
3. It's safe to visit the Barrio Pablo Escobar in Medellin (Netflix Narcos / El Patron del Mal), I just walked myself alone from Centro to this place (it's very much safe and peaceful here than Tondo where I was born, raised and lived for 28 years).
4. Night bus from Medellin to Bogota is around 9 hours for 26 USD. Wear jacket, it's very cold throughout the journey.
5. Download TransMilenio app for route planning and suggestions of major bus stops in Bogota. Most of the TransMilenio stations have free wifi access.
6. On airport arrival, Colombia requires Negative PCR Test within 96 hours validity and immigration registration within 48 hours via this link https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro/public/preregistro.jsf or downloadable app.
7. On airport departure, my next destination (Bolivia) requires Negative PCR Test within 7 days validity. SYNLAB provides Covid19 PCR Test costs 84 USD with 24 hours result (physical passport is always required as identification) and appointment via this link https://www.synlab.co/travellers-covid-19/. This test served as my 16th PCR Nasal Swab Test (all negative result).
 |
| 13 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Colombia |
 |
| 13 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Colombia |
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Please support this blog by clicking those ads. Thank you.