{"id":126078,"date":"2020-12-26T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-26T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milesopedia.com\/news\/colombia-tragic-past-happy-future\/"},"modified":"2025-06-12T10:59:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T14:59:18","slug":"colombia-tragic-past-happy-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milesopedia.com\/en\/guide\/destination\/colombia-tragic-past-happy-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Colombia: From a tragic past to a happy future"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

For several years, Colombia was dominated and ravaged by drug trafficking and militias. In those days, visiting this country was almost madness. I was afraid just thinking about it.<\/p>\n

Today, this beautiful country is one of the main tourist destinations in Latin America and its landscapes attract millions of tourists every year.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”113491″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Colombians are very proud of their country, and rightly so. Of course, we are talking about Latin America, so we must be careful, but we must not forget that thousands of tourists are robbed and assaulted in Europe every year.<\/p>\n

As the tourism authorities in Colombia say: the biggest danger will be not wanting to go home! <\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”113583″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_custom_heading el_id=”here_s_my_itinerary_written_in_journal_form_” text=”Here’s my itinerary, written in journal form:” google_fonts=””][vc_custom_heading el_id=”day_1_quebec-bogot_connection_in_toronto_” text=”Day 1: Quebec-Bogot\u00e1 (connection in Toronto)” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

We arrived in Bogot\u00e1 in the evening. I had the time to buy a card SIM at the airport, to have Internet access during our trip.<\/p>\n

In spite of the polemics, we had chosen to use transportation apps in Colombia (Uber, Cabify and DiDi)<\/strong>, because taking a taxi is not easy (sometimes even dangerous).<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”113595″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]At the airport, we had to move further away, to take our transportation out of sight of the taxi drivers. From the moment you leave the arrival area, you’re constantly being solicited. It’s up to you. If you take a taxi, ask for the taximeter to be used. Also, in Colombia, for security reasons, it is not advisable to hail a taxi on the street. It’s best to call one, through a taxi app or ask the hotel to do so.<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Our hotel was the brand-new AC Bogot\u00e1 Zona Rosa<\/strong><\/a>, located in the neighbourhood which bears the same name. It is one of the best addresses in the city, near the shopping centre, bars and restaurants. We told them it was our birthday, but at the reception they just wished us a happy birthday. No upgrades, no candy, no gifts. \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n

We liked that hotel. The bedroom was spacious, the bathroom was separated from the bedroom by a large sliding door. The shower was made of glass, and it was located between the bed and the vanity. It was separate from everything else. The toiletries, from the Greek brand Korres, are among the best I have ever known.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”113359″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”113355″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”113357″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”113349″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=”113351″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”]

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<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>[vc_custom_heading el_id=”day_2_bogot_” text=”Day 2: Bogot\u00e1” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=””][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmark”]We woke up to a call from the front desk saying that our Colombian friend was waiting for us downstairs.
\nWe went for breakfast in a small local restaurant (which became our official breakfast place in Bogot\u00e1) and then we took the SRB Trasmilenium<\/strong> towards La Candelaria<\/em><\/strong>, the historical district of Bogot\u00e1<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”113569″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmark”]We love trying public transportation in the places we visit.
\nFor those who, like me, love colonial architecture, La Candelaria<\/em> is a magical place. Even the simplest of houses can be the subject of a magnificent photo.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”113403″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”113565″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”113405″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”113407″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmark”]We admired the huge Plaza Bolivar<\/a>, the central square of La Candelaria, where we can see:<\/p>\n