Colombia: the destination that surprises everyone who dares to visit
Cartagena, Medellín, the Lost City… Colombia reveals its full warmth and complexity when experienced with local guides who share their insider’s perspective on the country.
Colombia is one of the hottest travel destinations right now, and for good reason. The country has changed dramatically, and those who visit now get to experience it in all its beauty, warmth, and complexity. But there’s a world of difference between seeing Cartagena from a boutique hotel and experiencing it with a local guide.
Cartagena de Indias is often described as the most beautiful colonial city in Latin America. The cobblestone streets, the bougainvillea on the balconies of colorful facades, the ramparts overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the sunsets from Castillo San Felipe—all of this is real and magnificent. Your Cartagena guide will also take you to the Getsemaní neighborhood, the former working-class district that has become the city’s creative hub, to the exotic fruit markets that luxury hotels don’t mention, and to the artisans who still handcraft filigree gold jewelry.
Medellín is one of the world’s most extraordinary urban success stories. The most violent city on the planet in the 1990s is now a model of social innovation and urban planning. Your local guide in Medellín—often someone who grew up in these neighborhoods—will tell you about the transformation from the inside, from the escalators of Comuna 13 to the neighborhood libraries that architect Giancarlo Mazzanti built as acts of political statement.
La Ciudad Perdida, in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, is one of the most fascinating treks in South America. Four days in the Colombian jungle to reach a pre-Columbian city older than Machu Picchu, guarded by the indigenous Kogi communities. A local indigenous guide transforms this hike into a profound cultural encounter.
Colombia is ready. Your So-Guide is too.
