Colombia Travel Diary: Medellín, Guatapé, and the Journey That Almost Didn’t Happen
- Sep 27, 2023
- 10 min read
Updated: Jun 14
Colombia was supposed to be another exciting chapter in my South America journey.
After Brazil, I imagined myself landing smoothly in Bogotá, continuing toward Medellín, and slowly discovering a country I had heard so much about. But travel has a way of testing you exactly when you think you already know what you are doing.
My Colombia trip began with stress at Rio de Janeiro’s airport.
I was leaving Brazil and flying toward Bogotá when I learned about a travel requirement I had not fully prepared for: yellow fever vaccination proof for travelers coming from Brazil. In that moment, the excitement of reaching Colombia turned into panic. I was standing at the airport, close to departure, suddenly unsure if I would even be allowed to continue. My journey described this as one of those unexpected travel twists that stayed in my memory more than the beaches I had just left behind in Copacabana.
It was not the perfect beginning. But in many ways, it became the most honest beginning possible.
Because Colombia reminded me that travel is not always smooth. Sometimes, it starts with confusion, quick decisions, and a passport in your hand while your heart is racing.
Before Colombia, my journey was in Brazil — from Rio de Janeiro’s beaches to Christ the Redeemer and the unforgettable energy of Copacabana. You can follow that part of the route in my Brazil travel diary from Rio de Janeiro.
About Colombia for First-Time Visitors
What Colombia is known for: Colombia is known for its mountains, coffee culture, Caribbean coast, colorful towns, music, warm hospitality, colonial cities, and complicated but powerful history.
Why visit Colombia: For first-time travelers in South America, Colombia offers a mix of urban energy, nature, culture, food, and emotional contrast. Medellín shows transformation. Guatapé shows color and landscape. Bogotá offers history and city life, even if I only experienced a small part of it.
Destination vibe: Lively, warm, colorful, layered, emotional, and sometimes surprising.
Location: Colombia sits in northern South America, connecting the continent with Central America and the Caribbean.
Currency: Colombian peso, or COP.
Language: Spanish. Basic Spanish helps a lot, especially at airports, domestic flights, taxis, tours, and small local interactions.
Food and specialties: Bandeja paisa, arepas, empanadas, Colombian coffee, fresh juices, grilled meats, soups, and regional dishes depending on the city.
Best time to visit: Colombia can be visited year-round, but weather varies by region and altitude. Medellín is often called the “City of Eternal Spring” because of its pleasant climate.
Beginner-friendly note:Colombia is beautiful, but travelers should plan carefully, especially with flight routes, vaccination rules, entry requirements, domestic airline baggage policies, and city safety.
Stranded in Rio: The First Colombia Lesson
January 13 became a day I would not forget.
I had just finished my time in Brazil and was ready to fly from Rio de Janeiro to Bogotá. But at the airport, I realized that traveling from Brazil to Colombia came with a requirement I had not expected properly: yellow fever vaccination proof.
For travelers with strong passports, moments like this may already feel stressful. But for someone like me, traveling with a Filipino passport and always thinking about requirements, entry rules, and documents, it felt even heavier.
There is a different kind of anxiety when you know one missing document can change your route.
At the airport, other travelers were also caught in the same situation. There was tension, confusion, and whispered ideas about possible alternatives. I had to make a quick decision. In the end, I continued, hoping that the situation would work out when I arrived in Bogotá.
Thankfully, immigration was kind, and I was able to enter Colombia.
That moment gave me one of my strongest travel reminders: always check not only visa rules, but also health and vaccination requirements based on where you are coming from — not only your passport.
A Short Stop in Bogotá
After the airport stress, I checked into Hotel Habitel Select, a convenient hotel close to Bogotá airport. My diary mentioned that the free shuttle and budget-friendly rate made it practical, but what I remember most was the feeling of finally being safe, checked in, and allowed to breathe.
I did not properly explore Bogotá on this trip.
Part of me wanted to go into the city. I wanted to see its streets, taste its food, and understand its rhythm. But I had a practical reason to stay near the airport. I was flying onward to Medellín, and I wanted to avoid issues with baggage fees on my domestic flight.
That is another part of travel people do not always talk about. Sometimes your itinerary is not decided by dreams. Sometimes it is decided by baggage rules, time, money, and how tired you are.
I stayed near the airport, traveled light, and prepared for Medellín.
Flying to Medellín: A City I Had Only Heard About
The flight from Bogotá to Medellín was short, but emotionally it felt like entering a new chapter.
Medellín was a city I knew by reputation before I knew it by experience. Like many people, I had heard about its dark past — the cartel years, Pablo Escobar, violence, fear, and the way the city was once seen by the world.
But I also knew that Medellín had changed.
Today, Medellín is often talked about as a city of transformation, innovation, resilience, and energy. My original diary reflected that contrast — a city once associated with fear, now full of life, growth, and warmth.
As soon as I arrived, I felt the difference.
There was greenery everywhere. Tall buildings rose against mountain backdrops. The city felt modern, tropical, alive, and complicated all at once.
Medellín did not feel like a place trying to hide its past. It felt like a place trying to live beyond it.
Journey Through Medellín: Tunnels, History, and First Impressions
My ride toward the Dann Carlton Medellín Hotel became part of the experience.
The road passed through one of the longest tunnels I had ever experienced. It felt symbolic in a strange way — darkness first, then light. Medellín itself felt like that: a city shaped by shadows but moving toward something brighter.
My driver did not speak much English, and I did not speak enough Spanish to have a deep conversation. But travel has its own language. Smiles, gestures, pointing, and shared curiosity carried us through.
At one point, he pointed out a place connected to Pablo Escobar’s story. Even without perfect words, I understood the weight of what he was trying to show me.
Medellín was not just beautiful. It was layered.
Staying at Dann Carlton Medellín
Arriving at Dann Carlton Medellín Hotel felt like stepping into comfort after a stressful travel beginning.
The hotel felt elegant, grand, and surprisingly good value for what I had booked. My original diary described it almost like turning a page in a luxury magazine — and honestly, that feeling still fits.
The location was also convenient. Tour pick-up areas and tourist-friendly parts of the city were nearby, which made things easier for a first-time visitor.
For a traveler who had just dealt with airport uncertainty, this hotel felt like a reward.
It reminded me that not every budget-conscious traveler needs to avoid comfort completely. Sometimes, if you find the right deal, a good hotel can make a trip feel safer, smoother, and more enjoyable.
“For a first stay in Medellín, I would choose a convenient base with easy tour pick-up access, safe surroundings, and simple transport options. It makes the city feel less overwhelming.”
Medellín’s Two Faces: Party Energy and Heavy History
My first day in Medellín showed me two completely different sides of the city.
On one side, Medellín felt alive and festive. I saw street dancers performing at red lights, turning ordinary traffic stops into small stages. There was movement, music, rhythm, and a feeling that the city knew how to celebrate life.
There was even a party bus — loud, colorful, and impossible to ignore.
But then the mood shifted.
I joined a Pablo Escobar tour, and suddenly the city’s energy changed from celebration to reflection. The tour took us through places connected to one of the darkest chapters in Medellín’s history. It was uncomfortable, interesting, and heavy at the same time.
I did not want to romanticize it. I also did not want to ignore it.
That is the difficult part of visiting cities with painful histories. You arrive as a tourist, but you are walking through places where real people suffered, survived, rebuilt, and remembered.
The tour ended at a cemetery, where Pablo Escobar was buried. In my diary, I remembered the rain falling gently as if the weather itself understood the mood of the place.
I returned to my hotel thinking about Medellín’s duality.
A city that dances.A city that remembers.A city that refuses to be defined only by its wounds.
Guatapé: A Day Trip Into Color
The next morning, January 15, I walked toward Carrera 37 to meet my tour guide for Guatapé.
The morning felt fresh. Medellín was waking up, and I was stepping into a different kind of day — one filled with color, landscape, and open air.
Guatapé is often called one of the most colorful towns in Colombia, and it deserves that reputation. The streets are bright, playful, and full of character. The buildings are decorated with zócalos, painted relief designs that tell stories about local life, culture, animals, work, and traditions. My original diary described Guatapé as a vivid tapestry of Colombia’s culture and history, and that is exactly how it felt.
After Medellín’s heavy history, Guatapé felt like breathing in color.
The town was cheerful, photogenic, and easy to love. But like many beautiful places, it also had deeper stories beneath the surface.
If you want the practical version of this day trip, including how to get there, tour vs DIY options, climbing tips, and what to expect, read my guide on how to visit El Peñón de Guatapé from Medellín.
Climbing El Peñón de Guatapé
The highlight of the Guatapé day trip was El Peñón de Guatapé, also called La Piedra del Peñol.
From below, the rock looked massive. The stairway climbed up its side like a zigzag line carved into stone. I knew it would be tiring, but I also knew I could not visit Guatapé and skip the climb.
Step by step, I made my way up.
The climb was not technical, but it required patience. Each step made my legs heavier, but also made the anticipation stronger. The higher I went, the more the landscape started to reveal itself.
Then I reached the top.
The view was breathtaking.
Below me was a wide reservoir, green hills, blue water, scattered islands, and winding shapes that looked almost unreal from above. My diary described the view as unmatched, and it truly felt that way.
But what made the moment more powerful was knowing that the water below was not only beautiful. It carried history.
The Story Beneath the Water
Guatapé’s reservoir is scenic, but it also hides the story of old El Peñol.
The old town was submerged after dam construction, and its people had to leave behind homes, memories, and a familiar way of life. My diary reflected on this deeply — the idea that progress can create beauty, but sometimes beauty comes with loss.
That is what stayed with me.
From the top of the rock, it would be easy to only see the view. But once I learned the story, the landscape felt different. The water was no longer just water. It became memory.
Later, visiting the replica of old El Peñol added another emotional layer. It stood as a reminder that even when a place disappears physically, its story can still be carried forward.
This is why travel matters to me.
Not only because places are beautiful, but because they teach us how people live, lose, rebuild, and remember.
Boat Ride Through the Reservoir
The boat ride through the reservoir added another perspective.
From the water, Guatapé felt calm and open. The views were beautiful, but the history made the ride more meaningful. It was not just a relaxing activity. It felt like moving through a place where past and present existed together.
The boat ride helped me understand Guatapé beyond the colorful streets and the famous rock.
It was a place of joy, yes.But also a place of memory.
Practical Travel Notes From This Colombia Diary
Even though this is a travel diary, there are lessons here that can help first-time visitors.
Check health and entry requirements based on your route
My Brazil-to-Colombia experience reminded me that requirements may depend on where you are traveling from, not only your nationality.
Pack light for domestic flights
My decision to leave baggage behind in Bogotá was partly because of domestic airline baggage costs. Always check what is included before flying.
Stay near the airport when needed
It may not be exciting, but airport hotels can be practical when you have short connections or early flights.
Choose a convenient hotel base in Medellín
For tours and first-time visits, location matters. A convenient base can make the city easier.
Take guided tours when they reduce stress
For Medellín history and Guatapé, tours made the experience easier and more informative.
Do not only visit places for photos
Guatapé was beautiful, but the history made it more meaningful. Try to understand the story behind the view.
Final Thoughts: Colombia Was a Taste, Not the Whole Story
Colombia did not give me a perfect journey.
It gave me stress in Rio.A short and unfinished stop in Bogotá.A beautiful arrival in Medellín.A city full of contrast.A day trip to Guatapé that mixed color, landscape, and history.And a feeling that I had only touched the surface.
I left Colombia with gratitude, but also with unfinished curiosity.
Bogotá remained mostly unknown to me. Medellín felt like a city I could understand more deeply with more time. Guatapé gave me one of those views I will always remember, but also a story that made me think about what progress costs.
As travelers, we do not always get to experience a country completely. Sometimes we only hear the first few notes of its song. But even that can be enough to make us want to return.
After Colombia, my journey continued toward Panama — a new stop, a new skyline, and another short adventure waiting ahead. You can continue this route with my Panama layover tour.
