After visiting some of the beautiful towns in Brazil, I couldn’t get enough of them! I scoured the internet for the best places to visit with kids in South America with similar vibes and Colombia came up time and time again.
While deciding whether to choose Colombia as our next travel destination or not, I encountered mixed opinions and suggestions both from forums (such as Tripadvisor and/or Reddit) and from well-wishers.
Those who hadn't traveled to Colombia cautioned about safety concerns with kids (thanks to Western media). However, travelers would praise the national parks and amazing culture. With not many trip reports from family travelers, I took the information with a grain of salt and decided to venture there anyway.
Considering it was just a 5-hour flight duration from Dallas, I locked it in for our next family vacation
Now that I am back from the amazing Colombia trip with 2 kids (a toddler and preschooler), I can form my opinion better and help other parents who are probably going through a similar predicament.
Hi, I am Dimple, mom of two small girls (2 yr and 4 yr at the time), and write all things related to travel with kids- guides, itineraries, tips, and hacks so you don’t have to. This post is dedicated to busting some common misconceptions about Colombia after visiting the beautiful country with kids
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to purchase something, I may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Thanks
Why Colombia
When I chose Colombia, there were so many pieces of advice I got from friends some suggesting not to go as it isn't safe, some asking what is there to even see and some were oblivious to what my kids will eat there. Western media portrays a very different picture of developing countries and it is hard to be frustrated by such comments.
I had a similar kind of outrage from friends when I had planned to go on a family trip to Brazil with our 15-month-old toddler. And now, I can't stop raving about the place.
"This is what travel does to you, it opens your mind and heart to all the best things the world has to offer. And that is exactly what Colombia did to me. "
There are so many places you can visit in Colombia - from the city of Medellin to mountainous Bogota, to Tayrona National Park to beachy Cartegena to the famous coffee axis. I ventured to Mendelin and Salento during our trip.
What is Colombia known for - Tourist edition
As a tourist or someone thinking of visiting Colombia (with or without kids), I was surprised to know the little (or sometimes none) information people had about the country. Myself included in some cases.
When you share with your friends and family anything remotely related to Colombia, there are 3 things that people know for
Colombian Coffee- If you are a coffee lover, you already know about the deep aroma and flavor of the famous Colombian coffee known for its Arabica beans. The flavor comes from volcanic soil and higher altitudes of the region.
I am more of a tea person, and I was caffeinating 3 to 4 cups of Colombian coffee a day during our Colombia trip :) We bought about 8 different Colombia coffee brands from local coffee farms back to the States.
Narcos (the series) - I am sure most of us would have seen or at least heard about Netflix famous drama series- Narcos which narrates the rise of the cocaine trade in Colombia and the gripping real-life stories of drug kingpins of the late '80s. Now widely recognized, the series has managed to send shivers down the spines of youngsters and serve as cautionary tales for travelers, without knowing the PRESENT scenario in Colombia after the revolution.
Carnival - One of the main surviving traditions is the celebration of Carnival. Once a year all around the country there are parades and everything else reminiscent of the Latin carnival. Barranquilla Carnival, is one of the largest in the world
Did you know Colombia is the only South American country that has coastline on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans [Wikipedia]
Busting 3 common misconceptions about Colombia
There are so many stereotypes or assumptions related to the place that I have to debunk some of the common ones
It's dirty and unhygienic Due to being a developing and relatively less explored country, people assume it is unkempt. A large part of Medellin has communal neighborhoods which bring assumptions of unhygienic conditions due to their close proximity to each other My opinion: Nope! Not even once did I feel unsafe (coming from a mom). The days of powerful cartels are long gone. The Colombian government has implemented strict measures to combat drug trafficking, significantly reducing its impact on daily life
It's unsafe- The misconception comes from the drug trafficking days with powerful cartels of that time. My opinion: Nope! Not even once did I feel unsafe (coming from a mom). The days of powerful cartels are long gone. The Colombian government has implemented strict measures to combat drug trafficking, significantly reducing its impact on daily life
It's just a rainforest- People assume Colombia is just rainforest and jungles. Yes, it has the world’s most biodiverse and untouched rainforest. However, this reality can sometimes be a harsh assumption as well. My opinion: Colombia also has several bustling cosmopolitan and modern cities like Bogotá and Medellin Or Cali for the world’s finest salsa dancing, Or the Caribbean coast for the colonial experience.
Not many people know that the city of Medellín has transformed itself from being “the most dangerous city in the world” to “the most innovative city in the world”. Medellín became the first city in the world to fully integrate cable cars into its metro system with the inauguration of Metrocable.
Safety Tip with kids:
Stick to the major tourist spots like Bogota, Colombia, Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Tayrona.
Book family-friendly accommodations with higher reviews on Booking.com
Of course, just because I didn't experience it, doesn't mean things don't happen. As a parent I always recommend when traveling (or not), always be cautious of your surroundings and take the necessary precautions.
Call me a crazy mom, but when we are traveling with our kids, I pin Apple Airtag to their clothes, backpacks, or socks for precaution and my mental sanity.
Some truth to Rumors:
I used to binge-read trip reports from the fellow traveler community on Tripadvisor and Reddit. There was a common pattern of the reviews that most commented on. Now that I have visited Colombia, here is my honest take on some of the truth in those rumors
Coffee- Yes, their coffee is not just amazing but it stimulates the palate and senses! Given, Colombia is perfect for growing Arabica beans, which are known for their high quality and excellent flavor profiles. Insider Tip: Although you cannot go wrong purchasing any brand of coffee in Colombia, I would highly suggest buying directly from the coffee farms. For one, I believe in supporting small businesses, and second, what's better than getting from the source itself? It might be slightly higher in price, but it's worth every peso you will be spending!
Traffic- Going from one place to another in Medellin is no joke especially if you are using a taxi, renting a car, etc. You will find congested traffic in most areas, no matter the time. Insider Tip: Ensure your plans are slightly flexible and not based on what Google Maps shows. If Google Maps shows you 30 min, it will take you 1 hour during peak times.
Rain- Yes, rain in Medellin doesn't mean light drizzle. It is heavy rain with loud thunders that can scare your little ones (at times!). Insider tip: Do not venture out when it rains in Colombia (especially true for Medellin and Bogota). You better stay indoors than walk around in that heavy bursting rain. Luckily we were either in the car or at a restaurant when that happened. So always (and really ALWAYS!) carry a raincoat or rain poncho that’s light enough to stuff in your bag. You can even borrow an umbrella from your accommodation.
Friendly community - When I used to read those TripAdvisor reviews about people being super friendly, I thought maybe it was just their way of being nice. However, even with my broken Spanish, I've had such amazing conversations with people there. Our guide for the Communa tour invited us to her house for our first Colombian coffee. The hotel staff at our Medellin accommodation would give the kids bread and jam to pack for the road (with the biggest smile possible! ) There was a corporate event happening at the Parque Arvi where I was so pleasantly invited to participate. People were so kind, they included me in the team. They cheered me on in Spanish and I made my way out of the obstacle course, somehow :) I think this is a South American thing. We had a similar experience during our Brazil family trip, where people were so kind to us, especially to my daughter.
Travel tips with kids
Although you will find people who will speak English, there is nothing Google Translate cannot do. By the end of the trip, my older daughter (4 years old) could converse in broken Spanish with the locals. A win-win for all of us :)
The kids can easily be fed on the go. It is super easy to find fruit juices, ice creams, and mangoes (which are almost everywhere). Our kids weren’t really eating much of Colombian food, so we fed them pasta (on most restaurants' menu).
You can easily order food at your hotel from the food app- Rappi- (just like Doordash) - One day after our Guatape full-day tour, we were too tired to go out and eat. We simply ordered food on Rappi from an Indian restaurant on our way to our Medellin hotel. The food came super hot while the kids could lay in their pajamas and dozed off afterward.
Similar to Brazil, you don't need to carry your car seat. Just hold your baby when in Uber or taxis. The drive isn't rash for you to worry about their safety.
Even though I found Colombia to be overall safe, please use common sense and be cautious of your surroundings at all times. Avoid risky areas with kids, especially at night.
The highlight of our Colombia family trip
This hike was unlike any other ones that I've completed in the past with kids. The Cocora Valley is lush – the hills are bright, unbelievably green – and at certain times of the day, the cloud forests in the mountains attract a low-lying fog that only serves to enhance the scenery.
The primary reason I wanted to come here was the giant Colombian wax palms. They’re incredibly tall, skinny palm trees that grow up to 180 feet tall! They also happen to be Colombia’s national symbol.
Final Thoughts
I hope I convinced you to add Colombia to your next travel destination - with Kids! If you have any questions or thoughts, please drop a comment below and I'll be happy to answer them. Hope it becomes one of the most unforgettable experiences with your family.
HAPPY TRAVELING!!!