Hi everyone,
28M from USA looking to go on my first solo trip abroad. I have off from work for 14 days so I can probably travel for 12 days. I’d like to go to Columbia and spend some time in Cartagena, Bogota, Medellin, maybe Cali. I was also thinking of maybe going to Peru and staying in Lima for a bit then Cusco. I’m interested in culture, food, history, nature, maybe hiking or beaches, meeting people, and staying active. I was wondering if anyone has been to these countries/cities? If so, any advice on which country to choose? How many days per city is ideal? Also, will I be OK if I only know how to speak English? I literally only know the most basic Spanish that I learn back in middle school. Are there any activities that are recommended I do or recommended that I avoid? Thanks in advance for any responses, I appreciate it greatly!!
Whatever you do, don't try to see both countries in 12 days. Just pick one and dedicate the days to it. You'll save money , be able to really see the places you go, and they both want 10+ days IMO.
I've only been to Peru (really want to go to Colombia) and I loved it. 12 days works well for travelling in and out of Lima (1/2 day for Museo Larco+historic district) then fly to Arequipa to start your acclimatization and see Colca Canyon. Overnight bus to Cusco/Sacred Valley. Tons to eat/see/do in Cusco. Check out Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu. Fly back to Lima for Miraflores/Barranco and a nice dinner if you have time before you head home.
Very affordable, incredible food, tons of cultural activities, and beautiful landscapes.
I've been to both and loved them for different reasons.
If you're going to go to Cusco you really should include some of the amazing hikes. If you want to do a trail to Machu Picchu then you'll need to sign up with a group with some decent notice. I did a hike on the Inca Trail with G Adventures where I didn't know anyone else and came away with a dozen new friends and a lifetime of new memories.
I went to Cartagena and Medellin solo and also had a great time. Cartagena is a beautiful town with great beaches and lots of history. The stuff inside the walled city is tourist prices but once you get outside of that then it's pretty cheap and still safe. In Medellin there's a large tourist area that is very safe but also tourist priced. I (at the time mid 30s male) decided to walk around a less desirable part of the city and never felt unsafe. I saw homeless people pooping on the sidewalk and lots of prostitutes but no one bothered me. I grew up in the hood so my gauge is different than most and I wouldn't have liked my younger sister making that same walk.
I speak a little bit of Spanish and it didn't hinder me with either trip. You have Google Translate which helps with conversations and my Android has Google Lens which can translate menus and other written things instantly. Get an eSIM for cheap to have data and you'll be fine.
Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I think I dont have enough time yet to book a Machu Picchu hike, maybe next time. I’ll look into G Adventures!
My trip was back in 2010 so I'm sure there are plenty of other places you can also search for. It was nice because they took care of all lodging and transfers. My four days on the Inca Trail are still the best four days of my life and I've had some epic vacations and experiences.
You'd be disappointed with how they changed Machu Picchu during COVID. When I went back in 2023 there were rope lines everywhere, and you had to pick a dedicated path to follow. Longer paths with different viewpoints cost differently, no backtracking, constantly being yelled at by park staff for standing too long in a spot, rails & wooden stairs overlaying the old stone steps, etc. The whole sense of adventure & discovery at your own pace was absolutely destroyed - now you feel put on rails and are limited to a 2-meter wide path, that's it. Such a disappointment, though most of the other archaeological areas are still worthwhile, so minor victories and all that.
I don't even remember seeing park staff besides the first and last days. I'm happy I got to experience it when I did.
Both Christy & wartmunger have solid advice, and just to add a bit further, I'd advise against going to Lima at all. Like, fly into Lima if you have to, but don't waste time even leaving the airport if you can get a quick flight right back out. It was a hot, busy, dry city with, from my experience, not enough going for it to make it a destination at all. Bottom 10% city I've ever visited, while Cusco and Medellin are top 10% comfortably. Cusco's the first city I started looking into housing costs in case I could move there for retirement -- that good IMO.
That said, if you feel like you REALLY want to visit both countries, I'd recommend focusing on one city each. My recommendation:
Alternatively: from Cusco you can leave Cusco by bus in the afternoon, transfer to train in Ollay, and arrive in Aguas Calientes in by evening, spend the night, catch the bus up to Machu Picchu the next morning, and be back in Cusco by noon if you wanted to spend a bit more, but the Shoestring option is to go by bus to the Water Plant in Santa Teresa and then hike alongside the tracks for the last stretch. It's an adventure & takes just a little longer, but cheaper.
Sub Bogota for Cartagena if you prefer beaches over museums & a bigger city vibe. If you don't know Spanish you'll still be fine for 99% of it (anyone tourism-facing knows English, and eSIMs will get your Google Translate working if you need it as well).
I appreciate this detail response, I think I’m just going to do Cartagena, bogota, and Medellin
Been to all of them and I can guarantee you that's more like 2 months. Not two weeks. My advice: pick two places.