Don't believe the hype about Colombia. It is a beautiful, wonderful and friendly place to visit. Visiting the Caribbean coast ranks as one of the best and most enjoyable journeys I have had to date. From the warm rain in Cartegena during the storm when I arrived to baking on the beach at Taganga, it is full of life and charm.
Cartegana is an incredible fortified colonial city, whose fortifications were largely inspired by the raiding of Sir Francis Drake. It is very humid but fortunately you can escape to the near perfect tropical islands in Rosario National Park. I went diving: the corals are amazing and the water is so warm that a wetsuit is not necessary, and the air is full of large black frigate birds.
Halfway between Cartagena and Barranquilla is the El Totumo mud volcano in which you can bathe and have a massage. It was very relaxing to be suspended in a 3m diameter pot of viscous mud 15m deep, overlooking a cienaga or lagoon where local people were fishing in their dug out canoes, surrounded by tropical vegetation. Life does have its rewards.
The fishing village of Taganga near Santa Marta is very peaceful as well, apart from the 24-hr music during the weekends. There is wonderful diving hear in and around Tayrona National Park. The snorkeling is good to: we found starfish, an octopus, seahorses and a balloon fish among other creatures. Other than that, there are some good beaches and lots of fresh exotic fruit juices that are made to order by the beach.
I can't wait to go back and write about this place.
Photos will be uploaded as an when.
