We should go to: a)Nicaragua or b)Colombia?

Trying to figure out where to go next April for 10-14 days. The better half will be 5 months out of ACL surgery, so we won't be doing our more normal ski or bike vacation. I can really only take 2 or 3 days on a beach before going stir crazy, but we do want to spend some time on a beach. Cities with cool museums, history, etc are a plus. Not looking to spend a ton of money, but have airline miles either way.

By all accounts, Colombia is fairly safe these days in the main touristy areas, and the people who do go there rave about it. So we could do some sort of Cartagena/ bogota/beach trip. Maybe with a 2-3 day layover in Panama city, too. Or maybe panama city/boca del toro/ cartagena.

Or we go to managua, and do some sort of circuit involving granada, leon, san juan del sur, and ometepe.

Doesn't seem like many people have tried Colombia since things settled down a bit, and the only thread on here is pretty old. Anybody been or have an opinion?

quick response would be Columbia. Didnt they just sign peace agreement with FARC?

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Originally Posted by hawkgt

quick response would be Columbia. Didnt they just sign peace agreement with FARC?

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Yes, but even so we would not head to the south of Colombia which still sounds sketchy. Should be fine if I wear one of my cheaper rolexes instead of one of the really nice ones. ;)

I backpacked South america in 2005 and spent a month in Colombia, could have easily spent a lot more time there. I think the security situation was similar to what it is now - low risk of problems as long as you stayed out of rural areas in the south. Everyone who had not been there would tell you it was too dangerous, while everyone who had been there said it was fine and their favorite country. I think it was actually less risky than other countries because fewer tourists meant fewer pickpockets and people out to rob tourists. There were also lots of tourist police in the cities. Back then there were very few tourists, if you saw another gringo you would go talk to them. Mostly it was backpackers, and everyone did the circuit either CW or CCW. You would run into the same people frequently in hostels since everyone stayed in one of the first 3 listed in the lonely planet shoestring book. A lot, especially the Brits and aussies started in Mexico City and knew each other really well by the time they got to South america. It made for a fun trip as you would always know people to go do things with. This was not the same in other countries where there were many tourists.

I came in to Bogota by bus from Venezuela with a couple others I met there. We checked out sights in Bogota for 5 days. There are tons of cool museums and art galleries there, concerts, bull fighting, soccer games, etc. Then I took a bus up to Santa Marta. That city isn't so nice but there is Tayrona National park nearby which has some amazing beaches and is good for a couple days- $2 to rent a hammock to sleep in. We also did a 6 day trek to Cuidad perdida which is a site reminiscent of Macchu piccu but only discovered in the mid-70s and still only partially excavated. Very cool, and there is the obligatory visit to a cocaine factory on day 2. That might be too tough soon after ACL surgery. After Santa Marta I took the bus to Cartagena for about 5 more days. Another really cool place, has both the old and new towns and some good beaches and other sights nearby. That pretty much ran me out of time so I headed down to Cali and then on to Ecuador.

I don't think you could go wrong in most countries in Central or S america, most have lots to do and see. I would check and make sure April is not monsoon season or otherwise a bad time to go for weather. I was their in summer, which is their winter and dry season. Not sure what April would be like.

Never been to Columbia, so there's that. I have five co-workers that just got back, and they had a blast. They ranged from fluent globetrotters to the Chinese guy that doesn't speak a lick of Spanish. They were in Cali most of the time. If you have the interest, Vice has an interesting article on a cocaine tour. ~$70, tour the factory, make some blow, get your own 8ball to go. Don't think that was in Cali, however.

The 2-3 day layover in Panama sounds like a nightmare. Do a little research on flights to Bocas Del Toro. IIRC, the flights only go once a day, and I could never get flights to line up close enough that it was really doable(in that short of an amount of time). Sent my brother and his SO there, and he ended up overnighting in Panama City. NOT that there's anything wrong with that. I love Bocas, and Panama in general. Just that by the time you finally get to Bocas, you'd have to turn around and leave. When I get to Bocas, I want to relax and cancel my flight home, not turn around and fly for 16 more hours. Also, in April, Bocas is likely a ghost town. It's all around the surfing, and that's November to March for them. Still waves around and some surfers in April, but it's not prime season. I'd imagine that crime gets worse, too, as there's fewer tourists to pick from. If you go to Bocas, PM me and I'll give some suggestions. GREAT place.

Before moving on, you need to keep one thing in mind through your planning. Semana Santa is April 9th. I've been in Nicaragua several times for this. Imagine LA gridlock. In San Juan Del Sur, every hotel room is booked way in advance. People walk from Managua to San Juan for this week. There are some funky alcohol rules in effect. Something like no booze Sunday to Tuesday, but no holds barred around that. Clubs in Managua send portable pop-up discos to San Juan, and people black out drunk all over town and beach. Nica is easy to do. Buy a map before you go, budget $80-100/day extra for a truck with AC, and charge it. The landscape changes so much between Ometepe and San Juan, Masaya and Managua, you can find whatever you want. I'd suggest a night of festive living in Rotunda Bello Horizante before flying out. Three other things I'll throw out since you want to see a bit. From Managua, you have three options for leg trips: San Andres, Corn Islands, and Bocas Del Toro. I'd be more likely to add Bocas on to Nica than a Columbia trip. I've said too much...

There are multiple flights to Bocas each day, it's just that flights are in morning and afternoon, no mid day flights.

Overnight in Panama city is way too do it. Fly into PTY early evening then fly to Bocas in morning the next day.

Off season in Bocas is pretty awesome as you can get even better deals on water taxis. Fuel and 50 bucks gets you your own boat for the day. Not gonna happen during high season.

Might be worth searching around the advrider forum, some pretty cool trip reports on there.

RE: Nicaragua

Get out of Managua stat.

Granada is pretty interesting. We stayed at the Hotel Colonial for a few nights, very helpful Swiss owners. Nice courtyard pools with swim up bar. Centrally located to the town square and the cathedral. Great walkable city. We didn't make it out to the islands or the volcano but hear that is cool. Some really great restaurants, can't remember the names sorry, hotel owners can suggest many. Pretty safe but take cabs after dark rather than walking was suggested many times.

We stayed at an ecolodge out on the NW coast called Los Cardones. About 1 hr drive from the airport with "Elvis" the shuttle driver. Plenty of surfing and turtle stuff. Kinda boring when we were there in May, might be busier in April? We ended up moving just up the beach to a resort (Grand Pacifica?) with A/C and a pool. There are cottages to rent between the two as well. Decent restaurant on site.

San Juan Del Sur is the touristy beach full of expats down south. We didn't make it that far but hear it is cool.

Thanks everyone!

We've decided to go with some time in Panama and Boca del toro, then continuing to Cartagena. Tickets are booked!

Cartagena is badass. Spend a week there in like 02. It was awesome. Great beaches, islands off the coast, hot womens, good partying, beautiful colonial center. Bogota was pretty fun too. Good partyin, hot womens. Bogota is a great mix of colonial and modern. Barranquilla is supposed to be great as well. We didn't make it there.

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Originally Posted by goldenboy

Thanks everyone!

We've decided to go with some time in Panama and Boca del toro, then continuing to Cartagena. Tickets are booked!

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Good call. Bocas is great and Cartagena is fantastic. We were in Colombia two years ago over Thanksgiving and really liked it. Cartagena has amazing restaurants and some cool stuff around the city area. We got a rental car and spent a few days up in Parque Tayrona, the national park a few hours east along the coast.

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Originally Posted by Dr. Scientist

Good call. Bocas is great and Cartagena is fantastic. We were in Colombia two years ago over Thanksgiving and really liked it. Cartagena has amazing restaurants and some cool stuff around the city area. We got a rental car and spent a few days up in Parque Tayrona, the national park a few hours east along the coast.

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Awesome to hear! We're definitely planning on spending time in Tayrona in addition to Cartagena.

Nice itinerary. Panama & Colombia two of my fave destinos in Latin America. If you find yourselves on Calle Urugauy in Panama City, and if you like to party you will, then hit up Gaucho's for some Argentine beef and blood sausage. In Cartagena take your ole lady to Cafe Del Mar for cocktails at sunset. Muy romantico!