Colombia Trip Report June 2024

[MeDisney]

I would do Salt Cathedral but that is a multi hour excursion as it is like one hour to get there and one to get back and a few hours to spend there. Montserrate is simply a nice view along with a cute church and you could do the whole thing in like one hour, especially if you buy the "fastpass" ticket that gets you to the front of the funicular/gondola ride. So it also depends on how much time you have.

Are there any immigration forms or visas for Colombia?

 

[Plannerwithaplan]

Are there any immigration forms or visas for Colombia?

None except for one form you need to complete less than 72 hours before your flight. It's a form online called CheckMig and we had to show proof we had completed it before our American Airlines flight. It's free and takes maybe 5-10 minutes to complete.

 

[MeDisney]

None except for one form you need to complete less than 72 hours before your flight. It's a form online called CheckMig and we had to show proof we had completed it before our American Airlines flight. It's free and takes maybe 5-10 minutes to complete.

Any idea why they ask for the shoe size on this trip?

 

[Plannerwithaplan]

Any idea why they ask for the shoe size on this trip?

During the forest trek, it was quite muddy so they provided boots for us to wear on the trip instead of getting our shoes dirty. I understand that the March group went during the dry season and didn't need to use the boots but I was very glad we got to use them for our trek.

 

[MeDisney]

During the forest trek, it was quite muddy so they provided boots for us to wear on the trip instead of getting our shoes dirty. I understand that the March group went during the dry season and didn't need to use the boots but I was very glad we got to use them for our trek.

Ah that makes sense. What kind of shoes do you recommend on this trip: sandals, water shoes, running shoes, hiking shoes? All of the above?

 

[Plannerwithaplan]

We brought sneakers for walking around towns, sandals to wear with dresses, and flipflops for the pool. Two people in my group had more "rugged", hiking-type sneakers that they used around town as well as on our hikes and I think that was a wiser choice than my regular sneakers, mostly because we had some rain/mud on occasion.

 

[MeDisney]

We brought sneakers for walking around towns, sandals to wear with dresses, and flipflops for the pool. Two people in my group had more "rugged", hiking-type sneakers that they used around town as well as on our hikes and I think that was a wiser choice than my regular sneakers, mostly because we had some rain/mud on occasion.

Great to know, thank you!

 

[MeDisney]

Final Day: Rosario Islands

We traveled to the Rosario Islands where we boarded a boat among the mangroves to do some snorkeling, followed up with a great lunch on a beach. That night, we went to a beautiful restaurant with live music and said farewell to our travel companions. Colombia was a wonderful trip!


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What kind of boat trip was the snorkeling experience? A private charter or a public boat? Was there food, snacks, drinks? Were floats and vests provided?

 

[Plannerwithaplan]

What kind of boat trip was the snorkeling experience? A private charter or a public boat? Was there food, snacks, drinks? Were floats and vests provided?

It was a private charter. Our group was all on one boat along with our ABD guides and snorkeling guides. We had very light food/snacks/drinks before snorkeling, then a great lunch afterwards. Vests and all snorkeling equipment was provided. Some people stayed on the boat but most snorkeled and the snorkeling guides were there to help.

 

[MeDisney]

It was a private charter. Our group was all on one boat along with our ABD guides and snorkeling guides. We had very light food/snacks/drinks before snorkeling, then a great lunch afterwards. Vests and all snorkeling equipment was provided. Some people stayed on the boat but most snorkeled and the snorkeling guides were there to help.

Thank you! Was the snack on the boat? Do you eat lunch as a group and change after the snorkel, or eat lunch with your swimsuit on? So do you need an extra outfit?

 

[Plannerwithaplan]

Thank you! Was the snack on the boat? Do you eat lunch as a group and change after the snorkel, or eat lunch with your swimsuit on? So do you need an extra outfit?

Snack was before the boat. After the boat we ate lunch as a group and we had facilities for changing before lunch. Most people had swimsuits on under their clothes at the beginning of the day, then changed back into those clothes after snorkeling was over.

 

[WeLoveABD]

I would do Salt Cathedral but that is a multi hour excursion as it is like one hour to get there and one to get back and a few hours to spend there. Montserrate is simply a nice view along with a cute church and you could do the whole thing in like one hour, especially if you buy the "fastpass" ticket that gets you to the front of the funicular/gondola ride. So it also depends on how much time you have.

To follow up on this question-- how far was the hotel from the funicular/gondola? (Uber? Walkable? Subway?) Thanks!

 

[Plannerwithaplan]

To follow up on this question-- how far was the hotel from the funicular/gondola? (Uber? Walkable? Subway?) Thanks!

About 20 minutes away by Uber.

 

[MeDisney]

Do you have a picture of the boat? Did anyone have motion sickness?

 

[Plannerwithaplan]

Do you have a picture of the boat? Did anyone have motion sickness?

Sorry, but I don't have any boat pictures. No one had motion sickness. The boat had a capacity of maybe 25-30 so it wasn't large. We were probably on the boat for maybe 15-20 minutes to the snorkeling spot and 15-20 minutes back.

 

[AddictedtoTravel]

 

[MeDisney]

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Oh wow. They fit that many people in that boat? I’m surprised as an ABD tour that they would use that boat. Other trips I’ve seen had a private charter larger boat with a bathroom and snacks in Costa Rica.

 

[AddictedtoTravel]

I think it was in part due to the reefs. We skimmed over the top of them. The boat displaced little water allowing us to go where needed. I didn’t see any larger boats out where we were. It was really cool. I kinda wished we were out there a bit longer.

 

[MeDisney]

I think it was in part due to the reefs. We skimmed over the top of them. The boat displaced little water allowing us to go where needed. I didn’t see any larger boats out where we were. It was really cool. I kinda wished we were out there a bit longer.View attachment 898340

Makes sense! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Plannerwithaplan]

I think it was in part due to the reefs. We skimmed over the top of them. The boat displaced little water allowing us to go where needed. I didn’t see any larger boats out where we were. It was really cool. I kinda wished we were out there a bit longer.View attachment 898340

Yes! We were practically standing on the reefs at certain points during snorkeling so a bigger boat wouldn't have worked at all.