PBH / colombia (active forums more▼ | travelguide | pictures) / post

spring break: 3 options, 2 questions, 1 week to be there....need help

Hey fellow Colombia travelers,

Please help. I have a ticket as far as Bogota for my school's spring break (actually to Cali, but I'm now considering changing that since I've already been to Cali. I have one week in Colombia (last week of March). I have three options. I could stay in Bogota (never been there). Go on to Cali (have friends there) Or..... go to Medellin (never been, my buddy is living there for a few months).

So....my 1st question to you is what option would you choose?

And my 2nd is if I choose the Medellin, what's the best deal and airline for roundtrip airfare (BOG-MDE-BOG). Can I purchase such a ticket from outside Colombia from the particular Colombian airline?

I am big on the arts and nightlife. Bogota has that but does Medellin have some as well? Isn't the Botero museum in Medellin? Any special events anywhere around the last week of March?

Thanks - D.

By Dionysus on Feb 17, 2005, 17:40 in Friendly Talkzone.

dwmte says on Feb 17, 2005, 17:54:

for me... compared to medellin and it's surrounds, bogota and cali are complete downers. sorry folks, but give me a paisa anytime.

you can book a flight to medellin from anywhere, anywhere, just talk with your travel agent or the airline. you can fly direct to medellin from out of colombia and completely avoid the pain in the ass of bogota airport. just land in the picturesque jose maria cordoba....what a jewel!!! si o no?

if you have a friend in medellin, your set. you'll have a REAL spring break. art...medellin is full of it. and botero is just the beginning. medellin is the home of arenas betancur--now dead--one of the 20th century's very greatest sculptures. many of his monumental works around the city. one bronze is about 75 ft high and 80-90 ft long. incredible. too there are works at the university and down town. his work is way past botero's art and culture are the life stream of medellin. and club/night life? more than you'll ever need. enjoy yourself...stay outta trouble, come home alive.

dw

0 funny, 0 helpful.

SiempreHero says on Feb 17, 2005, 18:01:

Bogota...... Only stay in Bogota if you have friends that know the place and get you into good clubs. For Spring break i would vote for Cali or Medellin. Based on what u wrote i would say Medellin. Bogota is a great place to live, but not as good to visit. You have to have connections there, if not, your going to feel really alone. I think that is the case with all of Colombia, but you said you have friends in the other cities, so i would go to one of them.

Good Luck

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Dionysus says on Feb 18, 2005, 21:12:

Thanks, dwmte and SiempreHero. Looks like Medellin's the place right now....anyone have another opinion?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

greenday says on Feb 19, 2005, 04:24:

I vote for Medellín although I have alot of affection for Cali, you should go to Medellín...you won't regret it.
You can probably buy a cheaper ticket if you wait until you get to Bogota...fly avianca from Bogota to Medellín. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Avianca has it's own domestic terminal (no other airlines share it), it is quick and easy.
Have great time...Oh to be young and traveling to Colombia...hey wait a minute, I AM young!!! And I am going there for spring break!!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Dionysus says on Feb 19, 2005, 18:45:

Thanks, greenday -- If I waited to buy a BOG-Medellin roundtrip ticket at the Bogota airport the day I arrive, would there still be space for flights that day? I would not want to have to leave the Bogota airport or wait a couple of days for a flight to Medellin.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

greenday says on Feb 20, 2005, 04:18:

good point I kind of assumed you were spending a little time in Bogota first. Just go to any travel agent in the US, and they can purchase the Avianca ticket for you.
Good Luck and have a great time in Colombia.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte says on Feb 20, 2005, 06:37:

where are you flying from? if you're coming from the states, fly out of miami and land in medellin's 'jose maria cordoba' airport. you wont regret it. it beats the pants off landing in bogota and transferring. you can get the best rates on line and, too, there might be other points of origin than maiami that i'm not familiar with.

landing in bogota is just like anyother big city airport...basically boils down to a pain in the ass. landing in medellin, is like setting down in the cow pasture in the sky. i's small, convenient, efficient, friendly, and everything that bogota is not.

landing in medellin changes the whole mood of your trip. it's relaxed, exciting and includes a view of colombia in the bargain. it's just the opposite setting down in bogota. you get a view of the slums, traffic, problems, etc.

good luck with which ever itenerary...you'll have a great time.

dw martin

0 funny, 0 helpful.

greenday says on Feb 20, 2005, 08:35:

I agree dwmte Medellín's International airport is very user freindly, both coming and going, especially leaving Medellín...far friendlier than Cali's, and of course Bogota's. For some reason I assumed he was going to spend a few days in Bogota.
Thanks for bringing that up!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.