As a female solo traveler, I chose to stay in Cartagena- one of the safer cities of Colombia. Rich in history and charm, the Walled City is a must. This city comes to life at night and introduces a whole new atmosphere. A big reason I enjoyed my trip there was because Colombians are generally very welcoming and fun to be around. They always want to make sure you’re taken care of and are having a good time.

I actually stayed in Bocagrande, which is only a short taxi ride from the Walled City. If you go to the beach there, be prepared to be approached constantly by vendors. They can be a bit much but they usually mean well and are just trying to make their living. Food and handicrafts are usually fairly priced.

I also went on a day trip to Isla Baru, for bluer water and whiter sand. Again, there are vendors there but the place is stunning.

If I get the chance to go to Colombia again one day, I would definitely visit other cities. I’m glad I got to experience Cartagena and see what makes it special, like it’s iconic fruit ladies (Palenqueras), historic plazas, walls, and cannons.